Effects of Alcohol After GHB Discontinuation

[Voodoo Chile]

SWIM reports using GHB (sometimes GBL) everyday for about a year, then discontinuing use three years ago.

SWIM reports enjoying alcohol in the years prior to using GHB, but since discontinuing use of in GHB alcohol does not provide warm, euphoric effect previously experienced with first one or two drinks.

SWIM now reports only feeling anesthetized by alcohol; no euphoria. Is it possible that using GHB permanently depletes dopamine or related brain chemical, or that it changes the processing system of alcohol such that the euphoria is no longer available?

Does overuse of GHB (even for only a year), destroy the pleasures of alcohol forever--for some people?

[MrG]

One would need to specify what "overuse of GHB" actually means.

But there could be a number of factors as to why SWIY's enjoyment of alcohol has diminished. It could simply be that he has become older and more tolerant of alcohol.

Their is a cross tolerance between GHB and Alcohol but certainly not any reports of there being an permanent changes following such a long break since GHB was previously used.

If SWIY were to use GHB every evening instead of alcohol for a year and then stop he would, according to reports, find that his tolerance for alcohol would be higher. But unless he maintained a similar consumption rate with alcohol (getting toasted every evening), there is nothing to indicate that such tolerance would be permanent.

[Lehendakari]

For SWIM alcohol was euphoric the first couple of times he did it in sufficient amounts. Right now (10 years later) it just anesthetizes SWIM as SWIY said. It is good for anxiety though, makes social interaction easier but no euphoria at all even taking breaks up to 6 months.

If SWIY is looking GHB euphoria in booze he is going to be disappointed, if he is looking for prior alcohol euphoria try switching spirits and a change in set and setting.

For SWIM alcohol has never been as good as it was in those first trials.

[Voodoo Chile]

Thanks to SWIY for the responses. SWIM suspected that GHB might change brain chemistry permanently if taken for too long, or if one is very young (which SWIM is not.)

Thanks for disambiguating SWIM's suspicion. SWIM guesses alcohol is just doing less and less of what SWIM originally started drinking it to achieve. SWIM doesn't drink much now--glass of wine here or there--primarily because the euphoria is gone.

[malsat]

Sounds like you've just come to appreciate the inferiority of alcohol as an euphoriant relative to GHB.

You should be thankful; many people never realise what a shit drug alcohol is.

Reputation Comments on this post:

Hahahaha! Bang on.