Animal research has confirmed that GHB is anxiety-reducing and sedating. Other animal studies suggest that GHB may be reinforcing in self-administration studies. For example, rats given a choice between water and a solution containing GHB prefer the GHB and appear to regulate their intake to maintain a constant GHB concentration in the body. Self-administration studies of GHB in primates are more equivocal, primarily because high dose evaluations are limited due to solubility difficulties and sedation of the animals. However, some primates will also self-administer GHB but not to the same extent as other drugs such as heroin or cocaine.
Investigators report that some individuals experience pleasure after taking the drug.
GHB's intoxicating effects are usually seen 10-20 minutes from the time the drug is taken. The effects typically last up to four hours, depending on the dosage. The behavioral and physiological effects of GHB are dose dependent. Low doses can relax an individual, whereas high doses can be lethal. The drug has a relatively short half-life, making it difficult to detect in emergency rooms and other such facilities.