A case of severe and prolonged γ-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) withdrawal syndrome successfully managed with a slow benzodiazepine and baclofen taper.
Drug and alcohol review January 1, 2025 Rachit Gupta, Greta Moon, Yvonne Bonomo et al. 2 citations
GHB withdrawal can be far more prolonged than the typical 5-7 days, sometimes recurring over 56 days despite initial stabilization and toxicological evidence of abstinence. A male patient in his 30s with a 15-year history of daily high-dose GHB use experienced three hospital admissions over 8 weeks, each requiring intravenous sedation and intubation for agitated delirium. His withdrawal delirium was successfully treated with a slow, six-month taper of benzodiazepines and baclofen, preventing further re-emergence of the debilitating delirium. This case demonstrates that severe GHB withdrawal may require extended support and slow medication tapering, with benzodiazepines and GABA-B agonists as effective treatments.