1,4-Butanediol

There is a high incidence of death due to respiratory depression when GABAergic substances are combined with depressants such as opiates, benzodiazepines or alcohol.

1,4-Butanediol
The skeletal formula of 1,4-Butanediol
Chemical Nomenclature
Common names	1,4-Butanediol, 1,4-B, or BD
Substitutive name	One Comma Four, One Four Bee, Butylene Glycol, or One Four B-D-O
Systematic name	Butane-1,4-diol
Class Membership
Psychoactive class	Depressant
Chemical class	GABAergic
Routes of Administration
Oral Dosage WARNING: Always start with lower doses due to differences between individual body weight, tolerance, metabolism, and personal sensitivity. Threshold < 0.25 mL Light 0.5 - 1 mL Common 1 - 2 mL Strong 3 - 4 mL Heavy > 4 mL Duration Total 4 - 5 hours Onset 45 minutes Peak 2 hours Offset 1.5 hours Afterglow 2 hours

Summary sheet: 1,4-Butanediol

1,4-Butanediol (1,4-B, butylene glycol, or BD) is a thick, colourless liquid which is nearly odorless with a distinct bitter taste. 1,4-Butanediol is used industrially as a solvent and in the manufacture of some types of plastics, elastic fibers and polyurethanes. In organic chemistry, 1,4-butanediol is used for the synthesis of γ-butyrolactone (GBL).

In humans, it acts as a prodrug for GHB where 1ml is equivalent to 1g of GHB. It is used as a recreational intoxicant with effects similar to alcohol.

Chemistry

1,4-Butanediol is classified as a subclass of alcoholic compounds called diols. Diols are named for having two alcohol (OH-) substitutions in their structure. 1,4-Butanediol is comprised of a butane chain of four carbon groups with an alcohol group bound to each terminal primary carbon of this chain. 1,4-Butanediol is named for these alcohol substitutions, which are located at R₁ and R₄.

Pharmacology

Main article: GHB § Pharmacology

1,4-Butanediol is not active in its own right; its mechanism of action stems from its identity as a prodrug of GHB.

It is converted into GHB in the liver by the enzymes alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase, which is the same enzyme as alcohol. 1,4-Butanediol is first converted into 4-hydroxybutaldehyde in the liver and is released into the bloodstream before returning to the liver to convert into GHB. This process results in a much more delayed onset than GBL or GHB.

The differing levels of dehydrogenase enzymes can vary between individuals, meaning that, like alcohol, effects can differ greatly between users. In many, this manifests as a slow onset of effects and a higher rate of aldehyde collecting in the bloodstream, causing more toxic side effects. Because of these pharmacokinetic differences, 1,4-butanediol tends to be less potent and with a slower onset than GHB but has a longer duration; the related compound GBL tends to be slightly more potent and faster to take effect but more short-acting than GHB.

Subjective effects

The effects listed below are based upon the subjective effects index and personal experiences of PsychonautWiki contributors. The listed effects will rarely (if ever) occur all at once, but heavier dosages will increase the chances and are more likely to induce a full range of effects.

Physical effects

The physical effects of 1,4-butanediol can be broken down into several components which progressively intensify proportional to dosage. These are described below and generally include:

• Stimulation and Sedation - At lower doses, 1,4-butanediol is physically stimulating, encouraging movement and wakefulness. At higher doses, however, it becomes physically sedating, encouraging sleep and lethargy.
• Euphoria
• Nausea
• Motor control loss
• Dizziness
• Dehydration
• Respiratory depression - Many reportedly experience an abnormal pattern of breathing characterized by progressively deeper and sometimes faster breathing followed by a gradual decrease that results in a temporary stop in breathing called an apnea.

Cognitive effects

The cognitive effects of 1,4-butanediol can be broken down into several components which progressively intensify proportional to dosage. It contains a large number of typical depressant cognitive effects which generally include:

• Empathy, love and sociability enhancement - Unlike alcohol which merely increases sociability through disinhibition, 1,4-butanediol presents strong entactogenic effects which, although weaker than that of MDMA, are still prominent and well-defined.
• Disinhibition
• Information processing suppression
• Thought deceleration
• Amnesia
• Euphoria
• Anxiety suppression

Toxicity and harm potential

Main article: GHB § Toxicity and harm potential

Radar plot showing relative physical harm, social harm, and dependence of GHB

1,4-Butanediol is not active in its own right; its mechanism of action stems from its identity as a prodrug of GHB, meaning that it is rapidly converted into GHB in the body.

GHB is considered to be a safe and non-toxic substance when used responsibly or medically. The LD50 is above the active dosage, and there is no danger of acute toxicity. However, it can be dangerous when used as a recreational drug or abused. There have been many negative reports from recreational users who have overdosed, combined GHB with alcohol or other drugs, or accidentally dosed themselves unexpectedly.

One publication has investigated 226 deaths attributed to GHB. Seventy-one deaths (34%) were caused by GHB alone while the other deaths were from respiratory depression caused by interaction with alcohol or other drugs.

To avoid a possible overdose of GHB/1,4-Butanediol, it is important to start with a low dose and work your way up slowly by increasing the dosage in small increments.

Accidental ingestions of 1,4-Butanediol have also occurred due to inadequate storage methods. If 1,4-Butanediol is put into a clear liquid, glass, or bottle, it can be easily mistaken for water. It is recommended to clearly label your 1,4-Butanediol in writing and dye the liquid with blue food coloring so it no longer resembles a drinkable beverage. It is also recommended to store your 1,4-Butanediol in a container that no one would drink out of.

Tolerance and addiction potential

Frequent use of 1,4-Butanediol (even when taken long-term and in moderate doses) does not appear to cause significant physical dependency in the greater majority of its users. In many people, quitting or temporarily abstaining from use of the drugs is achieved with minimal or no difficulty. However, when consumed in excessive amounts with a high frequency of dosing, physical and psychological dependence can develop.

For those users who do report withdrawal symptoms upon quitting the use of GHB/1,4-Butanediol, symptoms seem to depend on the dosage and the length of time the drug was used for. Light to moderate users often experience insomnia and sleep-related problems, whereas heavy, prolonged use can cause severe withdrawal symptoms similar to benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome (BWS).

Dangerous interactions

Although many drugs are safe on their own, they can become dangerous and even life-threatening when combined with other substances. The list below contains some common potentially dangerous combinations, but may not include all of them. Certain combinations may be safe in low doses of each but still increase the potential risk of death. Independent research should always be done to ensure that a combination of two or more substances is safe before consumption.

• Depressants (GBL, 2-methyl-2-butanol, alcohol, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, GHB, methaqualone, opioids) - This combination can result in dangerous or even fatal levels of respiratory depression. A review of the details of 194 deaths attributed to or related to GHB over a ten-year period found that most were from respiratory depression caused by interaction with alcohol or other drugs. In humans, GHB has been shown to inhibit the elimination rate of alcohol. This may explain the respiratory arrest that has been reported after ingestion of both drugs. These substances also potentiate the muscle relaxation, sedation and amnesia caused by one another and can lead to unexpected loss of consciousness at high doses. There is also an increased risk of vomiting during unconsciousness and death from the resulting suffocation. If this occurs, users should attempt to fall asleep in the recovery position or have a friend move them into it.
• Dissociatives - This combination can result in an increased risk of vomiting during unconsciousness and death from the resulting suffocation. If this occurs, users should attempt to fall asleep in the recovery position or have a friend move them into it.
• Stimulants - It is dangerous to combine 1,4-Butanediol, a depressant, with stimulants due to the risk of excessive intoxication. Stimulants decrease the sedative effect of 1,4-Butanediol, which is the main factor most people consider when determining their level of intoxication. Once the stimulant wears off, the effects of GHB will be significantly increased, leading to intensified disinhibition as well as other effects. If combined, one should strictly limit themselves to only dosing a certain amount of GHB per hour. This combination can also potentially result in severe dehydration if hydration is not monitored.

Legal issues

• U.S.: While 1,4-butanediol is not currently scheduled federally in the United States, a number of states have classified it as a controlled substance. Additionally, individuals have been prosecuted for this substance under the Federal Analog Act as being substantially similar to GHB. A federal district court in Chicago ruled that 1,4-butanediol could not be considered an analog of GHB under federal law, and the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals upheld that ruling.
• U.K.: In the United Kingdom, 1,4-butanediol was scheduled in December 2009 (along with another GHB precursor, gamma-butyrolactone) as a Class C controlled substance.
• Germany: In Germany, the drug is not explicitly illegal, but might also be treated as illegal if used as a drug.
• Canada: It is controlled as a Schedule VI precursor in Canada.

See also

• Responsible use
• Depressants
• GHB
• GBL
• GABA