I used it nearly every day for a year when it was still legal and had some pretty nasty withdrawl effects.

I feel for you cleo, I've been through opiate withdrawal enough times to know what it's like (that's overwith though), however this withdrawal sounds far more scary. I'd rather not lose my marbles for a couple weeks...

The main symptoms were insomnia, an extreme photosensitivity, and the most unsettling sensation as if every nerve in my body was being pinched. This lasted for about a month before finally subsiding.

A MONTH!!?? Are you kidding!!? Sounds more like heroin withdrawal than GHB. And what else were you doing? Geez, I don't believe MOST of what people report about their GHB experiences. Sounds like a classic case of polypharmacy to me. And we wonder why these substances get banned...

Whatever

Presto, I've read doctors' reports from people in Rehab for GHB, and they said for long time users, people reported experiencing some symptoms for up to a few months. It's possible. Actually heroin PHYSICAL withdrawal can be over within like 2 weeks (i.e. at Betty Ford the heroin people are set loose in like 12 days). It's the mental part that takes VERY long.

Man, I just looked at the bill for my Xyrem shipment and luckily it only costs me a $45 copay, because the value they showed was like $920!!

Yeah Presto, whats the deal with you? Why in the world would you infer that Cleo was mixing a bunch of substances, including herion? Do you actually know her out of the DB setting?

Cleo knows her stuff, and is just trying to help faeriewitch not get blindsided by terrible withdrawls.

Anyways, back to the adults in the conversation... These stories that you all are telling sound oh-too familiar! The amytryptiline worked for me, but the nightmares were awful. Always something happening to my wife or son. Horrible..

Sleepwalking and sleepeating on Ambien.

Too worried to try a high Ativan dose because of the hundreds of mg's of narcotics I take daily.

Faeriewitch, I just hope that this last increase works for ya. It seems that the Ativan might be a fallback option if you can feel safe on it.

I am taking a low dose of a bezo called temazepam right now, and it WORKS. Ir works well. I get the liquid-filled gelcap version called Normison. It is badass.

I have a secret source that I will give YOU because I feel so bad for ya. Let me know how ya make out...

Sorry! I'm a bit over reactive on the subject. You see, GHB was probably the most helpful thing I've every found until all the abusers got it "scheduled" out of existence. Whenever I hear that someone had a weird experience on it I just assume they abused it (like the guy who was up all night peeing in his closet). I'll refrain from commenting like that...

True. And to answer the question, I was on no other substances whatsoever at the time. I don't take opiates ever, and I didn't even start useing benzos until shortly after this time period. So the rebound insomnia and sensitivity to light were bad for a few weeks and began to fade. The other thing was not what I would consider pain, but a very disturbing overall bodily sensation as if every nerve in my body was being tweeked. A sensation which I have never experienced before or since. This too faded with the others.

Faeriewitch, I think an interesting question to ask you because I've often had people that have real bad insomnia issues tell me that if/when they've ever went into the hospital for a surgery they have really had to lay it on hard to the anesthesiologist to really confirm and make sure that "I'm out".

Because just like many of the insomnia/sleep meds don't work for you, one would think that even the hospital grade meds used to put people under for surgery would not work as well and require a higher or second/third dose for people that cannot be put to sleep easily. And then there's close monitoring if it's a long surgery because you don't want someone waking up.

RachaelRay, you are right, when I went in for a gastroscopy they had to give me double the amount of sedatives that they normally give people, and I only weigh 105 lbs!! I just wouldn't sedate. And sedatives are not something I've ever used regularly, I guess I'm just resistant.

Superscapes, unfortunately this 3.75 dose does not keep me asleep but for maybe 1.5 hours if I'm lucky. I'm going to have to tell my doc and have him put me up to the higher dose it looks like. Ativan has worked for me in the past, but then it also hasn't - so that's a risk. Temazapam (Restoril) doesn't do it either.

All in all, I'm liking the Xyrem/GHB less and less because although it 'Supposedly' is out of your system by 4 hours, I feel wonky the entire next day after taking it at prescribed doses. I don't know if it's the salt that's doing that to me or the medicine part of it. But I have developed dark circles under my eyes and I feel very unhealthy on this stuff, despite drinking tons of water to make up for the salt.

Thoughts?

They have finally upped me to the maximum dose (4.5g x2) and it seems to be working. I am finally sleeping nearly 4 hours per dose. Looks like I've found the right dosage!

Well, so much for the Xyrem, it gave me severe myalgia in my legs and also a wicked hangover the whole next day - and that was using AS PRESCRIBED (caveat: I am a lightweight, lik 100slbs). I can use it once per night only without sifnificant backlash, but I'm definitely not one of their "success" cases. Still, it's good in a pinch when you need a solid 3 hours sleep.

I'm scripted 600mg of Seroquel nightly for sleep. Are you actually telling me 600mg of Seroquel won't put you to sleep? I'd find that really hard to believe if you say that. I get a solid 10 hours of sleep with this dose. It's knocks me out and keeps me asleep all night.

Seroquel is also non narcotic. I have severe sleep problems, even more so then you listed here...

Have any of you tried GABOB, 5HTP, Melatonin, L Tryptophan, GABA, or any combination of these? GABOB is very close to GHB but I use it with no negative sides. I also use some of the others to bring on relaxation and sleep. Just thought I'd mention these as they are easy to get and non-addictive without side effects.

Peace and good night,

Carollea

Just a quick note to add: While I've seen seen people try to use GABOB to achieve effects similar to GHB, it should be understood that combining this supplement with any benzo medication can create a serious negative result. To be on the safe side, I wouldn't even combine it with another supplement like melatonin or L-Tryptophan.

Well, I use them with no ill effects at all. In fact I sleep very soundly and wake refreshed. If one is taking MAO inhibitors they must be wary though. Seratonin syndrome could occur. I would take these substances more readily than prescription meds any day. I do not advise mixing them either. To each his own however.

I'm not saying 600mg of Seroquel wouldn't help me sleep, but I'd probably never wake up again! Seroquel had too much of a hangover effect, even at 25mg. I once took 300mg and I literally thought I was having a heart attack! I couldn't even imagine taking 600mg.

You can break a 25mg into as many tiny peices as you like. There was a time that 12.5 mg worked for me.

Once you get use to Seroquel you won't have any hangover effect.

Then if I cut it down that far it wouldn't put me to sleep. I'm finding that Ativan, 2mg works, just as well as anything (and sleeping Longer which is a miracle) - I'm using that for now. If I start to get tolerance I'll switch to something else (with the help of my doc of course). I think rotation is best for me.

Faeriewitch, Can you tell me which insurance approved you for the Xyrem success program? I was Denied by my insurance!

Was the claim condition coded as insomnia? I really want to try it as a last resort for me too, after several failed attempts at prescription med's for my terrible case of insomnia. The main recurring problem was my tolerance after only a few weeks.

Anybody who uses GHB everyday for a year *must* be a substance abuser. Especially if they continue to push it's "medical" value when there's hundreds of other sleep aids available today - instead of wanting a demonized illegal chemical.

That's just the same as someone wanting 'crystal meth' legalized for "medical use". Only someone who is a drug seeker or a junkie would love to get their hands on "Xyrem" from a doc for a 'legal' high. GHB is used *way* more as a recreational drug than for medical issues these days. Nobody should medically need this unless you suffer from a rare form of narcolepsy. Gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid is a club and date rape drug that's hurt and killed many.

http://www.streetdrugs.org/ghb.htm

http://www.theantidrug.com/drug_info/drug_info_ghb.asp

http://www.drugfree.org/Portal/Drug_guide/GHB

http://www.4women.gov/faq/date-rape-drugs.cfm

GHB is listed on the DEA's website as being a C-I illegal chemical that carries heavy penalties behind it.

http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/pubs/scheduling.html

http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/agency/penalties.htm


So why should this junk be used for something as *common* as insomnia? (no pun intended) Hell, if that's the case - then doctors should start prescribing LSD for depression!

I'm highly *against* rec users looking for a quick fix by using the excuse "oh, I 'need' it for (*add medical reason here*)" - and I'm highly *against* date rape and violence towards women.

You're easily propagandized and obviously quite ignorant about GHB. For every one of your "demonizing" websites I could provide you with links to scientific studies and clinical evidence about the benefits and safety of GHB. It has been used regularly in Europe since the late '60s
for all sorts of conditions, and with great success.

You clearly don't know anything except what you read on biased websites. What you'll NEVER find on these websites are all the nightmare stories associated with LEGAL prescription drugs - because big Pharma and the FDA thrive on them.

She is indeed. Everything she says is an outright lie, a gross distortion, or pure ignorance. Taking a medication every day for a year constitutes abuse? That's news to me

Everything on those sites I posted are very true - the DEA doesn't lie about drug scheduling. GHB has hurt many people, it's illegal and that's a known fact.

First of all, the DEA does lie. Second of all, this is a prescription C-III medication and that is a fact.

That's what I posted on the other thread: Xyrem is indeed C-III in the US as a medicine, but possessing it or GHB without a prescription makes it C-I:

http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/xyrem/xyrem_qa.htm#6

I think the UK only has it in Schedule 4 Class C, which is the same class as diazepam and zolpidem:

http://216.239.59.104/search?q=cache:TZn...clnk&cd=6&gl=uk

so it doesn't even have the safe custody requirements.

It would seem the bottom line is: you need a prescription.

Thank you, Nephro for providing that information. You're a good helper around here that doesn't all upset if someone doesn't agree with your opinion.

I'm still anti-GHB, though....I don't like it regardless of it's uses.

Perhaps if we referred to it as sodium oxybate (which a salt of gamma-hydroxybutyrate) it might sound less intimidating. The base is actually produced by our bodies naturally.

It's unfortunate that it's abusable, but not uncommon amongst medicines. The sad fact is that most of the substances discussed on the board could be used for sedating someone against their will (all benzodiazepines and barbiturates; most opioids) and it's usually a case of which one gets the news headlines, and therefore a bad name.

Lest we forget, alcohol is the premier date rape drug - and it's perfectly legal. Let's not confuse the substance with the crime. And as most everyone on this board should know, legality has little to do with usefulness. So please stop trying to justify your judgemental nonsense. Who really cares if you like GHB or not.