4HB
4HB commonly denotes 4-hydroxybutanoic acid, the chemical name for gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) in its free acid form, and includes salt forms such as sodium oxybate used in medicine. It is a naturally occurring compound in the mammalian nervous system and can be produced in small amounts endogenously; it is also involved in various metabolic processes and can be found in trace amounts in some foods.
Chemically, GHB acts as a central nervous system depressant and functions as a neurotransmitter/neuromodulator with activity
Medicinally, sodium oxybate is approved in several countries for the treatment of narcolepsy, particularly with cataplexy
Outside medical use, GHB is a drug of abuse and has been linked to serious adverse outcomes,
In research settings, 4-hydroxybutyrate is used to study neurotransmission and metabolic pathways, with appropriate safety protocols.