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 at GABA-B receptors and other neural targets. Its effects range from mild sedation and relaxation to sleep and, at higher doses, anesthesia. Because of its narrow therapeutic window and abuse potential, GHB is tightly regulated in many jurisdictions.

Medicinally, sodium oxybate is approved in several countries for the treatment of narcolepsy, particularly with cataplexy or excessive daytime sleepiness, and is administered under strict controls through risk management programs. In many places, the drug is prescribed only after careful evaluation and ongoing monitoring.

Outside medical use, GHB is a drug of abuse and has been linked to serious adverse outcomes, including loss of consciousness, respiratory depression, coma, and death, especially when combined with alcohol or other depressants. Safety concerns and legal restrictions reflect its potential for dependence and misuse.

In research settings, 4-hydroxybutyrate is used to study neurotransmission and metabolic pathways, with appropriate safety protocols. The term 4HB may appear in chemistry and pharmacology literature, but context is important to distinguish it from related compounds such as gamma-butyrolactone (GBL), a prodrug to GHB.