Warning of deadly dangerous ‘seawater drugs’

According to information from Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City on May 24, this unit has just saved a case of Gama Hydroxybutyrate poisoning – also known as “seawater drug”.

Male patient K. (38 years old, living in Ho Chi Minh City) was brought here for emergency on May 1, in a state of lethargy and struggling. The family said that he and 2 friends used a stimulant called “sea water drug”, mixed with alcohol to drink.

After that, Mr. K. was lethargic, struggling, and excited, so he was taken to Cho Ray Hospital, where he was given intensive care. In addition to the state of intense excitability, the patient also had very high elevations in cardiac enzymes and muscle enzymes (a sign of muscle destruction). This shows that Mr. K. suffered severe damage to the cardiac and striated muscles. The consequences of severe muscle destruction is severe kidney failure, the treatment team must dialysis to save the patient’s life.

The family also said that out of two friends who drank with the patient, one died. The other person also felt headache and fatigue. After being hospitalized for a day, his condition stabilized and was discharged.

According to Dr. Nguyen Thi Thuy Ngan, Department of Tropical Diseases, Cho Ray Hospital, “seawater drug” is a liquid drug, colorless, odorless, slightly salty taste. However, there are other forms of preparation such as powder or tablets and capsules.

This substance was first introduced by a Russian chemist at the end of the nineteenth century. In the early 60s and 70s of the twentieth century, people used this substance in the field of anesthesia because it has a nerve-suppressing effect.

However, it was later discontinued because of side effects, causing respiratory arrest. It is only recommended for use in some European countries, the US for patients with alcohol, other opiates or being treated for sleep disorders; Especially recommended for medical use under the supervision of a physician.

In medicine, “sea water drug” is called Gama Hydroxybutyrate (GHP for short). Therefore, the “playboy” world often calls it slang “Vitamin G.”

Many people when using this substance think that this substance is safe, after drinking it only creates a feeling of euphoria and is not affected later. “These are completely misconceptions. Because after drinking, people are often stimulated, excited, do not feel the dangers, so it is easy to cause daily-life accidents or traffic accidents when used. motorbikes, cars…

In fact, there have been cases where the use of this drug has resulted in euphoria, climbing and falling, or severe burns.” Doctor Thuy Ngan recommends.

And at doses exceeding the threshold, users can fall asleep, deep sleep. There have been cases of being “forgotten,” thinking that after taking the drug, only sleeping, but in fact, the patient was in a very deep coma, had respiratory arrest, and possibly died. This may be the reason why patient K.’s friend collapsed in the car on the way home.

Due to the very high risk of abuse and harm to users, “seawater drugs” are classified by the US anti-narcotics force in the list I of the group of drugs that need strict control.