1,4-Butanediol

BD, BDO, 1,4-B, 1,4-BD, Butylene glycol

Psychoactive Class

Chemical Class

Diol (alkanediol)GABA analogue (prodrug)

1,4-Butanediol is a synthetic diol compound first synthesized in 1890 by Dutch chemist Pieter Johannes Dekkers. Widely used industrially as a solvent and in the manufacture of plastics and polyurethanes,¹ it also sees recreational use as a depressant.² It functions as a prodrug for GHB,³ producing similar but reportedly inferior effects. It is considered habit-forming² and carries additional health risks compared to GHB, notably liver toxicity.

Dosage & Duration

Dosage

Threshold~0.5 ml

Light0.5-1 ml

Moderate1-1.5 ml

Strong1.5+ ml

Individual response to 1,4-butanediol varies considerably owing to differences in alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme activity. Because effects take longer to manifest than with GHB, premature redosing before the initial dose has taken effect is a frequent contributor to overdose.

Duration

Onset10-45 minutes

After Effects2-4 hours

Total3-5 hours

Half-life

~39 minutes

Subjective Effects

Effects vary widely by individual, dose, and context.

Physical

The physical effects of 1,4-butanediol can be broken down into several components which progressively intensify proportional to dosage.

Euphoria Nausea Motor control loss Dizziness Dehydration

Cognitive

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.

Disinhibition Information processing suppression Thought deceleration Amnesia Euphoria Anxiety suppression

Forked from Subjective Effect Documentation

by Josie KinsSeptember 2015.

Reagent Testing

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Expected colorimetric results are being prepared.

Pharmacology

Pharmacodynamics

1,4-Butanediol functions primarily as a prodrug of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), and its major psychoactive effects result from its rapid metabolic conversion into GHB rather than from direct activity of the parent compound.⁴ One study has suggested that 1,4-butanediol may possess inherent alcohol-like pharmacological effects, based on its observed potentiation of ethanol's behavioral effects when co-administered.⁴ However, this potentiation may instead be explained by competition for shared metabolic enzymes.⁴ A separate study found no effect following direct intracerebroventricular injection in rats, contradicting the hypothesis of inherent pharmacological activity.⁵

Pharmacokinetics

1,4-Butanediol is rapidly converted into GHB by alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase.² Individual variation in the levels of these enzymes may account for differences in effects and side effects between users.³ Because 1,4-butanediol shares its metabolic enzymes with ethanol, co-administration creates competition for these enzymes, slowing the metabolism and clearance of both compounds.²⁶ The elimination half-life of 1,4-butanediol is approximately 39 minutes.²

Tolerance

Cross Tolerance

GHB, GBL, Other GABAergic depressants

Harm Potential

Addiction & Dependence

Psychological

Moderate

Classified as habit-forming with potential for psychological dependence characteristic of GABAergic depressants.⁷

Toxicity

Hepatic

Liver toxicity has been identified as a potential health risk associated with use,² representing an additional hazard compared to GHB itself.

History & Culture

Discovery and Synthesis

1,4-Butanediol was first synthesized in 1890² by Dutch chemist Pieter Johannes Dekkers through the acidic hydrolysis of N,N'-dinitro-1,4-butanediamine. Dekkers originally named the compound "tetramethylene glycol," a reference to its structure as a four-carbon diol.

Legality

By Country

United StatesNot federally scheduled (Federal Analog Act may apply)

While 1,4-butanediol is not currently scheduled at the federal level, several states have classified it as a controlled substance. Individuals have been prosecuted for possession under the Federal Analog Act as substantially similar to GHB. Court rulings have been inconsistent: a 2002 federal case in New York ruled it could not be considered a GHB analog, but this decision was later overturned by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.¹⁵

GermanyNot explicitly scheduled

The substance is not explicitly listed as illegal under German drug legislation.¹³ However, it may be treated as illegal if possessed or sold for use as a drug rather than for legitimate industrial purposes.

CanadaSchedule VI precursor

Controlled as a Schedule VI precursor under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.¹² This classification applies to precursor chemicals rather than substances controlled for direct psychoactive effects.

United KingdomClass C

Scheduled in December 2009 as a Class C controlled substance alongside gamma-butyrolactone (GBL), another GHB precursor.¹⁴ Controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

References

Source Pages

Citations

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1,4-Butanediol

BD, BDO, 1,4-B, 1,4-BD, Butylene glycol

Psychoactive Class

Depressant

Chemical Class

Diol (alkanediol)GABA analogue (prodrug)