Butanodiol or 1.4 BD, a synthetic drug with many uses

He 1.4-butanodiol (1.4-BD or butylenglicol) It is a thick, colorless and virtually odorless liquid substance, with a distinctive bitter taste. This chemical compound is used as an industrial paintings solvent and to manufacture some types of plastics, elastic fibers and polyurethanes.

Content

• What is butanodiol?
• How does it work?
• Side effects and security
  • BUTANODIOL PHYSICAL EFFECTS
  • Cognitive effects of butanodiol
• Main interactions
  • 1. Depressors (alcohol, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, GHB / GBL, opiates)
  • 2. Stimulants
  • 3. Sedatives
  • 4. Antipsychotics
  • 5. Pain medications (narcotics)
• Butanodiol consumption risks
  • Bibliographic references

What is butanodiol?

Butanodiol is a chemical that is classified as a subclass of alcoholic compounds called DIOLS. The dioles owe their name to the fact of having two alcohol substitutions (OH-) in their structure. It is composed of a butane chain of four carbon groups with a group alcohol attached to each terminal carbon of this chain. Its name 1.4- Butanodiol refers to these alcohol substitutions, found in R 1 and R 4.

In humans this compound acts as a depressor and precursor of the GHB, where 1 ml equals 1 g of GHB. It is used as a recreational mess with alcohol -like effects.

1.4-butanodiol, as well as GBL, are capable of dissolving most plastic types, for this reason they are stored and transported in glass containers, standard gelatin capsules (non-vegetarian) or high polyethylene plastic density.

It is illegal to sell Butanediol for pharmacological use. However, sometimes it is used as a substitute for other illegal substances such as gammabutirolactone (GBL) and hydroxybutirate gamma (GHB). Unfortunately, Butanodiol is as dangerous as GBL and GHB.

Butanodiol has been used to stimulate the production of growth and muscle growth hormone in bodybuilding, also to help lose weight and solve insomnia problems.

How does it work?

When 1, 4-butanodiol is ingested, The liver makes it GHB Thanks to alcohol inzyme and aldehyde dehydrogenase, which is the same enzyme as alcohol. Butanodiol first becomes 4-hydroxybutaldehyde and then is released to the bloodstream before returning to the liver to finally become GHB. This process results in a much more slow start of its effects than GBL or GHB.

GHB slows brain processes, which can cause loss of consciousness along with the dangerous decrease in breathing and other vital functions. Also stimulates growth hormone secretion.

Side effects and security

BUTANODIOL PHYSICAL EFFECTS

• Stimulation and sedation: at lower doses, 1.4-butanodiol is a stimulating drug, activates movement and maintains vigil. In high doses it becomes a physical sedative, promoting sleep and lethargy.
• Respiratory depression: Overdose produces an abnormal respiratory pattern, characterized by increasingly deep and sometimes faster breathing, followed by a gradual decrease that causes apnea (a temporary stop in breathing).
• Excessively slow heart rate
• Nausea: This effect is more common with 1.4-butanodiol than with GHB.
• Stomach cramps
• Motor control loss
• Dizziness
• Dehydration
• Muscle cramps
• Seizures
• Involuntary eye movements
• Salivation

Cognitive effects of butanodiol

• It encourages empathy, affection and improvement of sociability: alcohol simply increases sociability through disinhibition, but 1,4-butnodiol offers strong ectogenic effects (feelings of emotional closeness to others), although weaker than those of the MDMA.
• Euphoria
• Disinhibition
• Anxiety cancellation
• Deceleration of thought
• Aggressiveness
• Amnesia
• Confusion
• Greater suggestibility
• Increased libido
• Increased musical appreciation
• Eat

Butanodiol is not an active substance by itself; Its mechanism of action comes from being a GHB profármaco, since as we have seen, it quickly turns GHB into the body.

GHB is considered a safe substance when it is administered responsible for a doctor, and there is no danger of acute toxicity when this compound is taken in the appropriate doses. However, it can be very dangerous when used as a recreational drug or abuse its consumption. And this danger is still greater if consumed in combination with alcohol or other drugs.

The special precautions and warnings are the same as you can find in the GBL

Main interactions

Although many psychoactive substances can be relatively safe by themselves, they can become extremely dangerous and even threaten life when combined with other substances. Below you have some of the potentially more dangerous combinations, although they may not be included.

In the last ten years, of 194 deaths attributed or related to the GHB, he found that the majority were due to a respiratory depression caused by interaction with alcohol or other drugs. In humans, GHB has proven to inhibit the alcohol elimination rate. This can explain the respiratory arrest that occurred sometimes after the ingestion of both drugs. These substances enhance muscle relaxation, sedation and amnesia caused by the other and can lead to an unexpected loss of consciousness in high doses. There is also a higher risk of vomiting during unconsciousness and death due to bronchaspiration.

1. Depressors (alcohol, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, GHB / GBL, opiates)

This combination enhances muscle relaxation, amnesia, sedation and respiratory depression caused by the other. In higher doses, it can lead to a sudden and unexpected loss of consciousness along with a dangerous respiratory depression. There is also a higher risk of vomiting while you are unconscious and death due to suffocation.

2. Stimulants

It is extremely dangerous to combine chemical depressing substances with stimulants due to the risk of accidental poisoning. The stimulants mask the sedative effect of depressants, which is the main factor that most people use to measure their poisoning level. Once the stimulating effects disappear, the effects of the depressor will increase significantly, which will cause intense disinhibition, loss of engine control and loss of consciousness. This combination can also cause severe dehydration if fluid intake is not adequate.

3. Sedatives

Combining sedative drugs with butandiol can unpredictably enhance sedation, loss of motor control, delusions and amnesia. It can also cause a sudden loss of consciousness accompanied by a dangerous degree of respiratory depression.

4. Antipsychotics

Taking butanodiol together with other psychopharmaceuticals can increase the harmful effects of both compounds with serious consequences of the.

5. Pain medications (narcotics)

Some pain medications can cause dizziness and drowsiness. As in the case of sedatives, combining butanodiol with narcotics is extremely dangerous.

Butanodiol consumption risks

While substances such as GHB and GBL are considered illegal substances in most countries, 1,4-butnediol is marketed not only as a solvent, but also as a nutritional supplement in bodybuilding, to improve muscle and help the loss of loss of fat. In some establishments it can also be found as help against insomnia and even as a growth hormone.

Bibliographic references

• Pardo, l., & Farré, M. (2018). Butanodiol, a new drug of abuse: a review. Addictions, 30 (1), 31-38.
• Andrés, i., Navarro-Zaragoza, J., & Fernández-Morales, J. (2017). Butanodiol: a new emerging drug. Spanish Drug Dependencies Magazine, 42 (2), 43-52.
• García-Rodríguez, o., Fernández-Calderón, f., & Dryses-Villa, R. (2017). Butanodiol, a new design drug in Spain. Spanish Drug Dependencies Magazine, 42 (2), 53-62.
• Fornís-Scuder, l., & Echániz-Santamaría, I. (2019). Butanodiol: a new drug of abuse in Spain. Annals of the Sanitary System of Navarra, 42 (2), 223-227.
• Gómez-Arnau, J., & González-Rodríguez, M. (2019). Butanodiol: a new drug of abuse in the world of opioids. Clinical Medicine, 153 (11), 446-447.