source: drugs-forum.com
G is a physically addictive substance, in the classical sense, like heroin or cocaine.
Skip to the end if you don't want to read a lot of sciency stuff, just want help with addiction.
G binds to the GABA-B receptor in the brain. GABA is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter. It reduces neural activity, producing relaxation etc.
G use will cause downregulation of GABA-B receptors from a single use - the brain produces less and less GABA-B receptors plus upregulation of glutamate receptors (more glutamate receptors). Glutamate is the main excitatory neurotransmitter, essentially it increases neural activity. In addition there is a GHB receptor. GHB is present naturally in the brain, where it binds to GHB receptors and produces and excitatory response (increasing stimulation). When you come down from a dose of G, or stop dosing during an addiction, the combination of downregulated GABA-B plus upregulated glutamate receptors (plus the continued stimulation of GHB receptors as one comes down from a dose) produces excessive neural stimulation, hence the sudden waking effect from night-time G use.
In addiction, this produces the withdrawal effects.
'Excitotoxicity' is a condition that can be caused by large amounts of glutamate in the brain. Glutamate binds to its receptors (AMPA, NMDA and kainate) and in excess can cause a large influx of calcium ions into neurons. This calcium influx can cause a process called 'apoptosis', also known as programmed cell death. Essentially, the neurons commit suicide.
It follows from the mechanism of action of G that in withdrawal, excitotoxicity plays a role. Considering this, anyone in a G addiction should seek medical assistance if possible and request gabapentin or pregabalin, two drugs which block calcium channels and reduce glutamate production in the brain. These drugs could prevent the neurotoxicity caused by G withdrawal.
It's likely that some of the withdrawal symptoms are caused by downregulation of other neurotransmitters (acetylcholine most likely, possibly also dopamine).
THE END:
The G withdrawal sweats and high heart rate/blood pressure can be treated with clonidine (clinically). SWIM has found that the sweats can be treated with first generation antihistamines (dramamine, benadryl, also piriton somewhat) which have anticholinergic activity.They can be bought OTC.
Bad G withdrawal will produce paranoid delusions/hallucinations/psychosis/tremors and sweating, which MUST be treated by medical professionals.
Benzodiazepenes (valium, xanax etc, active at GABA-A) can help with the withdrawals, but should be tapered. If you have a supply and are using them to treat your withdrawals, be aware that you could end up addicted to them, with similar withdrawals to G.
Alcohol can also ease the withdrawals(active at GABA-B and GABA-A, but doesn't ease all the symptoms, and psychosis will still develop unhindered), but it's unpleasant when you end up having to drink 30-40 units of alcohol (equivalent to 10 LITRES of beer) just to ease the anxiety, then develop a HUGE hangover in a few hours.
Supplementing with zinc and magnesium could help to prevent some of the neurotoxicity.
Taping your dose down over a period of several weeks is the best way to get off it by yourself. DO NOT STOP COLD TURKEY, PEOPLE HAVE DIED THIS WAY.
As I mentioned before, it's VERY likely that withdrawing from G addiction can cause nerve damage (most noticable as a reduction in sensation of the extremities or a tingling/burning/pins and needles sensation in the fingers/toes/face), and as such you should be getting off it under the supervision of a medical professional. Most of them have no idea when G is, much less how to treat it. Try and find some medical info on the net, print it out and show it to them. Mention excitotoxicity and ask to be treated with GABAPENTIN OR PREGABALIN in addition to clonidine and a benzodiazepene tapering program.