Drug & supplement interaction

1,4-butanediol + Naloxone

Naloxone brand names: Narcan, Zimhi, Rivive.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Moderate

1,4-butanediol has a moderate interaction with Naloxone. Theoretically, concomitant use of 1,4-butanediol with naloxone may antagonize the effects of 1,4-butanediol.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
Know someone taking this? Share
Facebook Post Reddit Email
On this page
Interaction report

1,4-butanediol and Naloxone

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

NALOXONE (Narcan)

Theoretically, concomitant use of 1,4-butanediol with naloxone may antagonize the effects of 1,4-butanediol.
1,4-Butanediol is metabolized to gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB). Theoretically, naloxone may antagonize the effects of GHB, but anecdotally, naloxone is not effective for treating GHB poisoning.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

First, please know that 1,4-butanediol is not a real supplement. It is a toxic industrial chemical that your body turns into GHB, a strong depressant that can cause coma, stopped breathing, and death. It should never be swallowed on purpose.

Now, about naloxone (Narcan, Zimhi): it reverses opioid overdoses by blocking opioid receptors. In theory, some thought it might also push back against GHB, but here is the honest part. This is based only on anecdotal reports, and in real life naloxone does not reliably reverse GHB or 1,4-butanediol poisoning. So do not count on naloxone to undo this kind of overdose. If someone has taken 1,4-butanediol, call 911 right away and get emergency care.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Anon. Multistate outbreak of poisonings associated with illicit use of gamma hydroxy butyrate. JAMA 1991;265:447-8. DOI

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

1,4-butanediol Also Interacts With Other Medications

1,4-butanediol has 250 major, 20 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Naloxone one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 250 Moderate 20 No known interaction 2,560 (incl. Naloxone)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against 1,4-butanediol

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against 1,4-butanediol. Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Naloxone

This page covers 1,4-butanediol only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Naloxone page lists 3 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl) (moderate) and Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) (moderate).

By severity: 3 moderate.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Naloxone page

“The list of supplements that interact with naloxone, the emergency spray or injection (Narcan, Zimhi, Rivive) that reverses opioid overdoses, is short and unusual. All three entries are forms of the same substance: gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) and two chemicals the body converts into it, GBL and 1,4-butanediol.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Naloxone interaction page

How much people look this up

Where 1,4-butanediol and Naloxone Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement 1,4-butanediol
Steady interest

#872 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Naloxone
Steady interest

#1,804 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About 1,4-butanediol

What is 1,4-butanediol?

  • Marketed illegally as a 'recreational' or party substance
  • Falsely sold as a sleep aid
  • Falsely promoted for bodybuilding or muscle growth
  • Industrial solvent and chemical manufacturing

1,4-butanediol is a toxic industrial chemical, not a safe dietary supplement. Once swallowed, the body converts it into GHB, a powerful central nervous system depressant that can cause coma, dangerous breathing problems, addiction, and death. It should never be taken as a supplement or recreational substance.

Read the full 1,4-butanediol monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Naloxone Injection

What Is Naloxone Injection Used For?

Brand names: Narcan, Zimhi, Rivive

Naloxone Hydrochloride injection is used for the emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdose — reversing dangerous slowing of breathing and loss of consciousness caused by opioids. It is also approved for use in pediatric patients of all ages.

Naloxone Hydrochloride injection is additionally indicated specifically for military personnel and chemical incident responders: for emergency treatment of patients 12 and older where high-potency opioids such as fentanyl analogues have been used as a chemical weapon, and for temporary protection against breathing and nervous system depression when entering an area contaminated with such opioids. Zimhi (naloxone HCl) is a pre-filled, single-dose injectable product approved for intramuscular or subcutaneous use in known or suspected opioid overdose.

See full Naloxone Injection drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & 1,4-butanediol

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against 1,4-butanediol — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

250Major
20Moderate
0Minor
2,559No known interaction
250 Major 20 Moderate 2,559 No interaction
Major

250 interactions

Showing 60 of 250 major interactions — see all 250 on the 1,4-butanediol page.

Moderate

20 interactions

No interaction 2,559 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked 1,4-butanediol against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,559 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full 1,4-butanediol list.

See the full 1,4-butanediol interactions page
See every supplement checked against Naloxone, ranked by severity
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
1,4-butanediol monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Naloxone supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Naloxone, ranked by severity Naloxone Injection drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking 1,4-butanediol and Naloxone Together: Common Questions

Can you take 1,4-butanediol with Naloxone?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the 1,4-butanediol and Naloxone interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Naloxone and 1,4-butanediol?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.