Drug & supplement interaction

Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl) + Colchicine

Colchicine brand names: Colchicine, Colsalide Improved, Mitigare, Colcrys, Gloperba, and others.

No Known Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 13, 2026
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl) and Colchicine in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first. Additionally, although there is no interaction, the two are separately associated with some of the same side effects, which would make a new symptom harder to attribute to one or the other.

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Interaction report

Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl) and Colchicine

We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.

No Known Interaction Found

We did not find a documented interaction between Colchicine and Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl) in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — there is often limited research on supplements and herbal products, especially around drug interactions.

If you decide to take both, the practical routine is simple: add one new thing at a time and note the date you started it. If the combination is going to disagree with you, it usually shows in the first days to a couple of weeks — and a start date turns “I’ve been feeling off” into something a pharmacist can actually work with. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.

Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.

Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl) safety at a glance

Gamma Butyrolacton... overall Avoid GBL is a toxic, illegal substance that can cause coma and death; it should never be consumed.
Pregnancy Unsafe When used orally; avoid using. Read the full pregnancy detail
Breastfeeding Unsafe When used orally; avoid using. Read the full breastfeeding detail

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — the full detail is in the Special populations card below. Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Colchicine and Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl)? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Colchicine

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Colchicine is filed under 5 classifications — including antigout drugs, p-glycoprotein substrates, cytochrome p450 3a4 (cyp3a4) substrates. Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl) has documented interactions with 10 drug classes — the most serious being alcohol (ethanol) (moderate), amphetamines (moderate) and anticonvulsants (moderate) — and none of Colchicine’s classifications are among them.

Classification data comes from our licensed Natural Medicines dataset. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded there, so this describes how the check was run — it is not a safety guarantee.

Keep it in perspective

Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl) Does Interact With Other Medications

Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl) has 271 moderate known drug interactions in our database — Colchicine isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 271 No known interaction 2,559 (incl. Colchicine)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl)

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl). Pick one to open its full report.

What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl) and Colchicine May Share Several of the Same Side Effects

This is not an interaction. Neither one changes how your body handles the other, and nothing here says they react together. What our sources do show is that each has separately been linked to the effects below — so taking both can make those effects more likely to turn up, and harder to pin on one or the other if they do. One of them is worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • Severe muscle breakdown Worth acting on Additional detail

    Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl)

    “Orally, GBL can cause involuntary muscle movements. Rarely, it has been reported to cause rhabdomyolysis.”

    Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl) · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in muscle breakdown.

    4 sources cited
    1. 665. LoVecchio F, Curry SC, Bagnasco T. Butyrolactone-induced central nervous system depression after ingestion of RenewTrient, a dietary supplement. N Engl J Med 1998;339:847-8.
    2. 682. FDA. FDA warns about products containing gamma butyrolactone or GBL and asks companies to issue a recall. Talk Paper, 21 January 1999.
    3. 1430. Anon. Adverse events associated with ingestion of gamma-butyrolactone--Minnesota, New Mexico, and Texas, 1998-1999. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 1999;48:137-40.
    4. 95118. Bhattacharya IS, Watson F, Bruce M. A case of ?-butyrolactone associated with severe withdrawal delirium and acute renal failure. Eur Addict Res 2011;17(4):169-71. PubMed

    Colchicine

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Colchicine. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Vomiting / Nausea Additional detail

    Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl)

    “Orally, GBL can cause bowel incontinence and vomiting.

    Consistent use of GBL followed by abrupt discontinuation is associated with withdrawal symptoms, including nausea and vomiting.”

    Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl) · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in nausea and vomiting.

    6 sources cited
    1. 665. LoVecchio F, Curry SC, Bagnasco T. Butyrolactone-induced central nervous system depression after ingestion of RenewTrient, a dietary supplement. N Engl J Med 1998;339:847-8.
    2. 682. FDA. FDA warns about products containing gamma butyrolactone or GBL and asks companies to issue a recall. Talk Paper, 21 January 1999.
    3. 1430. Anon. Adverse events associated with ingestion of gamma-butyrolactone--Minnesota, New Mexico, and Texas, 1998-1999. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 1999;48:137-40.
    4. 93819. Bosch OG, Eisenegger C, Gertsch J, et al. Gamma-hydroxybutyrate enhances mood and prosocial behavior without affecting plasma oxytocin and testosterone. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2015 Dec;62:1-10. PubMed
    5. 95130. Heytens L, Neels H, Van Regenmortel N, et al. Near-fatal persistent anion- and osmolal-gap acidosis due to massive gamma-butyrolactone/ethanol intoxication. Ann Clin Biochem 2015;52(Pt 2):283-7. PubMed
    6. 95118. Bhattacharya IS, Watson F, Bruce M. A case of ?-butyrolactone associated with severe withdrawal delirium and acute renal failure. Eur Addict Res 2011;17(4):169-71. PubMed

    Colchicine

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Colchicine. Read the label on DailyMed ›

Reported for Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl) but not commonly for Colchicine: dependence or withdrawal symptoms, kidney problems, sweating and hallucinations.

Effects for Colchicine come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl) come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

Special populations

Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl) in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy And Lactation Unsafe

When used orally; avoid using.

DISCLAIMER: This tool is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Patients should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Colchicine

This page covers Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl) only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Colchicine page lists 146 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Autumn Crocus (major), Grapefruit (major), St. John's Wort (major) and Acacia Rigidula (moderate).

By severity: 4 major · 104 moderate · 38 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Colchicine page

“Colchicine, the gout and pericarditis medicine sold as Colcrys and Mitigare, has one of the smallest gaps between a helpful dose and a harmful one of any drug I dispense, so its 146 supplement interactions deserve genuine respect. Most of them work the same way, blocking or speeding up the enzyme and transporter (CYP3A4 and P-glycoprot…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Colchicine interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl) and Colchicine 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 Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl)
Steady interest

#1,429 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Colchicine
Top half

#890 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.

Where does our data come from?
  • Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
  • Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl) reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl) and Colchicine records this page draws on were last updated July 10, 2026.
  • What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.
Data structure & sourcing designed and verified by .
Supplement

About Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl)

What is Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl)?

Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl)
  • Recreational intoxication and euphoria
  • Relaxation and sedation
  • Sleep aid (misused)
  • Bodybuilding/muscle building claims (unproven)
  • Industrial solvent and cleaner

Gamma butyrolactone (GBL) is a toxic industrial solvent, not a dietary supplement, and the body converts it into GHB, a powerful and dangerous sedative. It is illegal to sell or possess for human use in the United States, has no proven medical or supplemental benefit, and can cause coma, seizures, and death. Do not take GBL — if you are seeking help for sleep, anxiety, or substance use, talk to a doctor or pharmacist.

Not applicable (synthetic industrial chemical) · Liquid (illicitly sold); used industrially as a solvent

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl) is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl) record says about it on its own.

Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl): dosing

There is no safe or recommended dose of GBL. It is not a supplement, it is illegal to sell for human use, and any amount can be dangerous because it converts into the potent sedative GHB.No pharmacist or doctor should recommend taking GBL.

From our Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl) monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl) monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Colchicine

What Is Colchicine Used For?

Brand names: Colchicine, Colsalide Improved, Mitigare, Colcrys, Gloperba, Lodoco

Colchicine tablets and capsules are used to prevent gout flares in adults, and colchicine tablets are also used to treat acute gout flares when taken at the first sign of a flare. Colchicine tablets are additionally approved for familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) — a hereditary inflammatory condition — in adults and children 4 years and older.

Lodoco (colchicine tablet) is specifically indicated to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, coronary revascularization, and cardiovascular death in adults with established atherosclerotic disease or multiple cardiovascular risk factors. Colchicine is not a pain reliever and should not be used for pain from other causes.

See full Colchicine drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl)

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl) — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
271Moderate
0Minor
2,558No known interaction
271 Moderate 2,558 No interaction
Moderate

271 interactions

Showing 60 of 271 moderate interactions — see all 271 on the Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl) page.

No interaction 2,558 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl) against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,558 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl) list.

See the full Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl) interactions page
See every supplement checked against Colchicine, ranked by severity
Evidence & sources

Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl) References

The 28 references that drive our Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl) monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

  1. Soderling E, Le Bell A, Kirstila V, Tenovuo J. Betaine-containing toothpaste relieves subjective symptoms of dry mouth. Acta Odontol Scand 1998;56:65-9.
  2. LoVecchio F, Curry SC, Bagnasco T. Butyrolactone-induced central nervous system depression after ingestion of RenewTrient, a dietary supplement. N Engl J Med 1998;339:847-8.
  3. FDA. FDA warns about products containing gamma butyrolactone or GBL and asks companies to issue a recall. Talk Paper, 21 January 1999.
  4. Anon. Adverse events associated with ingestion of gamma-butyrolactone--Minnesota, New Mexico, and Texas, 1998-1999. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 1999;48:137-40.
  5. Harrington RD, Woodward JA, Hooton TM, et al. Life-threatening interactions between HIV-1 protease inhibitors and the illicit drugs MDMA and gamma-hydroxybutyrate. Arch Intern Med 1999;159:2221-4.
  6. Anon. FDA alert on misuse of consumer products containing GHB, GBL and BD. Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, MD. June 15, 1999.
  7. Anon. Important message for health professionals: Report serious adverse events associated with dietary supplements containing GBL, GHB or BD. Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, MD. August 25, 1999. Available at: http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/mwg
  8. Anon. Multistate outbreak of poisonings associated with illicit use of gamma hydroxy butyrate. JAMA 1991;265:447-8. DOI
  9. Carotenuto A, De Feo V, Fattorusso E, et al. The flavonoids of Allium ursinum. Phytochem 1996;41:531-6. PubMed
  10. FDA Talk Paper. FDA Warns About GBL-Related Products. 1999. Available at: vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/tpgbl2.html
  11. Ferrara SD, Tedeschi L, Frison G, Rossi A. Fatality due to gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) and heroin intoxication. J Forensic Sci 1995;40:501-4. DOI
  12. Schneir AB, Ly BT, Clark RF. A case of withdrawal from the GHB precursors gamma-butyrolactone and 1,4-butanediol. J Emerg Med 2001;21:31-3.. PubMed
  13. Sivilotti ML, Burns MJ, Aaron CK, Greenberg MJ. Pentobarbital for severe gamma-butyrolactone withdrawal. Ann Emerg Med 2001;38:660-5.. PubMed
  14. Bosch OG, Eisenegger C, Gertsch J, et al. Gamma-hydroxybutyrate enhances mood and prosocial behavior without affecting plasma oxytocin and testosterone. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2015 Dec;62:1-10. PubMed
  15. Thai D, Dyer JE, Benowitz NL, Haller CA. Gamma-hydroxybutyrate and ethanol effects and interactions in humans. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2006 Oct;26(5):524-9. PubMed

Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl) and Colchicine Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl) with Colchicine?
We do not list a known interaction between Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl) and Colchicine. That does not guarantee the combination is risk-free, so confirm with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medications or have a health condition.
Do Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl) and Colchicine have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 3 of the same effects. That is not an interaction: neither changes how your body handles the other. It does mean that if one of those effects turns up, it can be harder to tell which one is behind it. They are listed on this page with the source behind each.
How was the Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl) and Colchicine combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Colchicine is filed under 5 classifications, and Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl) has documented interactions with 10 drug classes — none of Colchicine's classifications are among them. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded in our dataset, so this describes how the check was run rather than guaranteeing safety.
Does Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl) interact with any other medications?
Yes. Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl) has 271 documented drug interactions in our database — Colchicine is simply not one of them. If you take anything else, it is worth checking each one; they are all listed on this page.
Does Colchicine interact with any supplements?
Yes. Colchicine has documented interactions with 146 supplements in our database — Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl) is not one of them. The Colchicine interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

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

Where next

Keep Exploring

Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl) monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Colchicine drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Colchicine supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Colchicine, ranked by severity Supplement interaction checker Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z Every drug we’ve checked against herbs & supplements References The 28 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

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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.