Drug & supplement interaction

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) + Naloxone

Naloxone brand names: Narcan, Zimhi, Rivive.

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

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) has a moderate interaction with Naloxone. Theoretically, naloxone may antagonize the effects of GHB.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) and Naloxone

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

Moderate

NALOXONE (Narcan)

Theoretically, naloxone may antagonize the effects of 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

Here's the honest picture with these two. Naloxone (Narcan, Zimhi) is the rescue medicine we use to reverse an opioid overdose, things like heroin or fentanyl. It works by knocking opioids off their receptors in the brain. GHB, however, doesn't act on those opioid receptors. It calms the brain through GABA-B and its own GHB receptors instead.

So on paper, some have wondered if naloxone might push back against GHB, but in real life it generally doesn't reverse GHB sedation or breathing trouble. This is only anecdotal, weak evidence. The bigger danger is GHB itself, which is unpredictable and can stop someone's breathing. If you suspect a GHB overdose, call 911 right away, and never rely on naloxone alone. Please talk with your doctor or pharmacist about any of this.

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

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) Also Interacts With Other Medications

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) has 249 major, 20 moderate, 5 minor 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 249 Moderate 20 Minor 5 No known interaction 2,556 (incl. Naloxone)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb)

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Naloxone

This page covers Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) 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: 1,4-butanediol (moderate) and Gamma Butyrolactone (gbl) (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 Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) 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 Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb)
Steady interest

#1,266 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Naloxone
Top 25%

#473 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 Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb)

What is Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb)?

  • Narcolepsy (cataplexy and excessive daytime sleepiness)
  • Sleep aid
  • Misused as a recreational 'party drug'
  • Bodybuilding/muscle building (unproven)
  • Alcohol withdrawal (in some countries)

GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate) is a powerful central nervous system depressant that is NOT a safe dietary supplement. In the U.S. it is a controlled substance, and only a tightly regulated prescription form (sodium oxybate) is legal for narcolepsy. Non-prescription GHB can cause coma, breathing failure, and death, and it is also a known 'date-rape' drug — it should not be taken outside of medical supervision.

Read the full Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) 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 & Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb)

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

249Major
20Moderate
5Minor
2,555No known interaction
249 Major 20 Moderate 5 Minor 2,555 No interaction
Major

249 interactions

Showing 60 of 249 major interactions — see all 249 on the Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) page.

Moderate

20 interactions

Minor

5 interactions

No interaction 2,555 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,555 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) list.

See the full Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) 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
Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) 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 Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) and Naloxone Together: Common Questions

Can you take Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) 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 Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) 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 Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb)?

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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.