Drug & supplement interaction

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) + Venlafaxine

Venlafaxine brand names: Effexor XR, Effexor.

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-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) and Venlafaxine 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 label for Venlafaxine states a food rule worth keeping to, and 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-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) and Venlafaxine

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 Venlafaxine and Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) 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-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) safety at a glance

Gamma-hydroxybutyr... overall Avoid GHB is a controlled substance with a high risk of overdose, coma, and death; it is not a safe supplement.
Pregnancy Unsafe When used orally. GHB has been associated with life-threatening toxicities. Read the full pregnancy detail
Breastfeeding Unsafe When used orally. GHB has been associated with life-threatening toxicities. 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 Venlafaxine and Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb)? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Venlafaxine

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Venlafaxine is filed under 8 classifications — including antidepressant drugs, qt interval-prolonging drugs, serotonergic drugs. Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) has documented interactions with 10 drug classes — the most serious being alcohol (ethanol) (major), cns depressants (major) and divalprox sodium (depakote) (major) — and none of Venlafaxine’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-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) Does Interact With Other Medications

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) has 249 major, 21 moderate, 5 minor known drug interactions in our database — Venlafaxine isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 249 Moderate 21 Minor 5 No known interaction 2,555 (incl. Venlafaxine)
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.

What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) and Venlafaxine 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. 6 of them are worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • Severe muscle breakdown Worth acting on Additional detail

    Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb)

    “Orally, GHB can cause numbing of the legs and eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome. In people who are dependent on GHB, withdrawal has been associated with rhabdomyolysis.”

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

    3 sources cited
    1. 6016. Timby N, Eriksson A. Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate-Associated Deaths. Am J Med 2000;108:518. PubMed
    2. 10658. Mason P, Kerns II W. Gamma Hydroxybutyric Acid (GHB) Intoxication. Acad Emerg Med 2002;9:730-39.. DOI
    3. 93823. Kuiper MA, Peikert N, Boerma EC. Gamma-hydroxybutyrate withdrawal syndrome: a case report. Cases J. 2009 Mar 25;2:6530. DOI

    Venlafaxine

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

  • Unsteadiness / Seizures Worth acting on Additional detail

    Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb)

    “Orally, GHB can cause headache, hallucinations, dizziness, confusion, amnesia, drowsiness, somnolence, tremor, and agitation. It can also cause ataxia, eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome, memory loss, reduced or altered levels of consciousness, seizures, and coma.”

    Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in anxiety.

    6 sources cited
    1. 6016. Timby N, Eriksson A. Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate-Associated Deaths. Am J Med 2000;108:518. PubMed
    2. 10658. Mason P, Kerns II W. Gamma Hydroxybutyric Acid (GHB) Intoxication. Acad Emerg Med 2002;9:730-39.. DOI
    3. 93823. Kuiper MA, Peikert N, Boerma EC. Gamma-hydroxybutyrate withdrawal syndrome: a case report. Cases J. 2009 Mar 25;2:6530. DOI
    4. 93824. Leone MA, Vigna-Taglianti F, Avanzi G, Brambilla R, Faggiano F. Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) for treatment of alcohol withdrawal and prevention of relapses. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010 Feb 17;(2):CD006266. PubMed
    5. 93827. Nimmerrichter AA, Walter H, Gutierrez-Lobos KE, Lesch OM. Double-blind controlled trial of gamma-hydroxybutyrate and clomethiazole in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal. Alcohol Alcohol. 2002 Jan-Feb;37(1):67-73. PubMed
    6. 93830. Stomberg MW, Knudsen K, Stomberg H, Skärsäter I. Symptoms and signs in interpreting gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) intoxication - an explorative study. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. 2014 Apr 23;22:27. PubMed

    Venlafaxine

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

  • Hallucinations / Confusion Worth acting on Additional detail

    Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb)

    “Orally, GHB can cause confusion, hallucinations, agitation, and amnesia. In people who are dependent on GHB, withdrawal can cause auditory and visual hallucinations, anxiety, delirium, panic, psychoses, and terror.”

    Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in anxiety.

    6 sources cited
    1. 6016. Timby N, Eriksson A. Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate-Associated Deaths. Am J Med 2000;108:518. PubMed
    2. 10658. Mason P, Kerns II W. Gamma Hydroxybutyric Acid (GHB) Intoxication. Acad Emerg Med 2002;9:730-39.. DOI
    3. 93823. Kuiper MA, Peikert N, Boerma EC. Gamma-hydroxybutyrate withdrawal syndrome: a case report. Cases J. 2009 Mar 25;2:6530. DOI
    4. 93824. Leone MA, Vigna-Taglianti F, Avanzi G, Brambilla R, Faggiano F. Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) for treatment of alcohol withdrawal and prevention of relapses. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010 Feb 17;(2):CD006266. PubMed
    5. 93827. Nimmerrichter AA, Walter H, Gutierrez-Lobos KE, Lesch OM. Double-blind controlled trial of gamma-hydroxybutyrate and clomethiazole in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal. Alcohol Alcohol. 2002 Jan-Feb;37(1):67-73. PubMed
    6. 93830. Stomberg MW, Knudsen K, Stomberg H, Skärsäter I. Symptoms and signs in interpreting gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) intoxication - an explorative study. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. 2014 Apr 23;22:27. PubMed

    Venlafaxine

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

  • Raised blood pressure Worth acting on Additional detail

    Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb)

    “Orally, GHB can cause chest tightness, bradycardia or tachycardia, and cardiac arrest. In people who are dependent on GHB, withdrawal can cause tachycardia and hypertension.”

    Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in cardiac arrest.

    6 sources cited
    1. 6016. Timby N, Eriksson A. Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate-Associated Deaths. Am J Med 2000;108:518. PubMed
    2. 10658. Mason P, Kerns II W. Gamma Hydroxybutyric Acid (GHB) Intoxication. Acad Emerg Med 2002;9:730-39.. DOI
    3. 93820. Boscolo-Berto R, Viel G, Montagnese S, Raduazzo DI, Ferrara SD, Dauvilliers Y. Narcolepsy and effectiveness of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB): a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Sleep Med Rev. 2012 Oct;16(5):431-43. PubMed
    4. 107794. Aronsen AC, Brekke M, Vallersnes OM. Acute poisoning with gamma-hydroxybutyrate. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen 2020;140(10). PubMed
    5. 107795. Lee S, Boyce SL, Southwell J. Case of gamma-hydroxybutyrate poisoning in an infant. J Paediatr Child Health 2022;58(5):909-910. PubMed
    6. 6612. Galloway GP, Frederick SL, Staggers FE Jr, et al. Gamma-hydroxybutyrate: an emerging drug of abuse that causes physical dependence. Addiction 1997;92:89-96. DOI

    Venlafaxine

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

  • Weight loss Additional detail

    Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb)

    “In pediatric patients, the sodium salt of GHB, known as sodium oxybate, can cause weight loss.

    GHB and the chemically-related products gamma butyrolactone (GBL) and 1,4-butanediol (BD), which are rapidly converted to GHB in the body, have been associated with at least 122 reports of serious adverse reactions.”

    Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in obesity.

    6 sources cited
    1. 102834. Product information for Xyrem. Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Palo Alto, CA. March 2022.
    2. 3680. Otto A. Acquaintance rape drug may one day help instead of hurt (news). Pharmacy Today. American Pharmaceutical Association, Washington, DC. April 2000:17.
    3. 4259. FDA Talk Paper. FDA Warns About GBL-Related Products. 1999. Available at: vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/tpgbl2.html
    4. 10657. Ingels M, Rangan C, Bellezzo J, Clark R. Coma and respiratory depression following the ingestion of GHB and its precursors: Three cases. J Emerg Med 2000;19:47-50.. PubMed
    5. 10658. Mason P, Kerns II W. Gamma Hydroxybutyric Acid (GHB) Intoxication. Acad Emerg Med 2002;9:730-39.. DOI
    6. 93823. Kuiper MA, Peikert N, Boerma EC. Gamma-hydroxybutyrate withdrawal syndrome: a case report. Cases J. 2009 Mar 25;2:6530. DOI

    Venlafaxine

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

  • Tremor or shakiness Additional detail

    Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb)

    Recorded for Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Unsteadiness / Seizures above.

    Venlafaxine

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

  • Sweating Additional detail

    Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb)

    Recorded for Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Unsteadiness / Seizures above.

    Venlafaxine

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

  • A fast or pounding heartbeat Additional detail

    Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb)

    Recorded for Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Unsteadiness / Seizures above.

    Venlafaxine

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

Showing the 10 most notable of 19 shared effects — ranked by how unusual each one is, not just whether both lists mention it.

Reported for Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) but not commonly for Venlafaxine: chest pain, memory problems, a slow heartbeat and a stuffy or runny nose.

Effects for Venlafaxine come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) 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-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy And Lactation Unsafe

When used orally. GHB has been associated with life-threatening toxicities.

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

How to take them

Some Venlafaxine Products Have a Food Rule — Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) Should Not Break It

At least one FDA label for a product containing Venlafaxine says to take it with food. If you take Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate — and take Venlafaxine with a meal where the label says to.

This may not be true of your version. Food instructions belong to the product, not the ingredient: two Venlafaxine products can carry different directions, and extended-release forms often differ from immediate-release ones. The label we read is quoted below — check the directions on your own box or bottle, or ask your pharmacist, for how to take the exact product you were given.

Take once daily with food.

From the Dosage and Administration section of the FDA label we read for Venlafaxine — where that label names a specific product, the instruction is that product's. Read the label on DailyMed ›

A food rule is not an interaction — it is about how much of the medicine you absorb. The directions that came with your own product, and your pharmacist, outrank anything on this page.

Overlapping uses

What Venlafaxine Is Prescribed For, and What Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) Has Been Studied For

These two come up together because they touch the same health topic — not because they do the same job. Venlafaxine is a prescription medicine with approved uses on its FDA label. Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) is a supplement: what follows is what researchers have looked at it for, and how strong that evidence is.

Venlafaxine is prescribed for: Venlafaxine is used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) across all available formulations. Extended-release capsules (including Effexor XR) are also approved for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder (SAD), and panic disorder (PD). Extended-release tablets are approved for major depressive disorder and social anxiety disorder. Immediate-release venlafaxine tablets are indicated for major depressive disorder only.

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) has been studied for:

  • Depression studied, not established Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) has been studied for this. Natural Medicines rates the evidence: Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Read what the research shows

    Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) for depression

    Although there has been interest in using oral GHB for depression, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of GHB for this purpose.

Effectiveness ratings and the research summaries above are the verbatim record from the Natural Medicines database, which grades evidence from “Effective” down to “Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate”. A rating below the top of that scale means researchers have looked at it — not that it works, and never that it can stand in for a prescribed medicine. Do not stop or replace Venlafaxine on your own; if you are taking Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) for the same health topic, tell your prescriber, especially if the medicine is being adjusted to a target.

From our Q&A

Questions About Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) or Venlafaxine

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) or Venlafaxine, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Venlafaxine

This page covers Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Venlafaxine page lists 110 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), American Hellebore (major), Arsenic (major), Cesium (major) and Ephedra (major).

By severity: 8 major · 82 moderate · 20 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Venlafaxine page

“Venlafaxine (Effexor, Effexor XR) is an antidepressant that raises serotonin, which is exactly where part of the danger on this page sits, and its 110 interactions deserve genuine respect. Eight carry a major rating, most tied to heart rhythm: several ingredients, grapefruit among them, can stretch the QT interval and add to a strain v…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Venlafaxine interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) and Venlafaxine 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

#1,097 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Venlafaxine
Top 5%

#113 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-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) and Venlafaxine 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-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.

Liquid solution, powder, prescription oral solution (sodium oxybate)

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

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb): dosing

There is no safe over-the-counter or supplement dose of GHB. Because illicit products are not standardized, there is no reliable way to measure a safe amount, and small differences can cause overdose.The only legitimate use is the prescription medication sodium oxybate, which is dosed and monitored by a doctor through a special safety program. Do not attempt to use GHB on your own.

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

Read the full Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Venlafaxine

What Is Venlafaxine Used For?

Brand names: Effexor XR, Effexor

Venlafaxine is used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) across all available formulations. Extended-release capsules (including Effexor XR) are also approved for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder (SAD), and panic disorder (PD).

Extended-release tablets are approved for major depressive disorder and social anxiety disorder. Immediate-release venlafaxine tablets are indicated for major depressive disorder only.

See full Venlafaxine 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
21Moderate
5Minor
2,554No known interaction
249 Major 21 Moderate 5 Minor 2,554 No interaction
Major

249 interactions

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

Moderate

21 interactions

Minor

5 interactions

No interaction 2,554 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 2,554 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 Venlafaxine, ranked by severity
Evidence & sources

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) References

The 31 references that drive our Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) 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. 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.
  2. Anon. FDA alert on misuse of consumer products containing GHB, GBL and BD. Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, MD. June 15, 1999.
  3. 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
  4. Otto A. Acquaintance rape drug may one day help instead of hurt (news). Pharmacy Today. American Pharmaceutical Association, Washington, DC. April 2000:17.
  5. Anon. Multistate outbreak of poisonings associated with illicit use of gamma hydroxy butyrate. JAMA 1991;265:447-8. DOI
  6. Dyer JE. Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate: a health-food product producing coma and seizure-like activity (abstract). Am J Emerg Med 1991;9:321-4.
  7. FDA Talk Paper. FDA Warns About GBL-Related Products. 1999. Available at: vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/tpgbl2.html
  8. Timby N, Eriksson A. Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate-Associated Deaths. Am J Med 2000;108:518. PubMed
  9. Galloway GP, Frederick SL, Staggers FE Jr, et al. Gamma-hydroxybutyrate: an emerging drug of abuse that causes physical dependence. Addiction 1997;92:89-96. DOI
  10. Price G. In-patient detoxification after GHB dependence. Br J Psychiatry 2000;177:181. PubMed
  11. Dyer J, Roth B, Hyma B. Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate withdrawal syndrome. Ann Emerg Med 2001;37:147-53.. PubMed
  12. Ingels M, Rangan C, Bellezzo J, Clark R. Coma and respiratory depression following the ingestion of GHB and its precursors: Three cases. J Emerg Med 2000;19:47-50.. PubMed
  13. Mason P, Kerns II W. Gamma Hydroxybutyric Acid (GHB) Intoxication. Acad Emerg Med 2002;9:730-39.. DOI
  14. Abanades S, Farré M, Segura M, et al. Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) in humans: pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2006 Aug;1074:559-76. PubMed
  15. Boscolo-Berto R, Viel G, Montagnese S, Raduazzo DI, Ferrara SD, Dauvilliers Y. Narcolepsy and effectiveness of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB): a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Sleep Med Rev. 2012 Oct;16(5):431-43. 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-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) and Venlafaxine Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) with Venlafaxine?
We do not list a known interaction between Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) and Venlafaxine. 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-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) and Venlafaxine have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 10 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.
Should I take Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) and Venlafaxine at the same time of day?
At least one FDA label for a product containing Venlafaxine says to take it with food. If you take Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate and take Venlafaxine with a meal where the label says to. Food instructions belong to the product rather than the ingredient — two Venlafaxine products can differ — so check the directions on your own box. This is about absorption, not an interaction.
Are Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) and Venlafaxine used for the same thing?
They overlap in purpose, which usually means the real question is whether you need both rather than whether they are safe together. This page lists the shared uses and how strong the evidence is for Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) in each. That is a conversation for your prescriber, especially if Venlafaxine is being adjusted to a target.
How was the Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) and Venlafaxine combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Venlafaxine is filed under 8 classifications, and Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) has documented interactions with 10 drug classes — none of Venlafaxine'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-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) interact with any other medications?
Yes. Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) has 275 documented drug interactions in our database — Venlafaxine 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 Venlafaxine interact with any supplements?
Yes. Venlafaxine has documented interactions with 110 supplements in our database — Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) is not one of them. The Venlafaxine 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-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Venlafaxine drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Venlafaxine supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Venlafaxine, 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 31 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.