Two cases of near-fatal gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) ingestion and intoxication.

We present two cases of GBL intoxication. Patient A is a 45-year old man who lost consciousness after drinking a clear unknown liquid. He was brought to the Emergency Departement (ED) after he was intubated. His partner notified the liquid could be GBL, a prodrug for GHB. He regained consciousness 16 hours later in the intensive care unit (ICU) where he could be successfully extubated. Patient B is a 25-year old man who was found unconscious at home with next to him an empty bottle of GBL. He was intubated in the intensive care unit. He could be extubated after 12 hours. GBL intoxication is becoming a more frequent problem and overdosage of GBL can rapidly occur because of its rapid onset and high potency when compared to GHB. We discuss the clinical course and complications after GBL ingestion and intoxication.