Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 6, 2025

Induction of an Isoelectric Brain State to Investigate the Impact of Endogenous Synaptic Activity on Neuronal Excitability In Vivo
Published on: March 31, 2016
Successful treatment of severe, treatment resistant GHB withdrawal through thiopental-coma
Cornelis F Vos1, Monica Pop-Purceleanu1, Maarten J W van den Berg2
1Department of Psychiatry, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Background:
In patients with gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) use disorder (GUD), withdrawal can have a fulminant course with rapid progression of severe, potentially life-threatening complications. Case: We present a 45-year old man with severe GHB withdrawal, resistant to conventional treatment with pharmaceutical GHB, high doses of benzodiazepines and baclofen. GHB withdrawal finally responded to thiopental-induced coma therapy, with burst suppression pattern on electroencephalography (EEG). The patient fully recovered, without withdrawal or residual neuropsychiatric symptoms. Discussion: To our knowledge, this is the first case report in which barbiturates were used to induce a coma to treat severe, treatment resistant GHB withdrawal. This case suggests barbiturate coma therapy might be considered in severe GHB withdrawal which does not respond to conventional treatment.
Related Concept Videos
CNS Depressants: Barbiturates and Benzodiazepines
Psychosis: Goals of Pharmacotherapy
Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Barbiturates
Electroconvulsive Therapy
Prevention of Further Absorption of Poison
Stages of General Anesthesia

