Ma'anar ƙamus na GHB shine gamma-hydroxybutyrate, wanda shine sinadari na sinadarai wanda zai iya aiki a matsayin abin damuwa akan tsarin juyayi na tsakiya. An yi amfani da shi azaman magani na nishaɗi kuma wani lokacin azaman taimakon bacci, amma yana iya zama haɗari kuma mai yuwuwar mutuwa a cikin allurai masu yawa. Hakanan ana samar da GHB ta dabi'a a cikin ƙananan adadi a cikin jikin ɗan adam azaman metabolite na neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).