Officials in California warn that Blue Nitro is being abused as a recreational drug

January 14, 1999
Web posted at: 4:26 p.m. EST (2126 GMT)

SAN FRANCISCO (CNN) -- Blue Nitro promises everything from good sleep to great sex, and claims to be a fat burner, to boot. But health and law officials in California are warning the dietary supplement is being abused as a recreational drug, one that can send users into a comatose state.

"It slows the heart rate," said Dr. Jo Ellen Dyer, a pharmacist with the California Poison Control System. "It causes a slowing of breathing rate and can stop the breathing rate."

On Wednesday, police said they will ask shop owners to voluntarily stop selling the supplement, which is illegal under the state's Controlled Substances Act of 1996. So far, no one has been prosecuted.

Blue Nitro, advertised as a body builder supplement, is made from gamma butyrolactone, a solvent added to paint thinners, plus potassium, riboflavin and wintergreen oil.

There are no illegal ingredients in the aqua-colored liquid, but once consumed, it metabolizes in the body to create gamma hydroxybutyric acid or GHB. GHB, promoted as an alternative to steroids, acts as a narcotic acid and is illegal to produce or sell.

GHB can be especially dangerous if taken with alcohol or drugs. Poisoning symptoms include vomiting, sweating, amnesia, seizures, and loss of consciousness.

The makers of Blue Nitro say warnings on its website indicate the dangers of mixing the supplement with alcohol

Dyer said in the last six months of 1998, at least eight reported GHB poisonings were linked to Blue Nitro.

"It has been sold illegally, basically throughout the state," said Lt. Kitt Krenshaw of the San Francisco Police Department. "I've conferred with [police] in Los Angeles and San Diego, and they've already put out warnings."

Sales of Blue Nitro have soared in San Francisco's gay community.

Unaware it was illegal, retailer Imad Bitar has been selling Blue Nitro for the last month. He said he's had no reports of adverse effects and sold out of his supply this week.

"[Customers] are happy with it, no complaints so far -- thank god," he said.

The makers of Blue Nitro said their web site and the bottle's label include warnings about the dangers of mixing it with alcohol.

"If our product is taken the way we recommend, there's no problem -- it's completely metabolized and out of their system within three hours," said Blue Nitro manufacturer Barry Hartman. "It's very beneficial for people that have insomnia and it's very pro-sexual."

Since there are no federal regulations involving the product, Hartman said he will continue filling Internet orders from California despite state law enforcement objections.

San Francisco Correspondent Rusty Dornin and The Associated Press contributed to this report.