Sodium Oxybate

Cataplexy, Narcolepsy, Idiopathic Hypersomnia

Treatment

9 Active Studies for Sodium Oxybate

What is Sodium Oxybate

Sodium oxybate

The Generic name of this drug

Treatment Summary

Sodium oxybate (Xyrem) is a drug used to treat cataplexy and extreme daytime sleepiness caused by narcolepsy. It is a form of the neurotransmitter GABA and how it works to treat these conditions is not fully understood. Xyrem has a complex way of being absorbed by the body and is tightly regulated due to its potential for misuse. All patients and prescribers must enroll in a special program to gain access to the medication.

Xyrem

is the brand name

image of different drug pills on a surface

Sodium Oxybate Overview & Background

Brand Name

Generic Name

First FDA Approval

How many FDA approvals?

Xyrem

Sodium oxybate

2002

3

Effectiveness

How Sodium Oxybate Affects Patients

Sodium oxybate helps people stay awake during the day, improves sleep at night, and lessens cataplexy. It works by increasing the time spent in deeper, more restful sleep stages and decreases time spent in lighter stages of sleep, resulting in better quality sleep. However, sodium oxybate is a depressant that can cause significant respiratory problems and is linked to addiction, withdrawal, and overdoses. It increases dopamine and serotonin levels, and stimulates growth hormone release which can lead to misuse as a bodybuilding supplement. In narcolepsy patients, sodium oxybate increases growth hormone secretion during the night.

How Sodium Oxybate works in the body

Sodium oxybate works by releasing gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) into the body. At lower doses, GHB binds to receptors that stimulate the release of glutamate, a neurotransmitter that causes excitement. At higher doses, GHB stimulates the release of GABA, which modulates GABA receptors. This helps regulate sleep-wake cycles, attention, and vigilance.

When to interrupt dosage

The proposed dose of Sodium Oxybate is contingent on the diagnosed disorder, including Excessive Daytime Sleepiness, Narcolepsy and Cataplexy. The quantity of dosage fluctuates as indicated by the technique of administration detailed in the table beneath.

Condition

Dosage

Administration

Narcolepsy

, 500.0 mg/mL

, Solution, Solution - Oral, Oral

Idiopathic Hypersomnia

, 500.0 mg/mL

, Solution, Solution - Oral, Oral

Cataplexy

, 500.0 mg/mL

, Solution, Solution - Oral, Oral

Warnings

Sodium Oxybate has five identified contraindications and its utilization should be avoided in the presence of any of the conditions listed in the following table.

Sodium Oxybate Contraindications

Condition

Risk Level

Notes

Pulse Frequency

Do Not Combine

Succinate-semialdehyde dehydrogenase

Do Not Combine

Pulse Frequency

Do Not Combine

There are 20 known major drug interactions with Sodium Oxybate.

Common Sodium Oxybate Drug Interactions

Drug Name

Risk Level

Description

Azelastine

Major

Sodium oxybate may increase the central nervous system depressant (CNS depressant) activities of Azelastine.

Ethanol

Major

Sodium oxybate may increase the central nervous system depressant (CNS depressant) activities of Ethanol.

Oliceridine

Major

The risk or severity of hypotension, sedation, death, somnolence, and respiratory depression can be increased when Sodium oxybate is combined with Oliceridine.

Thalidomide

Major

Sodium oxybate may increase the central nervous system depressant (CNS depressant) activities of Thalidomide.

Daridorexant

Minor

The risk or severity of CNS depression can be increased when Sodium oxybate is combined with Daridorexant.

Sodium Oxybate Toxicity & Overdose Risk

The lowest toxic dose of GHB in rats is 9690 mg/kg. Overdosing on GHB can cause confusion, agitation, clumsiness, sweating, headaches, and blurred vision. Symptoms may worsen with higher doses, leading to deeper levels of unconsciousness, seizures, and even death. If a person has taken other drugs with GHB, it can cause them to become unresponsive with occasional pauses in breathing and loss of bladder and bowel control. There is no known antidote for GHB, so treatment involves helping the person with general supportive care and possibly giving them medicine to help with the effects of any other drugs they may

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Sodium Oxybate Novel Uses: Which Conditions Have a Clinical Trial Featuring Sodium Oxybate?

Currently, 17 active clinical trials are investigating the potential of Sodium Oxybate to reduce Cataplexy, Excessive Daytime Sleepiness and provide relief from Narcolepsy symptoms.

Condition

Clinical Trials

Trial Phases

Cataplexy

0 Actively Recruiting

Idiopathic Hypersomnia

7 Actively Recruiting

Phase 4, Phase 3, Phase 1, Phase 2

Narcolepsy

2 Actively Recruiting

Not Applicable, Phase 1

Sodium Oxybate Reviews: What are patients saying about Sodium Oxybate?

5

Patient Review

1/10/2011

Sodium Oxybate for Muscle Weakness associated with Sleeping Disease

I would not recommend this medication to anyone. It caused me to be admitted to the ER four times and I had to stay in the ICU as a result.

5

Patient Review

4/14/2014

Sodium Oxybate for Muscle Weakness associated with Sleeping Disease

Though I found this medication great for my narcolepsy, and it helped me sleep soundly for eight hours, I unfortunately had to stop taking it after a week due to a psychotic episode.

3.7

Patient Review

1/24/2013

Sodium Oxybate for Muscle Weakness associated with Sleeping Disease

While this drug has alleviated my pain by a significant amount, I still have big troubles sleeping. As a result, fatigue is still severe.

3

Patient Review

3/16/2010

Sodium Oxybate for Osteoporosis

This drug is a saving grace for those of us with fibromyalgia. I was struggling to get more than a few hours of sleep each night, but this medication has allowed me to get a full eight hours. It's been amazing.

3

Patient Review

3/13/2011

Sodium Oxybate for Muscle Weakness associated with Sleeping Disease

This sleep medication is potent and effective, but I worry about it because it's easy to accidentally overdose.

3

Patient Review

1/27/2013

Sodium Oxybate for Recurring Sleep Episodes During the Day

I developed sleepwalking and had to be hospitalized after a severe fall. I've now lost the use of my right arm due to radial nerve paralysis. The outlook isn't great, but while I was on the medication it worked really well for me except for the side effect of sleepwalking.

3

Patient Review

4/7/2013

Sodium Oxybate for Muscle Weakness associated with Sleeping Disease

This medication worked well for me at first, but then I developed tolerance. Now it's not as effective, and because of that it's become dangerous; I wander at night without knowing what I'm doing.

3

Patient Review

8/30/2016

Sodium Oxybate for Recurring Sleep Episodes During the Day

At first, this worked great. But after a while it just didn't seem as effective. The dosage was increased and I started having muscle twitches. I'm also not getting enough rest at night, so I'm exhausted during the day.

1

Patient Review

8/21/2010

Sodium Oxybate for Recurring Sleep Episodes During the Day

This treatment really helped me. I'm grateful for modern medicine.
image of drug pills surrounding a glass of water symbolizing drug consumption

Patient Q&A Section about sodium oxybate

These questions and answers are submitted by anonymous patients, and have not been verified by our internal team.

Is sodium oxybate a sedative?

"Sodium oxybate is a very powerful drug used to treat cataplexy, a symptom of narcolepsy. It can also help with other symptoms of narcolepsy including excessive daytime sleepiness and sleep paralysis."

Answered by AI

Is sodium oxybate a stimulant?

"Sodium oxybate, which is the sodium salt of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), has a depressing effect on the central nervous system. GHB is an endogenous metabolite of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)."

Answered by AI

What is sodium oxybate used for?

"Xyrem (sodium oxybate) is a prescription medicine that has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat cataplexy (a condition where patients suddenly lose muscle tone, including voluntary muscle control, while awake) and excessive daytime sleepiness in ..."

Answered by AI

Is sodium oxybate a narcotic?

"Xyrem is a medication used to treat narcolepsy that works by depressing the central nervous system. When used for medical purposes, it is classified as a Schedule III controlled substance."

Answered by AI

Clinical Trials for Sodium Oxybate

Image of Takeda Site 11 in Redwood City, United States.

TAK-360 for Excessive Daytime Sleepiness

18 - 70
All Sexes
Redwood City, CA

Idiopathic Hypersomnia (IH) is a condition where people feel extremely sleepy during the day, especially in the morning, even if they sleep a lot at night. They may have trouble waking up in the morning, no matter how much they sleep (sometimes more than 11 hours per day), and they can't help feeling tired, even after taking daytime naps. Because of this sleepiness, they may have trouble focusing, thinking clearly, or keeping up with daily activities. They may also have symptoms like dizziness or feeling lightheaded. Orexin is a chemical made in the brain that helps keep a person awake and alert. TAK-360 acts like orexin. Previous studies have shown that medicines that act like orexin may keep people awake. The main aim of this study is to learn how safe TAK-360 is and how well adults with IH tolerate it. Researchers also want to find out if TAK-360 can help people with IH stay awake and how much TAK-360 is needed to do that. Participants will be randomly (by chance, like drawing names from a hat) chosen to receive either TAK-360 or a placebo. The placebo looks just like TAK-360 but does not have any medicine in it. Using a placebo helps researchers learn about the real effect of the treatment.

Phase 2
Recruiting

Takeda Site 11 (+13 Sites)

Study Director

Takeda

Have you considered Sodium Oxybate clinical trials?

We made a collection of clinical trials featuring Sodium Oxybate, we think they might fit your search criteria.
Go to Trials
Image of PROSOMNIA Sleep Health and Wellness in Aventura, United States.

PROSOMNIA Sleep Therapy for Chronic Insomnia

18 - 65
All Sexes
Aventura, FL

This clinical trial aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of PROSOMNIA Sleep Therapy (PSTx) for individuals suffering from chronic insomnia, sleep deprivation, and REM sleep disorders. Chronic insomnia, characterized by difficulty falling or staying asleep, significantly affects patients and quality of life, mood, and cognitive function. REM sleep disorders, in which the body struggles to enter or maintain restful REM sleep, can worsen these issues. The trial introduces a novel therapy using anesthesia-induced sleep, targeting sleep homeostasis and improving sleep architecture. Objectives: The primary goals of the trial are to determine: 1. Whether PROSOMNIA Sleep Therapy increases the quality of REM sleep. 2. Whether PSTx increases the duration of REM and/or NREM sleep. 3. Whether PSTx decreases the time it takes participants to fall asleep (sleep onset latency). Participants will receive ONE (1) PROSOMNIA Sleep Therapy session lasting between 60-120 minutes. Each session uses Diprivan/Propofol to induce sleep, and is monitored via an EEG to ensure proper sleep stages, particularly REM sleep. Participant Criteria: Inclusion: Adults aged 18-65 with diagnosed or undiagnosed chronic insomnia or sleep deprivation. Exclusion: Patients with severe obesity, significant cardiovascular, neurological, or psychiatric conditions, or those with an ASA status above II. Study Design: This trial is non-randomized, single-arm and open-label, with all participants receiving the PSTx. The trial does not include a comparison group, as the focus is on evaluating the immediate, direct effects of the therapy. Participants will undergo continuous EEG monitoring during therapy sessions, allowing researchers to track brain activity and sleep stages in real-time. This method ensures that sleep cycles, particularly REM sleep, are optimized for therapeutic benefit. Therapy Methodology: PROSOMNIA Sleep Therapy leverages anesthesia to mimic natural sleep patterns and enhance the efficiency of REM sleep. Diprivan/Propofol is used to induce REM sleep, while EEG monitoring tracks and maintains proper sleep architecture throughout the session. The therapy promotes the clearance of adenosine, a compound that builds up during wakefulness and drives the need for sleep. Adenosine is cleared during REM sleep, reducing sleep pressure and improving cognitive function. Outcome Measures: Primary Outcomes: Researchers will measure the increase in REM sleep duration, improvement in sleep quality (via self-reported questionnaires), and a reduction in sleep onset latency. Secondary Outcomes: These include changes in mood, cognitive function, and blood serum uric acid levels. Patient-reported outcomes will also be tracked through tools like the PROSOMNIA Sleep Quiz, which is specifically designed for PSTx. Significance: Chronic insomnia and REM sleep disorders affect millions globally, leading to cognitive impairment, mood disturbances, and poor overall health. Traditional treatments, including pharmacological approaches and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), often provide suboptimal results for many individuals. PSTx offers a novel, therapeutic approach to restoring sleep balance and enhancing the overall quality of sleep, particularly for those who have not responded to conventional treatments. Study Process: Recruitment and Baseline Assessments: Participants undergo a comprehensive sleep assessment, including sleep questionnaires and polysomnography, to establish a baseline for sleep quality and duration. Blood serum uric acid levels will also be measured to track any biochemical changes due to therapy. Therapy Sessions: Only one (1) PROSOMNIA Sleep Therapy session will be administered, with the session lasting between 60-120 minutes. Diprivan/Propofol is used to induce sleep, and EEG will monitor brain activity to ensure the proper balance of sleep stages. Post-Therapy Follow-up: Follow-up assessments will occur at 24 hours, 7 days, and 30 days post-treatment. Researchers will analyze the therapy effects on REM sleep, mood, cognitive function, and other health indicators. Potential Implications: If successful, this trial could revolutionize how we treat sleep disorders by targeting the underlying mechanisms of sleep pressure and REM sleep disruption. PROSOMNIA Sleep Therapy may offer a safe, effective, and immediate alternative for patients who have exhausted other treatment options. Key Concepts: Homeostatic sleep drive, (Process S), caused by adenosine buildup during wakefulness, is disrupted by chronic insomnia. This impacts cognitive function health and recovery. Anesthesia-induced REM sleep via PSTx helps regulate this homeostatic sleep stage, offering deeper and more restorative sleep compared to other sleep therapies. The study uses statistical methods like ANOVA and Chi-square to measure outcomes.

Phase 1
Waitlist Available

PROSOMNIA Sleep Health and Wellness (+1 Sites)

Nyree Penn, MHSc., CAA, Master of Health Science

Nyree Penn