Sodium Oxybate - Drug Information
Generic Name : Sodium Oxybate
Pronunciation : so-di-um-ox-ih-bate
ICD Code : | Therapeutic Classification : Central Nervous System Agents
Trade Name(s) :
International - Xyrem.
Why is Sodium Oxybate Prescribed? (Indications)
This medication is a central nervous system depressant, used to treat daytime sleepiness in patients with narcolepsy, and sudden muscular weakness called cataplexy.
When should Sodium Oxybate not to be taken? (Contraindications)
Contraindicated in patients being treated with sedative hypnotic agents, patients with succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency, and hypersensitivity.What is the dosage of Sodium Oxybate?
PO- The recommended starting dose is 4.5 g/night divided into two equal doses of 2.25 gm. The starting dosage can then be increased to a maximum of 9 g/night in increments of 1.5 g/night (0.75 g per dose).
How should Sodium Oxybate be taken?
It comes as an oral solution to take by mouth.
What are the warnings and precautions for Sodium Oxybate?
*It is a habit forming drug. It is called the street drug of abuse. Therefore it is available only through a special program and the treatment can be carried out only under strict monitoring by a doctor.*Avoid drinking alcohol, driving and operating machinery.
*Caution should be exercised in patients with history of liver disease, heart disease, high blood pressure, or kidney disease , history of alcohol or drug abuse, asthma, emphysema, or bronchitis, sleep apnea, mental illness such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.
What are the side effects of Sodium Oxybate?
Most Common- Headache, nausea, dizziness, throat pain, drowsiness, vomiting, and urinary incontinence.Eye and ENT- Ringing in the ear, blurred vision.
Gastrointestinal- Abdominal pain, Diarrhea, Indigestion, Nausea and Vomiting.
General- Lethargy, pain.
Musculoskeletal- Back pain.
Central Nervous System- Disturbance in attention, Dizziness, Headache, Confusional state, Depression, Sleep disorder, Sleep walking.