Monday, November 5, 2018

Xyrem, narcolepsy therapy for adults AND children



Narcolepsy is debilitating.  In the right child with narcolepsy, sodium oxybate can be life changing.  Dr. Susarla


Sodium oxybate (Xyrem) has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of cataplexy and excessive daytime sleepiness in pediatric patients aged 7 to 17 years old with narcolepsy.

Sodium oxybate is a central nervous system depressant administered as an oral solution and can be given either alone or in combination with other central nervous system depressants. These can include opioid analgesics, benzodiazepines, sedating antidepressants or antipsychotics, sedating anti-epileptic drugs, general anesthetics, muscle relaxants, and/or illicit central nervous system depressants.

The recommended dose for sodium oxybate is 0.5 g/mL, which may only be dispensed to patients enrolled in the XYREM REMS Program because of the risk of serious outcomes that can occur from inappropriate prescribing, misuse, abuse, and diversion.

Narcolepsy resources:

narcolepsynetwork.org

healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/narcolepsy/resources

morethantired.com

Read article here.


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