Pharmacotherapy of Narcolepsy: Focus on Sodium Oxybate

Abstract

Narcolepsy is a complex disease with multiple symptoms that include excessive daytime sleepiness, cataplexy, hypnagogic hallucinations, and sleep paralysis. Pharmacologic management of patients with narcolepsy is based on treating these symptoms. Sodium oxybate, a neurotransmitter product of γ-amino butyric acid (GABA), is a Schedule III controlled substance in the US, approved for the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), and cataplexy in patients with narcolepsy. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current knowledge about treatment of narcolepsy with sodium oxybate and to familiarize readers with the safety and efficacy of sodium oxybate, thus enabling clinicians to optimize their management of narcolepsy. A review of the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, efficacy in different symptoms of narcolepsy, adverse effects, tolerability, and dosing of sodium oxybate is presented. Sodium oxybate administered as an oral solution has a rapid onset of effect, a short duration of action, and nearly complete metabolism with negligible unchanged γ-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) appearing in the urine. There is mounting evidence suggesting that GHB may function as an endogenous neuromodulator/neurotransmitter. The mechanism by which sodium oxybate has a therapeutic effect in narcolepsy is unclear. The efficacy of oral sodium oxybate on the treatment of narcolepsy was evaluated in two randomized, double-blind, placebo- controlled, multicenter, US and International trials. Treatment of patients with narcolepsy-cataplexy with sodium oxybate leads to reduction in the frequency of cataplexy attacks in a dose-related manner, improved EDS, increased level of alertness and ability to concentrate. The major problem with sodium oxybate remains in its potential for non-medical use to elicit altered states of consciousness; however, abuse and misuse of sodium oxybate has been rare over the 7 years since its introduction in the market. Other issues revolve around twice nightly dosing, and salty taste. The most commonly reported adverse events associated with the use of sodium oxybate and occurring with at least 5% greater frequency than seen in placebo-treated patients were dizziness, headache, nausea, pain, night terrors, enuresis, confusion, infection, vomiting, and urinary incontinence. In conclusion, sodium oxybate significantly improves all symptoms in patients with narcolepsy and is well tolerated.

Keywords

narcolepsy cataplexy sodium oxybate gamma hydroxybutyrate pharmacotherapy

Introduction

Narcolepsy is an uncommon life-long condition that is often under-recognized, especially in children, and is associated with significant impairment in quality of life.^1,2 It is a disorder of Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep that is characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, cataplexy, hypnagogic hallucinations, sleep paralysis, and fragmented night sleep.^1,3 Of the varied symptoms that may compromise the narcolepsy syndrome, excessive daytime sleepiness is ubiquitous. Central nervous (CNS) alerting or CNS neuromodulator agents are the mainstay of treatment of narcolepsy.⁴ Stimulant medications are used with the goal of providing optimal alertness during working or school hours and other social situations.^5,6 Modafinil, a non-amphetamine wakefulness-promoting medication, is now considered the first-line treatment for EDS in adults with narcolepsy.⁷ REM-suppressant medications such as tricyclic antidepressants or serotonin reuptake inhibitors can be added to control cataplexy or hypnagogic hallucinations.⁵ Sodium oxybate is a gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) B receptor agonist currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of both cataplexy and EDS in patients with narcolepsy with age more than 16 years.^7,8 The focus of this article is the use of sodium oxybate in narcolepsy.

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a chronic and potentially disabling rapid eye movement sleep disorder resulting from the dys-regulation of sleep-wake cycles,¹ that affects 0.03 to 0.16% of the general population in various ethnic groups.⁹ Under the term narcolepsy, the International Classification of sleep disorders (ICSD-2) includes:¹⁰

Primary narcolepsy with cataplexy

Primary narcolepsy without cataplexy,

Narcolepsy due to medical conditions

Unspecified narcolepsy.

Narcolepsy with cataplexy is the most widely recognized and best characterized disorder among the narcolepsy syndromes. Cases of narcolepsy without cataplexy are thought to represent between 10% and 50% of all narcolepsy cases.⁴

Clinical features of narcolepsy

The core symptoms of narcolepsy in children are similar to those in adults, but the clinical expression may be different because of maturational factors.^5,11 Historically, narcolepsy was considered a disorder of adulthood, but accumulating evidence indicates that signs of narcolepsy may start during childhood.^12–14

The characteristic tetrad of narcolepsy includes daytime hypersomnia, cataplexy, hypnagogic hallucinations, and sleep paralysis.⁵ The initial and sole manifestation of childhood narcolepsy usually is hypersomnia followed by development of other symptoms months to years later.^5,12,15–17 In addition, sleep fragmentation has been recognized as a fifth but commonly present criterion in the diagnosis of narcolepsy.¹⁰

Hypersomnia

Besides daytime sleepiness, patients also experience “sleep attacks”, during which, patients may suddenly feel overwhelmingly tired, and appear transiently “unaware” of their surroundings.¹⁰ Such sleep attacks are refreshing on awakening.

Cataplexy

Cataplexy is a unique feature of narcolepsy.⁵ Attacks of cataplexy are episodes of abrupt and reversible decrease or loss of muscle tone which can manifest from a barely perceptible slackening of the facial muscles to head dropping, knee buckling, or total collapse onto the ground.⁵ During a cataplexy attack, which may last up to several minutes, the patient is unable to move, although the diaphragm and ocular muscles are unaffected. Preservation of consciousness and intact memory are distinctive features, thus differing from sleep attacks. Cataplectic attacks are typically triggered by intense emotions such as exhilaration and surprise, and by the act of laughter.^18,19 The frequency of cataplexy ranges from only one or two episodes per year to dozens of episodes per day.¹⁷ The onset of cataplexy may be delayed for years after the onset of hypersomnia. Attacks of cataplexy may be confused with atonic seizures (“drop attacks”), especially in children under age 5 years.¹⁸

Hypnagogic/hypnopomping hallucinations and sleep paralysis (HH and SP)

Sleep paralysis are brief nocturnal episodes of an inability to move, generally occurring during awakening, and relieved by touching or speaking to the child. Sleep paralysis can be accompanied by hypnagogic (during the transition from wakefulness to sleep) or hypnopomping (during the transition from sleep to wakefulness) hallucinations which consist of vivid visual or auditory experiences, usually of a benign content.^1,10 However, both of these symptoms can be unrecognized or misinterpreted by young children or their parents. They may seem to resemble nightmares in children and may be frightening. Both symptoms can occur in isolation in normal people also, without the person having narcolepsy.

Etiology and pathophysiology of narcolepsy

The neurophysiologic hallmark of narcolepsy is the abnormal transition from wakefulness directly into rapid eye movement sleep. Signs such as cataplexy and sleep paralysis are thought to be related to “intrusion” of rapid eye movement sleep into wakefulness.²⁰ However, this hypothesis does not explain the presence of daytime sleepiness and the short latency to both non-REM and REM sleep during nocturnal and nap recordings.²¹ A complementary hypothesis is that narcolepsy results from the disruption of the control mechanism of both sleep and wakefulness.²¹

Animal and human studies have suggested that a deficiency in the hypothalamic orexin/hypocretin system underlies the pathogenesis of narcolepsy with cataplexy.^22–25 The orexin system is a major excitatory system that affects the activity of monoaminergic and cholinergic systems with major effects on vigilance.²⁶ The loss of hypocretin excitatory projections creates a cholinergic-monoaminergic imbalance consistent with sleepiness and abnormal REM sleep in narcolepsy.

Diagnostic criteria and laboratory assessment of narcolepsy

The most recent diagnostic criteria for narcolepsy with and without cataplexy are summarized in Table 1.¹⁰

Table 1

Criteria for narcolepsy.^*

Criteria
Complaint of EDS for >3 months Duration of nocturnal sleep >6 hours Cataplexy Yes ⇒ Narcolepsy with cataplexy No ⇒ Narcolepsy without cataplexy Nocturnal polysomnography has excluded other causes of hypersomnias Polysomnography findings Major sleep period > 6 hours Short sleep latency (+) Multiple sleep latency test findings Sleep latency ≤8 mins Sleep-onset REM periods ≥2 Cerebrospinal fluid hyposecretin levels <110 pmol/ml Yes ⇒ Narcolepsy with cataplexy (>95% specificity) Variable ⇒ Narcolepsy without cataplexy (>50% specificity) HLA subtype DQB1^0602 and DQA1^0102 HLA DQB1^*0602: 79%–90% in narcolepsy with cataplexy 40%–57% in narcolepsy without cataplexy 12%–28% in normal population Hypersomnia is not better explained by another sleep disorder, medical or neurologic disorder, mental disorder, medication use or substance abuse

Criteria

Complaint of EDS for >3 months

Duration of nocturnal sleep >6 hours

Cataplexy

Yes ⇒ Narcolepsy with cataplexy

No ⇒ Narcolepsy without cataplexy

Nocturnal polysomnography has excluded other causes of hypersomnias

Polysomnography findings

Major sleep period > 6 hours

Short sleep latency (+)

Multiple sleep latency test findings

Sleep latency ≤8 mins

Sleep-onset REM periods ≥2

Cerebrospinal fluid hyposecretin levels <110 pmol/ml

Yes ⇒ Narcolepsy with cataplexy (>95% specificity)

Variable ⇒ Narcolepsy without cataplexy (>50% specificity)

HLA subtype

DQB1^*0602 and DQA1^*0102

HLA DQB1^*0602:

79%–90% in narcolepsy with cataplexy

40%–57% in narcolepsy without cataplexy

12%–28% in normal population

Hypersomnia is not better explained by another sleep disorder, medical or neurologic disorder, mental disorder, medication use or substance abuse

International Classification of Sleep Disorders-second edition.¹

Nocturnal polysomnography is obtained to rule out other sleep disturbances such as sleep disordered breathing (SDB) and periodic limb movements of sleep, and for confirming a sleep efficiency above 75%.^10,27

The multiple sleep latency test is generally performed on the following day to assess the degree of sleepiness and timing of rapid eye movement sleep onset. The combination of two sleep-onset rapid eye movement periods and a mean sleep latency of <8 minutes is necessary for the diagnosis of narcolepsy^10,28

Laboratory tests such as human leukocyte antigen typing and cerebro-spinal fluid hypocretin-1 analysis are useful as adjuncts, but at present are not considered mandatory for a diagnosis of narcolepsy.²⁹ Genetic studies indicates a strong association between narcolepsy and human leukocyte DQ antigens, specifically DQB1^*0602 and DQA1^*0102, which are present in 95% to 100% of the narcoleptic population with cataplexy, respectively, but also present in 25% of the normal population.²⁹ Cerebrospinal-fluid hypocretin-1 measurements may be especially useful when multiple sleep latency testing is difficult to conduct or to interpret in complex cases, and in children. Lower cerebro-spinal fluid levels of hypocretin-1 (< 110 pg/mL) in narcoleptic patients are found,³⁰ especially in subjects with human leukocyte B1^*0602 antigen positivity³⁰ or signs of cataplexy.³¹

Treatment of Narcolepsy

The general approach to the treatment of childhood narcolepsy and other hypersomnias of central origin is based on the adult experience. Recently, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM)³² published the practice parameters for the treatment of these disorders.

Non-pharmacological treatment (life style changes)

Education support and counseling of both family and school officials are cornerstones of management. According to the AASM, “scheduled naps can be beneficial to combat sleepiness, but seldom suffice as a primary therapy to narcolepsy (guideline)”.³² In our experience, short naps during school time (e.g. during lunch break) have been effective in improving daytime functioning.¹² The combination of regular bedtimes and two 15-minute regularly scheduled naps reduced unscheduled daytime sleep episodes and sleepiness when compared to stimulant therapy alone.³³

Pharmacological treatment is summarized in Table 2^4,32,33

Table 2

Treatment options for narcolepsy.^4,32,33

	Stimulants	Modafinil	Sodium oxybate	TCAs	SSRIs
Symptoms
Daytime sleepiness	+ (G)	+ (S)	+ (S)	–	–
Cataplexy	–	–	+ (S)	+ (G)	+ (G)
Hypnagogic hallucinations	–	–	+ (O)	+ (O)	+ (O)
Sleep paralysis			+ (O)	+ (O)	+ (O)
Disrupted sleep	–	–	+ (S)	–	–
Mode of action	Indirect sympathomimetics	Unknown; partial dopamine reuptake inhibitor	Unknown; GABA_B receptor agonist	Block the presynaptic reuptake of catecholamines	Block the presynaptic reuptake of catecholamines (serotonin)
Daily dosage	Methyphenidate 5–20 mg/day Amphetamine 10–30 mg/day	100–400 once daily or divided	6–9 g divided nightly in two doses	Clomipramine: 3mg/K/day (10–200mg) Imipramine 1.5–5 mg/K/day (max 100 mg)	Fluoxetine: 10–40 mg/day
Side effects	Headache, anxiety/irritability, increased BP, appetite suppression, tremor, insomnia, tics	Insomnia, headache, nausea, anxiety, irritability	Sedation, nausea, bad taste, enuresis, night terror, lingering sluggishness, respiratory depression	Nausea, anorexia, dry mouth, urinary retention, tachycardia	Headache, nausea, weight gain, dry mouth
Pediatric issues	Not recommended in pts <3 years (amphetamine) and <6 years (methyphenidate)	Pediatric use not systematically studied	Safety and effectiveness in pts <16 years not been established	Safety and efficacy of clomipramine in children younger than 10 years of age have not been established	Safety and effectiveness assessed in children aged 8–18 years with major depressive disorder and 7–18 yrs with OCD

American Academy Sleep Medicine levels of recommendation: S stands for Standard (generally accepted patient-care strategy that reflects a high degree of clinical certainty), G for Guideline (patient-care strategy that reflects a moderate degree of clinical certainty), O for Option (patient-care strategy that reflects uncertain clinical use); TCAs, tricyclic antidepressants; SSRIs, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors; BP, blood pressure; OCD, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

The rest of the article will focus on the pharmacology and use of Sodium Oxybate in narcolepsy.

Sodium Oxybate

From club drug to orphan drug

Sodium oxybate (γ-hydroxybutyrate; Xyrem^®) is a neurotransmitter product of GABA.⁸ Note that γ-hydroxybutyrate refers to the endogenous substance found in mammalian brain and other tissues while sodium oxybate is the official generic name of a pharmaceutical agent. The term ‘illicit GHB’ is used to refer to illegally manufactured GHB and/or congener substances such as industrial 1,4-BD (butanediol) and GBL(gamma-butyrolactone), substances manufactured as unfit for human consumption.³⁴

Three decades ago, GHB was introduced in the health-food market as a food supplement for body builders with claims of anabolic effects by stimulating growth hormone release.³⁵ In the 1990s, GHB was misued as a recreational drug at music venues.^36–38 It has been suggested that the common illicit formulation of GHB as a colorless odorless liquid facilitates the unsuspected addition of GHB to the drinks of individuals in bars and clubs.³⁹

Abuse, addiction, withdrawal syndrome, and overdoses have been documented with GHB, which led to its 1990's ban and placement as a Schedule I agent under the Controlled Substances Act.^40,41 Concerns regarding the history of abuse of GHB were taken into consideration by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the manufacturer in the development of sodium oxybate.^40,41

Sodium oxybate (γ-hydroxybutyrate; Xyrem^®) was approved in 2002 by the Food and Drug Administration as an orphan drug for the management of narcolepsy.⁴² It is a federal schedule III controlled substance in the US, which is available only through a centralized pharmacy because of earlier diversion of the drug for recreational use. Rigid guidelines have therefore been established for the prescription of sodium oxybate, which has to occur in conjunction with a detailed patient education program, subsequent to which the drug is shipped directly by the centralized pharmacy to the patient's home address.

Chemistry

The chemical name for sodium oxybate is sodium 4-hydroxybutyrate.^34,43 The molecular formula is C₄H₇NaO₃ (Fig. 1) and the molecular weight is 126.09 grams/mole.⁴³ Sodium oxybate is a white to off-white, crystalline powder that is very soluble in aqueous solutions.⁴⁴ GHB, an endogenous short chain fatty acid, is present in the normal brain and serves as both a precursor and a degradation product of the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).⁴⁵ GABA is formed from glutamate by action of the glutamic acid decarboxylase (also called glutamate decarboxylase) and is degraded to succinic semialdehyde (SSA) by GABA transaminase. GHB may be formed from SSA by action of succinic semialdehyde reductase or can be converted back to SSA via the GHB dehydrogenase. Succinic semialdehyde is metabolized in the mitochondria by succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH) to succinic acid, which enters the Krebs cycle or can be converted back to GABA.⁸ Additionally, GHB is an active metabolite, but to a much lesser extent, of 1, 4-butanediol (1, 4-BD) and gamma-butyrolactone (GBL).⁸ The latter two substances are also commercially produced synthetically for a wide range of industrial purposes.

Figure 1

Chemical structure of sodium oxybate.

GHB is thus an interesting and unique compound in that it is an endogenous molecule, a product of abuse (illicit GHB), and a marketed therapeutic drug (GHB sodium salt; or sodium oxybate; Xyrem^®, Orphan Medical).³⁹

Pharmacokinetics

In mammals, GHB is present in micromolar concentrations in all brain regions investigated, although the concentration differs by region.⁸ The highest relative concentration is found in the striatum of humans and monkeys.⁴⁶ Localization of GHB within cytosolic and synaptosomal fractions⁴⁷ suggests a mechanism for presynaptic accumulation. The concentration of GHB is higher in the developing brain than in the adult brain.⁴⁸ GHB is also found in micromolar concentrations in peripheral tissues such as heart, kidney, liver and muscle, with the highest concentration being found in the brown fat.⁴⁹

The oral pharmacokinetics of sodium oxybate has been studied in healthy volunteers,⁵⁰ patients with liver impairment,⁵¹ alcohol-dependent patients,⁵² and narcoleptic patients.⁵³ The pharmacokinetics of oxybate is nonlinear and dose dependent^50,52 and demonstrates capacity-limited absorption and elimination.⁵⁰ Gender does not appear to affect the drug's kinetic parameters.⁵⁴

Absorption and distribution

Due to the highly hydroscopic nature of sodium oxybate, the drug has been approved for use orally as a solution. Following oral administration, sodium oxybate is rapidly absorbed with plasma concentrations generally reaching a peak within 30 to 60 minutes and then falling rapidly with an elimination half-life of 0.5 to 1.0 hour.^50,54 It then undergoes extensive first-pass metabolism.^54,55 In fasted male and female volunteers⁵⁰ the mean maximum plasma concentration (C_max) after a single oral dose of sodium oxybate appeared to be dose dependent and was reached in mean time (t_max) of 25–75 minutes.^50,54,55 Administration of a second dose 4 hours later produced a 1.4–2.2 fold increase in mean C_max.⁵³

The mean area under the plasma concentration curve from zero time to infinity (AUC) was nonlinearly dose dependent with a 2.5 to 2.8 fold increase in mean AUC in response to a 2-fold increase in dose, which may reflect capacity-limited absorption.⁵⁰

The ingestion of food with sodium oxybate has been shown to significantly reduce peak plasma concentrations and overall systemic absorption.⁵⁴ Ingestion of sodium oxybate after consuming a high-fat meal provided a maximum concentration of less than 50% of what is observed in a fasting state.⁵⁴ The time to reach maximum concentration was also significantly prolonged, and the AUC significantly decreased in the non-fasting group. Therefore, to obtain maximum peak effect, high-fat meals should be preferably avoided before bedtime when sodium oxybate is administered.

Although the maximum concentration and AUC are slightly increased upon repeated dosing, the changes seen are considered clinically insignificant.^44,55

An open-label, two-period study⁵⁵ was designed to compare acute and chronic treatment on the pharmacokinetics of sodium oxybate oral solution in narcoleptic patients. Following 8 weeks of nightly administrated of sodium oxybate in a split dose, mean C_max was increased from baseline by 16% and mean AUC increased 12% in 13 patients with polysomnographically confirmed narcolepsy. The differences were not considered to be clinically relevant. Thus, the pharmacokinetics of sodium oxybate in narcoleptic patients were not changed in any clinically significant manner when the drug was chronically administered.

The absolute bioavailability of oxybate was determined to be about 27% when a dose of 100 mg/kg was compared after intravenous and oral administration.⁵⁵ No appreciable plasma protein binding occurs with oxybate.⁵⁰

Metabolism and elimination

Metabolism initially involves conversion to succinic semialdehyde by the enzyme GHB dehydrogenase.⁴⁴ Succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase then converts the compound to succinic acid, which subsequently enters the Krebs cycle. It is ultimately metabolized to carbon dioxide and water.³⁴ Minimal amounts of unchanged drug are eliminated in the feces or urine.⁵²

In vitro, sodium oxybate does not significantly inhibit the activity of cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoenzymes up to concentrations of 3 mmol/L.⁸

The elimination of sodium oxybate from the circulation is rapid, and the relatively short half-life necessitates twice-nightly administration.⁵³ Elimination half-life and apparent clearance (CL/F) of sodium oxybate did not appear to be influenced by gender, food intake, or multiple-dose administration.^54,55 Mean residence time (MRT) varied with dose from 45–249 minutes.^50,53

Special populations

In hepatically impaired patients receiving sodium oxybate, it is considered necessary to half the starting dose and to closely monitor potential adverse events during dose titration.⁸

In alcohol-dependent patients, consistent with its rapid onset and short pharmacological effect, the data indicates that both GHB absorption into and elimination from the systemic circulation were rapid processes.⁵²

Potential drug interactions

Drug interactions have not been observed with sodium oxybate. However, an increased rate of adverse events was observed during co-administration with protriptyline.⁵⁶

In conclusion, sodium oxybate administered as an oral solution has a rapid onset of effect, a short duration of action, and nearly complete metabolism with negligible unchanged GHB appearing in the urine.

Table 3 summarizes the pharmacokineticdata for sodium oxybate.⁴⁴

Table 3

Pharmacokinetic parameters of sodium oxybate.⁴⁴

Parameter	Value
Half-life (h)	0.5–1
Oral bioavailability (%)	25
Time to maximum concentration (h)	0.5–1.25
Protein binding (%)	<1
Active metabolites	None
Renal elimination (%)	<5
Apparent volume of distribution (mL/Kg)	190–384
CYP 450 drug interactions	None identified

Pharmacodynamic

GHB is a natural neurotransmitter/neuromodulator that may act through its own receptors and via stimulation of GABA_B receptors;⁵⁷ however, its precise functions are unknown.⁵⁸ The pharmacodynamic properties of sodium oxybate are not expected to differ significantly from those of GHB.⁸ An increasing number of studies over the last several years have focused on examining the mechanism of action of GHB.⁵⁷ A GHB receptor has been cloned,⁵⁹ new receptor binding and functional assays for the GHB receptor have been characterized,⁶⁰ new ligands that bind selectively to GHB receptors have been synthesized,⁶¹ and new behavioral effects have been developed.⁶² The behavioral effects of GHB are mediated predominantly by GABA_B receptors. However, there are also data that suggest that other mechanisms such as other GHB receptors and different subtypes of GABA_A and GABA_B receptors might contribute to the effects of GHB.⁵⁷

GHB as a neurotransmitter: effects on neurotransmitter systems

There is mounting evidence suggesting that GHB may function as an endogenous neuromodulator/ neurotransmitter.⁶³ Under endogenous conditions and concentrations, and depending on the cell group affected, GHB may increase or decrease neuronal activity by inhibiting the release of neurotransmitters that are co-localized with GHB. In pharmacological concentrations, GHB also may act as a GABA_B receptor agonist; most of the observed behavioral effects appear to be mediated via the activity of GHB at GABA_B receptors, as long as the concentration is sufficient to elicit binding, which does not happen at endogenous concentrations.⁶⁴ Pharmacological doses of GHB increase serotonin turnover and interact with endogenous opioid systems.⁶⁵ Dopaminergic regions such as the substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area contain high concentrations of GHB, suggesting that endogenous GHB may modulate the activity of dopamine neurons.

GHB and sleep: effects on sleep architecture

The mechanism by which sodium oxybate has a therapeutic effect in narcolepsy is unclear.⁶⁶ One proposed mode of action involves improving nocturnal sleep, which then leads to improved alertness the following day. Sodium oxybate reduces cataplexy within days of intake, and has an effect on daytime sleepiness after approximately 6 to 8 weeks.^67,68 Sodium oxybate acts through GABA_B receptors and perhaps through its own receptors.⁵⁹ It suppresses dopaminergic neuronal activity^65,69 with a consequent increase in slow-wave sleep and a decrease in the number of nighttime awakenings, with a corresponding increase in sleep efficiency.^70,71

Clinical trials have shown that GHB increases delta sleep and improves the continuity of sleep in normal and narcoleptic subjects. A variety of neuropharmacologic mechanics of action have been reported, but none has been conclusively established.⁵³ Important targets of GHB are the thalamocortical circuits involved in the sleep-wake cycle and susceptibility to generalized seizures.⁵⁸ In vitro studies indicate that GHB, acting via GABA_B receptors, reduces neuronal activity in thalamic, hippocampal, and neocortical neurons. GHB administered to healthy volunteers⁷¹ or to patients with narcolepsy/cataplexy⁶ elicits an increase in slow-wave sleep (stage N3), which is characterized by the presence of delta waves in the EEG. GHB affects thalamocortical circuits via both presynaptic and postsynaptic GABA_B receptors in a dose-dependent manner.⁴⁵ It is noteworthy that at very high doses, GHB may elicit loss of excitability in thalamocortical networks, as may occur during overdose or coma.⁴⁵

A very recently published double-blind, placebo-controlled study enrolled 278 patients with narcolepsy taking modafinil 200–600 mg daily for the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS).⁷² Following a baseline polysomnogram (PSG) and Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT), patients were randomized to receive treatment with: (1) placebo, (2) sodium oxybate, (3) modafinil, or (4) sodium oxybate + modafinil. PSGs and MWTs were repeated after 4 and 8 week. The authors concluded that in addition to its established efficacy in the treatment of cataplexy and EDS, nightly sodium oxybate administration significantly reduces measures of sleep disruption and significantly increases slow-wave sleep in patients with narcolepsy.

It is somewhat paradoxical that although most of the behavioral effects of GHB appear to be mediated by GABA_B receptors, the prototypical GABA_B receptor agonist baclofen is not used as a therapeutic for narcolepsy. The therapeutic effects of GHB in narcoleptic patients do not appear to be due to a general sedative/ hypnotic effect per se, rather, it may be due to a specific increase in delta power and duration of slow wave sleep.³⁴ A recent clinical trial showed that although GHB and baclofen increased EEG delta activity during nocturnal sleep, only GHB reduced subjective daytime sleepiness and attacks of cataplexy.⁶⁶

GHB and seizures

The effects of GHB in the thalamus may also predispose to development of generalized seizures. Absence seizures elicited by GHB administered either systemically or locally in the thalamus serve as good pharmacologic models of human typical absence seizures.⁷³

GHB and drug addiction

GHB affects the mesolimbic dopaminergic circuit, which is critically involved in mechanisms of drug addiction.⁶⁶ At concentrations typically seen with recreational use, GHB preferentially inhibits local GABA-ergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), thereby increasing dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens, which is typically seen as a reinforcing effect of many drugs of abuse. At higher concentrations, GHB hyperpolarizes the dopaminergic VTA neurons, resulting in decrease in dopamine output, which may explain the anti-craving properties of GHB.⁶⁶ Chronic GHB administration also induces a compensatory up-regulation of dopaminergic D1 and D2 receptors and may also desensitize GHB and GABA_B receptors in dopaminergic neurons; this could contribute to the addictive properties of GHB.⁷⁴

GHB and neuroprotection

There is in vitro evidence that GHB may exert neuroprotective effects by several mechanisms.⁷⁵ GHB may spare energy utilization, reduce oxidative stress, block excitotoxicity, and maintain vascular integrity. The ability of GHB to shift the intermediary glucose metabolism to generate the reducing equivalents such as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), which is required for the elimination of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxides, may provide a basis for the effects of GHB against oxidative stress.

Efficacy

The evaluation of sodium oxybate in narcolepsy include effects on cataplexy, excessive daytime sleepiness, hypnagogic hallucinations, sleep paralysis and measures on global impression of change. The clinical findings are fairly consistent and are discussed in the following section.^42,76–80

The efficacy of oral sodium oxybate on the treatment of narcolepsy was evaluated in two randomized, double-blind, placebo- controlled, multicenter, US⁴² and International trials.⁸⁰ The first one was used in its FDA approval.⁴² The use of sodium oxybate in addition to modafinil was evaluated in a randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, pararell-group, placebo-controlled, multicenter combination-therapy trial.⁸¹

These trials have been summarized in Table 4.

Table 4

Large primary trials for efficacy of sodium oxybate on narcolepsy.

Study	Design	Setting participants	Interventions	Results/Conclusions
US Xyrem Multicenter Study Group⁴²	Randomized, double blind placebo-controlled	Multicenter N = 136 aged ≥ 18 years	3, 6 or 9 g of SO nightly or placebo for 4 weeks	• Cataplexy attacks ↓ at the 6 g dose (49%) and significantly at the 9 g dose (69%). • ESS ↓ at all doses (p = 0.0001 at the 9 g dose). • CGI-c demonstrated a dose-related improvement (p = 0.0002 at the 9 g dose). • The frequency of inadvertent naps/sleep attacks and the nighttime awakenings showed similar dose-response trends (p = 0.0122 and p = 0.0035, respectively at the 9 g dose). Conclusions: SO significantly improved symptoms in patients with narcolepsy and was well tolerated.
International Xyrem Multicenter Study Group⁸⁰	Randomized, double blind placebo-controlled	Multicenter N = 228 aged ≥ 16 years	4.5, 6 or 9 g of SO nightly or placebo for 8 weeks	• ↑ > 10 minutes in the MWT at 9 g of SO (p < 0.001). • ESS ↓ (dose-related) at the 6 and 9 g (p < 0.001). • ↓ inadvertent naps at the 6 and 9 g (p < 0.001). • The improvements in EDS were incremental to those achieved by concomitant stimulants alone. • CGI-c improved for each group treated with SO (p < 0.001). • ↓ weekly cataplexy attacks by 57% (4.5 g SO), 65% (6 g SO) and 84.7% (9 g SO) Conclusions: SO is the first drug to demonstrate efficacy for the 2 major symptoms of narcolepsy. The improvements in cataplexy are dependent on the dosage of sodium oxybate as well on the duration of treatment.
Black J, Houghton WC⁸¹	Randomized, double blind placebo-controlled	Multicenter N = 222 aged ≥ 18 years	Combination therapy trial Placebo (N = 55); SO (N = 50); Modafinil (N = 63); SO + Modafinil (N = 54)	• In placebo:↓ daytime SL on the MWT from 9.74 minutes at baseline to 6.87 minutes • In SO group, there was no decrease in SL [⇒SO was as efficacious in treating the EDS as the previously administered modafinil]. • In SO/modafinil group: ↑ in daytime SL from 10.43 minutes to 13.15 minutes (p < 0.001) [⇒ this combination of drugs produced an additive effect]. • EES score ↓ and CGI-c improved in SO and SO/modafinil groups. Conclusions: SO is beneficial as both monotherapy and as adjunctive therapy for the treatment of EDS in narcolepsy.

Abbreviations: ESS, Epworth Sleepiness Scale; CGI-c, Clinical Global Impression of Change; MWT, Maintenance of Wakefulness; EDS, excessive daytime sleepiness; SL, Sleep Latency; SO, sodium oxybate.

Effects on cataplexy

The frequency of cataplexy attacks was reduced in a dose-related manner in patients with narcolepsy-cataplexy after 4 (US) or 8 weeks (International) of treatment with sodium oxybate.^42,80 During the 12- month open-label extension of the US trial, the frequency of cataplexy attacks continued to decline with a mean reduction of 24 attacks per week after 4 weeks of treatment, to a mean reduction of 35 attacks per week (90%–98% reduction from baseline) by trial end.⁸² Additional data supplementing the US trial have been drawn from a double-blind withdrawal study.⁸³ Fifty-five narcoleptic patients with cataplexy who had received continuous treatment with sodium oxybate for 7–44 months (mean 21 months) were enrolled in a double-blind treatment withdrawal paradigm. A 2-week single-blind sodium oxybate treatment phase established a baseline for the weekly occurrence of cataplexy. This was followed by a 2-week double-blind phase in which patients were randomized to receive unchanged drug therapy or placebo. During the 2-week double-blind phase, the abrupt cessation of sodium oxybate therapy in the placebo patients resulted in a significant increase in the number of cataplexy attacks. The investigators noticed that in contrast with antidepressant drug therapy, there was no evidence of rebound cataplexy upon abrupt discontinuation of treatment.

Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS)

A growing body of evidence indicates that nightly administration of sodium oxybate to patients with narcolepsy reduces EDS. The results of US and International Xyrem trials have shown that sodium oxybate reduced EDS, increased the level of alertness and the ability to concentrate.^82,84 Additionally, the results of the combination-therapy trial has shown that sodium oxybate and modafinil to be equally efficacious for the treatment of EDS, producing additive effects when used together.⁸¹

In the international trial, after 8 weeks of treatment, subjective sleepiness showed significant improvement, manifested as reduction in ESS (improved) with all doses of sodium oxybate (p < 0.001) compared to baseline.⁸⁴ In the US trial,⁴¹ EDS was a secondary measure and was also assessed using the ESS, which improved in all of the sodium oxybate treatment groups in a dose-related manner, becoming significant at the 9 g dose when compared to placebo. This improvement in wakefulness occurred even though the majority of patients remained on stable doses of stimulant medications. During the extension study of the US trial, mean ESS score decreased a further 30% and were significantly lower after 2 months on treatment than observed at entry into the study.⁸²

The results of the combination therapy trial⁸¹ demonstrated that sodium oxybate and modafinil are both effective for treating excessive daytime sleepiness in narcolepsy, producing additive effects when used together.

Thus, sodium oxybate is beneficial as both monotherapy and adjunctive therapy for the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness in narcolepsy.⁸¹

Effects on hypnagogic hallucinations and sleep paralysis

In both the US and International trial, changes in HH and SP attacks occurred on a background of low baseline frequencies. Only the reduction in SP attacks in the 9g/night group in the International trial was significantly different form placebo.⁸⁵ In the study of Mamelak et al⁷⁹ when patients with narcolepsy received 4.5 to 9 g per night doses, the proportion of those reporting a decrease in HH and in SP ranged from 29 to 76%, and 38% to 76% respectively.

Effects on clinical global impression (CGI) and health–-related quality of life (HR-QOL)

In the US study, the proportion of patients who responded very much or much improved differed significantly across doses suggesting a dose-related response.⁴² During the extension of this study more than 80% were classified as very much/much improved after 2 months of treatment, a level of response that was maintained at the end of the 12 month period.⁸² In the International study, the proportion of very much/ much improved was significantly higher than the response of the placebo at all three doses of sodium oxybate.⁸⁴ In the combination therapy trial, the proportion of very much/much improved patients was 22% in the placebo group, 19% in modafinil, 48% in sodium oxybate monotherapy group, and 46% in the combination group.⁷⁹

In the International study,⁸⁴ HR-QOL was improved by treatment in a dose-related manner. The change in total FOSQ score and activity level, vigilance, general productivity and social outcomes subscales were all significantly different at 9 g dose from placebo. However, the intimacy and sexual relationships subscale scores did not change significantly at any dosage.

Side Effects

The major problem with sodium oxybate remains in its non-medical use to elicit altered states of consciousness. Although adverse events (including death) associated with popular abuse of GHB and its analogs have been widely reported, and although the Xyrem package insert has related warnings, to date there have been few reports in the clinical literature on adverse effects associated with therapeutic use, misuse, and abuse of pharmaceutical GHB sold as Xyrem.^35,85,86

According to the FDA-approved package insert, the most commonly reported adverse events (≥5%) in placebo controlled clinical trials associated with the use of sodium oxybate and occurring more frequently than seen in placebo-treated patients were: nausea (19%), dizziness (18%), headache (18%), vomiting (8%), somnolence (6%), urinary incontinence (6%), and nasopharyngitis (6%) ^{42,80–84,86}

Selected adverse events by Coding Symbols for the Thesaurus of Adverse Reactions (COSTART) and sodium oxybate treatment group are summarized in Table 5.^43,82

Table 5
Selected adverse events by Coding Symbols for the Thesaurus of Adverse Reactions (COSTART) and sodium oxybate treatment group.

Trial 12-month, open label multicenter extension trial⁸²
Randomized, double blind placebo controlled multicenter trial⁴²

Total N = 117 3 g N = 15 6 g N = 37 9 g N = 20 3 g N = 34 6 g N = 33 9 g N = 35 Placebo N = 35 p-value

Body as a whole

Headache 33.3% 60% 27% 20% 8.8% 15.2% 31.4% 20.6% ns

Infection 27.4% 13.3% 32.4% 25% 8.8% 15.2% 0% 2.9% 0.03

Pain 25.6% 40% 21.6% 15% 8.8% 12.1% 20% 5.9% ns

Digestive

Vomit 0% 6.1% 11.4% 0% 0.047

Nausea 28.2% 47.7% 27% 20% 5.9% 15.2% 34.3% 5.9% 0.0045

Nausea vomit 0% 6.1% 5.7% 0% ns

Diarrhea 12% 20% 5.4% 15% 0% 6.1% 5.7% 0% ns

Nervous

Anxiety 2.9% 0% 5.7% 2.9% ns

Confusion 11.1% 13.3% 13.5% 5% 8.8% 3% 14.3% 2.9% ns

Dizziness 26.5% 40% 21.6% 10% 23.5% 30.3% 34.3% 5.9% 0.017

Dream abnormality 10.3% 0% 5.4% 5% 0% 9.1% 2.9% 0% ns

Sleep disorder 9.4% 13.3% 8.1% 10% 5.9% 12.1% 14.3% 2.9% ns

Thinking abnormal 2.9% 0% 5.7% 0% ns

Skin and appendages

Sweat 2.9% 3% 11.4% 0% ns

Urogenital

Incontinence, urine 8.5% 13.3% 2.7% 15% 0% 6.1% 14.3 0% 0.014

Dysmenorrhea 8.8% 15.2% 0% 0% 0.033

Respiratory

Cough 8.5% 26.7% 8.1% 0%

Pharyngitis 12% 33.3% 8.1% 5%

Sinusitis 11.1% 26.7% 8.1% 5%

Abbreviation: NS, not significant

Several patients with pre-existing obstructive sleep apnea reported worsening of their OSA while taking sodium oxybate,⁸⁷ however this was not associated with a decrease in arterial oxygen saturation, and no dose-related changes in respiratory function caused by sodium oxybate have been observed.⁶⁴ Based on the currently available data, physicians prescribing sodium oxybate should remain vigilant for the possible development of sleep-disordered breathing during long-term treatment with sodium oxybate.⁸⁸

The treatment of patients with narcolepsy with sodium oxybate can result in weight loss.⁸⁹ Patients with narcolepsy tend to be overweight due to impaired energy homeostasis.⁹⁰ This weight loss in patients with narcolepsy, especially those with cataplexy, on treatment may be possibly related to normalizing or correcting disordered energy homeostasis.

The safety of sodium oxybate in patients younger than 16 years of age has not been established.^12,86 A group of eight children with severe narcolepsy-cataplexy diagnosed on the basis of clinical history, nocturnal polysomnography and the multiple sleep latency test were treated with sodium oxybate.⁶³ Suicidal ideation, dissociative episodes, tremor and constipation occurred in one subject each and terminal (at the end of the night) insomnia in two. Terminal insomnia, a recognized side effect, which occurred in these 2 patients, did not appear to be disabling. Tremors observed were similar to those observed in adults. In contrast, the authors did not observe obstructive sleep apnea, enuresis, sleep walking, bed wetting, or headache, as seen in adults. Because of the small sample size, it is not possible to draw additional inferences.

Abuse Potential, Withdrawal and Fatalities

The abuse of illicit forms of sodium oxybate (GHB) led to concerns of diversion and abuse of the approved product.^85,91 Abuse and misuse of the pharmaceutical product, sodium oxybate, has been rare over the 7 years since its introduction to the market, which is likely due in part to the risk management program associated with this product. Differences in the accessibility, purity, dosing, and misuse of illicit GHB and sodium oxybate suggest that risks associated with illicit GHB are greater than those associated with the pharmaceutical product sodium oxybate.⁹²

GHB withdrawal syndrome has been described in patients with a history of bodybuilding and use of the drug every 2–4 hours daily.⁹³ Manifestations of withdrawal are rare and range in severity from mild symptoms to disabling insomnia, tremors, and seizures.⁹⁴ The US Xyrem Multicenter Group study evaluated withdrawal symptoms in 55 patients who had been receiving sodium oxybate for greater than 6 months.⁹⁵ The results showed that, when treatment was changed from sodium oxybate to placebo, 2 patients experienced anxiety and 1 reported insomnia, dizziness, and somnolence. Since the US Xyrem Multicenter Group study was a retrospective analysis of previously published data with a limited number of patients, additional evaluation of a withdrawal syndrome from sodium oxybate is needed.

Fatalities have been reported, with and without co-intoxicants, associated with popular use/abuse⁸⁵ and with therapeutic use.^86,91 No clearly defined lethal dose or level exists; postmortem blood GHB levels vary widely, overlapping with endogenous and therapeutic ranges.⁹¹ The primary mechanism of death is presumed to be respiratory arrest resulting from CNS depression.

A review of the forensic literature reveals that accurately establishing gamma-hydroxybutyrate-related deaths using laboratory means is a complex matter, requiring samples from cardiac and femoral blood, urine, vitreous humor and stomach contents, and documenting the amount of time that elapsed between the time of death and when fluid samples were obtained.⁹⁶

Contraindications and Warnings

Contraindications to sodium oxybate use include patients receiving sedative/hypnotics or those with succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency^44,64 which is a rare autosomal recessive inborn error of metabolism.⁹⁷ Characteristics of the disorder are psychomotor retardation, childhood-onset hypotonia, and ataxia. The enzyme deficiency results in significant accumulation of GHB and GABA. Patients with succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency may develop increased adverse effects if they receive sodium oxybate.⁶³

The occurrence of suicidal ideation has been reported in a case of sodium oxybate abuse.⁶³ Its occurrence in 1 of 8 subjects was confounded by the fact that this patient also had a known anxiety disorder and oppositional disorder. Hence sodium oxybate should be used with caution in patient with history of preexisting psychiatric symptoms.

Due to the rapid onset of action and strong sedative effect, sodium oxybate should only be ingested at bedtime, and while in bed.⁶⁴ Because of the risk of residual sedation, patients should preferably not engage in hazardous activities or activities requiring complete mental alertness or motor coordination, such as driving or operating machinery for at least 6 hours after ingesting sodium oxybate. As with all sedating medications, consideration should also be given to individual patient situations, such as being solely responsible for a small child or being ‘on call’ for any task requiring full mental alertness.

Clinical trials are lacking in the evaluation of the drug in pregnant women;⁸⁶ therefore, it should be used only when necessary. Sodium oxybate should be administered with caution in nursing mothers because it is unknown whether the drug is excreted in breast milk.⁴³

Warning against consumption of alcohol when using sodium oxybate due to the risk of respiratory depression has been adequately emphasized as a black box warning in the package insert.

Administration and Dosages

The recommended initial dose of sodium oxybate is 4.5 g/day divided into 2 equal doses.^43,44 The first dose is administered at bedtime, with the patient in bed, due to the drug's rapid absorption and pharmacologic action. The second dose is to be taken within 2.5–4 hours of the first dose because of the elimination half-life of 30–60 minutes. The dosage can be increased by 1.5 g/day every 1–2 weeks until the desired clinical effect has occurred. The maximum dose is 9 g/day given in divided doses. The majority of patients have a clinical response within the dosage range of 6–9 g/day.

Modifications of dosing based on gender are not necessary.⁵⁴ The initial dosage of sodium oxybate should be decreased by one-half in patients with liver insufficiency.⁴³ Sodium oxybate has extensive hepatic first-pass metabolism, which can prolong the elimination half-life in patients with cirrhosis.⁹⁸ With liver cirrhosis, the drug has an increased mean AUC, markedly reduced oral clearance, and significant prolongation of the half-life. Repetitive dosing in cirrhotic patients did not result in drug accumulation. Patients with congestive heart failure, hypertension, or renal insufficiency will need to have their daily sodium intake assessed.^43,86 Three grams of sodium oxybate contains 0.5 g of sodium, while the 9 g dose contains 1.6 g of sodium.

High-fat meals can significantly reduce the bioavailability of sodium oxybate; therefore, it is advisable to administer the drug on an empty stomach.⁵⁴

Sodium oxybate (Xyrem) is available as an oral solution with a concentration of 500 mg/ml.^44,86 The kit contains a press-in-bottle adaptor, a 10 mL oral syringe, two 90 mL dosing cups with child-resistant caps, and a medication guide. Each dose requires dilution with 60 mL of water. The patient is instructed to mix both doses before bedtime and to use the diluted solutions within 24 hours. Due to the history of drug abuse with GHB, the Xyrem Success Program was developed for physicians and patients to minimize drug diversion with sodium oxybate.^44,86

The program is to be contacted by the prescriber to gain access to a central pharmacy that distributes the medication. The physician is supplied with educational materials before the drug is dispensed. The process then proceeds to specialized prescription forms, physician and patient registration and approval, solving issues of reimbursement, and contacting patients for delivery of the medication along with counseling. Long-term management includes close monitoring of refills and potential adverse effects.

Approved Labeling and Possible Off-Label Uses

Sodium oxybate is a Schedule III controlled substance in the US, approved for the treatment of EDS and cataplexy in patients with narcolepsy.⁴⁴ Investigational studies have evaluated its use for management of alcohol withdrawal symptoms and opiate detoxification,⁹⁹ fibromyalgia,¹⁰⁰ stimulus-induced paroxysmal drop attacks in Coffin-Lowry syndrome,¹⁰¹ tardive dyskinesia and bipolar disorder.¹⁰² GHB may have neuroprotective effects in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer disease.¹⁰³ Currently, sodium oxybate is used in various European countries as an adjunct to anesthesia, for treatment of alcohol withdrawal, and for maintenance of alcohol abstinence.¹⁰⁴

Place in Therapy

Rational pharmacotherapy of childhood narcolepsy implies targeting the symptom that is most bothersome to the patient. If daytime sleepiness is severe and cataplexy is less prominent, the initial prescription of modafinil or preparations of methylphenidate and amphetamine seems appropriate, with sodium oxybate as back-up if daytime sleepiness and fragmented sleep persist. When cataplexy is the more disabling symptom, however, consideration should be given to initiating treatment with sodium oxybate at the onset, provided that there are no medical, social, and family contraindications

Future

Despite significant advances in understanding the pathophysiology of narcolepsy, current treatments for human narcolepsy are symptom based. However given the major developments in understanding the neurobiological basis of the condition, new therapies are likely to emerge such as symptomatic endocrine/ transmitter modulating therapies, hypocretin-based therapies and immune-based therapies including steroid therapy, intravenous gamma-globulin, and plasmapharesis.^105–108 Development of a long acting sodium oxybate preparation will be helpful in better patient compliance regarding the second dose. Eventually, treatment of narcolepsy–cataplexy is likely to involve hypocretin cell transplant or gene therapy technology.¹⁰⁹ However, these therapies are many years away; it is imperative that neurologists remain aware of future developments, not only out of interest but also because of the implications for treating a lifelong debilitating disease.

Disclosures

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Trial	12-month, open label multicenter extension trial⁸²	Randomized, double blind placebo controlled multicenter trial⁴²
Body as a whole
Headache	33.3%	60%	27%	20%	8.8%	15.2%	31.4%	20.6%	ns
Infection	27.4%	13.3%	32.4%	25%	8.8%	15.2%	0%	2.9%	0.03
Pain	25.6%	40%	21.6%	15%	8.8%	12.1%	20%	5.9%	ns
Digestive
Vomit					0%	6.1%	11.4%	0%	0.047
Nausea	28.2%	47.7%	27%	20%	5.9%	15.2%	34.3%	5.9%	0.0045
Nausea vomit					0%	6.1%	5.7%	0%	ns
Diarrhea	12%	20%	5.4%	15%	0%	6.1%	5.7%	0%	ns
Nervous
Anxiety					2.9%	0%	5.7%	2.9%	ns
Confusion	11.1%	13.3%	13.5%	5%	8.8%	3%	14.3%	2.9%	ns
Dizziness	26.5%	40%	21.6%	10%	23.5%	30.3%	34.3%	5.9%	0.017
Dream abnormality	10.3%	0%	5.4%	5%	0%	9.1%	2.9%	0%	ns
Sleep disorder	9.4%	13.3%	8.1%	10%	5.9%	12.1%	14.3%	2.9%	ns
Thinking abnormal					2.9%	0%	5.7%	0%	ns
Skin and appendages
Sweat					2.9%	3%	11.4%	0%	ns
Urogenital
Incontinence, urine	8.5%	13.3%	2.7%	15%	0%	6.1%	14.3	0%	0.014
Dysmenorrhea					8.8%	15.2%	0%	0%	0.033
Respiratory
Cough	8.5%	26.7%	8.1%	0%
Pharyngitis	12%	33.3%	8.1%	5%
Sinusitis	11.1%	26.7%	8.1%	5%

Footnotes

Abbreviations

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Trial	12-month, open label multicenter extension trial⁸²				Randomized, double blind placebo controlled multicenter trial⁴²
	Total N = 117	3 g N = 15	6 g N = 37	9 g N = 20	3 g N = 34	6 g N = 33	9 g N = 35	Placebo N = 35	p-value
Body as a whole
Headache	33.3%	60%	27%	20%	8.8%	15.2%	31.4%	20.6%	ns
Infection	27.4%	13.3%	32.4%	25%	8.8%	15.2%	0%	2.9%	0.03
Pain	25.6%	40%	21.6%	15%	8.8%	12.1%	20%	5.9%	ns
Digestive
Vomit					0%	6.1%	11.4%	0%	0.047
Nausea	28.2%	47.7%	27%	20%	5.9%	15.2%	34.3%	5.9%	0.0045
Nausea vomit					0%	6.1%	5.7%	0%	ns
Diarrhea	12%	20%	5.4%	15%	0%	6.1%	5.7%	0%	ns
Nervous
Anxiety					2.9%	0%	5.7%	2.9%	ns
Confusion	11.1%	13.3%	13.5%	5%	8.8%	3%	14.3%	2.9%	ns
Dizziness	26.5%	40%	21.6%	10%	23.5%	30.3%	34.3%	5.9%	0.017
Dream abnormality	10.3%	0%	5.4%	5%	0%	9.1%	2.9%	0%	ns
Sleep disorder	9.4%	13.3%	8.1%	10%	5.9%	12.1%	14.3%	2.9%	ns
Thinking abnormal					2.9%	0%	5.7%	0%	ns
Skin and appendages
Sweat					2.9%	3%	11.4%	0%	ns
Urogenital
Incontinence, urine	8.5%	13.3%	2.7%	15%	0%	6.1%	14.3	0%	0.014
Dysmenorrhea					8.8%	15.2%	0%	0%	0.033
Respiratory
Cough	8.5%	26.7%	8.1%	0%
Pharyngitis	12%	33.3%	8.1%	5%
Sinusitis	11.1%	26.7%	8.1%	5%

Pharmacotherapy of Narcolepsy: Focus on Sodium Oxybate

Abstract

Keywords

Introduction

Narcolepsy

Clinical features of narcolepsy

Hypersomnia

Cataplexy

Hypnagogic/hypnopomping hallucinations and sleep paralysis (HH and SP)

Etiology and pathophysiology of narcolepsy

Diagnostic criteria and laboratory assessment of narcolepsy

Treatment of Narcolepsy

Non-pharmacological treatment (life style changes)

Pharmacological treatment is summarized in Table 24,32,33

Sodium Oxybate

From club drug to orphan drug

Chemistry

Pharmacokinetics

Absorption and distribution

Metabolism and elimination

Special populations

Potential drug interactions

Pharmacodynamic

GHB as a neurotransmitter: effects on neurotransmitter systems

GHB and sleep: effects on sleep architecture

GHB and seizures

GHB and drug addiction

GHB and neuroprotection

Efficacy

Effects on cataplexy

Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS)

Effects on hypnagogic hallucinations and sleep paralysis

Effects on clinical global impression (CGI) and health–-related quality of life (HR-QOL)

Side Effects

Abuse Potential, Withdrawal and Fatalities

Contraindications and Warnings

Administration and Dosages

Approved Labeling and Possible Off-Label Uses

Place in Therapy

Future

Disclosures

Footnotes

Abbreviations

References

Pharmacological treatment is summarized in Table 2^4,32,33