Sodium oxybate is another name for GHB, a substance that is often illegally sold and abused, especially by young adults in social settings such as nightclubs. Sodium oxybate may be harmful when taken by people other than the person for whom it was prescribed. Do not sell or give your sodium oxybate to anyone else; selling or sharing it is against the law. Store sodium oxybate in a safe place, such as a locked cabinet or box, so that no one else can take it accidentally or on purpose. Keep track of how much liquid is left in your bottle so you will know if any is missing.
Take sodium oxybate exactly as directed. Do not take more of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. If you take too much sodium oxybate, you may experience life-threatening symptoms including seizures, slowed or stopped breathing, loss of consciousness, and coma. You may also develop a craving for sodium oxybate, feel a need to take larger and larger doses, or want to continue taking sodium oxybate even though it causes unpleasant symptoms. If you have taken sodium oxybate in amounts larger than prescribed by your doctor, and you suddenly stop taking it, you may experience withdrawal symptoms such as difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, restlessness, anxiety, abnormal thinking, loss of contact with reality, sleepiness, upset stomach, shaking of a part of your body that you cannot control, sweating, muscle cramps, and fast heartbeat.
Sodium oxybate may cause serious side effects even if it is taken as directed. Do not take antidepressants; medications for anxiety, mental illness, or seizures; sedatives; sleeping pills; or tranquilizers while you are taking sodium oxybate. Do not drink alcohol while you are taking sodium oxybate. Tell your doctor if you snore and if you have or have ever had lung disease, difficulty breathing, sleep apnea (a sleep disorder that causes breathing to stop for short periods during sleep), seizures, or depression. Also tell your doctor if you have ever thought about harming or killing yourself or planned or tried to do so, if you use or have ever used street drugs, or if you have overused prescription medications.If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: depression, confusion, abnormal thoughts, thoughts of harming or killing yourself, anxiety, feeling that others want to harm you, hallucinations (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist), loss of contact with reality, agitation, memory problems, breathing problems, snoring, sleep apnea, slowed or stopped breathing,or excessive drowsiness during the day.
Sodium oxybate is not available at retail pharmacies. A special program is in place to distribute the medication and provide information about the medication. You will receive written information and an instructional video about the safe use of sodium oxybate. Your medication will be mailed to you from a central pharmacy after you have read the information and talked to a pharmacist. Ask your doctor if you have any questions about how you will receive your medication.
Your doctor or pharmacist will give you the manufacturer's patient information sheet (Medication Guide) when you begin treatment with sodium oxybate and each time you refill your prescription. Read the information carefully and ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. You can also obtain the Medication Guide from the FDA website: http://www.fda.gov/Drugs.
Keep all appointments with your doctor. You should see your doctor at least every 3 months.
Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking sodium oxybate.
Sodium oxybate is used to prevent attacks of cataplexy (episodes of muscle weakness that begin suddenly and last for a short time) in patients who have narcolepsy (a sleep disorder that may cause extreme sleepiness, sudden uncontrollable urge to sleep during daily activities, and cataplexy). Sodium oxybate is in a class of medications called central nervous system depressants. The way that sodium oxybate works to treat cataplexy is not known.
Sodium oxybate comes as a solution (liquid) to mix with water and take by mouth. It is usually taken twice each night because sodium oxybate wears off after a short time and the effects of one dose will not last for the entire night. The first dose is taken at bedtime, and a second dose is taken 2 1/2 to 4 hours after the first dose. Sodium oxybate must be taken on an empty stomach, so the first dose should be taken several hours after the evening meal. Try to allow the same amount of time between your evening meal and your first dose of sodium oxybate every night. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand.
Do not take your bedtime dose of sodium oxybate until you are in bed and are ready to go to sleep for the night. Sodium oxybate begins to work very quickly and you may have an upset stomach or feel dizzy or lightheaded if you take the medication before you go to bed for the night.
Place your second dose of sodium oxybate in a safe place near your bed before you go to sleep. Use an alarm clock to be sure that you will wake up in time to take the second dose. If you wake up before the alarm goes off and it has been at least 2 1/2 hours since you took your first dose, take your second dose, turn off the alarm, and go back to sleep.
Your doctor will probably start you on a low dose of sodium oxybate and gradually increase your dose, not more often than once every 2 weeks.
Sodium oxybate may help to control your symptoms but will not cure your condition. Continue to take sodium oxybate even if you feel well. Do not stop taking sodium oxybate without talking to your doctor. Your doctor will probably want to decrease your dose gradually. If you suddenly stop taking sodium oxybate, you may have more attacks of cataplexy and you may experience anxiety and difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.
Open the carton that your medicine came in and remove the bottle of medication and the measuring device.
Remove the measuring device from its wrapper.
Open the bottle by pushing down on the cap and turning the cap counterclockwise (to the left) at the same time.
Place the open bottle upright on a table.
Hold the bottle upright with one hand. Use your other hand to place the tip of the measuring device in the center opening on the top of the bottle. Press the tip firmly into the opening.
Hold the bottle and measuring device with one hand. Use your other hand to pull back on the plunger until it is even with the marking that matches the dose your doctor prescribed. Be sure to keep the bottle upright to allow the medication to flow into the measuring device.
Remove the measuring device from the top of the bottle. Place the tip of the measuring device in one of the dosing cups provided with the medication.
Press down on the plunger to empty the medication into the dosing cup.
Add 2 ounces (60 milliliters, 1/4 cup, or about 4 tablespoons) of tap water to the dosing cup. The medication will taste best if you mix it with cold water. Do not mix the medication with fruit juice, soft drinks, or any other liquid.
Repeat steps 5-9 to prepare a dose of sodium oxybate in the second dosing cup.
Place the caps on both dosing cups. Turn each cap clockwise (to the right) until it clicks and locks in place.
Rinse the measuring device with water
Replace the cap on the bottle of sodium oxybate and return the bottle and measuring device to the safe place where they are stored. Place both prepared dosing cups of medication in a safe place near your bed.
When it is time for you to take the first dose of sodium oxybate, press down on the cap and turn it counterclockwise (to the left). Drink all of the liquid while you are sitting on your bed. Put the cap back on the cup, turn it clockwise (to the right) to lock it in place, and lie down right away.
When you wake up 2 1/2 to 4 hours later to take the second dose, repeat step 14.
This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.
If you miss the first dose of sodium oxybate, you may take a dose when the second dose is scheduled; do not take a second dose of sodium oxybate that night. If you miss the second dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule on the next night. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. Always allow at least 2 1/2 hours between doses of sodium oxybate.
bedwetting
headache
dizziness
upset stomach
vomiting
diarrhea
heartburn
stomach pain
back pain
weakness
difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
sweating
flu-like symptoms
ringing in the ears
problems with vision
painful or irregular menstrual periods
abnormal sensitivity to touch or sound
sleepwalking
abnormal dreams
sore throat, fever, chills, and other signs of infection
Sodium oxybate may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].
Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children and pets. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Throw away unused mixtures of sodium oxybate and water 24 hours after you prepare them. When you are ready to throw away a bottle of sodium oxybate, pour any remaining medication down the drain, use a marker to destroy the bottle label, and throw away the bottle with your household trash. Ask your doctor or call the central pharmacy if you have questions about the proper disposal of your medication.
In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.
confusion
problems with coordination
agitation
loss of consciousness
coma
slow, shallow, or interrupted breathing
loss of bladder control
loss of bowel control
vomiting
sweating
headache
blurred vision
muscle jerks or twitches
seizure
slow heartbeat
low body temperature
weak muscles
Ask your doctor or call the central pharmacy if you have any questions about refilling your prescription.
It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.
Last Reviewed - 02/01/2009
AHFS® Consumer Medication Information. © Copyright, 2012. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc., 7272 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland. All Rights Reserved. Duplication for commercial use must be authorized by ASHP.