Xyrem (Sodium Oxybate)
To comply with Canadian International Pharmacy Association regulations you are permitted to order a 3-month supply or the closest package size available based on your personal prescription. read more
Sodium Oxybate Information
(soe' dee um) (ox' i bate)
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. Tell your doctor if you use or have ever used street drugs, or if you have overused prescription medications. 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. Sodium oxybate may cause serious side effects. Tell your doctor if you take antidepressants; medications for anxiety, mental illness, or seizures; sedatives; sleeping pills; or tranquilizers. You doctor will probably tell you not to take sodium oxybate while you are taking these medications. Do not drink alcoholic beverages while you are taking sodium oxybate. 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. 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.- 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 through 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.
-
Before taking sodium oxybate,
- tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to sodium oxybate, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in sodium oxybate liquid. Ask your pharmacist or check the medication guide for a list of the ingredients..
- tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
- tell your doctor if you have or ever had succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency (an inherited condition in which certain substances build up in the body and cause retardation and developmental delays), Your doctor will probably tell you not to take sodium oxybate.
- tell your doctor if you are following a low salt diet for medical reasons. Also tell your doctor if you snore; if you have ever thought about harming or killing yourself or planned or tried to do so; 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, depression, heart failure, high blood pressure, or liver or kidney disease.
- tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking sodium oxybate, call your doctor.
- if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking sodium oxybate.
- you should know that you will be very sleepy for at least 6 hours after you take sodium oxybate, and you may also be drowsy during the daytime. Do not drive a car, operate machinery, or perform any other dangerous activities for at least 6 hours after you take your medication. Avoid dangerous activities at all times until you know how sodium oxybate affects you.
- bedwetting
- headache
- dizziness
- feeling drunk
- shaking of a part of your body that you cannot control
- feelings of numbness, tingling, pricking, burning, or creeping on the skin
- difficulty moving when sleeping or upon waking
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- stomach pain
- back pain
- weakness
- swelling of the arms, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
- sweating
- sleepwalking
- abnormal dreams
- agitation
- anxiety
- depression
- confusion or memory problems
- thoughts of harming or killing yourself
- feeling that others want to harm you
- hallucinations (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist)
- loss of contact with reality
- breathing problems, snoring, or sleep apnea
- excessive drowsiness during the day
The content on this page is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute professional medical advice. Patients should not use the information presented on this page for diagnosing a health-related issue or disease. Before taking any medication or supplements, patients should always consult a physician or qualified healthcare professional for medical advice or information about whether a drug is safe, appropriate or effective.