The use of sodium oxybate to treat narcolepsy

@article{Mayer2012TheUO,
  title={The use of sodium oxybate to treat narcolepsy},
  author={Geert Mayer},
  journal={Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics},
  year={2012},
  volume={12},
  pages={519 - 529}
}
  • G. Mayer
  • Published 1 May 2012
  • Psychology, Medicine
  • Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics
Narcolepsy is a life-long neurodegenerative disorder that causes considerable impairment to quality of life. Until the 1970s, the treatment for one of the main symptoms, excessive daytime sleepiness, was restricted to stimulants, whereas the second core symptom, cataplexy, was treated with antidepressants, and the resultant fragmented night-time sleep with hypnotics. Sodium oxybate (Xyrem®, UCB Pharma, Brussels, Belgium) is an efficacious drug for all three symptoms which improves the quality… 
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15 Citations
Background Citations
5
Methods Citations
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15 Citations

Clinical applications of sodium oxybate (GHB): from narcolepsy to alcohol withdrawal syndrome.

The effectiveness of sodium oxybate therapy for the treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) and the maintenance of alcohol abstinence has been assessed and some randomized data suggest that GHB is better than naltrexone and disulfiram regarding abstinence maintenance and prevention of craving in the medium term i.e. 3-12 months.

Treatment options in narcolepsy

The choice of stimulants to treat excessive daytime sleepiness in narcolepsy needs to be expanded and anticataplectic medication need to be approved for the indication.

Levels of GHB in hair after regular application.

GHB for cataplexy: Possible mode of action

  • E. Szabadi
  • Biology
    Journal of psychopharmacology
  • 2015
GHB may prevent a cataplectic attack by dampening the tone of LC neurones via the stimulation of inhibitory extrasynaptic GABA receptors in the LC, and thus increasing the threshold for autoinhibition.

Increased lucid dreaming frequency in narcolepsy.

Narcolepsy patients experience a markedly higher lucid dreaming frequency compared to controls, and many patients report a positive impact of dream lucidity on the distress experienced from nightmares.

DARK Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB).

GHB has a storied history with widespread usage in therapeutic, recreational, recreational ('Chemsex'), and some disturbingly nefarious contexts, and a recent surge in therapeutic interest in the drug due to its clinical viability in the treatment of narcolepsy and alcohol abuse/withdrawal.

Post-marketing and clinical safety experience with sodium oxybate for the treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome and maintenance of abstinence in alcohol-dependent subjects

The cumulative postmarketing and clinical safety experience with SMO in AUD showed that SMO has a good safety profile in AUD patients, and the safety profile was confirmed by pharmacovigilance data resulting from 299 013 patients exposed from Italy and Italy.

Understanding narcolepsy: the wider perspective

Recent evidence of importance to understanding narcolepsy and managing its effects on health-related quality of life is examined.

γ-Hydroxybutyrate (Xyrem) ameliorates clinical symptoms and neuropathology in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

Recent strategies for drug development in fibromyalgia syndrome

The results of these studies with potential novel targets for drug development for FMS were reviewed including the results of trials with sodium oxybate, quetiapine, esreboxetine, nabilone, memantine, naltrexone, and melatonin.

References

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