| Definition | Sodium oxybate (Xyrem) is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant used to treat cataplexy or excessive daytime sleepiness associated with narcolepsy.[L30598] It is a sodium salt of [gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid], an endogenous cerebral inhibitory neurotransmitter [A251445] and a metabolite of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA.[A251430] Due to its physiological effects, sodium oxybate is associated with a risk for substance misuse and abuse. Sodium oxybate has been misused to stimulate body growth and to induce euphoria, disinhibition, and sexual arousal as a "party drug" or "club drug."[A18723] For safety reasons, sodium oxybate is a controlled substance only available through a restricted program in approved countries.[L30598]
An extended-release oral suspension formulation of sodium oxybate for narcolepsy, marketed under the brand name LUMRYZ, gained tentative FDA approval in July 2022. Its final approval is subject to a June 2023 patent expiry.[L42645] In some countries, sodium oxybate has been investigated and used in alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) to aid abstinence maintenance in alcohol use disorders.[A251440, A251445] |
|---|
