These “sleep attacks” usually last a few seconds to several minutes.
People with narcolepsy experience periods of extreme daytime sleepiness and sudden, irresistible bouts of sleep that can strike at any time. In approving this generic version of Xyrem, the FDA is maintaining strict safety requirements for sodium oxybate, while providing patients with access to a generic medication option for narcolepsy.Īccording to the National Institutes of Health, narcolepsy is a chronic brain disorder that involves poor control of sleep-wake cycles. Sodium oxybate will not be available in retail pharmacies. Only a certified pharmacy that ships directly to patients can dispense sodium oxybate. Specifically, under both the Xyrem REMS and the generic sodium oxybate REMS, sodium oxybate can be prescribed only by a certified prescriber, and dispensed only to an enrolled patient by a certified pharmacy. FDA’s approval of generic sodium oxybate is subject to a REMS with strict safety controls that are comparable to those currently required for Xyrem. GHB has not been approved for any medical use and has the potential for abuse, such as in cases of sexual assault.īecause of the potential risks associated with Xyrem, it is subject to strict safety controls on prescribing and dispensing under a program called a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS). Sodium oxybate is the sodium salt of gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB). Additionally, the active ingredient in Xyrem (and in the newly approved generic) is sodium oxybate. The use of Xyrem has been associated with serious side effects including seizures, trouble breathing, changes in alertness, coma, and death. Sodium oxybate is the only medication approved to treat cataplexy in patients with narcolepsy. Approximately 70 percent of people with narcolepsy have cataplexy. Muscle weakness or paralysis associated with cataplexy may cause a person to collapse. Cataplexy is a primary symptom of narcolepsy where patients suddenly lose muscle tone, including voluntary muscle control, while awake. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first generic version of Xyrem (sodium oxybate) Oral Solution, to treat cataplexy and excessive daytime sleepiness in patients with narcolepsy, which is a potentially debilitating disease.
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