Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Search research articles

Related Experiment Videos

Sodium oxybate for cataplexy.

Michael D Lemon¹, Joe D Strain, Debra K Farver

¹College of Pharmacy, South Dakota State University; Veterans Affairs Black Hills Health Care System, Fort Meade, 57741, USA. Michael.lemon@med.va.gov

The Annals of Pharmacotherapy

|March 2, 2006

Summary

Sodium oxybate effectively treats cataplexy in narcolepsy patients by reducing attacks and improving sleep. While generally safe, its dosing and cost are considerations for this new narcolepsy treatment option.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Cyclic vomiting syndrome: diagnostic approach and current management strategies.

Clinical and experimental gastroenterology·2018

Same author

Interprofessional education in pharmacology using high-fidelity simulation.

Currents in pharmacy teaching & learning·2017

Same author

Brivaracetam: An Adjunctive Treatment for Partial-Onset Seizures.

Journal of clinical pharmacology·2017

Same author

OnabotulinumtoxinA Injections for the Treatment of Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome.

Pharmacotherapy·2015

Same author

Validity and reliability of a practitioner service tool: potential resource for assessing faculty practitioners.

American journal of health-system pharmacy : AJHP : official journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists·2013

Same author

Individualized initiation of statin therapy determined by baseline LDL-C: Are you more likely to achieve goal LDL-C?

Risk management and healthcare policy·2012

Area of Science:

Pharmacology and Therapeutics
Neurology and Sleep Medicine

Background:

Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy.
Cataplexy, a sudden loss of muscle tone, significantly impacts patient quality of life.
Limited effective treatment options exist for cataplexy associated with narcolepsy.

Purpose of the Study:

To comprehensively review sodium oxybate for narcolepsy-induced cataplexy.
Evaluate pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, safety, and dosing.
Provide patient counseling information for this narcolepsy treatment.

Main Methods:

Systematic literature search of OVID and PubMed databases (1966-2006).
Keywords included: sodium oxybate, gamma-hydroxybutyrate, narcolepsy, cataplexy.
Included human trials assessing safety and efficacy of sodium oxybate for cataplexy.

Main Results:

Sodium oxybate is FDA-approved for narcolepsy with cataplexy and excessive daytime sleepiness.
Placebo-controlled trials show significant reduction in weekly cataplexy attacks.
Common adverse events include headache, nausea, dizziness, pain, and somnolence; a split-dose regimen is required due to short half-life.

Conclusions:

Sodium oxybate is a safe and effective treatment for cataplexy in narcolepsy.
Advantages include reduced cataplexy, improved daytime sleepiness, and better sleep quality.
Disadvantages involve dosing schedule, abuse potential, cost, and restricted distribution.

Related Experiment Videos