Weight loss in narcolepsy patients treated with sodium oxybate

Narcolepsy is often associated with increased body weight. Sodium oxybate has efficacy in many narcolepsy symptoms. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of sodium oxybate on weight in patients with narcolepsy.

Charts from three centers of all patients with narcolepsy who had been using sodium oxybate for at least 3 months were reviewed. Patients in whom anti-cataplexy medications were added or withdrawn or wake-promoting medications added after the start of sodium oxybate were excluded from further analysis. In the remainder, pre-sodium oxybate and, most recently, on-sodium oxybate weights were compared using Student's t-tests. Sodium oxybate dose and duration of therapy were also noted.

A total of 54 patients meeting inclusion criteria were identified. Of these 54, 33 (61%) were women; the mean age was 48.3 years. The mean dose of sodium oxybate was 6.9g/night and the duration of therapy was 25 months. The mean pre-sodium oxybate weight was 78.3 (+/-15.7)kg. The most recent on-sodium oxybate weight was 74.9 (+/-15.1, p=0.003). The average weight loss was 3.4kg, whereas the maximum was 30.9kg.

This study suggests that treatment of patients with narcolepsy with sodium oxybate can result in weight loss.