Psychosis in the context of sodium oxybate therapy. J Clin Sleep Med 2011 Dec 15;7(6):665-6
Date
12/16/2011Pubmed ID
22171207Pubmed Central ID
PMC3227714DOI
10.5664/jcsm.1478Scopus ID
2-s2.0-84855671572 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 15 CitationsAbstract
Sodium oxybate (brand name Xyrem) is a sodium salt of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), an endogenous CNS depressant, which is an effective treatment of narcolepsy. As a drug of abuse, GHB produces severe psychiatric side effects and withdrawal. However, there are no reports of these effects when using clinically recommended doses. This paper presents a case of a patient who developed altered mental status while taking the recommended dose of sodium oxybate and subsequently became psychotic upon abrupt discontinuation of the medication. It is important for prescribers of sodium oxybate to be aware of the possibility of significant psychiatric side effects of this medication, as well as withdrawal symptoms, even at clinical doses.
Author List
Langford J, Gross WLAuthor
William Gross MD, PhD Associate Professor in the Anesthesiology department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdultCentral Nervous System Depressants
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Drug Administration Schedule
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Narcolepsy
Psychotic Disorders
Risk Assessment
Severity of Illness Index
Sodium Oxybate
Substance Withdrawal Syndrome