Sodium Oxybate/Sedative Hypnotics; Alcohol
This information is generalized and not intended as specific medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional before taking or discontinuing any drug or commencing any course of treatment.
Medical warning:
Severe. These medicines may interact and cause very harmful effects and are usually not taken together. Contact your healthcare professional (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) for more information.
How the interaction occurs:
Both sodium oxybate and sedative hypnotics affect your central nervous system.
What might happen:
You may experience an increase in side effects such as excessive sedation, confusion, agitation, or loss of coordination.
What you should do about this interaction:
Contact your healthcare professionals (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) right away about taking these medicines together. If you are sleeping too long at night or experience confusion, agitation, or loss of coordination, contact your doctor.Your healthcare professionals may already be aware of this interaction and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.
References:
1.Xyrem (sodium oxybate) US prescribing information. Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc. December, 2012.
2.FDA. FDA Drug Safety Communication: Warning against use of Xyrem (sodium oxybate) with alcohol or drugs causing respiratory depression. available at: http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm332029.htm December 17, 2012.
