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  • Title: Sodium oxybate demonstrates long-term efficacy for the treatment of cataplexy in patients with narcolepsy.
    Author: U.S. Xyrem Multicenter Study Group.
    Journal: Sleep Med; 2004 Mar; 5(2):119-23. PubMed ID: 15033130.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This study was conducted to demonstrate the long-term efficacy of sodium oxybate for the long-term treatment of cataplexy in patients with narcolepsy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-five (55) narcoleptic patients with cataplexy who had received continuous treatment with sodium oxybate for 7-44 months (mean 21 months) were enrolled in a double-blind treatment withdrawal paradigm. A 2-week single-blind sodium oxybate treatment phase established a baseline for the weekly occurrence of cataplexy. This was followed by a 2-week double-blind phase in which patients were randomized to receive unchanged drug therapy or placebo. Patients recorded the incidence of cataplexy attacks and adverse events in daily diaries. RESULTS: During the 2-week double-blind phase, the abrupt cessation of sodium oxybate therapy in the placebo patients resulted in a significant increase in the number of cataplexy attacks (median=21; P<0.001 ) compared to patients who remained on sodium oxybate (median=0). Cataplexy attacks returned gradually with placebo patients reporting a median of 4.2 and 11.7 cataplexy attacks during the first and second weeks, respectively. There were no symptoms of frank withdrawal. CONCLUSIONS: This controlled trial provides evidence supporting the long-term efficacy of sodium oxybate for the treatment of cataplexy. In contrast with antidepressant drug therapy, there is no evidence of rebound cataplexy upon abrupt discontinuation of treatment.
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