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Case Reports
. 2009 Apr;10(4):490-3.
doi: 10.1016/j.sleep.2009.01.005. Epub 2009 Mar 9.

Three deaths associated with use of Xyrem

Deborah L Zvosec  1 , Stephen W Smith, Brad J Hall
Affiliations
Case Reports

Three deaths associated with use of Xyrem

Deborah L Zvosec et al. Sleep Med. 2009 Apr.

Abstract

Fatalities resulting from popular use of gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB) have previously been reported. We report three deaths associated with use of Xyrem (sodium oxybate), a pharmaceutical preparation of GHB initially approved for treatment of narcolepsy with cataplexy. One death appears associated with Xyrem abuse, with extremely high postmortem blood GHB levels documented. Although postmortem blood GHB levels in two other deaths are consistent with therapeutic levels, cause and effect cannot be established. We discuss these cases and factors which may have exerted contributory respiratory depressant effects, singly or in combination, including concurrent use of sedative hypnotics, obstructive sleep apnea, and obesity.

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Comment in

  • Xyrem safety: the debate continues.
    Feldman NT. Feldman NT. Sleep Med. 2009 Apr;10(4):405-6. doi: 10.1016/j.sleep.2009.02.002. Epub 2009 Mar 21. Sleep Med. 2009. PMID: 19332385 No abstract available.
  • Sodium oxybate is an effective and safe treatment for narcolepsy.
    Lammers GJ, Bassetti C, Billiard M, Black J, Broughton R, Dauvilliers Y, Ferini Strambi L, Garcia-Borreguero D, Goswami M, Högl B, Iranzo A, Jennum P, Khatami R, Lecendreux M, Mayer G, Mignot E, Montplaisir J, Nevsimalova S, Peraita-Adrados R, Plazzi G, Scammell T, Silber M, Sonka K, Tafti M, Thorpy M. Lammers GJ, et al. Sleep Med. 2010 Jan;11(1):105-6; author reply 106-8. doi: 10.1016/j.sleep.2009.08.003. Epub 2009 Oct 20. Sleep Med. 2010. PMID: 19846338 No abstract available.
  • Sodium oxybate and modafinil: a good combination?
    Ortega-Albás JJ, López-Bernabé R, Serrano AL, Díaz JR. Ortega-Albás JJ, et al. Sleep Med. 2010 Oct;11(9):957. doi: 10.1016/j.sleep.2010.05.002. Sleep Med. 2010. PMID: 20643579 No abstract available.

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