Xywav vs. Xyrem
Are Xywav and Xyrem the Same Thing?
Xywav (calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium oxybates) and Xyrem (sodium oxybate) are central nervous system depressants used to treat excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy in patients with narcolepsy.
Side effects of Xywav and Xyrem that are similar include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and diarrhea.
Side effects of Xywav that are different from Xyrem include headache, decreased appetite, abnormal sleep behaviors (parasomnia), increased sweating, anxiety, bed wetting (in children), and weight loss.
Side effects of Xyrem that are different from Xywav include shallow breathing.
Both Xywav and Xyrem may interact with alcohol or other drugs used for sleep or sedation, including cold medicines, narcotics, muscle relaxers, or medicines for anxiety, depression, or seizures.
Xywav may also interact with divalproex sodium.
Withdrawal symptoms may occur if you change the dose or stop using Xywav or Xyrem suddenly.
What Are Possible Side Effects of Xywav?
Side effects of Xywav include:
- headache,
- nausea,
- dizziness,
- decreased appetite,
- abnormal sleep behaviors (parasomnia),
- diarrhea,
- increased sweating,
- anxiety,
- vomiting
- ,
- bed wetting (in children), and
- weight loss
What Are Possible Side Effects of Xyrem?
- dizziness,
- nausea,
- vomiting,
- diarrhea, or
- shallow breathing.
Tell your doctor if you have serious side effects of Xyrem including:
- mental/mood changes (e.g., confusion, psychosis, hallucinations, agitation, depression, rare thoughts of suicide),
- bedwetting,
- weakness,
- ringing in the ears, or
- sleepwalking.
What Is Xywav?
Xywav (calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium oxybates) is a central nervous system depressant indicated for the treatment of cataplexy or excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in patients 7 years of age and older with narcolepsy.
What Is Xyrem?
Xyrem (sodium oxybate) is a central nervous system depressant drug indicated for the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy in patients with narcolepsy.
What Drugs Interact With Xywav?
Xywav may interact with other medicines such as:
Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.
What Drugs Interact With Xyrem?
Xyrem may interact with alcohol or other drugs used for sleep or sedation, including cold medicines, narcotics, muscle relaxers, or medicines for anxiety, depression, or seizures. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.
How Should Xywav be Taken?
The adult starting dose of Xywav is 4.5 g per night orally, divided into two doses. Titrate to effect in increments of up to 1.5 g per night per week. The recommended dosage range of Xywav for adults is 6 g to 9 g per night orally. The recommended pediatric starting dosage, titration regimen, and maximum total nightly dosage of Xywav are based on body weight.
How Should Xyrem be Taken?
The recommended starting dose of Xyrem is 4.5 grams per night administered orally in two equal, divided doses: 2.25 g at bedtime and 2.25 g taken 2.5 to 4 hours later.