Sodium oxybate and Tiredness: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 3, 2012

For Narcolepsy "I have been taking this for a little over a year. I just recently went up to the highest dose. I like this medicine, with the exception that the first dose makes me feel stoned and I get hungry. As long as I go straight to bed and not watch TV or talk to my kids, I am okay. If I do anything other than go to bed, I don't go to sleep. When I do go to sleep, I don't even have to set an alarm, I automatically wake up. I am still tired in the mornings, and depending on work, it can be worse at other times. I take Ritalin 2x during the day. My quality of life has improved to the point where I do not fall asleep while working, I don't race to get home to lay down, I don't take naps as much as I used to. I am still 'tired' but functional."

• Xyr...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 16, 2016

For Narcolepsy "My experience with Xyrem is phenomenal. Going back, I can't imagine how I survived before this medication, comparing how I used to feel before taking it. I'm at least 70 percent better. I read a couple of suggestions on this website regarding not eating 2 to 3 hours before and not drinking much water 5 hours before, I will try them to see if I can get any improvement. So far, my only issue is that on the second dose, it wears off quickly. It feels like I passed out for a couple of hours and woke up to pee, and that will be it, but I still can feel that heavy eyes just won't be able to fall asleep again."

• Sti...
• March 3, 2011

For Narcolepsy "Just started my 6th month of Xyrem and not sure it is doing anything except keeping me awake every other night, giving me the munchies, waking me up (if I slept), freezing, and decreasing the effectiveness of my Adderall up to 60 mg 2x day, was taking 1/2 that prior to starting. 1st 2 months complete exhaustion, facial pain, sinus pain, and just miserable."

• col...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 14, 2019

"I have taken Xyrem for insomnia (not narcolepsy) for the past couple of years. I only take it as needed, and I take it if I wake up and cannot fall back asleep (I do not dose it at sleep onset). This happens very often since I have nocturia (I awaken to urinate 4-5 times a night). The key takeaways: Xyrem will put you to sleep, and it is a deep sleep. However, Xyrem has horrible side effects. At first, it seemed like it energized me for the entire day. Pretty soon, however, the drug turned on me to the point that I feel terribly tired and anxious (anxiety is moderate to severe) the entire day. Tolerance builds very quickly to its potent but short-lived sedative effects, so I only take it twice a week. If you are desperate for sleep, take it (if you can find a good doctor), but be very careful about escalating your dose and watch out for side effects."