Sodium oxybate and Heart Palpitations: What Users Say

• 80s...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 20, 2018

Sodium oxybate for Narcolepsy "This medication might have ended up being effective for me if I could have tolerated it long enough to get to an effective dose, but I quit taking it because of the side effects. My blood pressure increased from 110/65 to prehypertension, up to 138/90. It also caused mild tachycardia (rapid heart rate). My normal resting heart rate is between 64 and 68. On Xyrem, it was in the 80s and 90s the entire time. I also had anxiety in the morning hours, including a couple of panic attacks. I quit taking it when I became severely depressed."

• Mom...
• January 25, 2020

Sodium oxybate for Narcolepsy "Been tired since high school. Diagnosed last year at 37 years old with 5 kids ages 17-2. I’m post-gastric bypass 12 years ago. Hit or miss some nights work, others don’t. After 1st dose, 3 hours sleep, and 2nd dose, lucky to get 2 hours. My 15-year-old son has narcolepsy too. A little more sleep than me, but hard to get him up. He is still tired during the day as well. I have a new med called Sunosi if I need it during the day, but my heart races too fast. I’m going to try not eating 3 hours before bed, as some have said. Xyrem also works better the colder it is, so going to try an ice pack in the lunch box next to bed for the 2nd dose. Weird dreams after waking after 2 hours on the 2nd dose. Nothing is a miracle drug, but it gives me some relief."

• Bor...
• August 18, 2021

For Narcolepsy "First, narcolepsy symptoms began after a flu, and after a few years, sought a diagnosis. First, started on modafinil 200 mg, then five years later, dosage was increased to 400 mg per day. Became refractory to it after 10 years. Dexedrine/Methylphenidate gave me palpitations and tachycardia. My sleep specialist gave me Xyrem - which was a game changer - never slept so well since I was a child. But I simply could not afford the cost - how can a drug company charge more for a product than what you can get it on the street?"

• Bor...
• August 18, 2021

For Narcolepsy "First, narcolepsy symptoms began after a flu, and after a few years, sought a diagnosis. First, started on modafinil 200 mg, then five years later, dosage was increased to 400 mg per day. Became refractory to it after 10 years. Dexedrine/Methylphenidate gave me palpitations and tachycardia. My sleep specialist gave me Xyrem - which was a game changer - never slept so well since I was a child. But I simply could not afford the cost - how can a drug company charge more for a product than what you can get it on the street?"