Xyrem and Panic Attacks: What Users Say

• MCa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 22, 2018

For Narcolepsy "I had to ramp up to the highest dose before it put me to sleep - before that, I'd be in a weird state but not asleep. When I did get to a dose that would put me to sleep, I would take it (10 pm), sleep for 2 hours and wake up (12 am). Then I'd have to wait an hour for the 3-hour minimum before I could take the second dose (1 am). Then I'd wake up after 2 hours again (3 am). I would be in a state I describe as somewhere between a panic attack and a hangover. I couldn't read or really do anything - I'd just have to sit there and wait for it to wear off around dawn. It didn't work for me."

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

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."

• Sev...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 18, 2022

For Narcolepsy "Worst drug ever. Some nights I wouldn't even sleep, I would be high and euphoric while I had to wake up at 5:30 a.m. to work in the hospital. Severe withdrawal as soon as it wears off, leading to panic attacks and not to mention severe depression. Felt like I never woke up refreshed, I was in a mental fog all day until it was time to take it again, and I built tolerance fast. Worst part, the side effects never mentioned were anxiety and depression until I called the hotline over and over. Even my doctor never heard of that happening. My eyes had discharged, my pupils were huge, and I even pointed it out to my doctor. Felt like I was in a daze for a whole year."

• Bsm...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 1, 2021

For Narcolepsy "I was so hopeful that this med was going to fix me. The taste I read was awful, but it wasn't too bad. Tasted like ocean water. I take psych drugs that are sedating and muscle relaxers and opioids, which had to be spread out 6 hours before taking Xyrem. That means ALL my sedating drugs have to be taken by 3 pm, which kind of sucks. Took the first 2.25 dose at 9 pm. Took a half hour to kick in. Fell asleep. Up by 11. Dang. I read you can take the second dose 2.5-4 hours after the first. So at 11:30, took the 2nd dose. Half hour wait again. 1 am rolls around, I'm WIDE AWAKE. I understand it takes some people time to titrate up, and with the low doses, it can be frustrating. But then around 3 am, I had 2 panic attacks, full body flushing, heart racing, severe impending doom feeling. The anxiety lingered throughout the next day. I tried it again on night 2, and the SAME things happened like clockwork. My doctor advised me to come off and said I must not tolerate the drug due to the anxiety. *Crying* back to square one."

• Joj...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 13, 2019

For Narcolepsy "I had a bad reaction to Xyrem. Nausea, panic attacks, delusional thoughts, feeling like a bad hangover every day, depressed. I ended up in the emergency room, and I stopped taking this medication."