Xywav

Xywav is a medication used to treat cataplexy or excessive daytime sleepiness. It contains a mixture of the oxybate salts calcium oxybate, magnesium oxybate, potassium oxybate, and sodium oxybate. It is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant and it is taken by mouth.

Manufactured by the Jazz Pharmaceuticals company, it was approved for medical use in the United States in July 2020.

Medical uses

Xywav is indicated for the treatment of cataplexy or excessive daytime sleepiness in people aged seven years of age and older with narcolepsy; and for idiopathic hypersomnia.

Side effects

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) label for Xywav contains a boxed warning for central nervous system depression, abuse, and misuse.

Breathing problems

Slowed breathing, trouble breathing, sleep apnea.

Mental health problems

Confusion, hallucination, unusual or disturbing thoughts (abnormal thinking), anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts or actions, increased tiredness, feelings of guilt or worthlessness, and difficulty concentrating.

Other

Sleepwalking.

Society and culture

Legal status

The sodium oxybate component of Xywav was granted orphan drug designation in November 1994 by the FDA. Xywav is a prescription drug and a Schedule III controlled substance in the United States.

Other names

In the testing phase of the drug, it was known as JZP-258.

Calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium oxybate is another name for gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB).

References