Sodium Oxybate (Oral Route)

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Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure the medicine is working properly and to check for any unwanted effects. This is especially important for elderly patients who may be more sensitive to the effects of this medicine.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This medicine will add to the effects of CNS depressants (medicines that make you drowsy or less alert). Check with your doctor or dentist before taking any of the above medicines while you are taking sodium oxybate.

While you are taking sodium oxybate, you should not drink alcohol. The effects of alcohol can increase the chance of dangerous side effects of sodium oxybate.

Other people living in your house should monitor you for the possibility of urinary or fecal incontinence (loss of bladder or bowel control), or sleepwalking. Tell your doctor if these symptoms occur.

Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or are not alert. Do not drive a car, operate heavy machinery, or perform any activity that is dangerous or requires mental alertness for at least 6 hours after taking sodium oxybate. When you first start taking sodium oxybate, until you know whether it makes you sleepy the next day, use extreme care while driving a car or doing anything else that could be dangerous or needs you to be fully mentally alert.

Do not stop using this medicine suddenly without asking your doctor. You may need to slowly decrease your dose before stopping it completely.

Side Effects Proper Use
DR601707 Portions of this document last updated: Nov. 1, 2011

Source: Drug Information provided by: Micromedex

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