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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by btnd on August 15, 2003, at 11:44:57
Just my 2 cents - if only Xyrem (GHB) worked for 8 hours, instead of 1.5 hr, then the problem of depression, social-anxiety, insomnia, narcolepsy - would be over for most of us:)
Take care,
Brad
Posted by Ame Sans Vie on August 15, 2003, at 11:56:22
In reply to If only Xyrem (GHB) worked for 8 hours ..., posted by btnd on August 15, 2003, at 11:44:57
Orphan Medical is working on an 8-hour form of the drug:
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/030610/105467_1.html
"...The Company is conducting two clinical trials to assess the efficacy of Xyrem in treating excessive daytime sleepiness associated with narcolepsy. Orphan Medical is also developing an extended release version of Xyrem and is assessing two pre-clinical compounds that may have activity in the sleep area...."
Then again, that still doesn't take care of my reason for not using Xyrem -- the expense. Medicaid won't cover it unless it's prescribed for cataplexy, and the cost is $212 for about a 20-day supply.
They do mention testing its usefulness in other sleep disorders as well as fibromyalgia... if Xyrem receives FDA approval for *either* of these conditions, then my Medicaid will surely cover it for me (I have fibro and occasional severe insomnia).
Posted by utopizen on August 15, 2003, at 21:35:19
In reply to Re: If only Xyrem (GHB) worked for 8 hours ..., posted by Ame Sans Vie on August 15, 2003, at 11:56:22
I think a lot of people read this is think "oh, great, then I can use this hypnotic during the day."
It's obviously going to be 8 hours so that you don't have to dose 2, if not 3, times a night. That's no fun with someone who has to take it.
I hope people appreciate that Xyrem has the potential to be effective in other disorders, but the mechanism of any potential effectiveness is likely going to be through your sleep. After all, sleep already does so many things- keeps us less depressed, less manic (and I'm not even bipolar!) less anxious and so fourth. Imagine if we had "accelerated sleep," or consolidated sleeping. More efficent sleep, like the opposite of sleeping after drinking. Sounds futuristic, but for many narcoleptics that's what it's like. I have idiopathic hypersomnia, which is basically narcolepsy minus cataplexy. I think it's promising, it may make my sleep more productive...
> Orphan Medical is working on an 8-hour form of the drug:
>
> http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/030610/105467_1.html
>
> "...The Company is conducting two clinical trials to assess the efficacy of Xyrem in treating excessive daytime sleepiness associated with narcolepsy. Orphan Medical is also developing an extended release version of Xyrem and is assessing two pre-clinical compounds that may have activity in the sleep area...."
>
> Then again, that still doesn't take care of my reason for not using Xyrem -- the expense. Medicaid won't cover it unless it's prescribed for cataplexy, and the cost is $212 for about a 20-day supply.
>
> They do mention testing its usefulness in other sleep disorders as well as fibromyalgia... if Xyrem receives FDA approval for *either* of these conditions, then my Medicaid will surely cover it for me (I have fibro and occasional severe insomnia).
Posted by Ame Sans Vie on August 15, 2003, at 22:02:01
In reply to Re: If only Xyrem (GHB) worked for 8 hours ..., posted by utopizen on August 15, 2003, at 21:35:19
Just thought I'd throw in here that I personally found Xyrem *extremely* helpful, more so than benzos, when I took it during the day.
Posted by btnd on August 15, 2003, at 23:58:37
In reply to Re: If only Xyrem (GHB) worked for 8 hours ..., posted by Ame Sans Vie on August 15, 2003, at 22:02:01
> Just thought I'd throw in here that I personally found Xyrem *extremely* helpful, more so than benzos, when I took it during the day.
Yes, my original post mentioned using Xyrem in the day (at night it does its job pretty well with insomnia). One idea popped in my head: Xyrem SR or something similar in its action. Xyrem is much better at relieving generalized/social anxiety than benzos and at the same time it fights depression immediatelly. However for only 1.5-3 hours (YMMV).It's good to hear Orphan is working on slow-release version.
Posted by Larry Hoover on August 16, 2003, at 7:08:49
In reply to Re: If only Xyrem (GHB) worked for 8 hours ..., posted by btnd on August 15, 2003, at 23:58:37
> > Just thought I'd throw in here that I personally found Xyrem *extremely* helpful, more so than benzos, when I took it during the day.
>
>
> Yes, my original post mentioned using Xyrem in the day (at night it does its job pretty well with insomnia). One idea popped in my head: Xyrem SR or something similar in its action. Xyrem is much better at relieving generalized/social anxiety than benzos and at the same time it fights depression immediatelly. However for only 1.5-3 hours (YMMV).
>
> It's good to hear Orphan is working on slow-release version.So, why don't they work on the price, while they're at it? They could make substantial profits at one tenth the price they're charging. Seems very predatory to me.
Lar
This is the end of the thread.
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