Sodium oxybate 500mg/ml oral solution sugar free
Requires a prescription from a doctor or prescriber
Strict controls: safe custody, register required
Legal requirements and restrictions
These are medicines with high potential for misuse but with accepted medical uses. Subject to the strictest controls.
Legal requirements
- Must be stored in a locked controlled drugs cabinet
- Pharmacy must keep a controlled drugs register
- Prescriptions valid for 28 days only
- Prescriptions must include specific details (dose, form, strength, total quantity)
- Cannot be emergency supplied by pharmacists
Other medicines in this category
Morphine, Oxycodone, Fentanyl, Methylphenidate (Ritalin), Amphetamines
Official documents, adverse reaction reporting, and safety monitoring
Report a side effect
Submit a Yellow Card report to the MHRA
Official medicine documents
Yellow Card
Report side effects (MHRA)
Drug safety updates
MHRA alerts for Sodium oxybate
Safety monitoring data
Yellow Card reports
The MHRA Yellow Card scheme collects reports of suspected side effects from healthcare professionals and patients. View the Drug Analysis Profile (iDAP) for real-world adverse reaction data.
View Drug Analysis Profile
Browse all Drug Analysis Profiles A–Z
Browse all iDAP reports
Interactive Drug Analysis Profiles for all medicines
Report a side effect
Submit a Yellow Card report to the MHRA
Data from the MHRA Yellow Card scheme. A reported reaction does not necessarily mean the medicine caused it. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
EudraVigilance
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) collects suspected adverse reaction reports from across the EU/EEA through the EudraVigilance system. Search for safety data on this medicine.
View EudraVigilance report
Suspected adverse reactions reported for Sodium oxybate
About EudraVigilance
Learn about EU pharmacovigilance and safety monitoring
EudraVigilance data is published by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). A suspected adverse reaction is not necessarily caused by the medicine.
6 branded products available
MHRA licensed products
View all licensed products for Sodium oxybate on the MHRA register
Xyrem 500mg/ml oral solution
Sodium oxybate 500mg/ml oral solution sugar free
Sodium oxybate 500mg/ml oral solution sugar free
Sodium oxybate 500mg/ml oral solution sugar free
This is the NHS Drug Tariff indicative price used for reimbursement purposes. It may not reflect the price paid by patients or pharmacies.
View full Drug TariffSource: NHS Drug Tariff via NHSBSA. Derived from dm+d VMPP (Virtual Medicinal Product Pack) pricing data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
WHO defined daily dose (DDD)
7.5 gram
Not a recommended dose. The DDD is the assumed average maintenance dose per day for a drug used for its main indication in adults. It is a statistical measure used for research and comparison purposes only.
Source: WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, distributed via the NHS dm+d supplementary mapping files (NHSBSA). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Therapeutically similar medicines
Similarity is based on WHO Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification and on a factual NHS dm+d therapeutic-grouping code prefix. Source data: NHS dm+d via TRUD (OGL v3.0), WHO ATC/DDD Index.
NHS prescribing volume and spending trends
Guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
NICE clinical guidance(2)
Solriamfetol for treating excessive daytime sleepiness caused by narcolepsy (TA758)
Narcolepsy with or without cataplexy in adults: pitolisant (ES8)
Source: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Check stock at pharmacies and supply information
Pharmacy stock checkers
Search for this medicine at major UK pharmacy chains. These links open the retailer's own website — results depend on their current online catalogue.
Supply & safety information
Official UK regulator monitoring and safety alerts
Pharmacy links redirect to the retailer's own search and do not represent real-time stock levels. Shortage and safety information sourced from MHRA drug safety updates (gov.uk, Crown Copyright under OGL v3.0).
Codes for healthcare professionals and prescribing systems
These codes are used by healthcare IT systems and prescribers to identify this medicine.
NHS UK identifiers
Browse tools
SNOMED CT and dm+d codes from NHS TRUD (Technology Reference data Update Distribution), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. ATC codes from the WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology (whocc.no).
Active and completed clinical studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health (NIH). Data accessed via ClinicalTrials.gov API v2. Trial information is provided for research purposes and does not constitute medical advice.
Academic studies and reviews for this medicine's active substance
Showing the 50 most relevant studies.
Reviews & meta-analyses: 12 · Randomised trials: 23 · 1982–2026
Showing the 50 most relevant studies, sorted by most relevant.
Biso L, Spini A, Petragnano F, et al.
2025
- Alcoholism
- Sodium Oxybate
Amin AM, Hassan A, Khlidj Y, et al.
2024
- Narcolepsy
- Cataplexy
- Sodium Oxybate
Qing-Qing Jiang, Zheng-Tian Gu
BMC Neurology, 2026
Büchele F, Hackius M, Schreglmann SR, et al.
2018
- Parkinson Disease
- Sodium Oxybate
- Adjuvants, Anesthesia
J. Guiraud, G. Addolorato, M. Antonelli, et al.
Journal of Psychopharmacology (Oxford, England), 2022
- Alcoholism
- Sodium Oxybate
- Ethanol
Kristina Simonyan, Lena C. O'Flynn, Azadeh Hamzehei Sichani, et al.
Annals of neurology, 2024
- Laryngeal Diseases
- Dystonic Disorders
- Sodium Oxybate
Dauvilliers Y, Chenini S, Thobois O, et al.
2025
- Sodium Oxybate
- Idiopathic Hypersomnia
J. Guiraud, G. Addolorato, H. Aubin, et al.
Alcohol and Alcoholism (Oxford, Oxfordshire), 2023
- Alcoholism
- Sodium Oxybate
- Ethanol
Dornbierer DA, Zölch N, Baur DM, et al.
2023
- Disorders of Excessive Somnolence
- Narcolepsy
- Sodium Oxybate
Kushida CA, Shapiro CM, Roth T, et al.
2022
- Narcolepsy
- Cataplexy
- Sodium Oxybate
Sources: aggregated from Europe PMC (EMBL-EBI), OpenAlex, Crossref, PubMed and other open scholarly databases. Retracted articles are excluded. Study information is provided for research purposes and does not constitute medical advice.
Pharmacology and chemical data from DrugBank
Key facts
Drug status
Approved
Major interactions
1 found
Half-life
0.5 to 1 hour
Mechanism
The physiological actions of sodium oxybate are mediated by gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), its active compound.
Food interactions
2 warnings
Human targets
2 targets
Data: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0
Pharmacokinetics at a glance
Absorption
88%
Half-life
0.5 to 1 hour
[L30598]
Protein binding
1%
[L30598]
Volume of distribution
190 mL
[L30598]
Metabolism
Elimination
5%
Clearance
25 mg
[A19403]
Pharmacokinetic data: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0
An extended-release oral suspension formulation of sodium oxybate for narcolepsy, marketed under the brand name LUMRYZ, gained tentative FDA approval in July 2022 [L42645] and was fully approved in May 2023.[L46302] In some countries, sodium oxybate has been investigated and used in alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) to aid abstinence maintenance in alcohol use disorders.[A251440][A251445]
[L46302]
In the US and in Europe, the drug is approved for use in patients 7 years of age and older [L30598][L42665] while in Canada, it is not recommended in children under the age of 18, unless clearly needed.
[L42655]
Known interactions with other medicines. Always consult a healthcare professional.
Showing 50 of 668 interactions
[L42640]
There are several cases of GHB overdose in literature where individuals ingested GHB illicitly in conjunction with other drugs and alcohol. These individuals exhibited varying degrees of depressed consciousness that may fluctuate rapidly between a confusional, agitated, combative state with ataxia and coma. Emesis (even when obtunded), diaphoresis, headache, and impaired psychomotor skills have been observed.
No typical pupillary changes have been described to assist in diagnosis; pupillary reactivity to light is maintained. Blurred vision has been reported. An increasing depth of coma and acidosis have been observed at higher doses.
Myoclonus and tonic-clonic seizures have been reported. Respiration may be unaffected or compromised in rate and depth. Cheyne-Stokes respiration and apnea have been observed.
Bradycardia and hypothermia may accompany unconsciousness, as well as muscular hypotonia, but tendon reflexes remain intact.
[L30598]
In clinical trials, two adults experienced sodium oxybate overdose. One patient received an estimated dose of 150 g, which was more than 15 times the maximum recommended dose: this patient became unresponsive with brief periods of apnea and incontinent of urine and feces. The patient recovered without sequelae.
The other patient died following a multiple drug overdose consisting of sodium oxybate and numerous other drugs.
[L30598]
There is no known antidote for sodium oxybate; therefore, overdose should be managed with general symptomatic and supportive care, with a consideration of gastric decontamination if co-ingestants are suspected.
[L30598]
At low doses, GHB binds to high- and low-affinity G-protein-coupled GHB receptors. Activation of GHB receptors leads to the release of glutamate, which is an excitatory neurotransmitter. At higher doses, GHB activates GABAB receptors [A19403][A187328] at noradrenergic and dopaminergic neurons, as well as at thalamocortical neurons [L30598] that are involved in sleep-wake regulation, attention and vigilance.[A187328] GHB metabolizes to GABA, which modulates GABAA and GABAC receptors.[A187328]
Sodium oxybate is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant that can cause significant respiratory depression. Due to its physiological and psychological effects, sodium oxybate is associated with a risk for substance misuse and abuse,[L30598] addiction, withdrawal syndrome, and overdoses.[A18723] Sodium oxybate is a sodium salt of GHB, a naturally occurring CNS depressant that increases dopamine levels and increases serotonin turnover.[A18723] Sodium oxybate stimulates growth hormone release, often leading to its misuse as a dietary supplement for bodybuilding.[A18723] In patients with narcolepsy, sodium oxybate increases nocturnal growth hormone secretion and slow-wave sleep at night, which is when growth hormone is typically released.[A251425]
How the body processes this drug — absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination
[L30598]
After administration of a single oral dose of 2.25g to 4.5g sodium oxybate, the Cmax was 27–90 μg/mL and the mean Tmax ranged from 25 to 75 minutes.
[A187328]
A high-fat meal delays absorption (average Tmax increased from 0.75 hr to 2 hr), reduces Cmax of GHB by 59%, and decreases systemic exposure (AUC) by 37%.
[L30598]
[L30598]
[L30598]
[L30598]
A second mitochondrial oxidoreductase enzyme, a transhydrogenase, also catalyzes the conversion to succinic semialdehyde in the presence of α-ketoglutarate. GHB can alternatively be converted to carbon dioxide and water via β-oxidation mediated by 3,4-dihydroxybutyrate. No active metabolites have been identified.
[L30598]
[L30598]
[A19403]
Proteins and enzymes this drug interacts with in the body
PMID:15617512 PMID:18165688 PMID:22660477 PMID:24305054 PMID:9872316 PMID:9872744
Within the heterodimeric GABA receptor, only GABBR1 seems to bind agonists, while GABBR2 mediates coupling to G proteins .
PMID:18165688
Ligand binding causes a conformation change that triggers signaling via guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins) and modulates the activity of down-stream effectors, such as adenylate cyclase .
PMID:10075644 PMID:10773016 PMID:24305054
Signaling inhibits adenylate cyclase, stimulates phospholipase A2, activates potassium channels, inactivates voltage-dependent calcium-channels and modulates inositol phospholipid hydrolysis .
PMID:10075644 PMID:10773016 PMID:10906333 PMID:9872744
Plays a critical role in the fine-tuning of inhibitory synaptic transmission .
PMID:22660477 PMID:9872744
Pre-synaptic GABA receptor inhibits neurotransmitter release by down-regulating high-voltage activated calcium channels, whereas postsynaptic GABA receptor decreases neuronal excitability by activating a prominent inwardly rectifying potassium (Kir) conductance that underlies the late inhibitory postsynaptic potentials .
PMID:10075644 PMID:22660477 PMID:9872316 PMID:9872744
Not only implicated in synaptic inhibition but also in hippocampal long-term potentiation, slow wave sleep, muscle relaxation and antinociception (Probable)
PMID:20463145 PMID:22864630 PMID:23243084 PMID:24253200 PMID:27702554
Humans are unable to synthesize vitamin B2/riboflavin and must obtain it via intestinal absorption .
PMID:20463145
May also act as a receptor for 4-hydroxybutyrate (Probable)
Enzymes involved in drug metabolism — important for understanding drug interactions
ATC N01AX11
ATC N07XX04
Chemical identifiers
CAS, UNII, InChI Key and database cross-references
Show
Chemical identifiers
CAS, UNII, InChI Key and database cross-references
Linked compound data from DrugBank Open Data (CC BY-NC 4.0)
Sodium oxybate
Additional database identifiers
Drugs Product Database (DPD)
15411
ChemSpider
9983
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:4070
GenAtlas
GABBR1
GeneCards
GABBR1
GenBank Gene Database
AJ225028
GenBank Protein Database
3892594
Guide to Pharmacology
240
UniProt Accession
GABR1_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:4507
GenAtlas
GABBR2
GeneCards
GABBR2
GenBank Gene Database
AJ012188
GenBank Protein Database
3776098
Guide to Pharmacology
241
UniProt Accession
GABR2_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:30224
GeneCards
SLC52A2
UniProt Accession
S52A2_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:408
GenAtlas
ALDH5A1
GeneCards
ALDH5A1
GenBank Gene Database
Y11192
GenBank Protein Database
3766467
Guide to Pharmacology
2466
UniProt Accession
SSDH_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:16354
GeneCards
ADHFE1
UniProt Accession
HOT_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:7863
GenAtlas
NNT
GeneCards
NNT
GenBank Gene Database
U40490
GenBank Protein Database
1110520
UniProt Accession
NNTM_HUMAN
DrugBank citations
If you use DrugBank data in your research, please cite:
- DrugBank 6.02024Recommended citationKnox C., Wilson M., Klinger C.M., et alDrugBank 6.0: the DrugBank Knowledgebase for 2024Nucleic Acids Res. 2024 Jan 552(D1):D1265-D1275
- DrugBank 5.02018Wishart D.S., Feunang Y.D., Guo A.C., et alDrugBank 5.0: a major update to the DrugBank database for 2018Nucleic Acids Res. 2017 Nov 846(D1):D1074-D1082
- DrugBank 4.02014Law V., Knox C., Djoumbou Y., et alDrugBank 4.0: shedding new light on drug metabolismNucleic Acids Res. 2014 Jan 142(1):D1091-7
- DrugBank 3.02011Knox C., Law V., Jewison T., et alDrugBank 3.0: a comprehensive resource for 'omics' research on drugsNucleic Acids Res. 2011 Jan39(Database issue):D1035-41
- DrugBank 2.02008Wishart D.S., Knox C., Guo A.C., et alDrugBank: a knowledgebase for drugs, drug actions and drug targets.Nucleic Acids Research2008 Jan36(Database issue):D901-6
- DrugBank 1.02006Wishart D.S., Knox C., Guo A.C., et alDrugBank: a comprehensive resource for in silico drug discovery and exploration.Nucleic Acids Research2006 Jan 134(Database issue):D668-72