title: Sodium oxybate-induced central sleep apneas.
abstract: Sodium oxybate (γ-hydroxybutyric acid, GHB) is a neurotransmitter in the human brain which exerts sedative effects and is used therapeutically in the treatment of narcolepsy. Current safety recommendations have been formulated for the use of GHB in patients with preexisting breathing disorders. We report the case of a 39-year-old female with narcolepsy and cataplexy revealing the de novo emergence of central sleep apneas in a Cheyne-Stokes pattern under constant treatment with GHB. After discontinuation of GHB, polysomnographic re-evaluation demonstrated the disappearance of central sleep apneas. To our knowledge, this is the first report of de novo central sleep apneas induced by GHB in a patient without pre-existing sleep-disordered breathing, suggesting that there is a need for further investigation and potentially an extension of the safety guidelines to patients without a pre-existing breathing disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany. lukas.frase@uniklinik-freiburg.de
authors.forename: Lukas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Frase
authors.forename: Jonas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schupp
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sorichter
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Randelshofer
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Riemann
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nissen
mesh_terms: D000759:Adjuvants, Anesthesia / Q000009:adverse effects; D000328:Adult; D002639:Cheyne-Stokes Respiration / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009290:Narcolepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects; D020182:Sleep Apnea, Central / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012978:Sodium Oxybate / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000759:Adjuvants, Anesthesia; D012978:Sodium Oxybate
keywords: Cataplexy; Central sleep apnea; Cheyne–Stokes respiration; Narcolepsy; Sleep; Sodium oxybate; Xyrem