Posted by utopizen on June 21, 2004, at 18:03:17
In reply to extended release xyrem, posted by Michael Bell on June 20, 2004, at 6:07:17
> Apparently an xr form of xyrem is being formulated and may be tested as early as late 2004. Seems to me that this is the first step in perhaps broadening the indicated use beyond just severe narcolepsy and perhaps making it more available as an antianxiety agent.
>
Antianxiety? Ha! It's got a terrible degree of AM anxiety, and if you're like me, and actually had to deal with this pathetic excuse of a drug, you'd know that existing anxiety disorders likely predicts that you will have incredibly intense anxiety for several hours, despite that no metabolites are in your system when you wake up.
And taking it during the day? It's safer to take a drink of alcohol during the day, and that's not to say much. I'd advise you start a hypothesis going for some hard drug to take during the day, like an opiate. Hearing loss from an opiate is nothing compared to the crap I had to experience on Xyrem.
And at least I realized ahead of time the degree of likeliness that I would get AM anxiety if I took the stuff, so I don't know why someone with an anxiety disorder like I had (social) would think this would help them-- you're likely going to get a terrible case of AM anxiety if you take it. If you take it during the day, expect all-day anxiety!
Find a drug that controls your social anxiety, and has you talking less. I don't hang out with people who talk their heads off to me, do you? Think about the qualities you look for in a person before becoming friends with them, and it's probably someone who asks you lots of questions-- not someone who talks their head off to you.
By the way, Xyrem is going to be extended release because waking up half way in the middle of the night is annoying as hell, not because a drug that's basically contraindicated in patients with an anxiety disorder is going to ever be approved for anxiety disorders.
Look up social lability and AM anxiety. I think it's likely around 10% or so, maybe higher. But you're likely going to get it, since you have an exisiting anxiety disorder. Don't think the fact that you can't get it should be a let down. You don't want it, trust me. I use to think this way, until I went on it with my doc for my sleepiness. I regret ever taking it.
It causes social lability and depression, especially for me, since I have social anxiety. And social lability is a terrible thing, because even if you don't get depression, you act like you do around others.
By the way, it's safe to say XR Xyrem will never be approved or prescribed by a doc who knows what they're doing. The FDA was pitched Xyrem for approval in sleep disorders because the Xyrem docs compared it to alcohol-- it's okay to take it before nighttime, but take it during the day and you start to see extreme cases of withdrawl, seizures that can be fatal...
poster:utopizen
thread:358247
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040621/msgs/358734.html