Do you often fall asleep during the day? No matter how much sleep you get at night, do you still feel tired and sluggish during the day? Or have you ever experienced feeling like you suddenly lose consciousness and fall to the ground? Today, we are going to talk about a special medication with a somewhat complicated name that is given for sleep-related problems like this.
What kind of medicine is this?
Simply put, this is a liquid medication that is prescribed to treat several sleep-related conditions. Specifically, doctors prescribe this medication for:
- Narcolepsy: This is a condition of uncontrollable excessive sleepiness during the day.
- Idiopathic Hypersomnia: This is also a condition of excessive daytime sleepiness, but it is difficult to find a specific cause.
- Cataplexy: This is a very strange condition. It is when the body's muscles suddenly lose their function when faced with a strong emotion, such as laughing out loud or being surprised.
This medicine works by reducing daytime sleepiness and helping you get a good night's sleep. It also reduces the frequency of cataplexy. This medicine is available in Sri Lanka under the brand name `(Xywav)`.
Things you should tell your doctor before taking this medicine
Before starting this medication, it is very important to tell your doctor about your complete health history. This medication may interact with some medical conditions. If you have any of the conditions listed in the table below, be sure to tell your doctor about it.
| Your situation | Why should you tell the doctor? |
|---|---|
| Depression or other mental illnesses | Because this medicine can sometimes affect mood. |
| Suicidal thoughts (for yourself or a family member) | This is important to be more mindful of these thoughts when taking medication. |
| Alcohol or drug addiction | Taking this medication with alcohol is very dangerous. Also, this is a medication with a risk of addiction. |
| Liver disease | The dosage may need to be adjusted because the liver affects the process of removing medication from the body. |
| Respiratory disease (e.g., asthma, COPD) or sleep apnea | This medicine can make breathing slightly weaker, so it can be dangerous if you already have breathing problems. |
| The genetic disease called succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency | This is a very rare disease. If you have this, this medicine is not suitable at all. |
| Allergies to other medicines, foods or substances | To find out if there is an allergy to the medicine or any of its ingredients. |
| Being pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or breastfeeding | To consider the possible effects on the baby during pregnancy and breastfeeding. |
How to use the medicine correctly?
The way you use this medicine is very important. Follow exactly what the doctor says.
- Measurement: Use the special syringe or cup that comes with the medicine to measure it. Do not use household teaspoons or soup spoons. They will not give you an accurate measurement.
- Mixing: Mix the medicine with the prescribed amount of water as directed by the doctor, and drink.
- When to take: This should be taken on an empty stomach . That is, at least 2 hours after eating.
- Before bed: This medicine should be taken at night before going to bed, right after going to bed , because after taking this, you will fall asleep quickly.
- Second dose: Some people are prescribed to take this twice a night. In that case, take the first dose and then the second dose 2.5 to 4 hours after taking it.
- MedGuide: When you are given medication, you will receive a special instruction leaflet ``(MedGuide)`` with it. Always read it carefully. If you have any questions, ask your doctor.
What to do if you take too much medicine?
If you think you have taken too much medicine, immediately call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital, or go to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) of the nearest hospital. Do not delay.
Most importantly: This medicine is prescribed for you only . Never share it with anyone else.
What if I miss a dose of medicine?
If you forget to take a dose, don't worry. Forget about the missed dose completely. Take the next dose as usual. Never take two doses at once to make up for a missed dose.
Other things that may interact with this medicine
This medicine can interact with other medications and alcohol, so you need to be very careful about this.
| Things that should never be taken together | |
|---|---|
| Alcohol | Taking this medicine with alcohol can cause severe respiratory depression, loss of consciousness, and even death. This is very dangerous. |
| Other sleeping pills | Taking two of the same type of medication can cause serious side effects such as excessive drowsiness and difficulty breathing. |
| Other medications that can cause problems | |
| Medications for anxiety or sleep (e.g. Benzodiazepines - alprazolam, diazepam) | Causes excessive drowsiness and increased breathing difficulties. |
| Some medications for depression (e.g. amitriptyline, fluoxetine) | The effects of both medications may vary. |
| Painkillers (especially `Opioids`) | The risk of respiratory failure is very high. |
| Allergy medications (Antihistamines) | It can increase drowsiness. |
This list is not complete. Therefore, tell your doctor about all medications you are taking (including vitamins and herbal remedies) .
Things to consider when taking medication
- Unusual sleep behaviors: Some people taking this medication may do things like sleepwalking, cooking/eating, and making phone calls. The scariest part is that they may not remember any of this when they wake up in the morning. If this happens to you or a family member, tell your doctor immediately.
- Mood changes: This medication can sometimes cause mood changes, such as anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts . If you notice a sudden, significant change in your behavior or thinking, don't ignore it. Talk to your doctor right away.
- Driving: Do not do anything that requires alertness, such as driving or operating machinery, until you know exactly how this medicine affects you.
- Risk of addiction: There is a risk of addiction to this medication. Do not take more than the dose prescribed by your doctor or for longer than the prescribed period of time.
What are the possible side effects?
Like any medicine, this one can have side effects. Some are serious, some are common.
| Side effects that should be reported to the doctor immediately | |
|---|---|
| Allergic reactions | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, tongue. |
| Central nervous system depression (CNS depression) | Breathing that is very slow or shallow, difficulty breathing, extreme dizziness, loss of consciousness. |
| Mental and behavioral changes | Unusual agitation, hallucinations, suicidal thoughts, increased depression. |
| Sleep apnea | Shortness of breath with loud snoring during sleep. |
| Sleepwalking | Getting up from sleep and walking or engaging in other activities. |
| If it persists or is bothersome, tell your doctor. | |
| Dizziness | Headache |
| Nausea/vomiting | Appetite |
| Bedwetting | |
How to keep medicine safe?
- Keep away from children and pets.
- Since this is a drug that can be misused, keep it in a safe place that can be protected from thieves.
- Store at room temperature (between 20-25 degrees Celsius).
- Discard expired medicine. It should be consumed within 24 hours after mixing with water. Discard any leftovers.
Take-Home Message
- Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor tells you, in the prescribed dosage.
- Do not take it with alcohol or other sleeping pills for any reason. It can be life-threatening.
- Tell your doctor about all other medications you are taking and all medical conditions you have.
- Be aware of serious side effects such as mental changes and sleepwalking. If such a thing happens, seek medical advice immediately.
- This is a medicine prescribed for you only. Keep it in a safe place out of the reach of others.
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