Xyrem, straight from DEA

[Frank Zito]

AKAIK there is only ONE pharmacy in America that actually stocks it and a Doctor has to jump through a 100 hoops to actually write for it including actually getting permission directly from the DEA. At least that's what I've heard from a semi-reliable source.

 

[Bavanai]

I would think adderal Insant release pills and xanax for sleep would be good. Xanax for sleep works quiet well even though it's short acting.

Narcoleptics don't have trouble falling asleep. It's exactly the opposite, they fall asleep too often. But they don't get deep sleep. Xanax actually suppresses deep sleep afaik. So it wouldn't be of any help.

 

[johanneschimpo]

Are there any other drugs that promote REM sleep? (I think thats what GHB does?) Ideally any without that insane addiction potential and waking up every 2 hours. Although conveniently, the REM sleep state is about 2 hours, for what thats worth/

AKAIK there is only ONE pharmacy in America that actually stocks it and a Doctor has to jump through a 100 hoops to actually write for it including actually getting permission directly from the DEA. At least that's what I've heard from a semi-reliable source.

I find that incredibly hard to believe. I mean, out of thousands and thousands of pharmacies... just one stocks it - a pharmacy can order any drug if a patient comes in with a script for it.

 

[b-boy456]

Can we please get rid of the misconception that Xyrem is taken by narcoleptics as a sleeping aid. It is taken for the sole purpose of reducing the number of cataplexy attacks during the day and promote daytime wakefulness. It is true though that it achieves this effect by prolonging deep sleep.

And I don´t know about american Xyrem but here in europe it is prescribed in the form of a liquid with a concentration of 500mg/ml. I´ve seen both pills and powder mentioned here. Since the dose taken often approaches 10g/day these forms of GHB would be highly impractical.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Supeudol]

This seriously concerns me, as GHB causes the worst physical dependence of all drugs in my opinion AND experience. The dependence is quick to set in and is at least as dangerous (if not more) than barbiturate withdrawal.

If I were a doctor, I'd rather give my patients amphetamines than give them this serious and devastating addiction. And this is saying a lot, since amphetamine addiction is no joke either.

The part that concerns me is that it seems the healthcare system, and the public at large, are unaware of these dependence issues and most healthcare professionals have no idea how to deal with GHB withdrawal, which involves at least 4 neuronal systems (ACh, GABA, GHB, and DA). It probably causes neuro-endocrine damage as well since my sexual health has never recovered even 2 years since I broke my addiction with GBL/GHB.

I don't understand the use of GHB as a sleeping aid. It may work the first few times, but when you find yourself waking up every 2 hours with horrible panic and shaking and cannot go back to sleep unless you redose, you're already in deep shit.

Bullshit. Right there. You probably were abusing a substance that you thought was GHB, but was probably 1,4Butandiol, or something similar. With Pure GHB, which I have access to, I feel little to no withdrawal, even when using 24.7. Yes I've been addicted to it, fell into the 24/7 pattern of usage, but you are way off in the addiction process, this STUFF is a fucking cake walk to come off of compared to Oxycodone or any opiate for that matter.

GHB on its own does not cause any damage to any organs in the body whatsoever, there are several statements and sites that prove this. GHB when ingested into the body breaks down into carbon dioxide + water. (Leaving no toxic metabolites left). Yeah, maybe when you start using heavily, like dosing 4 grams at a time every 4-6 hours or so, then of course its going to be hard as hell to fall asleep at night, because of all the dopamine rushing throughout your body when your dose wears off, and thats what causes you to wakeup from it. But honestly, GHB withdrawal doesn't last any longer than 2-3 days MAX. And as long as you have some Valium, or Ativan, or any benzo handy you should be fine. Calling GHB worse than a barbituate to come off is complete and utter bullocks. 8)

Try to come off a 400mg/daily Oxycodone habit, see how bad the panic attacks and anxiety is from that alone!! A long with with a list full of other nasty symptoms like goose flesh, terrible skin irritation and burning chilling skin when trying to put on a T-shirt. Trying to have a shower is VERY uncomfortable when withdrawing from Oxycodone, having to shit every 10 minutes is terrible as well as having your heart beat fast & hard nonstop and your blood pressure sky rocket. I'm now on Methadone, I've had to go up to 160mg/day of Methadone just to STOP the Physical withdrawals alone! Because we have no Suboxone or Subutex in Canada like you lucky buggers in the US & Europe do. With this Oxycodone habit I have never felt so out of control in my life with it. Obviously you haven't ventured into the world of opioids and opiates yet.

 

[theantiadult]

sum people tend 2 be hypocritical in makng a big deal out of most sedatives but hardly noticing if sum1z on like 10 strong stimulants

 

[drexel25]

In response to couple things recently said,

It is true that there is ONLY one pharmacy in the country that dispenses Xyrem. When you are prescribed xyrem, you don't receive a scrip. Your doctor/office contacts the pharmacy themselves, and the pharmacy then ships it to you. If the patient is just starting it, the pharmacy calls and makes sure you understand how to use it, etc.

The thought that a doctor has to have any contact with the DEA is bullshit. Xyrem is a Control III scheduled substance- hell, adderall, ritalin, and most CNS Stimulants are CII and doctors don't do a damn thing with the DEA. I would think it's assumed a doctor knows what he is doing, and wouldn't prescribe such a medicine unless it's necessary (under penalty of law and loss of license). These are approved drugs by the FDA for medical use.

When they are used in form of abuse or sale, however, they are then considered CI drugs (obviously, more severe).

The ONLY form Xyrem is dispensed as a clear liquid containing 500mg/mL. The patient dilutes that in 60mL of water. Two doses are set up at once, one taken at bedtime, and another 2 1/2 - 4 hours later. No powder is Xyrem, nor pill.

When talking about a narcoleptic's sleep, you can throw all order of stages and durations you know out the window. We certainly don't sleep like you, and not for the majority of reasons claimed here.

Narcoleptics exhibit more stage one and REM stage sleep, and not enough long-wave sleep. Also, while characteristic for the time period from sleep onset to REM to be roughly 90 minutes, narcoleptics can (and regularly) fall into REM cycles directly - 30 minutes from conciousness. I can pass out and wake up five or ten minutes later with detailed dreams.

A neurotransmitter called hypocretin/orexin helps to regulate your sleep/wake cycle (awake at day, asleep at night, not much intrusion into the other at inappropriate times). Narcoleptics have been found to have very little to none of these present. That's the best idea they have so far. Basically, you can think of our sleep/wake regulation as a light switch- it just flips back and forth regardless of anything else, and we then fall asleep / wake up at night, not be able to go back to sleep, etc. There isn't much of a buffer zone.

So long as xyrem is taken as prescribed, in the prescribed doses, tolerance and addiction are extremely rare. If an addiction were to occur, be it with xyrem or other ghb, withdrawal symptoms would not be present more than a day or possibly two. GHB is not toxic whatsoever, and the majority is metabolized into CO2 and H20 within a couple hours. Half life is 1/2 hour to an hour.

It sure as hell doesn't cause neuro endocrine damage, and it's effects on sex are nothing but positive. It's thought of as another beneficial feature without any drawback by health professionals. Without getting into it, it ironically is particularly helpful to narcoleptics with cataplexy.

You're insane thinking amphetamines are less of a risk than ghb. following prescribed doses of CNS stimulants, cardiovascular strain and damage is done, and having a much longer half life, detrimental effects stay longer.