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Overview: Lumryz is taken by people who have narcolepsy to help with daytime sleepiness and muscle weakness or paralysis. Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and headache. Lumryz is a controlled substance because it can be misused or lead to dependence. Store Lumryz in a safe place to protect it from theft. Call your health care provider right away if you sleepwalk (or someone tells you you did) while taking Lumryz.

Uses

What is Lumryz used for?

Lumryz (sodium oxybate) is commonly taken by people with narcolepsy to treat the following conditions.

Lumryz may also be used for other conditions as determined by your health care provider.

See also: Sodium Oxybate (Xyrem)

How does Lumryz work (mechanism of action)?

Lumryz is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant. It may work by affecting certain receptors in the brain to help you sleep better at night. This can help you feel less sleepy during the day and have fewer episodes of muscle weakness or paralyzed muscles.

How is Lumryz supplied (dosage forms)?

Brands and other names

  • Lumryz

Dosage forms and strengths

  • 4.5 g, 6 g, 7.5 g, and 9 g packets of powder for extended-release oral suspension 

How should I store Lumryz?

Lumryz should be stored at room temperature, between 68 F to 77 F (20 C to 25 C). It can be exposed to temperatures between 59 F to 86 F (15 C to 30 C) for shorter periods of time, such as when transporting it. Store in a cool, dry place. Keep it in the original packet before mixing it with water.

Side Effects

What are the most common side effects of Lumryz?

The most common side effects of Lumryz are listed below. Side effects may vary based on your age. Tell your health care provider if you have any of these side effects that bother you.

  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Dizziness
  • Wetting the bed
  • Headache
  • Weight loss
  • Decreased appetite
  • Sleepwalking (see below)

There may be other side effects of Lumryz that are not listed here. Contact your health care provider if you think you are having a side effect of a medicine. In the U.S., you can report side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or by calling 800-FDA-1088. In Canada, you can report side effects to Health Canada at www.health.gc.ca/medeffect or by calling 866-234-2345.

What are the serious side effects of Lumryz?

While less common, the most serious side effects of Lumryz are described below, along with what to do if they happen.

Severe Allergic Reactions. Lumryz may cause allergic reactions, which can be serious. Stop taking Lumryz and get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.

  • Breathing problems or wheezing
  • Racing heart
  • Fever or general ill feeling
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
  • Trouble swallowing or throat tightness
  • Itching, skin rash, or pale red bumps on the skin called hives
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Dizziness, feeling lightheaded, or fainting
  • Stomach cramps
  • Joint pain

Central Nervous System (CNS) Depression. Lumryz may slow down your central nervous system (CNS), which controls many vital functions throughout the body. These effects can be worse if you drink alcohol or take certain other medicines with Lumryz. Call your health care provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of CNS depression.

  • Confusion
  • Excessive sleepiness or trouble staying awake
  • Memory problems
  • Slow or shallow breathing
  • Slowed response or reaction time
  • Slurred speech
  • Fainting

Decreased Alertness or Coordination. Lumryz can affect your alertness or coordination. Do not drive or do other activities that require alertness or coordination for at least six hours after taking Lumryz and until you know how the medicine affects you.

Risk of Misuse and Addiction. Misusing Lumryz can lead to serious side effects like coma or death. Misuse means taking a medicine in a way other than how it was prescribed. Take Lumryz exactly as prescribed. Tell your health care provider if you feel that Lumryz is not working. Call your health care provider right away or go to the nearest emergency room if you have any of the following serious symptoms.

  • Sudden confusion or feeling disoriented
  • Feeling paranoid
  • Suicidal thoughts or actions
  • Seizures
  • Trouble breathing

Breathing Problems. Lumryz may cause slow or shallow breathing, especially if you have breathing problems from another condition or take other medicines that can slow your breathing. It can also cause sleep apnea, which is when your breathing stops and starts while you are asleep. Tell your health care provider if you have any breathing problems, especially when you start Lumryz or if your dose is increased. Also tell your health care provider if you or anyone else notices that you have symptoms of sleep apnea, such as snoring or waking up suddenly after gasping or choking. Get emergency help if you have any of the following symptoms.

  • Changes in the color of your skin, including bluish color to your lips and fingernails
  • Confusion
  • Shortness of breath
  • Feeling dizzy, lightheaded, or fainting
  • Changes in your heart rate or rhythm, such as a fast, slow, pounding or skipping heartbeat
  • Slow or shallow breathing
  • Excessive sleepiness or trouble staying awake

Suicidal Thoughts and Actions. Lumryz may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a small number of people. If you are about to harm yourself, call 911 or call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Call your health care provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms.

  • New or increased thoughts of suicide or death
  • Suicide attempt
  • New or increased feelings of anxiety, depression, or other unusual changes in mood or behavior

Behavior or Mental Health Changes. Lumryz may cause behavior or mental health changes in a small number of people. Tell your health care provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms.

  • Aggressive or agitated behavior
  • Confusion or trouble concentrating
  • Disconnecting from reality (psychosis)
  • Feeling paranoid
  • Seeing or hearing things that others do not see or hear, also called hallucinations
  • Other changes in behavior or mood, such as feeling guilty or worthless
  • Big changes in appetite or weight
  • Anxiety

Sleepwalking. Lumryz may cause you to do an activity, such as sleepwalking, that you do not know you are doing while not fully awake. This could lead to injuries. The next morning, you may not remember doing anything. Stop taking Lumryz and call your health care provider right away if you learn that you were sleepwalking.

Warnings & Precautions

Who should not use Lumryz?

Allergies to Ingredients. People who are allergic to any of the following should not take Lumryz.

  • Sodium oxybate
  • Lumryz
  • Any of the ingredients in the specific product dispensed

Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in the specific Lumryz products they stock.

Alcohol Use. You should not take Lumryz if you drink alcohol. See the Interactions section for more details.

Drug Interactions. Lumryz should not be taken while you are using certain other medicines. Before taking Lumryz, tell your health care provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. See the Interactions section for more details.

Succinic Semialdehyde Dehydrogenase Deficiency. You should not take Lumryz if you have this rare condition. People with this condition are not able to break down Lumryz in the body. 

What should I know about Lumryz before using it?

Lumryz is only available through a special program, from certain pharmacies, and to certain people. It is important that you keep all of your appointments, including labs or other testing, while taking Lumryz. If you have any questions about this program, you can go to www.lumryzrems.com or call 877-453-1029.

Do not take Lumryz unless it has been prescribed to you by a health care provider. Take it as prescribed. Do not change your dose of Lumryz without talking to your health care provider.

Do not share Lumryz with other people, even if they have the same condition as you. It may harm them.

Keep Lumryz out of the reach of children and pets. Lumryz is a controlled substance because it can be misused or lead to dependence. Store Lumryz in a safe place to protect it from theft. It is illegal to sell or give away this medicine.

Lumryz is mixed with water before you take it. Read and follow the “Instructions for Use” that come with your medicine to make sure you understand how to prepare and use it properly. Once a Lumryz dose has been mixed, you must take it within 30 minutes. If it is not taken within 30 minutes, it should be thrown away. 

Lumryz should be taken at bedtime after you are already in bed. You will likely fall asleep very soon after taking it, usually within five to 15 minutes. Sometimes you may fall asleep suddenly, without even noticing that you are sleepy. Because of this, you should stay in bed and lie down right away after taking it. This will reduce your risk of falling or hurting yourself if you fall asleep suddenly.

People who are 65 or older can be at greater risk for some side effects from Lumryz. Talk to your health care provider about your risks if you are in this age group.

What should I tell my health care provider before using Lumryz?

Tell your health care provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. This will help them determine if Lumryz is right for you.

In particular, make sure that you discuss any of the following.

Current and Past Health Conditions. Tell your health care provider if you have any of the following.

  • History of misusing prescription medicines or street drugs
  • Sleep apnea 
  • Lung or breathing problems 
  • Mental health problems, such as depression, a past suicide attempt, anxiety, hallucinations, paranoia, or psychosis
  • Aggressive behavior or agitation
  • Heart failure
  • High blood pressure
  • Kidney or liver problems
  • Currently follow a low-salt diet

Pregnancy. It is not known if or how Lumryz could affect pregnancy or harm an unborn baby. Tell your health care provider if you are or plan to become pregnant.

Breastfeeding. Lumryz passes into breast milk. Tell your health care provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Your health care provider will advise you if you should take Lumryz while breastfeeding.

How can I get more information about Lumryz?

For more information about Lumryz, you can visit the manufacturer’s website at www.lumryz.com or call them at 877-453-1029.

Interactions

Does Lumryz interact with foods or drinks?

You should not take Lumrzy with food. Wait at least two hours after eating before taking Lumryz. Taking it with food can reduce the amount of Lumryz that your body absorbs. This can cause the medicine to not work as well. 

Lumryz has a lot of salt (sodium) in it. If you are sensitive to salt or follow a low-salt diet, talk to your health care provider about ways to limit salt intake from foods and drinks while you are taking Lumrzy.

Do not drink alcohol or take any medicines containing alcohol while taking Lumryz. The risk of breathing problems and other serious side effects may be increased if you combine alcohol and Lumryz. In addition, alcohol may cause the medicine to be released quickly in your body, which can also lead to serious side effects. 

Does Lumryz interact with other medicines (drug interactions)?

Always tell your health care provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using.

In particular, make sure that you discuss if you are using any of the following before taking Lumryz.

  • Any other medicine that causes dizziness and sleepiness, such as prescription pain medicines, sleep medicines, or medicines for anxiety
  • A benzodiazepine, such as clonazepam (Klonopin), diazepam (Valium and others), or lorazepam (Ativan and others), which is a medicine used for anxiety, muscle spasms, or seizures
  • An opioid, such as codeine, fentanyl, morphine, or oxycodone, which is a medicine used to treat certain types of pain
  • An antidepressant, which is a medicine used to treat depression
  • An antipsychotic, which is a medicine for certain mental health conditions
  • Any medicine for seizures, such as carbamazepine, phenobarbital, or phenytoin
  • A muscle relaxant, such as carisoprodol (Soma), cyclobenzaprine, metaxalone, or tizanidine (Zanaflex)

This may not be a complete list of medicines that can interact with Lumryz. Always check with your health care provider.

 

Does interact with other drugs you are taking?

Enter your medication into the WebMD interaction checker

Overdose/Missed Dose

What should I do if I accidentally use too much Lumryz?

If you or someone else has taken too much Lumryz, get medical help right away, call 911, or contact a Poison Control center at 800-222-1222.

What should I do if I miss a dose of Lumryz?

If a dose is missed, skip the missed dose. Take your next dose at the usual time. Do not take double or extra doses.

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