Sleep-Wake Disorders

Weight Changes with Lower-Sodium Oxybate in Idiopathic Hypersomnia

Ron Goldberg
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Weight loss for patients with narcolepsy has been linked with sodium oxybate (SXB) treatment. Researchers sought to investigate weight changes associated with LBX.

Among adults with idiopathic hypersomnia treated with lower-sodium oxybate (LXB), weight loss equal to or greater than 5% is common in more than 25% of patients, according to study results presented at Sleep 2022, held from June 4 to 8, 2022, in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Weight loss for patients with narcolepsy has been linked with sodium oxybate (SXB) treatment. LXB, already approved for adults in the US for idiopathic hypersomnia, contains 92% less sodium than SXB. Researchers sought to investigate weight changes associated with LBX.

To accomplish this, they conducted a prospective, open-label, phase 3 clinical study (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03533114) that included 154 participants (40.3±13.7 years of age; range 18-75 years; baseline weight 76.9±18.6 kg; baseline body mass index [BMI] 27.1±5.9 kg/m2) with idiopathic hypersomnia. Among the 154 participants at baseline, 2 (1.3%) were underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2); 62 (40.3%) were average weight (BMI 18.5-<25); 52 (33.8%) were overweight (BMI 25-<30); 38 (24.7%) were obese (BMI ≥30).

All participants received an optimized dose of LXB for a 2-week stable-dose period (SDP) before being randomized to placebo or LXB for a 2-week double-blind withdrawal period which preceded a 24-week open-label extension.

Following the SDP (n reduced to 108), mean weight decreased -2.5±4.1 kg. Following the SDP, mean weight decreases were numerically higher among participants whose baseline BMI was higher (average BMI: -1.8±3.0 kg; overweight BMI: -2.8±3.1 kg; obese BMI: -3.2±5.9 kg).

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Researchers concluded that, “adults with idiopathic hypersomnia treated with LXB experienced weight loss, including weight loss (equal to or greater than) 5% in 28.7% of participants.” Those participants with higher baseline BMI also experienced higher mean weight loss. 

Disclosure: This research was supported by Jazz Pharmaceuticals. Please see the original reference for a full list of disclosures. 

Reference

Dauvilliers Y, Chandler P, Hickey L, Chen A, Steininger T, Foldvary-Schaefer N. Weight changes during treatment with lower-sodium oxybate in a phase 3 clinical study in patients with idiopathic hypersomnia. Presented at Sleep 2022; June 4-8, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina. Abstract 387.