All About Lumryz

What’s Lumryz used for?

Lumryz is used to help manage certain symptoms of narcolepsy in adults. Specifically, Lumryz helps treat excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) or cataplexy.

Narcolepsy is a condition that affects your brain and spinal cord. It may cause you to have overwhelming urges to fall asleep during the day (EDS) or prevent you from sleeping well at night. It can also cause a sudden loss of muscle tone, making your head droop or your whole body collapse. This is called cataplexy.

It’s not fully known how Lumryz works to treat these symptoms of narcolepsy. However, it’s thought that the drug affects the levels of certain chemicals in your brain, such as gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), which may help you sleep. In this way, Lumryz eases symptoms of EDS and cataplexy in adults with narcolepsy.

If you consume alcohol or take other medications that make you sleepy, your doctor will not prescribe Lumryz for you.

Lumryz cost and coupons

Whether you have health insurance or not, cost may be a factor when you’re considering Lumryz. What you’ll pay for this drug may depend on several factors, such as your treatment plan and the pharmacy you use.

A program called RYZUP Support Services may also be available. And you can check out this article to learn more about saving money on prescriptions.

If you have questions about how to pay for Lumryz, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

What are Lumryz’s side effects?

Like most drugs, Lumryz may cause mild to serious side effects. The lists below contain some of the more common side effects Lumryz may cause, but they don’t include all possible side effects.

Keep in mind that side effects of a drug can depend on:

• your age
• your prescribed dosage
• the severity of your condition
• other health conditions you have
• other medications you take

Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Lumryz. They can also suggest ways to help reduce or manage side effects.

Mild side effects

Here’s a list of some of the mild side effects that Lumryz can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist or read the drug’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects of Lumryz that have been reported include:

• certain gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and decreased appetite
• dizziness
• bedwetting
• headache

Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Lumryz can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have serious side effects from this medication, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects of Lumryz that have been reported include:

• certain new or worsening changes in mental health, such as:
  • depression
  • thoughts of self-harm
  • anxiety
  • confusion
  • panic attacks
• sleepwalking
• new or worsening sleep apnea
• difficulty breathing or breathing more slowly than normal
• changes in coordination or mental alertness
• boxed warnings:
  • risk of central nervous system (CNS) depression*
  • risk of misuse*

* For more information, see the “What should be considered before taking Lumryz?” section.

Allergic reaction

For some people, Lumryz can cause an allergic reaction, but it’s not clear whether this side effect occurred in the drug’s studies.

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should keep taking Lumryz.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or difficulty breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Lumryz, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

What is Lumryz’s dosage?

Below are commonly used dosages, but always take the dosage your doctor prescribes. They’ll recommend the dosage of Lumryz that’s right for you.

Form and strengths

Lumryz comes in single-use packets of granules. You’ll mix each packet with water to create an extended-release suspension (liquid mixture). “Extended-release” means the drug is slowly released into your body over a period of time.

Lumryz comes in four strengths:

• 4.5 grams (g)
• 6 g
• 7.5 g
• 9 g

Recommended dosages

To help manage excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) or cataplexy from narcolepsy, your doctor will likely prescribe a starting dosage of 4.5 g once per night. You’ll usually fall asleep within 5 to 15 minutes of taking a dose, although this may be different from night to night. (See the “How to take” section to learn more.)

Depending on how your body responds to Lumryz, your doctor may continue to increase your dose by 1.5 g once per week. The usual recommended dosage is 6 g to 9 g once per night. Dosages over 9 g per night haven’t been studied. You and your doctor will work together to determine the best dosage for you.

If you take another medication that makes you sleepy, your doctor may reduce or stop your Lumryz dose until you don’t need to take the other medication anymore.

How to take

Your doctor will explain how you should take Lumryz. They’ll also explain how much to take and how often. Be sure to follow their instructions.

Lumryz is available in single-use packets. You’ll mix each packet with 1/3 cup (about 80 milliliters) of water in the mixing cup provided by the pharmacy. This creates an extended-release suspension (liquid mixture).

Avoid using hot water to make the suspension, and drink your dose within 30 minutes of mixing it. You’ll also want to take this medication while in bed and lie down right after you take it. This helps prevent you from falling and experiencing serious injury.

For detailed instructions on how to take Lumryz, check out the drug’s prescribing information or this video on the manufacturer’s website.

Questions about taking Lumryz

Below are some common questions about taking Lumryz.

• Should I take Lumryz with food? No. You should wait at least 2 hours after eating before you take Lumryz. Taking Lumryz with food could make the drug less effective.
• Is there a best time of day to take Lumryz? Lumryz should be taken at bedtime. Specifically, you should take Lumryz when you’re in bed. And you should immediately lie down after taking your dose. (You’ll likely fall asleep 5 to 15 minutes after taking Lumryz.)
• What if I miss a dose of Lumryz? If you miss a dose of Lumryz, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at its usual time the next night. You should not take two doses at once to make up for a missed dose. Doing so could increase your risk of side effects.
• Will I need to take Lumryz long term? Lumryz is typically a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that it’s safe and effective for your condition, you’ll likely take it long term.

Overdose

Do not take more Lumryz than your doctor prescribes, as this can lead to harmful effects.

Effects of overdose

Effects caused by an overdose can include:

• vomiting
• sweating
• confusion
• loss of muscle control
• headache
• blurred vision
• seizure
• certain changes in your breathing, such as apnea
• boxed warning: central nervous system (CNS) depression*
• hypothermia
• increased heart rate

In extreme cases, overdose can also lead to coma.

* See the “What should be considered before taking Lumryz?” section for more information.

What to do in case you take too much Lumryz

Call your doctor if you think you’ve taken too much Lumryz. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach America’s Poison Centers or use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency room.

What should be considered before taking Lumryz?

Below is important information you should consider before taking Lumryz.

Interactions

Taking a drug with certain medications, vaccines, foods, and other substances can affect how the drug works. These effects are called interactions. Lumryz can interact with several other medications. It can also interact with certain supplements and certain foods.

Before starting Lumryz, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also tell them about any herbs, vitamins, and supplements you take. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Drug interactions

Below is a list of medications that can interact with Lumryz. This list does not contain all drugs that may interact with Lumryz. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Lumryz and alcohol

It is not safe to consume alcohol while taking Lumryz. Consuming alcohol while taking Lumryz greatly increases your risk of serious side effects such as breathing problems. This combination could also release the drug into your body faster than normal, which also increases the risk of serious side effects.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

It’s not known whether it’s safe to take Lumryz during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. But studies have found that the drug passes into breast milk.

If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding or planning to become pregnant or to breastfeed, talk with your doctor before starting Lumryz treatment.

Boxed warnings

Lumryz has boxed warnings about the risk of CNS depression and misuse. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous.

Boxed warnings for Lumryz include:

Risk of CNS depression: Lumryz is a CNS depressant. Your CNS (central nervous system) consists of your brain and spinal cord. “Depressant” means the drug slows down your brain’s activity and makes you drowsy.

While making you drowsy is partially how Lumryz works, your CNS may become too slow, even when you’re taking Lumryz as prescribed. This may result in respiratory depression (slow, shallow breathing), apnea, or other breathing problems that can be life threatening. You may also feel less alert while still being conscious or have lower blood pressure than normal.

Due to this risk, your doctor will not prescribe Lumryz for you if you take other CNS depressants or drink alcohol. (See the “Drug interactions” section for potential drugs that could also be CNS depressants. But please note that this is not a complete list.)

If you need to take another CNS depressant, your doctor will likely recommend taking lower doses of each medication or stopping one of them. If you need to take an opioid medication for a short time (if you’ve recently had surgery), your doctor may recommend that you temporarily stop taking Lumryz.

You also shouldn’t drive or operate other dangerous machinery for 6 hours after each Lumryz dose.

If you have difficulty breathing after taking Lumryz, get medical help immediately or call 911.

Risk of misuse: Sodium oxybate (the active ingredient in Lumryz) is the same active ingredient used in gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB). GHB is a Schedule I illegal substance that has no medical use. Because of its similarity to GHB, Lumryz is a Schedule III controlled substance. This means the drug has an approved medical use but still carries a risk of misuse. It also means that government agencies, doctors, and pharmacists pay close attention to how the drug is prescribed and used.

Misuse involves taking a drug in a way other than how or why it was prescribed, often to get a certain desirable effect. Misusing GHB by itself or with other CNS depressants can quickly cause seizure, amnesia, coma, or death.

Due to this risk, your doctor will ask you about your experiences taking drugs in ways other than how they’ve been prescribed. They’ll also monitor you throughout your treatment for signs of misuse.

You should also discard Lumryz safely. Check out this FDA website to learn more.

Due to the risks of CNS depression and misuse, Lumryz is available only through a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS) program. The FDA requires REMS programs for certain drugs to help make sure they’re administered safely.

Other warnings

Lumryz can sometimes cause harmful effects in people with certain conditions. This is known as a drug-condition interaction. Other factors may also affect whether this drug is a good treatment option for you.

Talk with your doctor about your health history before starting Lumryz. Be sure to tell them if any of the following factors apply to you:

• You have semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency.
• You consume alcohol.
• You take other drugs that make you fall asleep.
• You’re following a low salt diet.
• You have a condition that could be worsened by consuming large amounts of salt, such as heart failure, high blood pressure, or kidney problems.
• You have liver problems.
• You have or previously had problems with substance misuse.
• You walk in your sleep.
• You have certain breathing or lung problems, such as sleep apnea.
• You have certain mental health conditions that are new or worsening, such as depression, thoughts of harming yourself, anxiety, confusion, hallucinations, or paranoia.
• You’ve had a previous allergic reaction to Lumryz.
• You’re pregnant.
• You’re breastfeeding a child.

What are some frequently asked questions about Lumryz?

Find answers to some commonly asked questions about Lumryz.

How does Lumryz compare with Xyrem?

Both Lumryz and Xyrem are prescribed to treat excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) or cataplexy in people with narcolepsy. However, Lumryz is approved for adult use only, while Xyrem can be used in certain children ages 7 years and older who have narcolepsy.

Both drugs are central nervous system (CNS) depressants and contain the same active ingredient, sodium oxybate. But their forms and how often you take them are different.

Lumryz is an extended-release form. This means the drug is slowly released into your body over a period of time. You’ll take only one dose of Lumryz per night.

Xyrem is an immediate-release form, which means the drug is released into your body right away. You’ll need to take two doses of Xyrem per night (one right before bedtime and another 2.5 to 4 hours later).

You’ll mix either drug with water before taking it. Xyrem comes as a liquid solution that you mix with water, and Lumryz comes as a packet of granules that you mix with water to create a suspension (liquid mixture).

If you have other questions about how Lumryz and Xyrem compare, talk with your doctor. They can help you find the best treatment for your condition.

How does Lumryz compare with Xywav?

Both Lumryz and Xywav are prescribed to treat excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) or cataplexy in people with narcolepsy. Xywav is also used to treat idiopathic hypersomnia in adults (Lumryz isn’t used for this condition).

Another difference is that Lumryz is approved for use in adults only. Xywav, on the other hand, can also be used in certain children ages 7 years and older who have narcolepsy.

You’ll mix either drug with water before taking it. Xywav comes as a liquid solution that you mix with water, and Lumryz comes as a packet of granules that you mix with water to create a suspension (liquid mixture).

Both drugs contain the active ingredient sodium oxybate. But Xywav also contains potassium oxybate, magnesium oxybate, and calcium oxybate.

You’ll take Lumryz once per night. But you’ll take Xywav once or twice per night, depending on the condition you’re taking it to treat.

Lumryz and Xywav are both central nervous system (CNS) depressants.

If you have other questions about how Lumryz and Xywav compare, talk with your doctor. They can help you find the best treatment for you.

Is Lumryz used for idiopathic hypersomnia? What about for weight loss?

Lumryz is not approved for weight loss. However, in studies, 1% of people who took 4.5 grams (g) of Lumryz nightly and 4% of people who took 9 g nightly experienced weight loss. But the studies did not report how much weight the people lost.

Lumryz isn’t used for idiopathic hypersomnia (extreme sleepiness with no clear cause). Lumryz contains sodium oxybate, and other drugs that contain sodium oxybate, such as Xywav, are approved to treat this condition.

To learn more about treatment options for idiopathic hypersomnia or weight loss, talk with your doctor.