The study evaluates whether the use of Sodium Oxybate (Xyrem®) in TBI patients will be effective in reducing symptoms of post traumatic narcolepsy and post traumatic hypersomnia.
Post-traumatic narcolepsy and post-traumatic hypersomnia are under-recognized clinical conditions in post-TBI patients. Considering the high prevalence of hypersomnia, treatment difficulty, and sparse clinical studies for treatment of sleep problems in TBI patients, additional clinical trials need to be performed to provide more therapeutic options for patients and physicians. Sodium oxybate (Xyrem®) could be potentially one such option given its high efficacy in idiopathic narcolepsy patients. From the results of animal research, as well as from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and autopsy findings from TBI patients, hypothalamic injury and hypocretin pathology seem to play a role in the pathogenesis of post-traumatic narcolepsy and hypersomnia. Despite lack of clear understanding of the exact mechanism of action of sodium oxybate in patients with idiopathic narcolepsy, the shared pathophysiology of the hypocretin system in post-traumatic hypersomnia and narcolepsy would suggest the possible efficacy of sodium oxybate (Xyrem®) on excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and prolonged sleep in patients with TBI. In this Pilot Clinical Trial, we will test whether sodium oxybate (Xyrem®, approved for the treatment of improve wakefulness in adult patients with excessive sleepiness associated with narcolepsy) is effective in improving the sleep-wake symptoms, global functioning and quality of life of post-TBI patients with hypersomnia and narcolepsy.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Xyrem will be given to participants to determine if it is effective in treating post-traumatic narcolepsy and post-traumatic hypersomnia
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Change in Subjective Daytime Sleepiness
Change in subjective daytime sleepiness assessed through a daily questionnaire about frequency and duration of daytime naps, frequency of sleep attacks.
Time frame: Data collected on Day 1 (Baseline Visit) of the Intervention and at end of 1 week on the final dosage, which will be 2-5 weeks after the Baseline Visit.
Change in Sleep Duration
Change in sleep duration assessed by actigraphy-estimated total sleep time (TST).
Time frame: Data collected on Day 1 (Baseline Visit) of the Intervention and at end of 1 week on the final dosage, which will be 2-5 weeks after the Baseline Visit.
Change in Clinical Condition
Change in clinical condition as assessed by Clinical Global Impression (CGI) assessment. CGI assesses a clinician's view of a patient's global functioning before and after initiating medication. It is broken up into CGI-S (Severity) and CGI-I (Improvement). CGI-S is one question assesses how clinically ill a patient is at time of assessment. it is on a 1-7 scale with 1 being normal and 7 being among the most extremely ill patients. CGI-I looks at improvement in patients functioning once medication starts. it is also on a 1-7 scale with 1 being very much improved since initiation of treatment and 7 being very much worse.
Time frame: Data collected on Day 1 (Baseline Visit) of the Intervention and at end of 1 week on the final dosage, which will be 2-5 weeks after the Baseline Visit.
Change in Subjective Daytime Sleepiness (ESS)
Change in daytime sleepiness will be assessed through changes in Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) scores. The ESS measures sleepiness of a participant. It is eight questions with a scale of 0 - 3 with 0 being no chance of dozing and 3 being high chance of dozing. The total score of eight questions is reported.
Time frame: Data collected on Day 1 (Baseline Visit) of the Intervention and at end of 1 week on the final dosage, which will be 2-5 weeks after the Baseline Visit.
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Change in Nocturnal Sleep Quality (Frequency of nocturnal awakenings)
Average change in nocturnal sleep quality assessed by a daily sleep questionnaire on frequency of nocturnal awakenings.
Time frame: Data collected on Day 1 (Baseline Visit) of the Intervention and at end of 1 week on the final dosage, which will be 2-5 weeks after the Baseline Visit.
Change in Nocturnal Sleep Quality (Duration of nocturnal awakenings)
Average change in nocturnal sleep quality assessed by a daily sleep questionnaire on duration of nocturnal awakenings.
Time frame: Data collected on Day 1 (Baseline Visit) of the Intervention and at end of 1 week on the final dosage, which will be 2-5 weeks after the Baseline Visit.
Change in Nocturnal Sleep Quality (Subjective amount of sleep)
Average change in nocturnal sleep quality assessed by a daily sleep questionnaire on subjective amount of sleep each night.
Time frame: Data collected on Day 1 (Baseline Visit) of the Intervention and at end of 1 week on the final dosage, which will be 2-5 weeks after the Baseline Visit.
Change in Nocturnal Sleep Quality (Frequency of sleep walking)
Average change in nocturnal sleep quality assessed by a daily sleep questionnaire on frequency of sleep walking.
Time frame: Data collected on Day 1 (Baseline Visit) of the Intervention and at end of 1 week on the final dosage, which will be 2-5 weeks after the Baseline Visit.
Change in Nocturnal Sleep Quality (Frequency of hypnagogic hallucinations)
Average change in nocturnal sleep quality assessed by a daily sleep questionnaire on frequency of hypnagogic hallucinations.
Time frame: Data collected on Day 1 (Baseline Visit) of the Intervention and at end of 1 week on the final dosage, which will be 2-5 weeks after the Baseline Visit.
Change in Nocturnal Sleep Quality (Change in Pittsburgh Sleep Quality index) scores)
Average change in nocturnal sleep quality assessed by changes in Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores. The PSQI assesses sleep quality. It is broken down into seven components, with scales from 0 - 3 with 0 being better quality of sleep and 3 being a more poor quality of sleep. The Global PSQI score is taken from the sum of the seven component scores.
Time frame: Data collected on Day 1 (Baseline Visit) of the Intervention and at end of 1 week on the final dosage, which will be 2-5 weeks after the Baseline Visit.
Change in Nocturnal Sleep Quality (actigraphy)
Average change in nocturnal sleep quality measured by actigraphy.
Time frame: Data collected on Day 1 (Baseline Visit) of the Intervention and at end of 1 week on the final dosage, which will be 2-5 weeks after the Baseline Visit.
Change in Global Functioning
Change in global functioning evaluated by the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS). The SDS assesses functional impairment in three subscales: in work/school, social, and family life. Each is subscale is 1-10 with 1 being no disability/impairment and 10 be extreme disability/impairment. These three subscales are added together to give the global functional impairment score which ranges from 0 being unimpaired to 30 being highly impaired.
Time frame: Data collected on Day 1 (Baseline Visit) of the Intervention and at end of 1 week on the final dosage, which will be 2-5 weeks after the Baseline Visit.