Optimizing patient outcomes and empowering the patient-clinician partnership.

Abstract

The treatment landscape for narcolepsy is rapidly evolving with the introduction of new therapies featuring unique mechanisms of action and innovative formulations of established treatments. The recent approval of a once-nightly sodium oxybate formulation (SO-ER) has expanded the spectrum of oxybate therapies to 3, including the traditional immediate-release formulation (OXB) and a low-sodium version containing calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium oxybates (LXB). While the availability of diverse options allows clinicians to tailor oxybate-based treatments, it also raises challenges in selecting and fine-tuning these therapies. Involving patients in the decision-making process through shared decision-making (SDM) platforms can be an effective approach to optimizing oxybate therapy. This review article aims to provide clinicians with a comprehensive overview of the unique characteristics of available oxybate formulations and potential strategies for delivering empathetic care that incorporates SDM into the selection and optimization of oxybate-based treatment regimens.