The drug was first used to reduce women's consciousness during childbirth in the 1960s. An illicit version of the drug was discovered in 1990 and became the subject of dozens upon dozens sexual assaults and deaths.And for the last two decades, a pharmaceutical-grade slurry of gamma-hydroxybutyrate, or GHB, has been tightly regulated as a treatment for narcolepsy, a disorder known for its sudden sleep attacks.The Food and Drug Administration approved the drug to treat idiopathic Hypersomnia. This mysterious condition, in which patients sleep for up to nine hours per night and never feel tired, has been officially approved by the FDA. The medication, known as Xywav is believed to give some patients restorative sleep at nights, allowing them to wake up more alert. It is the first treatment approved for this condition.Some experts disagree with this assessment. They are also concerned about the potential dangers of the medication. It is so fast that the label recommends that users take it while they sleep. Xywav, and an older high-salt version called Xyrem, can cause serious side effects such as anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, sleepwalking and sleepwalking.
