Treatment of narcolepsy and sleep apnea with gammahydroxybutyrate: a clinical and polysomnographic case study.

Gammahydroxybutyrate was administered to a patient who experienced narcolepsy associated with central sleep apnea. The treatment relieved the major symptoms of narcolepsy, and significantly decreased the number of apneic periods. Gammahydroxybutyrate did not cause the prolonged and potentially fatal apneic periods associated with the use of other hypnotic agents.