List of products in the National Drug Code with proprietary name . This medication is used to treat narcolepsy, a condition that causes severe daytime sleepiness. Sodium oxybate can decrease daytime sleepiness and also reduce the number of sudden short attacks of weak/paralyzed muscles (known as cataplexy) that can occur in patients with narcolepsy. Sodium oxybate is a central nervous system depressant. It is also known as gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB).