Orphan Medical Provides Update on Prescription Levels for Xyrem® (Sodium Oxybate) Oral Solution

Minneapolis, MN - December 3, 2002

Orphan Medical, Inc. (Nasdaq: ORPH) announced that 552 prescriptions have been written for Xyrem® (sodium oxybate) oral solution through November 29, 2002. The number of prescriptions exceeds the Company's expectations.

Xyrem is the first and only approved medication for the treatment of cataplexy, a debilitating symptom of narcolepsy and was commercially launched on October 7, 2002. Given the timing of prescriptions and current shipment cycles, the Company reiterated previous guidance that Xyrem sales will account for approximately $500,000 in the fourth quarter and that total corporate sales for the year will be in the $15.5 to $16.0 million range.

"Initial feedback from the medical community has been favorable," said John H. Bullion, Orphan Medical Chief Executive Officer. "This feedback and the positive prescription results are promising. Approximately 60 percent of the prescriptions were for new patients with the remainder representing prescriptions for patients who had been receiving Xyrem in Treatment IND trials that are being closed out."

Mark Perrin, Chief Commercial Officer added, "While the sales force has been in the field for a short time, they have had good success in meeting with physicians and highlighting the efficacy of Xyrem and its risk management program. Moreover, comprehensive medical education programs, journal advertising, and direct mail efforts have only been initiated recently and we expect those programs to add to the initial success of Xyrem. Calls to our single specialty pharmacy partner have been increasing significantly since launch. The reimbursement process is proceeding as anticipated. The specialty pharmacy has contracted with managed care organizations to cover 226.1 million lives and 68 percent of prescriptions filled thus far have been through these plans."

Orphan Medical is selling Xyrem through its own dedicated specialty sales force to sleep centers and other physicians who treat cataplexy patients. Cataplexy, a sudden loss of muscle tone, is usually triggered by strong emotions such as laughter, anger, or surprise and, in its most severe form, can cause a person to collapse. Sixty to ninety percent of the 140,000 Americans with narcolepsy suffer from cataplexy. The U.S. cataplexy market is estimated to be in excess of $125 million annually.

Orphan Medical acquires, develops, and markets pharmaceuticals of high medical value for inadequately treated and uncommon diseases treated by specialist physicians. Orphan Medical's Internet Web site address is www.orphan.com .

The information in this press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation reform Act of 1995. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's assumptions and expectations. These are set forth in the cautionary statements included in Orphan Medical's most recent Form 10-Q or Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. (These documents can be accessed through the Orphan Medical Web site at (www.orphan.com ). All forward-looking statements are qualified by, and should be considered in conjunction with, such cautionary statements.