Proventus

Making Life Fairer

 

Help-Line 01233 334 879

 

Working together to make a difference

Disease Modifying Drugs & Therapies

 

 

Find Us Here

If you have experienced any adverse side effects from a medication or therapy - Report it

Baclofen - Lioresal®                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

A muscle relaxant and antispastic agent used for.

• Muscle spasms.
• Cramping.
• Tightness.

It is available in tablet, syrup form, or can be transfused by surgical insertion of a pump in the spinal cord. Intrathecal baclofen is administered directly into the spinal fluid via a pump, implanted under the skin. Baclofen is a widely used spasticity drug that is normally taken as tablets. However, in a few cases of severe spasticity, intrathecal baclofen may be considered. The majority of people for whom this is suitable will be permanent users of a wheelchair.

 

intrathecal baclofen involves surgically implanting a pump under the skin of the abdomen near the waistline. The pump is linked to the spinal cavity by a tube that is inserted by a lumbar puncture. Because of the surgical procedure, the need to refill pumps and potentially replace pumps, together with the obvious risk of infection, intrathecal baclofen is only available in the UK in a few specialist centres.

Baclofen relaxes skeletal muscles, (the muscles that move the skeleton, also called striated muscle). Chemically, baclofen is related to gamma-aminobutyric acid - GABA, a naturally-occurring neurotransmitter in the brain. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that nerves use when communicating with one another.

 

GABA released by some nerves causes the activity of other nerves to decrease.

It is thought that baclofen, blocks the activity of nerves within the part of the brain that controls the contraction and relaxation of skeletal muscle.

Baclofen is used for treating spasm of skeletal muscles that cause muscle clonus, rigidity, and pain.

 

Side effects may occur                                                                                                                                                                                                              

• Confusion.
• Constipation.
• Depression.
• Dizziness.
• Drowsiness.                                                                                                                        
• Headache.
• Inability to sleep.
• Increased urinary frequency or urinary retention.
• Low blood pressure.                                                                                         
• Nausea.
• Respiratory problems..
• Seizures.                                               
• Vomiting.                                                                                                                                                        
• Weakness.  

 

Adverse effects may occur                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Abrupt discontinuation of oral Baclofen may cause

• Hallucinations.
• Seizures  

Abrupt discontinuation of intrathecal baclofen may result in:

• High fever.
• Muscle rigidity
• Rebound spasticity
• Rhabdomyolysis - muscle breakdown -  that can progress to failure of several organs, including the kidney, and even death.

 

Contra indications                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

• Baclofen can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions.
• Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase some of the side effects of baclofen.
• Do not use baclofen when muscle tone is needed to assure safe balance and movement for certain activities. In some situations, it may endanger your physical safety to be in a state of reduced muscle tone.
• Do not stop using Baclofen suddenly without first consulting your doctor. You may need to slowly lessen your intake before you stop the medication completely.

Other medicines that make you sleepy may add to sleepiness caused by Baclofen

• Cold medicine.
• Medication for seizures.
• Medication for depression.
• Medication for anxiety.
• Muscle relaxers.
• Pain medication.

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

1. Clonus (from the Greek for "violent, confused motion") Is a series of involuntary muscular contractions due to sudden stretching of the muscle.  Unlike the small, spontaneous twitching known as fasciculations (usually caused by lower motor neuron pathology), clonus causes large motions that are usually initiated by a reflex.
2. Spasticity is a disorder of the body's motor system in which certain muscles are continuously contracted. The contraction causes stiffness or tightness of the muscles.
3. Intrathecal space - the fluid filled cavity that surrounds the spinal cord within the spine. Drugs delivered intrathecally are passed directly into this cavity. This is a much more efficient delivery method that bypasses some of the side-effects of oral tablets, and provides a higher dose of the drug more consistently.

 

Top of Page