It is a muscle relaxant that acts on the brain and the central nervous system, decreasing the signals that reach the muscles. Improves reflex muscle contractions , painful spasm , automaticity and cloneism (succession of muscle spasms and contractions).
Route of administration
Orally:
- Spastic states of skeletal muscle (elevated muscle tone) in multiple sclerosis .
- Elevated muscle tone in myelopathies (diseases of the spinal cord ).
- High muscle tone of cerebral origin, particularly in cerebral palsy .
- Intrathecal route ( injection into the subarachnoid space between the meninges ):
- Severe chronic muscle spasticity originating in the spinal cord or brain , in patients who are unresponsive or unable to take oral medications, have a normal flow of [[cerebrospinal fluid], or have had a positive response to the dose of intrathecal test baclofen.
Dose
Oral dose:
- Adults: 5 mg every 8 hours, increasing 5 mg per dose every 3 days until reaching a dose of 10 to 25 mg every 8 hours. In exceptional cases and only in hospitalized patients, more than 100 mg per day can be administered.
- Children 1 to 2 years: 10 to 20 mg a day and children 3 to 10 years: 30 to 60 mg a day, in 4 doses.
Injectable (intrathecal) dose:
- The dose must be adjusted in each patient individually. It is necessary to carry out a test dose beforehand. This medicinal product should not be administered intrathecally in those patients who do not respond to the test dose.
Precautions
- The patient must always respect the scheduled schedule. If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as possible and go back to your usual schedule. But if there is little time for the next dose, do not double it and continue taking the medicine.
- Baclofen can make you drowsy and confused. Driving a vehicle or operating dangerous machinery is not recommended while the patient is taking this medicine.
- The patient should not stop treatment with baclofen abruptly but gradually decrease the administered dose.
- The patient must have a necessary control and rigorous monitoring , if it is administered intrathecally. The presence of local or systemic infection must be ruled out before implanting the infusion pump. Extreme caution should be used when filling an implantable pump equipped with a line that allows direct access to the intrathecal catheter, as direct injection can lead to fatal overdose. Before starting the infusion, oral antispasmodic medication should be slowly discontinued to avoid overdose or adverse drug interactions.
- This medicine can increase blood glucose levels , so it is recommended that diabetic patients who are on treatment with baclofen undergo special medical supervision.
- It should be administered with caution to patients suffering from psychotic disorders , [[schizophrenia [[, confusional states or Parkinson’s disease , epilepsy , autonomic dysreflexia , cerebrovascular or respiratory failure, peptic ulcer, kidney disease.
- The patient should not drink alcoholic beverages while being treated with this medicine.
- The preparations for intrathecal administration must not be administered by other injectable routes (intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous or epidural ).
- The safety of intrathecal Baclofen in children under 4 years of age has not been established, therefore its use in this age group is not recommended.
- In case of allergy to baclofen. If you experience any kind of allergic reaction, stop taking this medicine and tell your doctor or pharmacist immediately.
Medications that interact with Baclofen
central nervous system depressants such as antidepressants ( amitriptyline , imipramine ), antihypertensives , antihistamines ( hydroxyzine , diphenhydramine ) and muscle relaxants ( carisoprodol , tetrazepam ), lithium , ibuprofen, and levodopa / carbidopa .
Adverse effects
- It can cause: temporary drowsiness, nausea, dizziness, headache, hypotension , hypotonia , depression.
- It can rarely cause: hallucinations , euphoria , confusion, anxiety, tremor, blurred vision , constipation , urinary retention , dry mouth, loss of appetite and increased blood glucose levels.
- Baclofen can also cause other side effects. Ask your doctor if you see something anormal.
Use in lactation and / or pregnancy
- The use of oral baclofen in pregnant women is only accepted in the absence of a safer alternative. Baclofen should not be administered intrathecally during pregnancy.
- Baclofen passes into breast milk but does not appear to be toxic to a nursing infant. Long-term use of baclofen has been reported to decrease milk production.
Prescription
Injectable forms of baclofen can only be obtained from the Pharmacy Service of a hospital. They are not available at Pharmacy Offices.
Conservation mode
- Keep the medicine in a cool place, without humidity, away from direct sources of heat and light.
- Keep out of reach of children.
Tradenames
Lioresal®, Lioresal intrathecal®.