healthsense Baclofen

Generic Name: Baclofen
Product Name: healthsense Baclofen

Indication

– Baclo may be used in the suppression of muscle spasms in patients with Multiple Sclerosis
– It may also be used in the management of patients with spinal cord lesions of traumatic, infective, degenerative and malignant origins, which may have caused muscle and bladder dysfunction

Action

– Baclo is an antispastic agent that acts on the spinal cord
– It also acts as a central nervous system depressant
– It depresses monosynaptic and polysynaptic reflex transmission, most likely due to the stimulation on GABAB receptors which inturn inhibit the release of excitatory amino acids (e.g. glutamate and aspartate) – hence lessening nerve impulses to muscles in spasm.
– Baclo also has an antinociceptive effect (pain relief) however the mechanism by which this occurs is not yet known

Dose advice

– Small doses should be initially administered, which gradually increase in a stepwise manner according to the patients symptoms
– Baclo should be taken with meals and a glass of water
– Treatment usually involves 3 divided doses daily and initially doses should be in the range of 5mg three times daily. The dose is subsequently increased by 5mg three times daily every 3 days or until the desired response is achieved
– Optimum dosage range is usually 30-75mg daily, however the daily dosage should be individually tailored to the patient according to their requirements

Schedule

Common side effects

– Mainly occur at the start of treatment and may be due to a rapidly increased dosage, a too large dose or due to the patients other health problems (e.g. kidney failure)
– These all can be alleviated by reducing the dose.
– Some side effects may include:
– paradoxical increase in spasticity
– lowered blood pressure
– nausea
– constipation
– diarrhoea
– vomiting
– dryness of mouth
– muscle pain
– muscle weakness
– sedation and drowsiness
– headache
– mental confusion
– insomnia
– euphoria
– visual disturbances
– increased sweating
– skin rash
– pain on urinating
– increase urine frequency

Uncommon side effects

– psychiatric disturbances
– abnormal heart rhythms
– shortness of breath
– palpitations
– chest pain
– ankle swelling
– abdominal pain
– liver disorders
– numbness
– joint pain
– â??blackoutsâ?? or short fainting spells
– taste disturbances
– urine retention
– impotence
– blood in urine
– nasal congestion
– weight gain