Baclofen
Muscle Relaxant · Skeletal muscle relaxant
Indications
Voluntary muscle spasticity due to cerebrovascular accidents, cerebral palsy, meningitis, multiple sclerosis, spinal lesions, head injury.
Dosage
Adults: Initially 5 mg three times daily, increasing as required by 5 mg three times daily at three day intervals; max 100 mg daily. Children: 2.5 mg four times daily, increasing gradually at three day intervals to required daily maintenance dose: 12 mth-2 yr: 10-20 mg; 2-6 yr: 20-30 mg; 6-10 yr: 30-60 mg.
Adverse Effects
Sedation, drowsiness, nausea, urinary frequency, enuresis, dysuria.
Risk Factor (Pregnancy/Lactation)
Pregnancy: Risk cannot be ruled out. Lactation: Caution advised or effect undetermined. Contraindications: Peptic ulceration. Precautions: Epilepsy, psychotic or convulsional states, cerebrovascular accident, sphincter hypertonia, history of peptic ulcer, respiratory, hepatic or renal impairment. Elderly. Withdraw drug gradually over at least 1-2 weeks. Perform tests in liver disease or diabetes.
Interactions
Antihypertensives, lithium, fentanyl, morphine, TCADs, ibuprofen, levodopa, carbidopa, alcohol, CNS depressants, CNS active drugs.
Advice to Patient
Take with meals. Contact prescriber if there is severe muscle spasm, unrelieved insomnia, numbness, itching, pain on urination, constipation, changes in urinary pattern, constant confusion or fever. Do not stop taking medication abruptly, gradually lower down the dose and then stop. Do not take any new medication especially OTC sleep-inducing drugs, sedatives or antispasmodics without consulting prescriber. Avoid alcohol during therapy.
Pharmacokinetics
Onset of action: Intrathecal bolus: 30 minutes-1 hour; Continuous infusion: 6 to 8 hours after Infusion initiation. Peak effect: Intrathecal bolus: 4 hours (effects may last 4 to 8 hours); Continuous infusion: 24 to 48 hours. Absorption (dose dependent): Oral: Rapid; absorption from the Gl tract is thought to be dose dependent; in pediatric patients (age range: 2 to 17 years) \ with cerebral palsy, absorption from GI tract highly variable and delayed (reported time lag: 0.59 ± 0.28 hours). Bioavailability: Oral: 74%. Metabolism: Hepatic (15% of dose). Half-life elimination: Oral: Pediatric patients with cerebral palsy (age range: 2 to 17 years): 4.5 hours. Adults: 3.75 ± 0.96 hours. Intrathecal: CSF elimination half-life: 1.51 hours over the first 4 hours. Time to peak, serum: Oral: 1 hour (0.5 to 4 hours). Excretion: Urine (>70% as unchanged drug) and feces.
Brands with this active ingredient
Compiled by Healify Pharmacy from published drug references. How we compile it →
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