Patient/caregiver was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking baclofen as follows:
- Notify your doctor of any unresolving muscle spasms, progressively worsening muscle pain and discomfort, compromised range of motion in the involved muscle groups, and any continuing or worsening unpleasant side-effects, so that, your dosage on the medication could be revised.
- Baclofen, especially when taken in high doses, can lead to depression of respiratory center in the brain, exacerbation of SOB, and difficulty breathing. Low oxygen levels in the body with elevated carbon-di-oxide levels can contribute to altered levels of consciousness, sedation, slow & shallow breathing, severely compromised endurance and exercise tolerance, extreme fatigue, and development of seizures. Severe cases might also lead to emergency situations, such as, respiratory arrest and can result in serious debility and death. This risk with baclofen can be even high when it is taken along with any other products and medications causing central nervous and respiratory depression, such as, alcohol, opioid pain medications, antidepressants, antianxiety medications, and sedatives. Baclofen must either be avoided for a better alternative or used with extra caution with close watch on breathing patterns in individuals with history of breathing issues, such as, asthma and COPD, to prevent development of any episodes of severe SOB and respiratory arrest. Notify your physician and seek emergency medical help for any difficulty breathing following baclofen intake.
- Baclofen is poorly metabolized in the liver and most of the unchanged drug along with some inactive metabolites are excreted in the urine. Individuals with history of renal disease cannot excrete baclofen and metabolites normally. The unchanged medication and metabolites can stay in blood circulation for longer time, resulting in toxicity and consequent side-effects. So, for individuals with compromised renal function, baclofen must be either be avoided or used with caution, with close monitoring for symptoms of toxicity with baclofen and possible multiple dose adjustments. Periodical labs could be ordered for monitoring of kidney functions and watch for development of any toxicity symptoms with the medication. So, maintain compliance with follow-up physician appointments and any lab draws ordered. Be accommodative to the plan of dose changes to achieve an optimum response and prevent development of any undesired side-effects.
- If you miss a dose, try taking it at the earliest notice of noncompliance. If it is time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take the dose scheduled. Do not take an extra dose to try making up for the missed dose, which can result in toxicity. Notify your doctor and other health care personnel regarding your dose noncompliance.
