Patient/caregiver was educated on the side-effects of using Gablofen as follows:
Central nervous system side-effects
- Gablofen use can result in episodes of confusion, dizziness, and light-headedness. This risk with gablofen can be even high when it is taken along with any other products and medications causing central nervous depression, such as, alcohol, opioid pain medications, antidepressants, antianxiety medications, and sedatives. Watching closely for therapeutic response and gradually changing the dose, to help optimum control of your symptoms, can contribute to controlling/reducing the risk for drowsiness and dizziness due to the medication.
- Gablofen use, especially in individuals with history of mood disorders, can occasionally result in exacerbation of mania and depressive symptoms, changes in behavior, hallucinations, and compromised sexual drive.
- Gablofen use, especially in individuals with seizure history, can occasionally result in deterioration of seizure control and fresh episodes of seizures.
Withdrawal
- Individuals on sudden withdrawal from gablofen, especially after prolonged use or use in high doses, can present with unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, such as, listlessness, lack of energy, exacerbation of depressive symptoms, anxiety, agitation, sleep disturbances, confusion, appetite changes, delusions, hallucinations, mania, rebound spasticity, bad muscle spasms, and seizures. Discontinuation on gablofen use must be slow and gradual, using tapering doses, and only on your physician recommendation.
