Patient/caregiver was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking gablofen as follows:
- Gablofen only helps with relieving muscle spasms but does not fix the actual condition causing the muscle spasms and so, is not a permanent cure. Continue taking gablofen as ordered, even if you experience relief from muscle pain and spasms, until your physician orders for the discontinuation on the medication. Abrupt discontinuation on gablofen intake can result in more severe side-effects, withdrawal symptoms from gablofen, and worsening muscle spasms again. Discontinuation on gablofen use can be slow and gradual, using tapering doses, and must only be on your physician recommendation.
- Your physician could change the dose of gablofen, based on the response you show, relief obtained, and side-effects presented with. So, maintain compliance with follow-up physician appointments and be accommodative to the plan of dose changes, until you show an optimum response.
- 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.
- Gablofen 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 gablofen 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, gablofen must be either be avoided or used with caution, with close monitoring for symptoms of toxicity with gablofen 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.
