Patient/caregiver was instructed upon therapeutic uses of Baclofen as follows:
- Gama-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a neurotransmitter synthesized in the human body. Upon release, GABA inhibits the conduction of impulses to the skeletal muscles and thus promotes skeletal muscle relaxation.
- Baclofen is an analog of GABA and works on the same lines, inhibiting the conduction of nerve impulses between the nerves and to the muscles.
- Conduction of nerve impulse to the muscle results in muscle contraction. Upon intake of baclofen, inhibition of nerve impulse conduction from the spinal cord to the muscle leads to muscle relaxation.
Baclofen can be used in clinical conditions for control of pain and relief of muscle spasticity and tightness as follows:
Cerebral palsy
- Cerebral palsy is a congenital disorder of movement and muscle tone, secondary to abnormal brain development in utero.
- Individuals with cerebral palsy can present with abnormal muscle tone and spasticity. Muscle spasticity can lead to contractures, rigidity, stiffness, and limited range of motion contributing to significant pain, and discomfort.
- Baclofen intake in these individuals can help relieve the spasticity and tightness, relax the muscle, and contribute to relief of pain and stiffness.
Arthritis involving the back
- Arthritis involving the vertebrae can exert pressure on the spinal cord, inflame, irritate, and damage the nerves running along the spinal cord. This can result in abnormally increased muscle tone, pain, spasticity, and rigidity.
- Baclofen intake inhibits conduction of impulses along these inflamed nerves to the muscles, help relieve the spasticity and tightness, relax the muscle, and contribute to relief of pain and stiffness.
Disc prolapse or rupture
- Individuals with history of intervertebral disc prolapse or rupture can present with increased pressure upon and inflammation of nerves running along the spinal cord. This can result in abnormally increased muscle tone, pain, spasticity, and rigidity.
- Baclofen intake inhibits conduction of impulses along these inflamed nerves to the muscles, help relieve the spasticity and tightness, relax the muscle, and contribute to relief of pain and stiffness.
Chronic neuropathy
- Individuals with history of poorly controlled diabetes and trigeminal neuralgia can present with irritated and inflamed nerves in the distal extremities and face, respectively.
- This can contribute to chronic neuropathy in such individuals with tingling, discomfort, and pain in the body parts involved.
- Baclofen inhibits conduction of impulses along these inflamed nerves and contributes to relaxation of neuropathy symptoms, thus offering comfort.
