Patient/caregiver was educated on the side-effects of using Baclofen as follows:
Central nervous system side-effects
- Baclofen use can result in episodes of confusion, dizziness, and light-headedness. This risk with baclofen 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.
- Baclofen 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.
- Baclofen 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 baclofen, 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 baclofen use must be slow and gradual, using tapering doses, and only on your physician recommendation.
