Patient/caregiver was educated on contraindications for using Baclofen as follows:
- Do not take baclofen, if you ever manifested any allergic responses to intake of baclofen or any other medications belonging to the group of skeletal muscle relaxants, such as, methocarbamol and tizanidine. In the event of an allergic response with any of these medications, check with your physician regarding your safety with intake of baclofen.
- Do not take baclofen along with alcohol, opioid pain medications, such as, hydrocodone and codeine, antipsychotic medications, antidepressant medications, anti-seizure medications, muscle relaxants, antihistamines, OTC cough syrups, and any other medications that carry a risk for depression of the central nervous system and the respiratory center, resulting in episodes of dizziness, confusion, difficulty breathing, and respiratory arrest. The individual influence of these medications on respirations and central nervous system can get added up, thus leading to severe respiratory depression, confusion, coma, and can even be fatal.
- 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 or used with extra caution in individuals with history of breathing issues, such as, asthma and COPD, to prevent development of any episodes of severe SOB and respiratory arrest.
- Baclofen carries the risk of depressing the cardiovascular center in the brain, which regulates the heart rate and blood pressure. Consequently, intake of baclofen can result in low heart rate and blood pressure. Individuals with inherent history of low heart rates and hypotension, secondary to baclofen intake, can be at serious risk of dangerously low blood pressure and cardiac arrest. Baclofen must either be avoided or used with extra caution in individuals with such history, to prevent serious debility and death.
- 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.
