Patient/caregiver was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking baclofen as follows:
- 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 must either be avoided for an alternative or used with extra caution in individuals with such history, to prevent exacerbation of mood disorders. Closely watching for the therapeutic response and developing side-effects, with timely reporting the findings to the physician, can allow appropriate changes in the dose of baclofen and plan of care. This can help with better management of your condition and avoid risk for worsening of behavioral and mood disorders.
- Baclofen must be avoided for a safer alternative or used with extra caution in individuals with history of severe head injury and brain damage. Individuals with history of head injury and brain damage can be at a high risk to present with severe depression of brain and associated respiratory centers with baclofen, leading to complications such as, coma, breathing difficulty, and respiratory arrest, which can be fatal. Individuals must notify the physician regarding history of head injuries and brain damage, if any, to discuss their safety with baclofen intake.
- Baclofen can take some time, about a week or two, to fairly adjust to your body, before any optimal relief with muscle spasms and easing of side-effects is experienced. So, do not discontinue taking the medication without your physician’s consult, as you failed to see the desired result immediately after taking the medication.
- Baclofen 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 baclofen 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 baclofen intake can result in more severe side-effects, withdrawal symptoms from baclofen, and worsening muscle spasms again. Discontinuation on baclofen use can be slow and gradual, using tapering doses, and must only be on your physician recommendation.
