LIORESAL Baclofen 10mg Tablet 50's
Indications/Uses
Adults: Treatment of spasticity of the skeletal muscles in multiple sclerosis.
Treatment of spastic conditions occurring in spinal-cord diseases of infectious, degenerative, traumatic, neoplastic, or unknown origin: e.g. spastic spinal paralysis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, syringomyelia, transverse myelitis, traumatic paraplegia or paraparesis, and compression of the spinal cord; muscle spasm of cerebral origin, as well as following cerebrovascular accidents or in the presence of neoplastic or degenerative brain disease.
Pediatric population (below 18 years): Baclofen (Lioresal) is indicated for the symptomatic treatment of spasticity of cerebral origin, especially due to infantile cerebral palsy, as well as following cerebrovascular accidents or in the presence of neoplastic or degenerative brain disease.
Baclofen (Lioresal) is also indicated for the symptomatic treatment of muscle spasms occurring in spinal cord diseases of infectious, degenerative, traumatic, neoplastic, or unknown origin such as multiple sclerosis, spastic spinal paralysis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, syringomyelia, transverse myelitis, traumatic paraplegia or paraparesis, and compression of the spinal cord.
Dosage/Direction for Use
Dosage regimen: Treatment should always be initiated with small, gradually increasing doses. The lowest dose compatible with an optimal response is recommended. The optimum daily dosage should be adapted to each individual in such a way that clonus, flexor and extensor spasms and spasticity are reduced, but adverse effects are avoided as far as possible.
In order to prevent excessive weakness and falling, baclofen (Lioresal) should be used with caution when spasticity is needed to sustain an upright posture and balance in locomotion or whenever spasticity is used to maintain function. It may be important to maintain some degree of muscle tone and allow occasional spasms to help support circulatory function.
If no benefit is apparent within 6 to 8 weeks of achieving the maximum dosage, a decision should be made whether to continue using baclofen (Lioresal).
Discontinuation of treatment should always be gradual by successively reducing the dosage over a period of approximately 1 to 2 weeks, except in overdose-related emergencies, or where serious adverse effects have occurred (see PRECAUTIONS).
Adults: Treatment should be started with a dosage of 15 mg daily, preferably in 2 to 4 divided doses. The dose should be titrated upwards cautiously by 15 mg/day increments at 3-day intervals until the requisite daily dosage has been attained. In certain patients reacting sensitively to drugs, it may be advisable to begin with a lower daily dosage (5 or 10 mg) and to raise this dosage more gradually (see PRECAUTIONS). The optimum dosage generally ranges from 30 to 80 mg daily. Daily doses of 100 to 120 mg may be given to carefully monitored patients in hospital.
Special populations: Pediatric patients (below 18 years): Treatment should usually be started with a very low dose (corresponding to approximately 0.3 mg/kg a day), preferably in 2 to 4 divided doses. Therefore, baclofen (Lioresal) tablets are not suitable for use in children with a body weight below 33 kg.
The dosage should be cautiously increased, at about 1 week intervals, until it becomes sufficient for the child's individual requirements.
The usual daily dosage for maintenance therapy ranges between 0.75 and 2 mg/kg body weight. The total daily dose should not exceed a maximum of 40 mg/day in children below 8 years of age. In children over 8 years of age a maximum daily dose of 60 mg/day may be given.
Renal impairment: In patients with impaired renal function, baclofen should be given with caution and at lower doses. These patients should be closely monitored for prompt diagnosis of early signs and/or symptoms of toxicity (e.g. somnolence, lethargy) (see PRECAUTIONS and OVERDOSAGE).
In patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis, baclofen concentrations in plasma are elevated and therefore a particularly low dosage should be selected, i.e. approx. 5 mg daily.
Baclofen (Lioresal) should be administered to end stage renal failure patients only if the expected benefit outweighs the potential risk.
Hepatic impairment: No studies have been performed in patients with hepatic impairment on baclofen therapy. The liver does not play a significant role in the metabolism of baclofen after oral administration (see PHARMACOLOGY under Actions). However, it has the potential of elevating liver enzymes. Baclofen (Lioresal) should be prescribed with caution in patients with hepatic impairment (see PRECAUTIONS).
Geriatric patients (aged 65 years or above): Since adverse effects are more likely to occur in elderly patients, it is recommended that a cautious dosage schedule be adopted in such cases and that the patient be kept under appropriate surveillance.
Patients with spastic states of cerebral origin: Since adverse effects are more likely to occur in patients with spastic states of cerebral origin, it is recommended that a cautious dosage schedule be adopted in such cases and that the patient be kept under appropriate surveillance.
Method of administration: Baclofen (Lioresal) should be taken during meals with a little liquid.
Overdosage
Signs and symptoms: Prominent features are signs of central nervous depression: somnolence, depressed level of consciousness, coma, respiratory depression.
The following symptoms may also occur: confusion hallucination, agitation, convulsion, abnormal electroencephalogram (burst suppression pattern and triphasic waves), accommodation disorder, impaired pupillary reflex, generalized muscular hypotonia, myoclonus, hyporeflexia or areflexia, peripheral vasodilation, hypotension or hypertension, bradycardia, tachycardia or cardiac arrhythmia, hypothermia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, salivary hypersecretion, increased hepatic enzymes, sleep apnea and rhabdomyolysis.
A deterioration of the overdose syndrome may occur if various substances or drugs acting on the central nervous system (e.g. alcohol, diazepam, tricyclic antidepressants) have been taken at the same time.
Treatment: No specific antidote is known.
Supportive measures and symptomatic treatment should be given for complications such as hypotension, hypertension, convulsions, gastrointestinal disturbances, and respiratory or cardiovascular depression.
Since the drug is excreted chiefly via the kidneys, generous quantities of fluid should be given, possibly together with a diuretic. Hemodialysis (sometimes unscheduled) may be useful in cases of severe poisoning associated with renal failure (see PRECAUTIONS).
Administration
Should be taken with food.
Contraindications
Known hypersensitivity to baclofen or to any of the excipients.
Special Precautions
Psychiatric and nervous system disorders: Patients suffering from psychotic disorders, schizophrenia, depressive or manic disorders, confusional states or Parkinson's disease, should be treated cautiously with baclofen (Lioresal) and kept under careful surveillance, because these conditions may become exacerbated.
Suicide and suicide-related events have been reported in patients treated with baclofen. In most cases, the patients had additional risk factors associated with an increased risk of suicide including alcohol use disorder, depression and/or a history of previous suicide attempts. Close supervision of patients with additional risk factors for suicide should accompany therapy with baclofen (Lioresal). Patients (and caregivers of patients) should be alerted about the need to monitor for clinical worsening, suicidal behavior or thoughts or unusual changes in behavior and to seek medical advice immediately if these symptoms present.
Epilepsy: Special attention should be given to patients known to suffer from epilepsy since lowering of the convulsion threshold may occur and seizures have occasionally been reported in connection with the discontinuation of baclofen or with overdosage. Adequate anticonvulsive therapy should be continued and the patient should be carefully monitored.
Others: Baclofen should be used with caution in patients with, or with a history of, peptic ulcers, as well as in patients with cerebrovascular diseases or with respiratory or hepatic impairment.
Since adverse effects are more likely to occur, a cautious dosage schedule should be adopted in elderly and patients with spasticity of cerebral origin (see DOSAGE & ADMINISTRATION).
Renal impairment: Baclofen should be used with caution in patients with renal impairment and should be administered to end stage renal failure patients only if the expected benefit outweighs the potential risk (see DOSAGE & ADMINISTRATION).
Neurological signs and symptoms of overdose including clinical manifestations of toxic encephalopathy (e.g. confusion, somnolence, hallucination) have been observed in patients with renal impairment taking baclofen at doses of more than 5mg per day. Patients with renal impairment should be closely monitored for prompt diagnosis of early signs and symptoms of toxicity (see OVERDOSAGE).
Particular caution is required when combining baclofen with drugs or medicinal products which may significantly impact renal function. Renal function should be closely monitored and baclofen daily dosage adjusted accordingly to prevent baclofen toxicity.
Besides discontinuing treatment, unscheduled hemodialysis might be considered as a treatment alternative in patients with severe baclofen toxicity. Hemodialysis effectively removes baclofen from the body, alleviates clinical symptoms of overdose and shortens the recovery time in these patients.
Urinary disorders: On baclofen (Lioresal) treatment, neurogenic disturbances affecting the emptying of the bladder may show an improvement. In patients with pre-existing sphincter hypertonia acute retention of urine may occur; the drug should be used with caution in such cases.
Laboratory tests: In rare instances, elevated aspartate aminotransferase, blood alkaline phosphatase and blood glucose levels in the serum have been recorded. Appropriate laboratory tests should therefore be performed periodically in patients with liver disease or diabetes mellitus in order to ensure that no drug-induced changes in these underlying diseases have occurred.
Abrupt discontinuation: Anxiety and confusional state, delirium, hallucination, psychotic disorder, mania or paranoia, convulsion (status epilepticus), dyskinesia, tachycardia, hyperthermia, rhabdomyolysis and - as a rebound phenomenon - temporary aggravation of spasticity have been reported following the abrupt withdrawal of baclofen (Lioresal), especially after long-term medication.
Drug withdrawal reactions including post-natal convulsions in neonates have been reported after intrauterine exposure to oral baclofen (Lioresal). As a precautionary measure, administration to neonates with gradual tapering can help in controlling and preventing the withdrawal reactions (see USE IN PREGNANCY & LACTATION).
Except in overdose-related emergencies or where serious adverse effects have occurred, the treatment should always be gradually discontinued by successively reducing the dosage (over a period of approximately 1 to 2 weeks).
Posture and balance: Baclofen (Lioresal) should be used with caution when spasticity is needed to sustain an upright posture and balance in locomotion (see DOSAGE & ADMINISTRATION).
Driving and using machines: Baclofen (Lioresal) may be associated with adverse effects such as dizziness, sedation, somnolence and visual impairment (see ADVERSE REACTIONS) which may negatively affect the patient's reaction times. Patients experiencing these adverse reactions should be advised to refrain from driving or using machines.
Use in children: There is very limited clinical data on the use of baclofen (Lioresal) in children under the age of one.
Use In Pregnancy & Lactation
Pregnancy: Risk summary: There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Animal data showed that baclofen crosses the placental barrier. Therefore, treatment should not be used during pregnancy unless expected benefit outweighs the potential risk to the fetus.
Clinical considerations: Fetal/Neonatal adverse reactions: Drug withdrawal reactions including postnatal convulsions in neonates have been reported after intrauterine exposure to oral baclofen (Lioresal) (see PRECAUTIONS).
Animal data: Oral baclofen was shown to not have any adverse effects on fertility or postnatal development at non-maternally toxic dose levels in rats. Baclofen is not teratogenic in mice, rats, and rabbits at doses at least 2.1-times the maximum oral mg/kg dose in adults. Baclofen given orally has been shown to increase the incidence of omphaloceles (ventral hernias) in rat fetuses given approximately 8.3-times the maximum oral adult dose expressed as a mg/kg dose. This abnormality was not seen in mice or rabbits. Baclofen dosed orally has been shown to cause delayed fetal growth (ossification of bones) at doses that also caused maternal toxicity in rats and rabbits.
Lactation: In mothers taking baclofen at therapeutic doses, the active substance passes into the breast milk, but in quantities so small that no adverse effects are to be expected in the infant.
Females and males of reproductive potential: Infertility: There is no data available on the effect of baclofen on human fertility. Baclofen did not impair male or female fertility in rats, at dose levels not toxic to them.
Adverse Reactions
Adverse effects occur mainly at the start of treatment (e.g. sedation, somnolence), if the dose is increased too rapidly, or if large doses are used. They are often transitory and can be attenuated or eliminated by reducing the dosage; they are rarely severe enough to require stopping of the medication. In patients with a history of psychiatric illness or with cerebrovascular disorders (e.g. stroke), as well as in elderly patients, adverse reactions may be more serious.
Lowering of the convulsion threshold and convulsions may occur, particularly in epileptic patients.
Certain patients have shown increased muscle spasticity as a paradoxical reaction to the medication.
Many of the side effects reported are known to occur in association with the underlying conditions being treated.
Adverse drug reactions (see table) are listed according to system organ class in MedDRA. Adverse reactions are ranked under headings of frequency, the most frequent first, using the following convention: very common (≥1/10); common (≥1/100, <1/10); uncommon (≥1/1,000, <1/100); rare (≥1/10,000, <1/1,000); very rare (<1/10,000), not known (cannot be estimated from the available data). Within each frequency grouping, adverse reactions are ranked in order of decreasing seriousness. (See table.)
Drug Interactions
Observed interactions to be considered: Levodopa/Dopa Decarboxylase (DDC) inhibitor (Carbidopa): In patients with Parkinson's disease receiving treatment with baclofen and levodopa (alone or in combination with DDC inhibitor, carbidopa), there have been reports of mental confusion, hallucinations, headaches, nausea and agitation. Worsening of the symptoms of Parkinsonism has also been reported. Hence, caution should be exercised during co administration of baclofen (Lioresal) and levodopa/carbidopa.
Drugs causing Central Nervous System (CNS) depression: Increased sedation may occur when baclofen is taken concomitantly with other drugs causing CNS depression including other muscle relaxants (such as tizanidine), with synthetic opiates or with alcohol (see Driving and using machines under PRECAUTIONS). The risk of respiratory depression is also increased. Careful monitoring of respiratory and cardiovascular functions is essential, especially in patients with cardiopulmonary disease and respiratory muscle weakness.
Antidepressants: During concomitant treatment with tricyclic antidepressants, the effect of baclofen (Lioresal) may be potentiated, resulting in pronounced muscular hypotonia.
Lithium: Concomitant use of oral baclofen and lithium resulted in aggravated hyperkinetic symptoms. Thus, caution should be exercised when baclofen (Lioresal) is used concomitantly with lithium.
Antihypertensives: Since concomitant treatment with antihypertensives is likely to enhance the fall in blood pressure, the dosage of antihypertensive medication should be adjusted accordingly.
Agents reducing renal function: Drugs or medicinal products that can significantly impact renal function may reduce baclofen excretion leading to toxic effects (see PRECAUTIONS).
Caution For Usage
Incompatibilities: None known.
Storage
Store at temperatures not exceeding 25°C. Protect from moisture.
Action
Pharmacology: Mechanism of action (MOA): Baclofen (Lioresal) is a highly effective antispastic with a spinal site of action. Baclofen depresses monosynaptic and polysynaptic reflex transmission in the spinal cord by stimulating the GABA B receptors, this stimulation in turn inhibiting the release of the excitatory amino acids glutamate and aspartate.
Pharmacodynamics: Neuromuscular transmission is not affected by baclofen. Baclofen has an antinociceptive effect. In neurological diseases associated with skeletal muscles spasms, the clinical effects of baclofen take the form of a beneficial action on reflex muscle contractions and marked relief from painful spasm, automatism, and clonus. Baclofen improves the patient's mobility, making it easier to carry out daily activities (including catheterisation) and physiotherapy. Prevention and healing of decubitus ulcers, and improvement in sleep patterns (due to elimination of painful muscle spasms) and in bladder and sphincter function have also been observed as indirect effects of treatment with baclofen, leading to a better quality of life for the patient.
Baclofen stimulates gastric acid secretion.
Clinical Studies: No recent clinical trials have been conducted with baclofen (Lioresal).
Pharmacokinetics: Absorption: Baclofen is rapidly and completely absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract.
No significant difference between syrup and tablet formulation is observed in respect of Tmax, Cmax, and bioavailability.
Following oral administration of single doses of 10, 20, and 30 mg baclofen, peak plasma concentrations averaging about 180, 340, and 650 nanogram/mL, respectively, are recorded after 0.5 to 1.5 hours. The corresponding areas under the serum concentration curves (AUCs) are proportional to the size of the dose.
Distribution: The distribution volume of baclofen amounts to 0.7 L/kg. The protein-binding is approximately 30% and is constant in the concentration range of 10 nanogram/mL to 300 microgram/mL. In the cerebrospinal fluid the active substance attains concentrations approx. 8.5 times lower than in the plasma.
Biotransformation: Baclofen is metabolized to only a minor extent. Deamination yields the main metabolite, beta-(p-chlorophenyl)-4-hydroxybutyric acid, which is pharmacologically inactive.
Elimination/Excretion: The plasma elimination half-life of baclofen averages 3 to 4 hours. Baclofen is excreted largely in unchanged form. Within 72 hours approximately 75% of the dose is excreted via the kidneys, about 5% of this quantity being in the form of metabolites. The remainder of the dose, including 5% as metabolites, is excreted in the faeces.
Special populations: Elderly patients (aged 65 years or above): The pharmacokinetics of baclofen in elderly patients are virtually the same as in patients below 65 years of age. Following a single oral dose, elderly patients have slower elimination but a similar systemic exposure of baclofen compared to adults below 65 years of age. Extrapolation of these results to multi-dose treatment suggests no significant pharmacokinetic difference between patients below 65 years of age and elderly patients.
Pediatric patients: Following oral administration of the 2.5 mg baclofen (Lioresal) tablet in children (aged 2 to12 years), Cmax of 62.8±28.7 nanogram/mL, and Tmax in the range of 0.95 to 2 hours have been reported. Mean plasma clearance (Cl) of 315.9 mL/h/kg; volume of distribution (Vd) of 2.58 L/kg; and half-life (T1/2) of 5.10 hours have been reported.
Hepatic impairment: No pharmacokinetic data is available in patients with hepatic impairment after administration of baclofen. However, as the liver does not play a significant role in the disposition of baclofen, it is unlikely that baclofen pharmacokinetics would be altered to a clinically significant level in patients with hepatic impairment.
Renal impairment: No controlled clinical pharmacokinetic study is available in patients with renal impairment after administration of baclofen. Baclofen is predominantly eliminated unchanged in urine. Sparse plasma concentration data collected only in female patients under chronic hemodialysis or compensated renal failure indicate significantly decreased clearance and increased half-life of baclofen in these patients. Dosage adjustment of baclofen based on its systemic levels should be considered in patients with renal impairment, and prompt hemodialysis is an effective means of reversing excess baclofen in systemic circulation.
Toxicology: Non-Clinical Safety Data: Reproductive toxicity: For reproductive toxicity, see USE IN PREGNANCY & LACTATION.
Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity: Baclofen did not show any mutagenic and genotoxic potential in tests in bacteria, mammalian cells, yeast, and Chinese hamsters. The evidence suggests that baclofen is unlikely to have mutagenic potential.
Baclofen showed no carcinogenic potential in a 2-year study in rats. An apparently dose-related increase in the incidence of ovarian cysts and of enlarged and/or hemorrhagic adrenals at the maximum dose used (50 to 100 mg/kg) were observed in female rats treated with baclofen for two years.
MedsGo Class
Muscle Relaxants
Features
- Baclofen