Dr. Ogbru received his Doctorate in Pharmacy from the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy in 1995. He completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at the University of Arizona/University Medical Center in 1996. He was a Professor of Pharmacy Practice and a Regional Clerkship Coordinator for the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy from 1996-99.
Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
DRUG CLASS AND MECHANISM: Baclofen is an oral and injectable medication that
relaxes skeletal muscles, the muscles that move the skeleton (and also called
striated muscle). Chemically, baclofen is related to gamma-aminobutyric acid
(GABA), a naturally-occurring neurotransmitter in the brain. Neurotransmitters
are chemicals that nerves use to communicate with one another. GABA released by
some nerves causes the activity of other nerves to decrease. It is believed that
baclofen, acting like GABA, blocks the activity of nerves within the part of the
brain that controls the contraction and relaxation of skeletal muscle. Baclofen
was approved by the FDA in November 1977.
STORAGE: Baclofen should be stored between 15 C (59 F) and 30 C (86 F).
PRESCRIBED FOR: Baclofen is used for
treating spasm of skeletal muscles,
muscle clonus, rigidity, and pain caused by disorders such as
multiple
sclerosis. It is also injected into the spinal cord (intrathecal) for management
of severe spasticity.
DOSING: The usual starting dose of oral baclofen for adults is 5 mg given
three times daily. Based on the response, the dose can be increased by 15 mg
every three days to a maximum of 80 mg/day in divided doses.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: Use of baclofen with other drugs that also depress the
function of nerves may lead to additional reduction in brain function.
In addition to the risk of depressing brain function, the use of baclofen and
tricyclic antidepressants (for example,
amitriptyline [Elavil, Endep], doxepin [Sinequan, Adapin]) together may cause muscle
weakness.
Use of baclofen and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (for example, phenelzine
[Nardil], tranylcypromine or [Parnate]) can result in greater depression of
brain function as well as low blood pressure.
Because baclofen can increase blood sugar, doses of antidiabetic drugs may
need to be adjusted when baclofen is begun.
PREGNANCY: The use of baclofen by
pregnant women has not been evaluated.
NURSING MOTHERS: Baclofen can be detected in the
breast milk of mothers
taking oral baclofen. No information is available on the presence of baclofen in
the breast milk of mothers receiving baclofen intrathecally.
Abrupt discontinuation of oral baclofen may cause seizures and
hallucinations. Abrupt discontinuation of intrathecal baclofen may result in
high fever, rebound spasticity, muscle rigidity, and rhabdomyolysis (muscle
breakdown) that can progress to failure of several organs, including the kidney,
and even death.
Muscle spasms are involuntary muscle contractions that come on suddenly and are usually quite painful. Dehydration, doing strenuous exercise in a hot environment, prolonged muscle use, and certain diseases of the nervous system may cause muscle spasms. Symptoms and signs of a muscle spasm include an acute onset of pain and a possible bulge seen or felt beneath the skin where the muscle is located. Gently stretching the muscle usually resolves a muscle spasm.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease which progressively injures the nerves of the brain and spinal cord, reflected by alterations of virtually every sensory or motor function in the body. The cause of MS is primarily unknown. There are different types of MS including relapsing-remitting MS, primary-progressive MS, and secondary-progressive MS. Symptoms of MS rang from mild to severe and examples include visual disturbances, muscle weakness, spasm, and fatigue. Decreased concentration, memory loss, and impaired judgment. Treatment for MS is generally with medications.
Dystonia disorders cause involuntary movements and prolonged muscle contraction, resulting in twisting body motions, tremor, and abnormal posture. There are many forms of dystonia. Some types of dystonia respond to dopamine, or can be controlled with dedative-type medications, or surgery.
A nerve problem might affect your bladder control if the nerves that are supposed to carry messages between the brain and the bladder do not work properly. Such problems include urine retention, poor control of sphincter muscles, and overactive bladder. Treatment depends upon the cause of the nerve damage and resulting type of bladder control problem.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease in which the nerves of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) degenerate. Myelin, which provides a covering or insulation for nerves, improves the conduction of impulses along the nerves and also is important for maintaining the health of the nerves. In
multiple sclerosis, inflammation causes the myelin to disappear. Consequently, the electrical impulses that travel along the nerves decelerate, that is, become slower. In addition, the nerves themselves are damaged. As more and more nerves are affected, a
person experiences a progressive interference with functions that are controlled by the nervous system such as vision, speech, walking, writing, and memory.
About 350,000 people in the U.S. have multiple sclerosis. Usually, a person is diagnosed with
multiple sclerosis between 20 and 50 years of age, but multiple sclerosis has been diagnosed in children and in the elderly.
Multiple...
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