BACLOTIN (Baclofen) Tab 10, 25 mg

Mechanism of Action:
Baclofen is a GABA derivative, it inhibits transmission at spinal level and depresses the CNS by stimulating the GABA B receptors which inhibits the liberation of excitant amino acids. The dose should be increased slowly to avoid major side effects of sedation and muscular hypotonia.

Indications:
Chronic severe spacity resulting from disorders such as multiple sclerosis or traumatic partial section of spinal cord.

Cautions:
- Renal impairment, psychiatric illness, parkinson's disease, cerebrovascular disease, respiratory impairment, epilepsy, history of peptic ulcer, diabetes.
- Do not interrupt the treatment suddenly.

Contraindications:
Peptic ulceration and sensitivity to one of the components.

Drug Interactions:
 Associations that need precautions:

• antihypertension drugs: risk of hypotension.

Associations not recommended:

• Imipranic antidepressants:  risk of increasing the 

      muscular hypotony.

• CNS depressant: increases the CNS depression.
• Levodopa: increases the undesired effects of levodopa.

Side Effects:
The side effects appear normally at the beginning of the treatment or when the dose is rapidly increased or when using high doses. These effects are normally transient and are controlled by dosage decrease.
The most frequent side effects are: somnolence, nausea, muscular hypotonia sometimes mouth dryness.

Pregnancy:
Pregnancy category C. not to be given to pregnant women unless cleary needed.   

Dosage AND Administration:
The dosage is adapted to each individual. Normally it is safer to start with 5 mg (half a tablet) 3 times a day. The dose is increased every 3 days by 5 mg for each intake until reaching the dose of 30-75 mg per day divided in three intakes