In: Nursing
Mr. U has been diagnosed as having multiple sclerosis (MS). As part of his treatment, he is given baclofen (Lioresal) for muscle spasticity. As a nursing student, he is your assigned patient for the morning. Your clinical instructor has informed you that Mr. U has many questions about the use of baclofen for the treatment of spasticity. How will you best answer the following questions? How does baclofen work? What are the side effects of this drug? What precautions will I need to be aware of with this drug?”
Please Provide 2 references
Drug: Baclofen (Lioresal)
Mechanism of action: GABA-B Agonist
Clinical identification: Muscular Spasms
Expected adverse effect: Seizures
Baclofen (Lioresal) work: The drugs canbe worked by inhibiting signal transmission at the spinal level.These signals are the cause of muscle spasticity
Baclofen (Lioresal) side effects: It include drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, confusion, headache, insomnia, constipation and urinary frequency.
Baclofen (Lioresal) precaution: Precaution to take is that abrupt cessation will cause high fever,altered mental status and exaggerated rebound spasticity.The drug may cause drowsiness and hypersensitivity.
Reference:
Hudgson P, Weightman D. Baclofen in the treatment of spasticity. Br Med J. 1971 Oct 2;4(5778):15–17.
Knutsson E, Lindblom U, Mårtensson A. Differences in effects in gamma and alpha spasticity induced by the GABA derivative baclofen (Lioresal). Brain. 1973;96(1):29–46.