Side-effects: Unwanted effects occur mainly at the start of treatment if the dosage is raised too rapidly, if large doses are employed, or in elderly patients. They are often transitory and can be attenuated or eliminated by reducing the dosage; they are seldom severe enough to necessitate withdrawal of the medication.
Should nausea persist following a reduction in dosage, it is recommended that Baclofen be ingested with food or a milk beverage.
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.
In patients with a case history of psychiatric illness or with cerebrovascular disorders (e.g. stroke) as well as in elderly patients, adverse reactions may assume a more serious form.
Adverse reactions are ranked under heading 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) and not known (cannot be estimated from the available data).
Nervous System Disorders:
Very common: Sedation, somnolence.
Common: Respiratory depression, fatigue, confusional state, dizziness, headache, insomnia, euphoria mood, depression, muscular weakness, ataxia, tremor, hallucination, nightmare, myalgia, nystagmus, dry mouth.
Rare: Paraesthesia, dysarthria, dysgeusia. Lowering of the convulsion threshold and convulsions may occur, particularly in epileptic patients.
Unknown: Encephalopathy, Sleep, Apnoea syndrome*
Eyes disorders:
Common: Accommodation disorder, visual impairment.
Gastro-intestinal disorders:
Very common: Nausea.
Common: Gastro-intestinal disorder, constipation, diarrhoea, retching, vomiting.
Rare: Abdominal pain
Cardiac Disorders:
Common: Cardiac output decreased.
Not known: Bradycardia
Vascular disorders:
Common: Hypotension
Renal and urinary disorders:
Common: Pollakiuria, enuresis, dysuria.
Rare: Urinary retention
Reproductive system and breast disorders:
Rare: Erectile dysfunction
Not known: Sexual dysfunction
Hepatobiliary disorders:
Rare: Hepatic function abnormal.
Immune system disorders:
Not known: Hypersensitivity
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders:
Common: Hyperhidrosis, skin rash.
Not known: Urticaria, alopecia
General disorders and administration site conditions
Very rare: Hypothermia
Not known: Drug withdrawal syndrome, (see section 4.4 special warnings and precautions for use), swelling face and peripheral oedema (see section 4.4 special warnings and precautions for use).
Investigations
Not known: Blood glucose increased
*Cases of central sleep apnoea syndrome have been observed with baclofen at high doses (≥ 100mg) in patients who are alcohol dependent.
Certain patients have shown increased spasticity as a paradoxical reaction to the medication.
An undesirable degree of muscular hypotonia - making it more difficult for patients to walk or fend for themselves - may occur and can usually be relieved by re-adjusting the dosage (ie. by reducing the doses given during the day and possibly increasing the evening dose).
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via Yellow Card Scheme Website at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.