Podcast 604: Baclofen Withdrawal

Contributor: Erik Verzemnieks, MD Educational Pearls: Baclofen is used to treat muscle spasms or spasticity. Baclofen comes in two forms: oral and intrathecal Withdrawal is much more common with those receiving intrathecal administration from a Baclofen pump, which is typically spinal cord patients Withdrawal symptoms usually start within 1-3 days after stopping baclofen Symptoms include altered mental status, muscle rigidity, and fevers, which can mimic other severe illnesses It is nearly impossible to reverse withdrawal symptoms with oral baclofen if a patient is receiving it intrathecally, so solving the pump problem is key References Ross JC, Cook AM, Stewart GL, Fahy BG. Acute intrathecal baclofen withdrawal: a brief review of treatment options. Neurocrit Care. 2011 Feb;14(1):103-8. doi: 10.1007/s12028-010-9422-6. PMID: 20717751. Summarized by Jackson Roos, MS4 | Edited by Erik Verzemnieks, MD   The Emergency Medical Minute is excited to announce that we are now offering AMA PRA Category 1 credits™ via online course modules. To access these and for more information, visit our website at www.emergencymedicalminute.com/cme-courses/ and create an account.