Baclofen (intrathecal) (Page 5 of 6)

DRUG OVERDOSE

Special attention must be given to recognizing the signs and symptoms of overdosage, especially during the initial screening and dose-titration phase of treatment, but also during reintroduction of Baclofen Injection (Intrathecal) after a period of interruption in therapy.

Symptoms of Baclofen Injection (Intrathecal) Overdose

Drowsiness, lightheadedness, dizziness, somnolence, respiratory depression, hypothermia, seizures, rostral progression of hypotonia and loss of consciousness progressing to coma of up to 72 hr. duration. In most cases reported, coma was reversible without sequelae after drug was discontinued. Symptoms of intrathecal baclofen overdose were reported in a sensitive adult patient after receiving a 25 mcg intrathecal bolus.

Treatment Suggestions for Overdose

There is no specific antidote for treating overdoses of Baclofen Injection (Intrathecal); however, the following steps should ordinarily be undertaken:

1. Residual Baclofen Injection (Intrathecal) solution should be removed from the pump as soon as possible.

2. Patients with respiratory depression should be intubated if necessary, until the drug is eliminated.

If lumbar puncture is not contraindicated, consideration should be given to withdrawing 30 to 40 mL of CSF to reduce CSF baclofen concentration.

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION

Refer to the manufacturer’s manual for the implantable pump approved for intrathecal infusion for specific instructions and precautions for programming the pump and/ or refilling the reservoir. There are various pumps with varying reservoir volumes and there are various refill kits available. It is important to be familiar with all of these products in order to select the appropriate refill kit for the particular pump in use.

Screening Phase

Prior to pump implantation and initiation of chronic infusion of Baclofen Injection (Intrathecal), patients must demonstrate a positive clinical response to a Baclofen Injection (Intrathecal) bolus dose administered intrathecally in a screening trial. The screening trial employs Baclofen Injection (Intrathecal) at a concentration of 50 mcg/mL. A 1 mL ampule (50 mcg/mL) is available for use in the screening trial. The screening procedure is as follows. An initial bolus containing 50 micrograms in a volume of 1 milliliter is administered into the intrathecal space by barbotage over a period of not less than one minute. The patient is observed over the ensuing 4 to 8 hours. A positive response consists of a significant decrease in muscle tone and/or frequency and/or severity of spasms. If the initial response is less than desired, a second bolus injection may be administered 24 hours after the first. The second screening bolus dose consists of 75 micrograms in 1.5 milliliters. Again, the patient should be observed for an interval of 4 to 8 hours. If the response is still inadequate, a final bolus screening dose of 100 micrograms in 2 milliliters may be administered 24 hours later.

Pediatric Patients

The starting screening dose for pediatric patients is the same as in adult patients, i.e., 50 mcg. However, for very small patients, a screening dose of 25 mcg may be tried first. Patients who do not respond to a 100 mcg intrathecal bolus should not be considered candidates for an implanted pump for chronic infusion.

Post-Implant Dose Titration Period

To determine the initial total daily dose of Baclofen Injection (Intrathecal) following implant, the screening dose that gave a positive effect should be doubled and administered over a 24-hour period, unless the efficacy of the bolus dose was maintained for more than 8 hours, in which case the starting daily dose should be the screening dose delivered over a 24-hour period. No dose increases should be given in the first 24 hours (i.e., until the steady state is achieved).

Adult Patients with Spasticity of Spinal Cord Origin

After the first 24 hours, for adult patients, the daily dosage should be increased slowly by 10 to 30% increments and only once every 24 hours, until the desired clinical effect is achieved.

Adult Patients with Spasticity of Cerebral Origin

After the first 24 hours, the daily dose should be increased slowly by 5 to 15% only once every 24 hours, until the desired clinical effect is achieved.

Pediatric Patients

After the first 24 hours, the daily dose should be increased slowly by 5 to 15% only once every 24 hours, until the desired clinical effect is achieved. If there is not a substantive clinical response to increases in the daily dose, check for proper pump function and catheter patency. Patients must be monitored closely in a fully equipped and staffed environment during the screening phase and dose- titration period immediately following implant. Resuscitative equipment should be immediately available for use in case of life- threatening or intolerable side effects.

Maintenance Therapy

Spasticity of Spinal Cord Origin Patients

The clinical goal is to maintain muscle tone as close to normal as possible, and to minimize the frequency and severity of spasms to the extent possible, without inducing intolerable side effects. Very often, the maintenance dose needs to be adjusted during the first few months of therapy while patients adjust to changes in life style due to the alleviation of spasticity. During periodic refills of the pump, the daily dose may be increased by 10 to 40%, but no more than 40%, to maintain adequate symptom control. The daily dose may be reduced by 10 to 20% if patients experience side effects. Most patients require gradual increases in dose over time to maintain optimal response during chronic therapy. A sudden large requirement for dose escalation suggests a catheter complication (i.e., catheter kink or dislodgement). Maintenance dosage for long term continuous infusion of Baclofen Injection (Intrathecal) has ranged from 12 mcg/day to 2003 mcg/day, with most patients adequately maintained on 300 micrograms to 800 micrograms per day. There is limited experience with daily doses greater than 1000 mcg/day. Determination of the optimal Baclofen Injection (Intrathecal) dose requires individual titration. The lowest dose with an optimal response should be used.

Spasticity of Cerebral Origin Patients

The clinical goal is to maintain muscle tone as close to nor- mal as possible and to minimize the frequency and severity of spasms to the extent possible, without inducing intolerable side effects, or to titrate the dose to the desired degree of muscle tone for optimal functions. Very often the maintenance dose needs to be adjusted during the first few months of therapy while patients adjust to changes in life style due to the alleviation of spasticity. During periodic refills of the pump, the daily dose may be increased by 5 to 20%, but no more than 20%, to maintain adequate symptom control. The daily dose may be reduced by 10 to 20% if patients experience side effects. Many patients require gradual increases in dose over time to maintain optimal response during chronic therapy. A sudden large requirement for dose escalation suggests a catheter complication (i.e., catheter kink or dislodgement). Maintenance dosage for long term continuous infusion of Baclofen Injection (Intrathecal) has ranged from 22 mcg/day to 1400 mcg/day, with most patients adequately maintained on 90 micrograms to 703 micrograms per day. In clinical trials, only 3 of 150 patients required daily doses greater than 1000 mcg/day.

Pediatric Patients

Use same dosing recommendations for patients with spasticity of cerebral origin. Pediatric patients under 12 years seemed to require a lower daily dose in clinical trials. Average daily dose for patients under 12 years was 274 mcg/day, with a range of 24 to 1199 mcg/day. Dosage requirement for pediatric patients over 12 years does not seem to be different from that of adult patients. Determination of the optimal Baclofen Injection (Intrathecal) dose requires individual titration. The lowest dose with an optimal response should be used.

Potential need for dose adjustments in chronic use

During long term treatment, approximately 5% (28/627) of patients become refractory to increasing doses. There is not sufficient experience to make firm recommendations for tolerance treatment; however, this “tolerance” has been treated on occasion, in hospital, by a “drug holiday” consisting of the gradual reduction of Baclofen Injection (Intrathecal) over a 2 to 4 week period and switching to alternative methods of spasticity management. After the “drug holiday,” Baclofen Injection (Intrathecal) may be restarted at the initial continuous infusion dose.

Stability

Parenteral drug products should be inspected for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration, whenever solution and container permit.

Delivery Specifications

The specific concentration that should be used depends upon the total daily dose required as well as the delivery rate of the pump. Baclofen Injection (Intrathecal) may require dilution when used with certain implantable pumps. Please consult manufacturer’s manual for specific recommendations.

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