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Long-term Dosing

Lioresal® Intrathecal provides a stable dosage of medication day after day, month after month—something that is not possible with oral baclofen therapy.1

Levels of baclofen in the blood and CSF can be unsteady throughout the day (with peaks and troughs) when dosed orally. A more stable dose of baclofen in the body means that the frequency and severity of spasms can be more consistently controlled.1

 

Many patients find that oral baclofen causes intolerable side effects, such as drowsiness.2 Oral baclofen can also produce inconsistent reduction in spasticity.2 Since patients have to take multiple pills throughout the day to achieve a therapeutic effect, the dose of baclofen working in the body over a 24-hour period is not consistent.3

Spasticity treatment with botulinum toxin, a focal spasticity treatment, is indicated for upper and lower limb spasticity. It takes effect 2 to 3 days after an injection, reaches peak therapeutic efficacy after 4 to 6 weeks, and then slowly wears off until it is no longer effective after 3 to 4 months.2,4 This method of treatment also leads to inconsistent management of spasticity.2

Due to the possibility of life-threatening CNS depression, cardiovascular collapse, and/or respiratory failure, physicians must be adequately trained and educated in chronic intrathecal infusion therapy.

Lioresal® Intrathecal offers dosing options, allowing for steady, continuous doses or flexible doses for specific times of day.5
  1. McCormick ZL, Chu SK, Binler D, et al. Intrathecal versus oral baclofen: a matched cohort study of spasticity, pain, sleep, fatigue, and quality of life. PM R. 2016;8(6):553-562.
  2. Saulino M, Ivanhoe CB, McGuire JR, et al. Best practices for intrathecal baclofen therapy: patient selection. Neuromodulation. 2016;19(6):607-615.
  3. KemstroTM (baclofen orally disintegrating tablets) for oral use [prescribing information]. Milwaukee, WI: Schwarz Pharma; Revised October 2003.
  4. Gracies JM, Brashear A, Jech R, et al. Safety and efficacy of abobotulinumtoxinA for hemiparesis in adults with upper limb spasticity after stroke or traumatic brain injury: a double-blind randomised controlled trial. Lancet Neurol. 2015;14(10):992-1001.
  5. Lioresal® Intrathecal (baclofen injection) for intrathecal injection [prescribing information]. Saol Therapeutics, Roswell, Georgia; January 2019.

Important Safety Information for Lioresal® Intrathecal (baclofen injection)

Abrupt discontinuation of intrathecal baclofen, regardless of the cause, has resulted in sequelae that include high fever, altered mental status, exaggerated rebound spasticity, and muscle rigidity, that in rare cases has advanced to rhabdomyolysis, multiple organ-system failure and death.

Prevention of abrupt discontinuation of intrathecal baclofen requires careful attention to programming and monitoring of the infusion system, refill scheduling and procedures, and pump alarms. Patients and caregivers should be advised of the importance of keeping scheduled refill visits and should be educated on the early symptoms of baclofen withdrawal. Special attention should be given to patients at apparent risk (e.g. spinal cord injuries at T-6 or above, communication difficulties, history of withdrawal symptoms from oral or intrathecal baclofen). Consult the technical manual of the implantable infusion system for additional postimplant clinician and patient information (see WARNINGS).

Indications and Usage

Contraindications

Select Warnings and Precautions

Adverse Reactions

Common Adverse Reactions

Serious Adverse Reactions

Postmarketing Experience

Use in Specific Populations

For more information, including BOXED WARNING, refer to Lioresal® Intrathecal (baclofen injection) prescribing information.