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Intrathecal baclofen: does tolerance occur?

Spinal Cord volume 31, pages 516–520 (1993)Cite this article

Abstract

Concern over the development of tolerance in patients on continuous intrathecal baclofen therapy has arisen as this new form of treatment for spasticity has gained wider use. We have studied time-dose relationships in 18 spinal cord injured patients who have undergone intrathecal baclofen infusion pump implantation since February 1988 in our facility. Our data show that there was a significant increase in baclofen dosage needed to control spasticity during the first 12 months post implantation. After 12 months, however, no significant change in dosage requirement was detected. In addition, there was no significant difference between completely and incompletely spinal cord injured patients with regard to both the initial dose and the tolerance trend.

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Author information

Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Assistant Professor, Inonu University Medical School, Arastirma ve Uygulama Hastanesi, Malatya, Turkey

    M N Akman

  2. Department of Anesthesiology, Associate Professor, University of Texas, Houston

    P G Loubser

  3. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs, The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research and Professor and Chairman, University of Texas, Houston

    W H Donovan

  4. The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research, Houston, Texas, USA

    M E O'Neill

  5. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Assistant Research Professor, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA

    C D Rossi

Authors
  1. M N Akman
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  2. P G Loubser
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  3. W H Donovan
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  4. M E O'Neill
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  5. C D Rossi
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Additional information

This study will be presented as a poster in IRMA-VII Washington DC, April 9–16, 1994.

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Akman, M., Loubser, P., Donovan, W. et al. Intrathecal baclofen: does tolerance occur?. Spinal Cord 31, 516–520 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.1993.84

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.1993.84

Keywords

  • intrathecal baclofen
  • spasticity
  • spinal cord injury
  • tolerance

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