title: Intrathecal baclofen: does tolerance occur?
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 changes 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Inonu University Medical School, Malatya, Turkey.
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Akman
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Loubser
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Donovan
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Rossi
mesh_terms: D001418:Baclofen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D006801:Humans; D015918:Infusion Pumps, Implantable; D007278:Injections, Spinal; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001418:Baclofen