In the months after spinal cord injury, motoneurons develop large voltage-dependent persistent inward currents (PICs) that cause sustained reflexes and associated muscle spasms. These muscle spasms are triggered by any excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) that is long enough to activate the PICs, which take > 100 ms to activate. The PICs are composed of a persistent sodium current (Na PIC) ...

Baclofen was initially used for the treatment of spastic conditions. Last decade has seen its emergence as a treatment of profound interest in alcohol dependence, opiates and cocaine abuse, and tobacco addiction. However, the published literature on baclofen abuse is sparse. Here, we report a patient with baclofen abuse.

Baclofen is a skeletal muscle relaxant, used to control spasticity in both adults and children with neuromuscular disorders. Several cases of baclofen overdose have been reported, but only a small number have involved children. We report a 3-year-old girl with accidental ingestion of baclofen, who presented with coma, bradycardia and hypotension. She recovered within 24 hours with supportive tr...

The mode of action of baclofen on the physiology of the rat hippocampus was investigated by studying its effect on electrophysiological responses in the hippocampal slice preparation and by measuring biochemical parameters related to glutamate uptake, binding, and release. Baclofen inhibited, in a dose-dependent fashion, the dendritic field potentials in field CA1 produced by stimulation of the...

UNLABELLED Previous reports indicate that there may be an interaction between gamma-aminobutyric acid receptors and opioid receptors systems within the spinal cord, the antinociceptive effects of which have not been elucidated. We examined the effects of intrathecally coadministered morphine and muscimol or baclofen on somatic and visceral antinociception in rats. The tail flick (TF) test and c...

UNLABELLED It is hypothesised that the GABA(B) receptor agonist baclofen increases or has no effect on food intake, and electrical stimulation of vagal nerves decreases food intake. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of baclofen in vagally stimulated rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS Thirty two Wistar rats were divided into five groups: group A scheduled for microchip implantation for...

Previous studies have reported the efficacy of baclofen in the treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Diseases (GERD). The objective of present study is to evaluate the effect of co-administration of omeprazole 20 mg/d plus sustained Release baclofen (SR baclofen) vs. omeprazole 20 mg/d plus placebo on alleviation of symptoms in patients with a diagnosis of GERD. A prospective, double blind, plac...

Increasingly, spasticity is managed with surgically implanted Intrathecal Baclofen pumps. Intrathecal Baclofen pump revision surgery unrelated to programmable pump end-of-life is not uncommon, requiring special attention during pre-, intra-, and postoperative management. We aimed to identify and describe complications of Intrathecal Baclofen pump as well as to report avoidance and management of...

Tight-seal whole-cell recordings from CA1 pyramidal cells of rodent hippocampus were performed to study GABAB receptor-mediated inhibition of tetrodotoxin (TTX)-resistant IP-SCs. IPSCs were recorded in the presence of TTX and glutamate receptor antagonists. (R)-(-)-baclofen reduced the frequency of TTX-resistant IPSCs by a presynaptic action. The inhibition by (R)-(-)-baclofen was concentration...

AIMS The gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA(B)) receptor agonist, baclofen, has recently been shown to reduce alcohol intake in alcohol-preferring rats and alcohol consumption and craving for alcohol in an open study in humans. The present study was aimed at providing a first evaluation of the efficacy of baclofen in inducing and maintaining abstinence and reducing craving for alcohol in alcohol-dep...