Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0004134 (ataxia)
 15,886 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Male albino rats given a bilateral injection of Baclofen (Lioresal) (12 micrograms/rat) in the cerebral ventricles showed a behavioral syndrome of activation + ataxia, paddling, tail-pinch hyperresponse and anesthesia. The phase of activation + ataxia was reduced by pretreatment of rats with H 44/68, FLA 63, reserpine, pimozide, phenoxybenzamine, oxypertine or chlorpromazine. The phase of paddling was reduced by pretreatment with FLA 63, reserpine, phenoxybenzamine, oxypertine, chlorpromazine, pimozide + phenoxybenzamine or apomorphine, while administration of clonidine instead of Baclofen caused paddling in non-pretreated rats. The phase of tail-pinch hyperresponse was reduced by reserpine, oxypertine, chlorpromazine or pimozide + phenoxybenzamine, while none of the pretreatments affected Baclofen-induced anesthesia. Drugs which affect mainly tryptaminergic or GABA-ergic functions failed to affect Baclofen-induced behaviors consistently. The findings suggest that dopaminergic and noradrenergic functions play a role in the central effects of Baclofen on behavior of rats.
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PMID:The role of monoamines for the central effects of Baclofen on behavior of rats. 52 96

A patient with trigeminal neuralgia who became refractory to carbamazepine but responded well to the addition of baclofen to his regimen is described, and the drug and surgical treatment of trigeminal neuralgia are discussed. A 57-year-old white man sought medical help following a six-week history of paroxysmal pain in the right jaw. Rubbing the skin in the right third division of the trigeminal nerve produced a paroxysm of pain. Trigeminal neuralgia was diagnosed, and carbamazepine therapy was initiated with good results. Pain recurred upon discontinuation of the therapy, and carbamazepine was restarted. However, debilitating pain persisted despite continuous treatment that produced moderate postdose ataxia. Baclofen was added to the patient's regimen and increased to 60 mg daily with subsequent reductions in the carbamazepine dosages. The patient remained pain-free during the following 10 months. Carbamazepine is considered the drug of choice and is initially very effective in treating trigeminal neuralgia. However, many patients are forced to discontinue drug therapy because of intolerance or ineffectiveness and are faced with surgery as their only option. Baclofen does not appear to be as effective as carbamazepine when used as a single agent. However, its apparent synergism with carbamazepine and phenytoin combined with its low incidence of serious side effects make baclofen a valuable adjunct in the treatment of refractory trigeminal neuralgia.
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PMID:Treatment of trigeminal neuralgia: use of baclofen in combination with carbamazepine. 397 92

Olivopontocerebellar atrophy is a hereditary disorder that has variable clinical manifestations. Five types have been described, as well as a sixth that contains sporadic cases. This report describes a family with three affected members who demonstrate a composite of types III and V. Their features include progressive spasticity, ataxia, dementia, visual loss with retinal pigmentation, dysarthria, ophthalmoplegia, and chorea. This family might represent an additional category of the disease. In the two family members who developed chorea, baclofen resulted in marked improvement with abolition of the choreiform movements. Response has been sustained for several years in the mother and for eight months in the daughter. Neither has experienced any return of chorea while receiving treatment. When attempts were made to discontinue baclofen, choreiform movements returned promptly and with their original severity. Baclofen, a gamma-aminobutyric acid analogue, may be useful in the treatment of other forms of chorea as well.
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PMID:Olivopontocerebellar atrophy with dementia, blindness, and chorea. Response to baclofen. 402 7

A patient with homocystinuria due to cystathionine beta-synthase deficiency developed severe progressive polymyoclonus and ataxia. To our knowledge, this is the first time polymyoclonus and ataxia have been reported in association with homocystinuria. Although cerebrovascular thrombosis is usually thought to be responsible for neurologic dysfunction in homocystinuric patients, no infarctions were demonstrated on magnetic resonance imaging scans in our case. We have previously reported that baclofen dramatically improved the polymyoclonus and ataxia in a patient with Unvericht-Lundborg disease. Baclofen given to our patient reversed the polymyoclonus and the ataxia as well. This suggests that patients with polymyoclonus and ataxia, no matter what the etiology, may benefit from the use of baclofen.
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PMID:Baclofen in the treatment of polymyoclonus and ataxia in a patient with homocystinuria. 759 64

The efficacy of baclofen in the treatment of chronic hiccup is demonstrated in two cases. These cases highlight the present state of knowledge related to hiccup. This discussion focuses on the definition and classification of hiccup, etiologies, postulated theories to explain its function, the few studies performed to date, and non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic treatment. Baclofen appears to be the agent most efficacious in the treatment of chronic hiccup. Its commonest side effect is sedation; insomnia, dizziness, weakness, ataxia, and confusion also can occur. Following regular use, abrupt discontinuation can lead to withdrawal symptoms, such as seizure, and gradual discontinuation is recommended.
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PMID:Baclofen, a treatment for chronic hiccup. 973 4

Alcohol dependence is a severe, chronic illness. Even the best-assessed drugs used to maintain abstinence are poorly effective. Some patients remain dependent after several treatment attempts. Baclofen has been tested for its capacity to reduce craving for alcohol. We reviewed the data available as of early 2013, using the standard Prescrire methodology, in order to assess the harm-benefit balance of baclofen in maintaining abstinence or moderation in alcohol-dependent patients. Two double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trials conducted by the same team tested baclofen 30 mg/day in 123 alcohol-dependent patients referred to alcohol treatment centres. After 1 or 3 months of followup, more patients remained abstinent in the baclofen group than in the placebo group. In another double-blind, randomised trial, baclofen 30 mg/day was not more effective than placebo in 80 alcohol-dependent patients recruited through advertisements, many of whom were seeking treatment for the first time. Three uncontrolled retrospective series reported the results obtained in 300 alcohol-dependent patients, most of whom were in treatment failure. They were treated with high, escalating doses of baclofen (on average about 150 mg per day, up to 400 mg per day) with the intention of reducing their craving for alcohol. After 3 to 24 months of follow-up, about half of the patients reported moderate or zero alcohol consumption. At moderate doses, baclofen has been used since the 1970s in the treatment of certain forms of muscle spasticity. The main adverse effects reported in this setting were drowsiness (especially early during treatment) and various neuropsychiatric disorders such as dizziness, euphoria, depression, headache, paraesthesias, speech disorders, ataxia and insomnia. The adverse effects of high-dose baclofen are mainly based on monitoring of hundreds of alcohol-dependent patients, 69 reports to French pharmacovigilance centres in 2011, and cases of overdose or accidental ingestion reported to French poison control centres. Confusion and mania were reported, and coma occurred with doses of 200 mg or more. Some data point to an increased risk of suicide. In practice, in early 2013, more data are needed on the efficacy and adverse effects of baclofen in alcohol dependence, compared with other options. Patients who have received thorough, well-balanced information, and decide to try baclofen as a last resort should be included in comparative clinical studies.
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PMID:Baclofen and severe alcohol dependence: an uncertain harm-benefit balance as of early 2013. 2417 Dec 18

Baclofen is a drug for many diseases for all ages, but it is hazardous in patients with renal failure. This article talks about a case of baclofen overdose in a child with renal failure. A 6-year-old boy admitted to the emergency department with a loss of consciousness, hypotonia, and areflexia following administration of 20 mg baclofen (1mg/kg/daily) in total dose for his voiding dysfunction. His laboratory tests showed advanced renal failure. After withholding the medication and supportive therapy, he recovered completely after two days. After arousal, he complained of insomnia, strange sensations on the skin, intentional tremors, and ataxia. He left the hospital in good condition in three days. Renal function control before baclofen administration is mandatory especially in high-risk groups. A total dose of 1mg/kg lead to encephalopathy in children with advanced renal failure, with subtle persistent complaints persist are often overlooked for a while.
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PMID:Baclofen Induced Encephalopathy in a 6-Year-Old Boy with Advanced Renal Failure. 2622 Nov 66