Baclofen is a muscle helper, especially in people who have cerebral palsy. It relaxes their tight muscles. But it should not be forgotten that its help does not last long. Thus, it is very important to know how to make these good effects last for a longer period of time. By doing this, they will feel better for a longer time.
Understanding Baclofen for Cerebral Palsy
It is a condition that affects more than 80% of patients with cerebral palsy, leading to a phenomenon called spasticity. Spasticity means an overactivity of nervous impulses, causing chronic contraction of muscles that are in disfavor of other motor muscles. Luckily, this spasticity can be mitigated by medication, such as Baclofen, in the short term, and the effect is increased motion and decreased stiffness.
This is how Baclofen works in its magic. Within our nervous system are cells called neurons, which enable information to flow in and around the body. These neurons communicate with themselves through electrical signals known as action potentials. When one of these neurons initiates the message to “fire,” an action potential is generated.
Baclofen intervenes in the development of action potentials by altering the chemical balance at the site where it is injected. This slows down the action potential’s formation and stops the neurons’ continuous commands to the muscles, asking them to contract. In turn, this relaxes the muscles and prevents spasticity.
Potential Side-Effects Baclofen for Cerebral Palsy Treatment
The use of Baclofen in treating cerebral palsy at times can make the users develop specific undesirable reactions. The most prevalent is drowsiness or a weak feeling. At times, you may also feel dizzy or even nauseous. You may be hit by bouts of tiredness.
That’s more than that: you’d be exposing yourself to withdrawals with a cold-turkey discontinuation of Baclofen. In addition, to avoid such problems with dosage, it’s always best to reduce levels gradually rather than all at once. Remember, changing any medications is always best discussed first with your doctor—to make sure your health remains your number one priority.
How to Give Baclofen?
Baclofen is taken orally or administered directly into the spinal canal using a special pump. The optimal approach can be variable because of the localization of the movement problems and how severe they are.
Well, if you only have a minor issue with movement, swallowing the medicine would be the best way to do this, but it’s your decision. Moving on, for more severe movement problems, it might be that this delivery by the pump would be more effective. This is—probably because it’s just a more focused form of getting the medicine to where it’s supposed to go.
Unfortunately, Baclofen’s useful effects only last a few hours. For patients with far more stiffness, an implanted pump able to continuously deliver the drug to muscle tissue may benefit them.
Enhancing Mobility for Sustainable Long-Term Benefits
For those with cerebral palsy, though the brain damage that caused this condition does not progress, the spasticity does. If spasticity is not properly managed, their motor impairment or muscle contractures may actually progress with time.
Baclofen is very effective at maximizing mobility if properly given. The optimal time to engage in purposeful aggressive physical therapy is when the muscles are at rest from its effects.
Now, what about brain neuroplasticity? This is what makes our brain super adaptive. Though we can’t reverse the brain damage causing cerebral palsy, the one thing we can do is to reroute the job assignments of brain functions to the healthier parts of the brain. And how? The answer is easy: mass practice.
This is where Baclofen for cerebral palsy steps in. It relaxes those spastic muscles enough for the cerebral palsy patient to practice the movements in the right form. Now, it might feel a little weird or uncomfortable for the first time, but remember the old adage, “Practice makes perfect.” The more you practice, the stronger your brain makes the neural pathways essential to form new habits.
The nice thing about that is that even when the Baclofen has worn off, those new neural connections that you’ve made in your system do not. So, some of your improvement has been carried over.
What Is an Intrathecal Baclofen Pump?
It is used in children who live their lives with chronic damage and intractable pain. This pump aims to provide your child with strong, lasting relief. Experts in neurosurgery carefully integrate a pump, roughly the size of a hockey puck, to tailor it under the skin of your child’s belly, carefully attending to it, not an organ.
The pump is to be used with a small tube that connects the spine, allowing the medicine Baclofen to enter the spinal fluid directly. Baclofen has long been used to treat muscle tension.
It helps relax muscles, reduces muscle spasticity, and usually increases mobility. Once the surgery is completed, your child’s doctor will adjust the dosage based on your child’s requirements. Regular follow-ups will be scheduled to adjust the dosage as needed as your child grows up.
Baclofen for Cerebral Palsy: What Differentiates Pump from Oral?
This operation is generally safe for kids. However, as with any medical surgery, things sometimes go wrong. But remember that these do not often happen.
This happens in less than 10% of cases, though sometimes, following an operation, a small amount of extra fluid may collect around the spinal cord and lead to headaches or changes in the leg sensations.
There is also some small risk of infection or bleeding where the pump is inserted. But your child’s doctor will watch them very closely for any signs of infection and administer antibiotics if necessary.
Still, another very rare case of allergy is due to the medicine itself. Thus, do mention if your child has any allergies before going for surgery.
What are Other Advantages of the Baclofen Pump?
The medicine doesn’t mix from the pump into the blood of your little one. That’s why it won’t jumble up with any other drugs your child might be taking for seizure disorders or any other health woes.
It also reminds them that if their little one is inclined to keep catching negative side effects from oral Baclofen, the pump can everlastingly bypass many of them. The medicine delivered simply doesn’t mix with the blood, so it can’t cause issues in that digestive region. On top of this, one will not have to worry about missing a dose or remembering when exactly the medicine has to be taken.
Well, since it allows the child’s doctor to just turn the pump on and off in case of bad reactions like rashes or breathing problems. Then, they’ll stop almost instantly.
Baclofen for Cerebral Palsy: What Differentiates Pump from Oral?
Your child may have already used Baclofen as an oral preparation or, further still, by using a gastronomy tube. Still, the pump system is far more productive in drug delivery into the body.
That’s because when taken orally, a lot of the medication is bypassed by being introduced right into the spinal fluid by the pump and is 1,000 times stronger. This can make what may feel like an immense difference in the quantity of comfort your child has with their symptoms.
The pump can deliver the medicine in more precise and even doses because your doctor adjusts it according to your child’s needs. Since oral Baclofen comes in set dosages, it usually works better than oral Baclofen.
Moreover, the pump offers a steady supply of medication throughout the day, eliminating the need to remember to take pills at all times. This is where one can drive large compliance and finally achieve treatment-related outcomes.
To Sum Up
While using Baclofen for cerebral palsy involves certain side effects and risks, it remains a favorite in dispensing efficient order of spasticity and enhancing increased motility. Other advantages brought by the usage of an intrathecal baclofen pump are the avoidance of numerous drug interactions and the possibility of precise and continuous medication.
Consult with your child’s doctor to determine if this is the right option for them. Keep in mind that every state of the child is different, and what works for one might not be appropriate for the other.