Student: Judith Meranvil

Date: 2/23/21
To be presented in Clinical
MEDICATION Antispasmotics: dantrolene, baclofen (Lioresal), diazepam
(Brand & Generic)

Expected By blocking the action of acetylcholine, anticholinergics

Pharmacological prevent impulses from the parasympathetic nervous system
from reaching smooth muscle and causing contractions, cramps
Action
or spasms.

Therapeutic Use • Relieves skeletal muscle spasm in:

• Spinal cord injury
• Multiple sclerosis
• Cerebral palsy

Complications • Drowsiness, dizziness, weakness and fatigue early in therapy

• Nausea, vomiting
• Constipation
• Urinary retention
• Withdrawal symptoms
• Oral: psychosis, seizures
• lntrathecal: fever, confusion, rigidity; can be fatal

Medication • Administered orally or by intrathecal infusion

Administration • Start oral baclofen in low doses, gradually increasing dose up
to maximum of 20 mg three to four times daily
• Give with food or milk to prevent GI symptoms • Do not stop
 oral or intrathecal administration abruptly

Contraindications • Hypersensitivity
• Concurrent use with MAOIs

Nursing Start with low dose and gradually increase to minimize adverse
Interventions effects
• Give oral dose with food to prevent GI upset
• Monitor for constipation; encourage fluids and increase fiber
in diet
• Taper drug over 1 to 2 weeks to prevent withdrawal
symptoms

Client Education • Instruct clients that these effects will decrease with time and
will be minimized by beginning with a low dose
• Instruct clients to change position slowly if experiencing
dizziness
• Advise clients against driving or performing activities that
require mental alertness if drowsiness is experienced
• Instruct client to take oral dose with food or milk
• Instruct client to increase fiber and fluid intake and to report
constipation to provider
Instruct clients not to stop this drug abruptly; taper doses over 1
to 2 weeks