{"title":"Central sleep apnea caused by low dosage of baclofen: a case report.","authors":"Xiaoqiong Luo, Qidi Ding, Yanan Liu, Fang Han, Chenyu Li, Xiaosong Dong","doi":"10.1186/s13256-025-05111-7","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Baclofen can relax muscle spasticity by inhibiting the transmission of both mono- and polysynaptic reflexes at the spinal cord. It has been increasingly used off-label for the management of spinal cord lesions or neurologic disorders. However, the expansion use has led to an increase in baclofen-associated complications.</p><p><strong>Case presentation: </strong>We report the case of a 60-year-old Chinese female patient who suffered from nocturnal choking and daytime sleepiness. Polysomnography identified central sleep apnea after initiation of low-dosage baclofen (10 mg two times a day) treatment, and a complete resolution of central sleep apnea was associated with baclofen withdrawal.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This case reminds us that more attention should be paid to the adverse reactions on respiratory control of baclofen, even with low dosage. Regular polysomnography before and after prescription of baclofen is helpful to detect the effects of baclofen on sleep and breathing.</p>","PeriodicalId":16236,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Medical Case Reports","volume":"19 1","pages":"112"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11905528/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Medical Case Reports","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-025-05111-7","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Baclofen can relax muscle spasticity by inhibiting the transmission of both mono- and polysynaptic reflexes at the spinal cord. It has been increasingly used off-label for the management of spinal cord lesions or neurologic disorders. However, the expansion use has led to an increase in baclofen-associated complications.
Case presentation: We report the case of a 60-year-old Chinese female patient who suffered from nocturnal choking and daytime sleepiness. Polysomnography identified central sleep apnea after initiation of low-dosage baclofen (10 mg two times a day) treatment, and a complete resolution of central sleep apnea was associated with baclofen withdrawal.
Conclusion: This case reminds us that more attention should be paid to the adverse reactions on respiratory control of baclofen, even with low dosage. Regular polysomnography before and after prescription of baclofen is helpful to detect the effects of baclofen on sleep and breathing.
期刊介绍:
JMCR is an open access, peer-reviewed online journal that will consider any original case report that expands the field of general medical knowledge. Reports should show one of the following: 1. Unreported or unusual side effects or adverse interactions involving medications 2. Unexpected or unusual presentations of a disease 3. New associations or variations in disease processes 4. Presentations, diagnoses and/or management of new and emerging diseases 5. An unexpected association between diseases or symptoms 6. An unexpected event in the course of observing or treating a patient 7. Findings that shed new light on the possible pathogenesis of a disease or an adverse effect