Common Early Symptoms of Baclofen Overdose
Baclofen overdose often starts with drowsiness, dizziness, and severe muscle weakness or flaccidity, making it hard to move or stand. Nausea, vomiting, and low blood pressure (hypotension) frequently appear, along with slowed breathing (respiratory depression).[1][2]
Severe Symptoms Requiring Immediate Care
As overdose worsens, symptoms escalate to coma, seizures, hallucinations, confusion, or agitation. Respiratory failure can occur, needing mechanical ventilation, and cardiac issues like bradycardia or irregular rhythms may develop. Temperatures can drop (hypothermia) or rise, with muscle rigidity in some cases.[1][3][4]
Symptoms in Children vs. Adults
Children show similar signs but often more rapidly: profound lethargy, hypotonia, seizures, and apnea. Adults might experience prolonged coma (up to days) with less frequent seizures.[2][5]
What Causes These Symptoms
Baclofen, a GABA-B agonist for muscle spasticity, floods the central nervous system in overdose, suppressing brainstem functions like breathing and consciousness. Intrathecal pump failures amplify risks due to concentrated delivery.[3][4]
How Long Symptoms Last and Treatment Outlook
Symptoms peak within hours of oral ingestion but can persist 24-72 hours or longer with intrathecal overdose. Treatment involves supportive care—activated charcoal if early, intubation for breathing support, hemodialysis to clear the drug (effective in severe cases), and monitoring in ICU. Most recover fully with prompt care, but mortality reaches 10-20% without it.[1][2][5]
Sources
[1]: FDA Baclofen Label
[2]: Medscape Baclofen Toxicity
[3]: Poison Control Baclofen
[4]: UpToDate Baclofen Overdose
[5]: NCBI Baclofen Overdose Review