Baclofen-induced sexual dysfunction

Abstract

Baclofen, a γ-aminobutyric acid B (GABA-B) agonist, is commonly used to treat spasticity associated with the upper motor neuron syndrome. Sexual dysfunction has been reported in men using intrathecal baclofen1 but has not been reported with oral baclofen use or in women. We present three cases of sexual dysfunction induced by oral baclofen. Case 1 is a 25-year-old woman with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy who was having increasing functional problems. She had never been treated with medication for her spasticity. She was started on baclofen, 10 mg nightly, titrating the dose up to 10 mg four times a day (QID) over 4 weeks. At follow-up, she was taking 10 mg three times daily (TID), as QID dosing caused fatigue. She noted improvements in tone and function but also noted a new difficulty in attaining orgasm as well as decreased intensity of orgasm. (She denied prior sexual dysfunction.) Orgasm could be reached, but additional …