Clinical profile of patients with baclofen poisoning in an academic medical center

Abstract

Context: Baclofen overdose acutely affects the nervous system and induces a decrease in the consciousness level, coma, and death. The diagnosis of it is based on the patient’s history and clinical findings. Aims: The present study aims to investigate baclofen-induced poisoning based on medical reports in a 5-year period. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in Loghman Hakim Hospital, Tehran, Iran. The medical profile of 135 patients with baclofen overdose was read out, collected, and analyzed using SPSS version 18. Results: The average age of 135 patients was 26.37±18.73 years. The majority of them were female (68.1%) and intentional attempts (66.7%). There were 117 patients (86.7%) with central nervous system symptoms. The most common nervous finding was drowsiness (n = 53, 45.3%). There was no patient with seizures. There was a significant statistical relationship between the dose of baclofen and consciousness level (GCS ≤12: 302.61 ± 236.40 mg, and GCS >12: 162.21 ± 121.02 mg, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Baclofen overdose should be considered in patients referred to the emergency department with drowsiness symptoms and decreased consciousness level. Because of this poisoning, it has no specific symptoms and is common in female and young people.