The effects of the GABA agonist, baclofen, on sleep and breathing.

Article Details

Citation

Finnimore AJ, Roebuck M, Sajkov D, McEvoy RD

The effects of the GABA agonist, baclofen, on sleep and breathing.

Eur Respir J. 1995 Feb;8(2):230-4.

PubMed ID
7758556 [ View in PubMed
]
Abstract

The gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA)-B agonist, baclofen, is a centrally-acting, anti-spasmodic agent and muscle relaxant used in spinal cord lesions, multiple sclerosis and other neurological disorders. In a previous pilot study of quadriplegic patients, 75% of whom were treated with baclofen, we found a high prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing. Because of the depressant effects of GABA on the central nervous system, we hypothesized that baclofen might aggravate sleep-disordered breathing in susceptible individuals by depressing central ventilatory drive, increasing upper airway obstruction and/or increasing the arousal threshold to apnoea. We therefore conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study of baclofen 25 mg, administered before sleep in 10 snorers with mild sleep-disordered breathing (respiratory disturbance index < 30 events per sleep hour). Each subject underwent two standard polysomnographic assessments, one week apart. Total sleep time was significantly prolonged by baclofen (placebo 356 +/- 9.9 SEM min; baclofen 386 +/- 9.9 min). Both nonrapid eye movement(REM) and REM sleep duration were increased (nonREM: placebo 295 +/- 6.8 min; baclofen 311 +/- 8.9 min; REM: placebo 61 +/- 7.5 min; baclofen 76 +/- 9.0 min). Time spent awake after sleep onset was reduced after baclofen (placebo 71 +/- 10.3 min; baclofen 51 +/- 9.7 min). There was a slight reduction in mean overnight oxygen saturation (placebo 95.2 +/- 0.5%; baclofen 94.4 +/- 0.7%). The frequency of apnoeas plus hypopnoeas (respiratory disturbance index (RDI)) did not change significantly (placebo 9 +/- 1.8 events.h-1; baclofen 13 +/- 3.4 events.h-1).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Pharmaco-metabolomics
DrugDrug GroupsMetaboliteChangeDescription
BaclofenApprovedOxygen
decreased
Baclofen decreases the level of Oxygen in the blood