Neurological adverse events associated with baclofen: a pharmacovigilance study based on FDA adverse event reporting system

BackgroundBaclofen, a centrally acting muscle relaxant, is widely utilized for the management of muscle spasms and alcohol use disorders associated with conditions. However, its neurological safety and tolerability in a large population remain limited. This study aimed to assess the neurological saf...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yunhan Zhao, Haoxiang Hu, Jiesheng Mao, Jianghai He, Yihan Zhang, Xiaokai Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Pharmacology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1569602/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849321551542878208
author Yunhan Zhao
Haoxiang Hu
Jiesheng Mao
Jianghai He
Yihan Zhang
Xiaokai Yang
author_facet Yunhan Zhao
Haoxiang Hu
Jiesheng Mao
Jianghai He
Yihan Zhang
Xiaokai Yang
author_sort Yunhan Zhao
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundBaclofen, a centrally acting muscle relaxant, is widely utilized for the management of muscle spasms and alcohol use disorders associated with conditions. However, its neurological safety and tolerability in a large population remain limited. This study aimed to assess the neurological safety and potential risks of baclofen in the real world.MethodsData covering the period from the first quarter of 2004 to the third quarter of 2024 were collected from the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Four disproportionality analysis methods were employed: the Reporting Odds Ratio, the Proportional Reporting Ratio, Bayesian Confidence Propagation Neural Network, and the Multi-item Gamma Poisson Shrinkage (MGPS). These methods were used to detect and evaluate adverse events Adverse drug events associated with baclofen. Additionally, the time to onset analysis was conducted.ResultsA total of 432 neurological-related preferred terms (PTs) were identified. The number of PT that were positive for all four algorithms was 40, and the top 5 PT were Hypotonia, Encephalopathy, Coma, Unresponsive to stimuli, and Cerebrospinal fluid leakage. The top 5 PTs for ROR values are Intracranial hypotension [ROR 66.24 (55.45–79.13)], Cerebrospinal fluid leakage [ROR 51.34 (45.84–57.51)], Autonomic dysreflexia [ROR 47.4 (32.27–69.63)], Basal ganglion degeneration [ROR 33.03 (18.54–58.84)], Sciatic nerve palsy [ROR 21.6 (11.14–41.87)]. The median onset time for baclofen -related ADEs was 27 days. Most cases (n = 241, 55.5%) occurred within the first month of baclofen administration. In an analysis of severe vs. non-severe ADEs, the study found that the incidence of severe cases was higher than that of non-severe cases, with no gender-related differences observed.ConclusionThis study identified clinically significant PTs using four different algorithms and performed gender subgroup analysis. The TTO analysis indicated that the onset of most ADEs occurred within 27 days. Furthermore, the frequency of severe ADEs was higher than that of non-severe ones. Clinicians should closely monitor for neurological adverse effects caused by baclofen, particularly severe ADEs, and consider individualized dosing strategies. Further research based on real-world data is needed to validate these findings.
format Article
id doaj-art-660ddbb24efd4a7592eb09def085a176
institution Kabale University
issn 1663-9812
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Pharmacology
spelling doaj-art-660ddbb24efd4a7592eb09def085a1762025-08-20T03:49:42ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122025-05-011610.3389/fphar.2025.15696021569602Neurological adverse events associated with baclofen: a pharmacovigilance study based on FDA adverse event reporting systemYunhan ZhaoHaoxiang HuJiesheng MaoJianghai HeYihan ZhangXiaokai YangBackgroundBaclofen, a centrally acting muscle relaxant, is widely utilized for the management of muscle spasms and alcohol use disorders associated with conditions. However, its neurological safety and tolerability in a large population remain limited. This study aimed to assess the neurological safety and potential risks of baclofen in the real world.MethodsData covering the period from the first quarter of 2004 to the third quarter of 2024 were collected from the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Four disproportionality analysis methods were employed: the Reporting Odds Ratio, the Proportional Reporting Ratio, Bayesian Confidence Propagation Neural Network, and the Multi-item Gamma Poisson Shrinkage (MGPS). These methods were used to detect and evaluate adverse events Adverse drug events associated with baclofen. Additionally, the time to onset analysis was conducted.ResultsA total of 432 neurological-related preferred terms (PTs) were identified. The number of PT that were positive for all four algorithms was 40, and the top 5 PT were Hypotonia, Encephalopathy, Coma, Unresponsive to stimuli, and Cerebrospinal fluid leakage. The top 5 PTs for ROR values are Intracranial hypotension [ROR 66.24 (55.45–79.13)], Cerebrospinal fluid leakage [ROR 51.34 (45.84–57.51)], Autonomic dysreflexia [ROR 47.4 (32.27–69.63)], Basal ganglion degeneration [ROR 33.03 (18.54–58.84)], Sciatic nerve palsy [ROR 21.6 (11.14–41.87)]. The median onset time for baclofen -related ADEs was 27 days. Most cases (n = 241, 55.5%) occurred within the first month of baclofen administration. In an analysis of severe vs. non-severe ADEs, the study found that the incidence of severe cases was higher than that of non-severe cases, with no gender-related differences observed.ConclusionThis study identified clinically significant PTs using four different algorithms and performed gender subgroup analysis. The TTO analysis indicated that the onset of most ADEs occurred within 27 days. Furthermore, the frequency of severe ADEs was higher than that of non-severe ones. Clinicians should closely monitor for neurological adverse effects caused by baclofen, particularly severe ADEs, and consider individualized dosing strategies. Further research based on real-world data is needed to validate these findings.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1569602/fulladverse eventsdrug safetyFAERSbaclofendisproportionality analysispharmacovigilance
spellingShingle Yunhan Zhao
Haoxiang Hu
Jiesheng Mao
Jianghai He
Yihan Zhang
Xiaokai Yang
Neurological adverse events associated with baclofen: a pharmacovigilance study based on FDA adverse event reporting system
Frontiers in Pharmacology
adverse events
drug safety
FAERS
baclofen
disproportionality analysis
pharmacovigilance
title Neurological adverse events associated with baclofen: a pharmacovigilance study based on FDA adverse event reporting system
title_full Neurological adverse events associated with baclofen: a pharmacovigilance study based on FDA adverse event reporting system
title_fullStr Neurological adverse events associated with baclofen: a pharmacovigilance study based on FDA adverse event reporting system
title_full_unstemmed Neurological adverse events associated with baclofen: a pharmacovigilance study based on FDA adverse event reporting system
title_short Neurological adverse events associated with baclofen: a pharmacovigilance study based on FDA adverse event reporting system
title_sort neurological adverse events associated with baclofen a pharmacovigilance study based on fda adverse event reporting system
topic adverse events
drug safety
FAERS
baclofen
disproportionality analysis
pharmacovigilance
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1569602/full
work_keys_str_mv AT yunhanzhao neurologicaladverseeventsassociatedwithbaclofenapharmacovigilancestudybasedonfdaadverseeventreportingsystem
AT haoxianghu neurologicaladverseeventsassociatedwithbaclofenapharmacovigilancestudybasedonfdaadverseeventreportingsystem
AT jieshengmao neurologicaladverseeventsassociatedwithbaclofenapharmacovigilancestudybasedonfdaadverseeventreportingsystem
AT jianghaihe neurologicaladverseeventsassociatedwithbaclofenapharmacovigilancestudybasedonfdaadverseeventreportingsystem
AT yihanzhang neurologicaladverseeventsassociatedwithbaclofenapharmacovigilancestudybasedonfdaadverseeventreportingsystem
AT xiaokaiyang neurologicaladverseeventsassociatedwithbaclofenapharmacovigilancestudybasedonfdaadverseeventreportingsystem