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

• Published in: The European respiratory journal Vol. 8; no. 2; pp. 230 - 234
• Main Authors: Finnimore, AJ, Roebuck, M, Sajkov, D, McEvoy, RD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Leeds Eur Respiratory Soc 01-02-1995; Maney
• Subjects: Baclofen - adverse effects; Baclofen - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Cross-Over Studies; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Polysomnography; Respiration - drug effects; Respiratory system; Sleep - drug effects; Sleep Apnea Syndromes - physiopathology; Snoring - physiopathology; Human; Agonist; Chemotherapy; Apnea; Sleep; Treatment; Respiratory disease; GABA; Sleep disorder
• ISSN: 0903-1936; 1399-3003
• DOI: 10.1183/09031936.95.08020230

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).