Accidental intoxication with 60 mg intrathecal baclofen: survived

Intrathecal baclofen (ITB) is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for patients with severe spasticity. Intoxications are rare and usually iatrogenic, with reported intrathecal boluses varying between 0.050 and 30 mg.

We here report the case of a 47-year-old woman with severe spastic paraplegia due to multiple sclerosis who, during a routine filling procedure, accidentally received a bolus of 60 mg ITB because of injection into the side-port instead of the reservoir of her ITB pump (Archimedes(®), Codman, Germany).

After a short period of dizziness, she lost consciousness and stopped breathing. She was immediately intubated, mechanically ventilated, and admitted to the intensive care unit. As specific treatment, she received cerebrospinal fluid drainage through a newly implanted lumbar catheter. A series of generalized and complex partial seizures were treated with levetiracetam and lacosamide. Acute autonomic dysfunction with episodic arterial hypo- and hypertensions was controlled by catecholamines and clonidine, respectively. Recurrent hyperthermia, however, responded neither to drugs nor to physical treatment. After 3 weeks, the patient was discharged without any relevant new neurologic signs or symptoms.

This case demonstrates that even excessive doses of ITB can let the patients survive without sequelae if treated promptly and offensively. A pertinent problem during detoxification is the question of when to restart ITB to avoid drug withdrawal.