TY - JOUR T1 - Baclofen and sleep apnoea syndrome: analysis of VigiBase, the WHO pharmacovigilance database JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J DO - 10.1183/13993003.01855-2017 VL - 51 IS - 1 SP - 1701855 AU - Bruno Revol AU - Ingrid Jullian-Desayes AU - Sébastien Bailly AU - Michel Mallaret AU - Renaud Tamisier AU - Marie-Sara Agier AU - Frédéric Lador AU - Marie Joyeux-Faure AU - Jean-Louis Pépin Y1 - 2018/01/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/51/1/1701855.abstract N2 - Baclofen is a centrally acting gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA)-B agonist, widely used for chronic spasticity in neurological disorders, available in oral and intrathecal formulations. Depending on the severity of spasticity and tolerance, standard treatment includes daily oral administration of 40–80 mg [1]. The main adverse effects reported with baclofen are sedation, sleepiness, weakness, dizziness and psychological disturbances [2]. According to the depressant effects of GABA on the central nervous system, baclofen might also induce or aggravate sleep-disordered breathing by depressing central ventilatory drive and/or increasing upper airway obstruction. A single oral low dose of baclofen did not significantly impair the apnoea–hypopnoea index (AHI) in a population with moderate obstructive sleep apnoea [3], but bolus intrathecal administration of the drug increased central sleep apnoea (CSA) in patients with severe spasticity [4].Baclofen is associated with sleep apnoea syndrome especially the high oral doses prescribed for alcohol addiction http://ow.ly/J5H730h4znWThe authors would like to thank the UMC that provided and gave permission to use the data analysed in the present study. Results and conclusions are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the National Centers, UMC or WHO. We thank Alison Foote (Grenoble Alps University Hospital, France) for critically editing the manuscript. ER -