Physostigmine in the treatment of intrathecal baclofen overdose. Report of three cases.

The expanding use of intrathecal baclofen for spasticity has raised a concern about the treatment of overdose in these patients, since no specific baclofen antagonist is available. Since physostigmine has been reported to reverse the respiratory depression and somnolence due to opiates, the drug was tried for the treatment of baclofen overdose. In three cases, intravenous physostigmine (2 mg) completely reversed the respiratory depression and coma caused by boluses of 80 to 800 micrograms of lumbar intrathecal baclofen. Physostigmine, although not a specific antagonist, should provide increased safety for patients receiving intrathecal baclofen.