Skelofen Tablet 5 mg

Skelofen Tablet is a centrally acting muscle relaxant containing Baclofen (5 mg strength) manufactured by ACME Laboratories Ltd. Priced at ৳4.51 per unit, this tablet formulation effectively manages spasticity from multiple sclerosis, spinal injuries, and neurological disorders. Its GABA_B receptor activation mechanism reduces muscle rigidity and pain.

The drug shows significant efficacy in treating flexor spasms, rheumatic muscle spasms, and post-stroke spasticity. Adults and children over 10 years start with 5 mg thrice daily, adjustable up to 100 mg/day. Pediatric dosing varies by age, emphasizing gradual titration. Always take with food to minimize gastrointestinal discomfort.

Key precautions:

• Avoid alcohol due to heightened sedation risks
• Monitor blood pressure when combined with antihypertensives
• Watch for CNS depression with opioids or antidepressants

Common side effects include drowsiness (10% patients), dizziness, and nausea. Rare but serious effects involve hallucinations, urinary retention, and respiratory depression. Store below 30°C in moisture-free conditions. Pregnant women should use only if benefits outweigh fetal risks, as Baclofen crosses the placenta.

Adults: Start with 5 mg thrice daily with food, gradually increase to max 100 mg/day. Children (<10 years): Initial 2.5 mg 4 times/day. Age-based maintenance: 1-2 years=10-20 mg, 2-6 years=20-30 mg, 6-10 years=30-60 mg. Adjust duration per clinical response.

The most common adverse reactions associated with Skelofen are transient drowsiness, daytime sedation, dizziness, weakness and fatigue.

• Central Nervous System: Headache (<10%), insomnia (<10%), and rarely, euphoria, excitement, depression, confusion, hallucinations, paraesthesia, nightmares, muscle pain, tinnitus, slurred speech, co-ordination disorder, tremor, rigidity, dystonia, ataxia, blurred vision, nystagmus, strabismus, miosis, mydriasis, diplopia, dysarthria, epileptic seizures, respiratory depression.
• Cardiovascular: Hypotension (<10%), rare instances of dyspnoea, palpitation, chest pain, syncope.
• Gastrointestinal: Nausea (approximately 10%), constipation (<10%) and rarely, dry mouth, anorexia, taste disorder, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and positive test for occult blood in stool.
• Genitourinary: Urinary frequency (<10%) and rarely, enuresis, urinary retention, dysuria, impotence, inability to ejaculate, nocturia, haematuria.
• Other: Instances of rash, pruritus, ankle oedema, excessive perspiration, weight gain, nasal congestion, visual disturbances, hepatic function disorders and paradoxical increase in spasticity. Muscular hypotonia of a degree sufficient to make walking or movement difficult may occur but is usually relieved by readjusting the dosage. For this purpose, the daytime dosage may be reduced and the evening dosage increased.

Pregnancy Category B3. Use only if benefits outweigh risks. Excreted in breast milk in minimal amounts.

Monitor renal/hepatic function. Swallow tablet whole. Caution in epilepsy, psychiatric disorders. Regular BP checks advised.

Geriatric: Lower initial dose. Renal impairment: Max 5 mg/day. Hepatic patients: Monitor bilirubin. Pediatric: Weight-based dosing.

Gastric lavage is important in case of severe overdose.