Factors Your Doctor May Consider – Intrathecal Baclofen Therapy

Talk to your doctor to see if you may be a candidate for intrathecal baclofen therapy.

Eligibility Requirements

Your doctor will consider many important factors to decide if a intrathecal baclofen therapy (ITB) is right for you.

You may be a candidate for ITB therapy if you:

• Have severe spasticity that interferes with your function, care and comfort, or activities of daily living
• Show a positive response to a baclofen injection in a standard screening test
• Have sufficient body size to support the pump, which must be implanted 2.5 centimetres (1 inch) or less from the surface of the skin
• Do not have any infection
• Are not allergic to baclofen
• Oral baclofen is no longer working for you

In addition, healthcare professionals may use the following criteria to determine if you are a candidate for a baclofen pump:

• You experience severe spasticity or spasms that interfere with function or daily activities
• Your severe spasticity or spasms interfere with care or positioning

About the Screening Test

A standard screening test determines if ITB therapy may work for you. During the test, you’ll be screened with a small dose of the drug baclofen injected into the intrathecal space (where fluid flows around the spinal cord).

In one clinical study, baclofen reduced spasticity in 97% of people with severe spasticity due to multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injury during the screening test¹.

If You Are a Candidate

If your doctor determines you are a candidate for a baclofen pump, you will need to make the final decision about whether to pursue the treatment.

Here are some suggestions to help you decide if a baclofen pump is right for you:

• Talk with people who have a baclofen pump.
• Learn about our Ambassador Program.
• Make sure you’re comfortable with your doctor. He or she should be helpful, supportive, and ready to answer any questions you may have.
• Carefully weigh the benefits and risks of a baclofen pump.

Before you meet with your doctor, think about what you hope to learn. Prepare questions, and be ready to provide information about your medical history.

Next: Your Healthcare Team

Your Healthcare Team

You'll work with a variety of healthcare professionals to determine if you are a candidate for intrathecal baclofen therapy. They'll thoroughly evaluate your condition to find the most appropriate treatment options. To get the best results, it's important to actively participate in discussions and decision-making related to your care.

Your healthcare team for severe spasticity treatment with a baclofen pump may be a combination of the following:

Individual and Family Caregivers

• Goal setting
• Treatment decisions

Neurologist, Rehabilitation Specialist, or GP

• Refers the individual for a spasticity evaluation
• Goal setting
• Treatment decisions
• Post-surgery monitoring
• Coordination of spasticity management with other aspects of care
• May be involved in assessment and management of the baclofen pump

Neurosurgeon or Orthopaedic Surgeon

• Surgically places the pump
• May be involved in assessment and management of the baclofen pump

Physical and Occupational Therapist

• Functional assessment
• Post-surgery rehabilitation

Nurses

• Clinical management
• Ongoing assessment

Next: Surgery: What to Expect

Surgery: What to Expect – Implanting the Baclofen Pump

Surgery to implant a baclofen pump takes approximately 1 to 2 hours from start to finish, depending on individual surgical techniques. Your doctor will be able to answer any questions you may have about the specifics of your procedure.