What is "baclofen"

n. A particular drug used to control spasms. It is a derivative of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). It is primarily used to treat spasticity and is in the early stages of use for the treatment of alcoholism.

Baclofen, sold under the brand name Lioresal, among others is a central nervous system depressant used as a skeletal muscle relaxant. It is primarily used to treat spasticity. It is also used as a muscle relaxant by compounding pharmacies in topical pain creams.

It is a GABA receptor agonist, specifically of the GABA receptors. Its beneficial effects in spasticity result from actions at spinal and supraspinal sites. It is a derivative of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA).

A beneficial property of baclofen is that tolerance to its muscle-related therapeutic benefits does not seem to occur to a significant degree — baclofen retains its therapeutic anti-spasmodic effects even after many years of continued use. Newer studies, however, indicate that tolerance may develop in some people receiving intrathecal baclofen treatment. As of 2015 the cost for a typical course of treatment in the United States is less than 25 USD.