The nurse is teaching the kindergarten teacher about a five-year-old with cerebral palsy who will be starting school. The child has a continuous baclofen pump. The nurse informs the teacher of possible side effects of this drug, including:
A)Diarrhea.
B)Hypertonia.
C)Hypotonia.
D)Restlessness.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Baclofen is a muscle relaxant and antispastic agent used to treat muscle symptoms caused by multiple sclerosis, including spasm, pain, and stiffness. For a child with cerebral palsy, a baclofen pump can help reduce muscle spasticity. A common side effect of baclofen is hypotonia, or decreased muscle tone, because the drug works by inhibiting the reflexes at the spinal level that cause muscle spasticity.

The Nurse Is Teaching the Kindergarten Teacher About a Five-Year-Old