Of course it's going to facilitate sleep, I hated it because it just caused massive amounts of fatigue and I couldn't see any progress in fixing any problems, spasticity or muscle movement.
Baclofen facilitates sleep, neuroplasticity, and recovery after stroke in rats
Article first published online: 14 OCT 2014
DOI: 10.1002/acn3.115
Abstract
Objective
Sleep
disruption in the acute phase after stroke has detrimental effects on
recovery in both humans and animals. Conversely, the effect of sleep
promotion remains unclear. Baclofen (Bac) is a known non-rapid eye
movement (NREM) sleep-promoting drug in both humans and animals. The aim
of this study was to investigate the effect of Bac on stroke recovery
in a rat model of focal cerebral ischemia (isch).
Methods
Rats,
assigned to three experimental groups (Bac/isch, saline/isch, or
Bac/sham), were injected twice daily for 10 consecutive days with Bac or
saline, starting 24 h after induction of stroke. The sleep–wake cycle
was assessed by EEG recordings and functional motor recovery by single
pellet reaching test (SPR). In order to identify potential
neuroplasticity mechanisms, axonal sprouting and neurogenesis were
evaluated. Brain damage was assessed by Nissl staining.
Results
Repeated
Bac treatment after ischemia affected sleep, motor function, and
neuroplasticity, but not the size of brain damage. NREM sleep amount was
increased significantly during the dark phase in Bac/isch compared to
the saline/isch group. SPR performance dropped to 0 immediately after
stroke and was recovered slowly thereafter in both ischemic groups.
However, Bac-treated ischemic rats performed significantly better than
saline-treated animals. Axonal sprouting in the ipsilesional motor
cortex and striatum, and neurogenesis in the peri-infarct region were
significantly increased in Bac/isch group.
Conclusion
Delayed
repeated Bac treatment after stroke increased NREM sleep and promoted
both neuroplasticity and functional outcome. These data support the
hypothesis of the role of sleep as a modulator of poststroke recovery.
You know with all this research done with rats, I wish I was a rat.
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