Baclofen Shows Promise for Preventing PONV After sleeve gastrectomy, finds study

A new study published in the journal of BMC Surgery showed that baclofen may serve as a safe, cost-effective option for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG).

PONV remains one of the most distressing side effects after surgery, particularly for patients with morbid obesity undergoing LSG. Beyond discomfort, persistent nausea and vomiting can delay recovery, prolong hospital stays, and increase healthcare costs. Seeking a more effective preventive approach, this double-blind, placebo-controlled study involved a total of 100 patients scheduled for LSG.

The participants were randomly assigned into two equal groups, where one group received a placebo, while the other group received a single 10 mg oral dose of baclofen one hour prior to surgery. This research monitored outcomes over the first 48 hours after anesthesia, focusing on nausea severity, pain levels, need for additional medication, and changes in certain biochemical markers linked to nausea and stress.

The patients who received baclofen experienced a significant reduction in the severity of PONV during the first 24 hours after surgery when compared to those in the placebo group. They also required fewer doses of rescue analgesics, which indicated better overall symptom control. Pain intensity was notably lower within the first two hours, as well as at six and twelve hours post-surgery.

Also, blood tests showed that patients treated with baclofen had significantly lower levels of substance P, serotonin, and vasopressin which plays a role in nausea, vomiting, and stress responses. These findings suggest that baclofen may work not only symptomatically but also by modulating underlying biological pathways.

This study reported no increase in sedation or neurological side effects, such as extrapyramidal symptoms, which are sometimes associated with medications affecting the central nervous system. This positions baclofen as a well-tolerated option in a population that often faces elevated surgical risks.

Overall, the findings of this study points to baclofen as a low-cost, widely accessible drug that could offer a practical solution for enhancing patient comfort and outcomes in bariatric patients.

Reference:

Moussa, A. G., El-Haggar, S. M., El-Mahdy, T. M., & Mostafa, T. M. (2026). Efficacy and safety of baclofen in the prophylaxis of postoperative nausea and vomiting after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Surgery, 26(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12893-026-03696-4