Baclofen Abuse due to Its Hypomanic Effect in Patients with Alcohol Dependence and Comorbid Major Depressive Disorder

Baclofen is a gamma-aminobutyric acid type B receptor agonist used as an anti-craving agent for treatment of alcohol dependence. It has gained popularity in the recent times because it is well tolerated even in patients with hepatic impairments. Herein we are summarizing the latest literature about baclofen induced hypomania and are reporting a case of baclofen abuse because of its mood elevating property in a patient of alcohol dependence with comorbid major depressive disorder. Literature review and case study of a 36-year-old male with alcohol dependence with comorbid major depressive disorder was prescribed with tablet baclofen as an anti-craving agent along with antidepressant medicines. The patients who did not improve with conventional antidepressant therapy started feeling better in terms of his mood symptoms on taking tablet baclofen. Owing to the mood elevating property he started abusing baclofen. Despite its safety profile in hepatic impairment, one must be very cautious in prescribing baclofen because of its mood altering property which may account for its abuse potentiality.

Hypersensitivity to titanium dental implants: a review

Allergy to dental materials represents a growing problem and may go undiagnosed by health professionals. For patients suffering from allergies to metal alloys containing nickel, chrome and cobalt, metal dentures or crowns cannot be used. In such patients titanium implant is the material of choice. However the relationship between titanium dental implants and clinically relevant hypersensitivity has only been recently suggested. Literature reports sensitivity to titanium in about 5% of the general population. Titanium, used in orthopedic devices and oral implants, although considered an inert material can actually induce toxicity or allergic type I or type IV reactions. It can be responsible for successive unexplained cases of failure of dental implants in some patients. This review is an attempt to redirect the clinician's attention about the fact that titanium allergies do exist and precaution must be taken