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Posted 8/18/2009 1:30 AM (GMT 0)
I have just been started on this med. Are you on it? Does it help? What is your dose? Do you have any side effects?

Thanks

Suzane

Post Edited (tmjpain) : 8/17/2009 7:59:24 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/18/2009 1:41 AM (GMT 0)
Yes I am on it! Baclofen is for muscle spasms or spaticity. Oral doses range between 10 mg and 120 mg. After 120 mg side effects start out weighing benefits, so then it is time to discuss intrathecal pump options. This is a miracle drug for me. Before using Baclofen, I tried Zanaflex and Flexeril. Baclofen was the most effective for me. Side effects or minimal-the worse being somulance.
Posted 8/18/2009 3:03 PM (GMT 0)
tmjpain

I am also on Baclofen 25 mg every eight hours, the medication has been a Godsend for me, I hated Flexeril, it made me dopey, and Zanaflex did nothing! For trhe most part the Baclofen has controlled my muscle spasms very well, I get them every where, hands, feet, neck, back, and arms and legs, just  about everywhere, and the muscles knot up in a hard knot and it hurts soooo bad.  But the Baclofen ( after they got the doasage right) has really got that under control. Every once in awhile I will have periods that the spasms come back, but they are not near as intense nor last as long.

I hope this med works well for you!

White Beard

Posted 8/18/2009 4:08 PM (GMT 0)
I have also taken Baclofen and it does work very well for the muscle spasms. You have to remember to go up slowly and be tapered off it though, otherwise it can cause something called Baclofen withdrawl syndrome. I have little in the way of side effects with it, compared to other muscle relaxers.
It's a wonder drug if there is such a thing.
Sandi
Posted 8/18/2009 7:41 PM (GMT 0)

I didn't have such a great time with Baclofen; it completely knocked me flat at 20mg/day (initial dose) and I ended up having to halve it, then increase a couple of weeks later. I just couldn't stay awake for more than an hour at a time. I got up to 30mg a day and it was working for the muscle spasms but it also caused a lot of problems - I couldn't think straight, felt very drugged, became panicky and depressed. I had to give up with it in the end.

I do seem to be oversensitive to stuff though, so if lots of other people have been ok with it, I wouldn't let my experience put you off. Good luck!

Bandit

Posted 8/18/2009 11:57 PM (GMT 0)
Never had any problem with Baclofen, but then I didn't take it for long as it had to be replaced by other meds because of my messed up blood composition. Didn't have any side effects and I took it for about three to four weeks. Don't remember the dosage though, it was a while ago. My doctors considered it to be one of the best (most effective with least side effects). Its considered very safe here in Europe.

Take care.
Posted 8/19/2009 12:35 AM (GMT 0)
I have never been on that med but I wanted to wish you luck that you will see some positive effects from it

Laurie
Posted 8/19/2009 2:50 AM (GMT 0)

Bandit,

While I am no doctor, I know that you never should have been started on a dose of Baclofen at 20 mg a day as an initial dose. I was tapered from 1/2 a tablet to one tablet over the course of 3 days, and then increases every week after that to get to my 15 mg dose, three times a day. It was also explained to me that it should never be increased more than 5 mg at a time, and it had to be done over a week at a time to see how my body would react.

It's no wonder that you had the problems that you had with the drug. I'll bet it you were started on it right, and titrated up the proper way, you might still get the relief from the muscle spasms without all of the nasty side effects.

 Sometimes I wonder if doctors even bother to read for half of the stuff that they put a patient on.

Sandi

Bandit07 said...

I didn't have such a great time with Baclofen; it completely knocked me flat at 20mg/day (initial dose) and I ended up having to halve it, then increase a couple of weeks later. I just couldn't stay awake for more than an hour at a time. I got up to 30mg a day and it was working for the muscle spasms but it also caused a lot of problems - I couldn't think straight, felt very drugged, became panicky and depressed. I had to give up with it in the end.

I do seem to be oversensitive to stuff though, so if lots of other people have been ok with it, I wouldn't let my experience put you off. Good luck!

Bandit

Posted 8/19/2009 3:23 AM (GMT 0)
I love baclofen.  Like some others, flexeril did nothing.  Baclofen for me, does it's job without side effects.  Good luck, I hope it helps.
Posted 8/19/2009 3:41 AM (GMT 0)
mrsm123

I agree with you I was started off at 5mg, once a day for a few days then twice a day for a few days and then 5mg every 8 hours, and they kept increasing it by 5mg increments till I got adquate relief, I was taking 15mg every 8 hours for quite a while until the spasms startd up again. now I take 25mg at 6am and 2 pm and 30mg at 10pm, and it works pretty well, I haven't noticed any side affects, and I take it with my 40 mg of Oxycontin for my pain. I personally think the Baclofen has been a wonder drug for me. As I was getting such terrible muscle spasms everywhere before getting on this medication!

Posted 8/19/2009 11:05 AM (GMT 0)

You're so right Sandi - a lot of the time I feel like I know more about this stuff than they do, simply because I've tried to read up on it! But it can be so hard to find the right info, and of course I hadn't found this forum back then to ask for advice!

It's interesting what you say about the dosage, maybe I should try it again, more slowly, though I confess I'm a bit scared of it now. sigh.

mrsm123 said...

Bandit,

While I am no doctor, I know that you never should have been started on a dose of Baclofen at 20 mg a day as an initial dose. I was tapered from 1/2 a tablet to one tablet over the course of 3 days, and then increases every week after that to get to my 15 mg dose, three times a day. It was also explained to me that it should never be increased more than 5 mg at a time, and it had to be done over a week at a time to see how my body would react.

It's no wonder that you had the problems that you had with the drug. I'll bet it you were started on it right, and titrated up the proper way, you might still get the relief from the muscle spasms without all of the nasty side effects.

 Sometimes I wonder if doctors even bother to read for half of the stuff that they put a patient on.

Sandi

Bandit07 said...

I didn't have such a great time with Baclofen; it completely knocked me flat at 20mg/day (initial dose) and I ended up having to halve it, then increase a couple of weeks later. I just couldn't stay awake for more than an hour at a time. I got up to 30mg a day and it was working for the muscle spasms but it also caused a lot of problems - I couldn't think straight, felt very drugged, became panicky and depressed. I had to give up with it in the end.

I do seem to be oversensitive to stuff though, so if lots of other people have been ok with it, I wouldn't let my experience put you off. Good luck!

Bandit


Posted 8/19/2009 11:10 AM (GMT 0)
Baclofen is my saving grace. Each doctor is different on how he Rx'es medication. I think a lot depends on the condition of the patients. I was started on 30 mg a day -(3) 10 mg tablets and had absolutely no trouble at all. If you are having trouble with side effects because you think the dose is incorrect, call you doctor and discuss it. Everyone here has different conditions, different body masses, and a variety of variables that go into why a doctor selects a starting dose.

I could not survive without this medication. I went from an initial dose of 30 mg to 120 mg within six months. I then had a baclofen pump implanted. It was the best thing I have ever done.

Good luck.
Posted 8/19/2009 2:14 PM (GMT 0)
Stella,

I am hear such great success stories with the baclofen pump.  I am so glad it is working for you. 

Posted 5/4/2013 3:16 PM (GMT 0)
Is anyone using Baclofen for bruxism pain?
Posted 5/4/2013 4:09 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Soreface and welcome to HW. This thread is really old and many of the posters are no longer with us.

We would love for you to start an introduction thread of your own so we could welcome you to the forum and answer whatever questions you have.
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