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memory and baclofen

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Posted 7/29/2012 10:49 PM (GMT 0)
has anyone had any issues with memory and baclofen? I've had a lot of memory issues for the past year or so and of all my meds that seems to be the one that can cause problems... I tried going off of it but the replacement med, domperidone, for my gastroparesis isn't helping as much. I don't want to suffer all this stomach pain if the baclofen can help it but if it's causing my memory issues than I don't want to take it... anyone have similar problems with baclofen? if so, how long did it take to get better once you stopped taking it?
Posted 7/30/2012 12:47 AM (GMT 0)
I dont. and can't answer your first hand, but saw this article on the very subject, hope this link works for you:

http://doublecheckmd.com/EffectsDetail.do?dname=baclofen&sid=12579&eid=2672



david in sc

Posted 7/30/2012 1:06 AM (GMT 0)
you know I have had some problems with short term memory, I am not sure whether it is the baclofen or the oxycontin, I have been on both for a very long time, I take 30 mg of baclofen every eight hours and that is about the maximum dose, but it does control my muscle spasms, so I have not considered going off of it. I suppose it could be the baclofen causing it, but Oxycodone could just as well be the reason too. Both work very well for me, and do what they are designed to do, so I just put up with the uncomfortable side affects.
Posted 7/31/2012 3:21 AM (GMT 0)
My doctor prescribed baclofen for my back and hip pain said to take 5 mg 3times a day, I was in so much pain the 5 did nothing I upped it to 10, the only thing it did was made me tired but not sleepy and upset my stomach. I have decided no more I can not handle the pain and the I want to hurl it was just too much.
I have been concerned lately about serotonin syndrome so have reduced my oxycodone as well. The anti inflammatory my pain dr prescribed is actually working my pain is about a 4 when I am not moving but still a strong 8 when I try to move. I did not notice any memory issues but I have had memory problems since I started controlled pain pills.
Posted 7/31/2012 6:47 AM (GMT 0)
The good news is different muscle relaxants work via different mechanisms.

Baclofen is specifically Gaba B agonist. GHB (Xyrem) affects this same receptor much more strongly (along with another unrelated receptor). Aside from being a legal prescription, GHB also used for illegal purposes due to its memory causing issues and has been used by criminal opportunists on their victims for this reason.

Again Balofen is much weaker, so I don't want to alarm anyone. Unfortunately, most muscle relaxants seem to carry some risks from their seratonin or Gaba related effects, though some like Skelaxin have an unknown mechanism of actions that might be worth a try.
Posted 7/31/2012 11:03 AM (GMT 0)
I just got off oxycodone too because of memory issues as well as mood change issues, I'm in Recovery so narcotics tend to make me a little crazy. It helped a little but apparently its a combination of the fibro and the CFS(that ones new for me) that cause a double brain fog, thats my opinion anyway. What i'm really afraid of is all the meds you guys are on, i can't live like that. I'm not judging just saying for me, I'm terrified of going back to my old ways.

fibro, cfs, brain tumor 2nd, mild scoliosis, carpal tunnel, ebv, hypoth etc.
Posted 7/31/2012 11:55 PM (GMT 0)
thanks all! I actually take the baclofen for my stomach but am a grad student (dr of psychology) and can't afford all the memory issues I've been having. I walk out of a supervision meeting, or class for that matter, and don't remember a lot of what was discussed. In the moment I think that I couldn't possibly forget something I know is important then later have no idea what it was. The med I tried changing to wasn't working well and I was back to nausea after almost every meal - not good either! I've had periods of extreme weight loss as a result of my gastroparesis and I am finally at a healthy weight. I don't know what's worse - not being able to eat or not being able to remember anything! The stomach dr has me taking the other med (domperidone) at breakfast and lunch and the baclofen 20 mg at dinner and bed - when I need less of a memory. I don't know if it's really much better though... I need to call the stomach and see if I can increase the domperidone - maybe that would work and I could be completely off baclofen. I was taking 80 mg a day, which is the cap I believe. all this pain stuff is so annoying b/c it overlaps! thanks for the input!
Posted 8/1/2012 6:09 AM (GMT 0)
@Recovery,

Oxycodone causes me mood issues which often lead to depression symptoms. They make me overly emotional for extended periods of time over something I would normally just be a little upset about. I won't request Oxycodone partly for this reason if I need breakthrough pain medication.....however, given a choice between living in pain or dealing with the moderate side effects of oxycodone, I'll gladly take the emotional side effects of oxycodone any time over continued pain.

It is possible since in the past its mostly been prescribed to me on short term basis for extra-ordinary pain that the medication was perhaps just bringing out supressed emotions due to the pain. Severe pain (for me) seems to limit emotional expression and social interaction and perhaps the pain relief itself might be partially responsible for said response?
Posted 8/1/2012 2:56 PM (GMT 0)
I think that makes sense. Once the pain is more under control we notice other symptoms that were back burnered while focusing on the most debilitating problem. Have you considered therapy? That can be very helpful when dealing with chronic pain and the comorbid disorders. People with chronic pain are 5x more likely to develop depression. You are not alone!
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