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Anyone taking Baclofen?

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Posted 5/23/2017 9:29 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Everyone! I started on Baclofen a week ago after taking Flexeril for years. My pdoc has referred me to neuro for possible MS and he feels Baclofen is a better muscle relaxant for what he is calling spasticity. I have a load of other issues that require pain management also. Which for me is PT, 800 mg motrin, and a muscle relaxer. And heat, ice Tens, etc

My question is this: is 10mg enough of a dosage? I always tell them to start as low as they can, but I do not feel much "relaxing" going on from it. I constantly stretch to try to keep muscles somewhat looser, and it is not helping a bit with that Wondering what dosages others find work.

Sarah
Posted 5/23/2017 11:32 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Sarah, I have been on Baclofen for several years. I was started on 10mg 3 times day & was stable on it for quite a few years. A year ago my dr increased my dose to 20mg 3 times a day. I have been on many muscle relaxers a very long time & by far this one has worked the best for me. I do make sure that I take them at the same time each day. Of course, what might work for one may not the other. I would give it another week & if you still cannot tell any difference perhaps give the dr a call.

Take care......Susie
Posted 5/24/2017 1:54 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you Susie. I can't take anything during the day, I am primary caregiver for my elderly mother and I have children to run here and there. I deal the best I can until bedtime when I tag out with my grown kids. But at bedtime I need serious relief or I can't sleep. Trying to find a balance between knocking me out enough I can finally relax and rest and putting me too far under is hard. No sleeping pills for me.

Sarah
Posted 5/24/2017 11:38 AM (GMT 0)
Well, you have a lot going on for sure. Taking one pill a day will not bring you any relief. Even on 10mg & 20mg it does not knock me out or make me loopy or sleepy like so manys other did. I pick up my grandson after school every day so I have to have a clear head to drive for his safety & others. Is the 10mg making you feel loopy?

Take care...Susie
Posted 5/24/2017 5:48 PM (GMT 0)
The 10 mg of baclofen is not making me feel anything. Not really tired or groggy. No help with the muscles either. Maybe I will talk to doc about a higher dose of Flexeril at night. I've never tried anything higher than 10 mgs.

Sarah
Posted 5/25/2017 4:58 AM (GMT 0)
I would think you'd be fine with a med increase, even during the day. I can take 20mg 3x daily as needed. Your system should become used to the med overtime. I'm a single mom and I haven't had any problems.

I feel that the correct dose and type of med helps me to be the best mom I can be.

I haven't murdered my teenager yet smile
Posted 5/25/2017 2:45 PM (GMT 0)
If this 10mg of Baclofen does not make you feel groggy or loopy you should consider taking it as directed by the dr. Even if he increases your Flexeril just taking one at bedtime will not stay with you throughout the day, any of them are only good for for so many hours & thats it. You may find yourself with a hangover in the mornings with an increase in your Flexeril.

As I said earlier, I do not want a muscle relaxer that impairs me as I have things I need to do during the day. If it were not for Baclofen, I couldn't be doing a lot of things that I do. I am afraid just trying the one pill a few days will not help anyone.

Sarah, I urge you to go to Drugs.com & read up on Baclofen.

Take care.
Posted 5/25/2017 3:55 PM (GMT 0)
I am not a user if Baclofen but rather a physical therapist with speciality in neurological rehabilitation.

The biochemical mechanism by which Baclofen works in the body is vastly different than Flexiril.

If you are suspected of showing symptoms of spasticity this suggests an upper motor neuron involvement. Baclofen is targeted to calm upper motor neuron hyperreflexia (aka spasticity). You will be much better served with increasing the Baclofen than increasing the Flexeril.

Flexeril is a lower motor neuron relaxant. It is used to treat muscle tension of a different origin than your physician is suspecting.

I would urge you to go with an increase in the Baclofen.

An increase in Flexeril will leave you groggy. Less so with Baclofen. People can take fairly large doses to manage spasticity with little sedating effect. Of course, there are always individual exceptions and individual reactions to medications. But from what you have shared of your medical history, my hunch is that Baclofen will be the better agent for you.
- Karen -
Posted 5/26/2017 1:36 PM (GMT 0)
All I got from Baclofen was side effects, no spasm relief at all. Flexeril gives me serotonin syndrome - life threatening.

My neurologist has been having me try the various benzos for muscle spasms, but most last too long or too short. They can put you to sleep and can be addicting if you have that problem.

I'm now taking 1 mg Ativan (lorazepam) at night. It does make me sleepy, so I don't take it in daytime. But my spasms are worst in evening and night.
Posted 5/28/2017 5:00 AM (GMT 0)
I have spastic cerebral palsy which basically means tight muscles all day especially in my legs. Baclofen by far has worked the best when it comes to the spasticity. BUT it 'feels' different than flexeril.

Its been my experience that the right dose dosesnt make me sleepy or groggy or *feel* relaxed like the flexeril did, instead I notice the lack of taking it. Like you, I thought my 10mg dose wasn't really working; until I stopped it and then I realized what a difference it actually made.

You have to take it regularly for it to be most effective. Its safe to take during the day if it doesn't make you sleepy, and my Dr told me I could always break it in half during the day if I'm concerned about that.

IMO you haven't been taking it long enough or often enough to give it the best chance of being effective for you.
Posted 5/31/2017 3:21 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you everyone! I started taking the Baclofen twice a day, like the doctor told me do originally. Should have listened to him from beginning I suppose. Has made a big difference. Feels like I "move easier" and I'm not fighting my own muscles to get things done. I am going to ask for an increase to 20 mg at night, because I am still waking up drawn up and rigid. Takes about an hour for me to limber up enough to accomplish anything. Pdoc and Ptherapist say I have MS. Have a neuro appt in three weeks. Sigh.
Posted 5/31/2017 5:51 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Sarah, I've been on baclofen for many years, I was started on 5mg every 8 hours and was slowly increased over several months to an effective dosage. I take a relatively high dose of it, 30 MG. every 8 hours. I've been on this dosage for years now and it has been a real Godsend! The secret is keeping the right amount in your system at all Times! It is not a drug to be taken just every now and then. To be effective you need to keep an effective level of this medication in your system at all times. It is also not a medication that should be abruptly stopped at any time. One should be slowly weaned off this medication to avoid possible serious complications.

Good Luck to You!

White Beard
Posted 5/31/2017 1:20 PM (GMT 0)
Sarah, so glad to read that you decided to take it as directed. It works very different than a muscle relaxer. The dr may have to tweak the dose from time to time but thats ok too.

Good luck on the pending appt with the neurologist.
Posted 7/7/2017 2:05 AM (GMT 0)
An update. Baclofen is a lifesaver. I can move a lot easier. I ended up with 10 mg during the day and 20 mg at night. Might go up to 30 at night and see if that helps. After my sleep study and MRIs. I am also now on Gababentin at night. 200 mgs at night. It has diminished my constant burning leg pain by half. But it doesn't touch the nerve pain in my jaw/face. Neuro believes it's from nerve damage in my neck. Why can't a nerve pain med work on both nerve issues??? Also doesn't affect the nerve damage in my hands. Sigh.
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