Baclofen, muscle relaxant, good to take?

Hi Everyone,

I'm usually in the fibromyalgia forum. So I'd appreciate some answers here. My new GP perscribed a medication called Baclofen which I heard is usually for patients with MS, I thought I'd better ask more about it. And this would be a good place to ask since maybe I have MS?

Does anyone take muscle relaxants or have experience taking Baclofen? I take 10 mg. only at bedtime so far. I've been able to sleep better but the returned pain and tightness shows up again in the afternoon. Is it a good medication to take? Are there side effects?

The next time I see my GP I'm going to ask him whether I should have to testing done to see if I have MS. Is it only a brain scan that's needed? But so far there's no follow up appointment made. I think I can just wait.

What I have thus far is total body numbness that came on in the last 6 years and muscle tightness and pain from my scoleosis throughout my spine due to a patient lift injury (which I no longer do) and a severe car accident. I also have muscle tightness due to fibromyalgia and joint pain and meibomian gland dysfunction which I try to control with warm, wet compresses and Soothe eye drops.

Thanks!

Thanks so much for your reply, Gretchen and the information about MS. I don't think it's anything that needs to be looked into right off. Maybe I could just wait till my next appointment with this doctor. Not sure when that will be.

It sounds as if you're doing well. I'm glad the Botox helped.

I heard brain lesions had cause MS. When I was in the severe car crash I wasn't wearing my seat belt and I hit the windshield (cracked it many places) with my forehead. Could this cause the brain lesions that can cause MS?

Thanks again!

Thanks, Gretchen1, for your reply. My car accident was back in the 80's. I've been wearing a seat belt ever since.

Question: I've been on Baclofen for 4 nights now. The first two following mornings, I was groggy and loopy. The third morning I felt fairly normal. Last night I had a lot of trouble falling asleep. The first three nights I felt knocked out and slept for 7 hours which I haven't done in years.

I was wondering if the doctor would want to increase me from 10 mg to 20 mg at night, then if that doesn't help enough in the future he might recommend I take it during the day too. I remember with Gabapentin I had to keep increasing to feel any benefits for sleeping and I came down with a bigtime leg tremor. I went off slowly.

What I was wondering is, will I keep needing to take more Baclofen for it to help me? It does seem to help my muscle tightness.

Thanks!

Thanks, Gretchen 1.

I have another question. Wondering if a person can easily go from 10 mg of Baclofen at bedtime to taking another 10 mg in the morning every now and then for a busy day with a hour car ride back and forth which is hard on me.

Thanks again!

I have been taking baclofen for 6 years - 20 mg 4 times a day and have had no side effects e.g drowsiness.  It is the only medication that has been prescribed for me and helps a little.