Baclofen Rules?

[SarahL2491]

Soliciting opinions from those who use Baclofen for spastic problems.  My prescription says 1  10 mg tab three times a day.  The nurse said not to take them if I did not need them

I titrated them over to 20mg at bedtime since I only have spasms at night that really bother me.  

I hesitate to only take when needed not knowing how long it takes them to "kick in" and is easier to just take at night with other night pills.  About once a week I get an "over-ride" of spasm but its not very bad, just wakes me up.  Baclofen does not lull me to sleep, it does give me slight insomnia but can deal with that.

Any similar circumstances among others on it?

[Needhelp16]

Personal experience, they did nothing for me.  You have to be careful though because it's a dangerous drug.  Took me almost 3 weeks to wean myself off!

Laura

[SarahL2491]

I don't know who instituted the "only take if needed" rule; it was told to me by the nurse when she gave me my prescription.

The pharmacist told me (you know how they "talk to you" when you start a new med, that I should space them out 8 hrs apart

BUT

When I read up on the drug, all I could find was "do not withdraw abruptly", which would indicate a "taper down" of a few days to weeks.

Go figure!

[teenyturner]

Am I the only person who vomited every day on 10mgs at night?  

There was no point trying to titrate up.

I really don't understand how other people don't get this side effect. I'm jealous!

Regards

[maxthecat43]

I was just told to take them three times a day.  I wasn't told about any rules.  I take them on the same schedule as my gabapentin, every 8 hours (more or less).  Are they habit forming?  Why are you told to limit taking it?  

Tammy

[SarahL2491]

I've gotten more creative, without breaking the rules.  Since my worst time with muscle spasms is at night, start my "three times a day" around noon, the 2nd around supper and the third when I awake during the night, which now gives me the medication during the night that I really need.

Thanks Mary!

[twopack]

Understood!  I was told to take half of the 400mg dose of gabapentin when I complained the initial dose made me dizzy and nauseated.  Actually, can't do that doc.  It's a capsule!  Not so easy to split.

He finally gave me a script of 100mg capsules to titrate up with.  Much more helpful.  Yup - wonder what the docs would do if we asked them to half an egg????  

(Would they ever figure out to hard boil it first?  Hummm...)

Good luck and may Zen-like muscles be in your future Sarah but don't forget to get the final OK for dosing from your prescribing doc.

Mary

[SarahL2491]

thanks Mary,
that was helpful and gave me a different insight on baclofen's time clock!

will try that method when I return from this trip and see what that does.
I laughed when I read your comments about rules.  I take 5 mg of Inderal BID and its a very friable tablet, cut it in half (a must since 10mg is smallest tab)
and you automatically lose one half to "crumbling and dust".  Try explaining that one to the cardiologist!  I finally bagged up 2 destroyed tabs and put them in a baggie and mailed them to him........visual is such enhancement.
probably will have a snide phone message from him when I get back!!!
told him we needed to move up to 10mg (I would have disobeyed the rules but prescription didn't give me enough pills to!  ha ha

Thanks Mary