Baclofen?? Whats your experience?

Hello Everyone!
   I have been taking zanaflex 4mg 4x per day for the last 3 yrs & now its no longer helping me with these awful spasms. I have friends that also have MS & they take baclofen(spelling?) & say it helps them. What is your opinion??What if any side effects does it have?? Sorry for all the questions, I really need some relief!! Thank you!!

[Ufrustrated2]

i prefer baclofen over zanaflex. much less groggy for  me. it is a subtle med to me. 10m 3x a day when needed.

many days i don't take it, others i do.

for a few spasms i've had for years, think like knots, nothing helps. some days worse/better than others. some days/nites, very painful.

in my case, is that MS or spinal injury? in my case, depends on if the doctor is paid by VA or civilian.

baclofen is worth trying IMHO

[Tammy826]

Thanks for your help!! The fact that it makes you less groggy is a definate plus!! I stay tired enough as it is! Thanks again!! :)

[Sumanadevii]

I use baclofen.  I take it four times per day.  It definately helps the spasms.  There is one thing I do NOT like about it,  It dries my mouth terribly.  I keep lemon drops nearby.

[jensequitur]

I take 60 mg of baclofen a day.  Evidently that's as much as I can take per day, so if I need something more, I take a flexaril or xanaflex.

What I like about baclofen is that you can get it at the Walmart for $4 for 30 pills.  This makes my bill $20 a month - not bad!

I also have dry mouth, so I drink a LOT of water.  This isn't a bad thing, necessarily.  It also reduces your alcohol tolerance quite a bit.  (Don't tell my neurologist!)

[RedFlame]

I also take 60mg of Baclofen each day.  It works very well for me, when my spasticity pain still comes through, I take some Zanaflex.  The thing about Zanaflex is that it just makes me feel like I'm sort of drunk.  

Baclofen can make my mouth really dry, like Sumana, I always carry hard candies and a beverage

Red

[bairdy]

hi
i take baclofen 10mg 3xdaily or as required but i never mis my nightime dose .
it works well for me to control the spasms and ease the stiffness.
it does not dry my mouth as others have said although it made me more sleepy when i first started it.
hope this helps you make your mind up as to use it or not
regards bairdy

[COBOB]

I take 20 mg tree times a day and for the last week or so, it has not been hacking it.  I have what feels like a golf ball in my right calf and a couple of marbles in the lateral side of my right foot.  

I'm heading to my PCP on Tuesday to make sure there is nothing else going on like a DVT, etc.  (and to get my BP medications tuned up.)  Assuming there are no other issues, they my PCP may need to add something to the Baclofen.

Bob

[Guitar_grrrl]

I've been on Baclofen, 20mg 3x/day for two years.  It helps with the stiffness, but I still get breakthrough spasms sometimes.  It's still better than the 3-5 times/night I was having spasms before Baclofen.  I've tolerated it well.

[Tammy826]

Thank you all for your help!! I will sure ask my PCP about prescribing it for me when I see him next week. Something has got to help better than the zanaflex has. The spasms are getting unbearable!! Thanks again!! :)

[HVAC]

Baclofen makes my life more bearable but my spasms still come on, but I have bad one. It does make me dopey as well. Everyone reacts differently there is no one size fits all medication.

Alex

[Mip9030]

I've taken both zanaflex & baclofen. Zanaflex made me soooo tired so I only took it before bed. Baclofen is def less sedating. Unfortunately my spasticity got so bad that I ended up getting a baclofen pump. Good thing about it is it's no going in ur blood stream so u don't get tired.