Question on Baclofen

Hey all, I'm sorry to be MIA but working is taking its toll on me. I do read up on you all but just don't have the energy to post much.

As most of you know, I am undiagnosed. Finally though after much pushing, I was able to get a scrip for Baclofen to help with my spasms. I only got it finally when the idiot neuro said how tired I look and I replied well thats because I'm not sleeping much due to the spasms. lol She finally did check my legs (the only test she did on me that day) and said that there did seem to be a problem. (Duh do you think?)

Having said all that she wrote on the script that I was only to take a half 10mg one up to 1 full one at night before bed. It has helped somewhat and for the most part has made things bearable. The problem now is that I've had a cold with a fever. The spasms and spasticity has gotten a lot worse and I was wondering if it would be okay to take another Baclofen or a half one during the day? I'm not sure how this pill works or how safe it was. She said when she gave it to me that she didn't want me on much as it is hard on the stomach?

Thanks
Hugs
Moki

[Heather3418]

I have been on Balofen for many years.  I never found it hard on the stomach.  I found that it makes my legs weak at higher doses of more than 40 mgs. per day.  I take 3- 10 mg. tablets at night, to help with the night time spasms.

I do find Baclofen to be a safe drug.  Does it take away all the spasms?  NO!  But it does makes me sleepy.  This is the other reason I take it at bedtime.

I think you should up your dosage at night (ask doctor first) and see if you can take one tablet during the day.  Your body does get used to the drug after awhile and you may not have any weakness or sleepiness from the drug, after it gets into your system.

I miss you Mok.  Big Time.

I send all my love,
Heather

[cuttersmom]

I was taking Baclofen, 10mg/day, before I was diagnosed to see if it helped urinary retention (which it really didn't), but it did seem to help little twitches that I didn't even notice that I had.

Once I was diagnosed, I asked the neuro if I should continue to take it. She said if it seemed to help I could continue to take it, and increase it up to 30mg/day.

According to the drug guide, the dose should not be more than 30mg/day. I'd say if it helps you, increase your dosage. Just know if you don't already have refills ordered, your neuro might give you a hard time refilling a prescription that went quicker than it should.

[shoshin]

I am baclofen and here is what I know.

I think the problems you can get from taking too much (or going up too quickly) are mainly sleepiness or weakness. I was told to start slowly to try to cut down on the sleepiness problem (which hasn't been an issue for me, but I know it has been for others). Sometimes, the stiffness from the spasticity is helping people stay upright so when the muscle are relaxed from the baclofen, the underlying weakness comes out.

If either of these things happen, you can always go back to taking less. I did read that you should taper off and not stop taking baclofen abruptly (I think you can get seizures or hallucinations).

I started on half a pill (5 mg) at night and after a few days went up to half a pill twice a day. When that didn't seem to be doing so much, the neuro told me to try half a pill, three times a day (I'm not sure I'm having spasms. I'm still not sure what spasms are, but they sound like something that moves and I don't have that--just stiffness and tightness. I don't have trouble sleeping so I really need the baclofen to work during the day so I can walk better)

I couldn't remember to take meds four times a day (which is what it ended up being with the other meds) so I asked my neuro if I could just take two whole pills twice a day. He said I could try that and see if it worked and wrote me a prescription for three pills a day and said I could cut them in half as needed. My neuro is kind of laissez-faire about some stuff and I'm not sure he cares how many I take. Anyway, the two a day thing didn't seem to work too well so I ended up taking a whole pill three times a day and just spacing them closer together during the day so I only had to take pills three times a day. This seems to be working better.

I haven't heard that it's hard on the stomach and haven't had that problem, but I guess all sorts of things could happen. I don't think it would hurt to try and take half of one in the morning and see if it helps.

I have read that you can take it up to 3 or 4 times per day and up to 80 mg per day, but you have to get there gradually. I think what happened when I took it only twice a day was that it wore off so you might actually get better results taking it more often.

That's maybe more info than you wanted, but that's been my experience FWIW.

sho

[young at heart]

MOKI,

I HAVE BEEN ON BACLOFEN FOR 4 YEARS NOW,I HAD TO TITRATE TO THE DOSE I'M AT 40 MGS 4X A DAY.SOME SAY ITS TO HIGH OF A DOSE.BUT IT HELPS.

IT TAKES TIME TO GET RELIEF,IT TOOK WHILE I HAD PNEMONIA (pneumonia).ITS A MED THAT DOES HELP IF GIVEN TIME TO WORK.ITS NOT AS HARSH AS ZANFLEX.

TRY TO EAT SOMETHING BEFORE TAKING IT AND DON'T ABRUBTLY STOP TAKING IT,IT WILL HAVE RESIDUAL SIDE EFFECTS.

IT DOES HELP WITH SPASMS AND HAS BEEN VERY BENEFICIAL TO MANY.

FINALLY YOUR DR. GAVE YOU SOMETHING TO GIVE YOU SOME RELIEF,IT MAY CAUSE SOME DROWSINESS AT FIRST,THAT DOES PASS IN TIME.

HUGS
T-LYNN

[mokibear]

Heather, I too am finding that night is the worst for me and that was why I was wondering if I took a 1/2 one through the day if it would help more at night. Perhaps I'll try the 1 1/2 at night instead. I miss you too my friend and hope to be back here more often soon. Things have just been really hectic for me lately. Love you, Huggies.

cuttersmom, I don't think I've had the pleasure of meeting you yet so hi. Thanks for your response and the information. I hope to not have to do it more than a few times until I can get things back under control.

shoshin, I'm stiff and tight through the day as well but I tend to be stubborn and suffer through.lol My main issue is night as I need my sleep to be able to keep working and when I have all this stuff going on, sleep is a little hard to come by. It wasn't too much info, it was informative and for that I thank you.

T-LYNN, HEY DEAR ONE,  I'VE BEEN ON THE BACLOFEN FOR ALMOST 2 MONTHS NOW AND HAVE FOUND THAT IT WAS GIVING ME SOME RELIEF. THIS DARN COLD SEEMS TO BE WHAT HAS FLARED EVERYTHING AND IT FELT LIKE I WAS TAKING THE DOSE FOR NOTHING. I'M GOING TO UP IT BY A HALF FOR NOW AND SEE IF THAT HELPS. I JUST NEED TO GET THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

Thank you all so much for responses, it has helped me greatly. Big hugs to you all.
Moki

[sllowe]

Hey Moke -

I'd up it, it doesn't sound like 10mg is enough.  

Mine was titrated too, but eventually it brought me to 30 mgs a day.

Now, after being on it for awhile though, I'm a bit better and can take 1 1/2 at night before bed so it's about 15mgs.

How are you doing w/the increase?

I was extremely tired for a few months on the 30 mgs when I was on it.  My eyes and body felt like I couldn't move in the morning.

Thinking of you,
Shell