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Baclofen is used to treat muscle tightness and cramping (spasms) caused by certain conditions such as spinal cord injury/disease, cerebral palsy, and multiple sclerosis. It works by relaxing the muscles. Decreasing spasms helps reduce pain and stiffness, improves your ability to move around, and lets you do more of your daily activities. Baclofen injection is used in patients who do not respond to or cannot tolerate the side effects of baclofen taken by mouth.

If you must miss a refill appointment, contact your doctor immediately to reschedule before the pump runs out of drug.

This medication is injected only into the space around the spinal cord (intrathecally). This drug is usually given using a drug pump implanted under your skin. A health care professional will usually fill and refill the pump with medication. Dosage is based on your condition and response to treatment. Do not suddenly stop treatment with this drug because serious withdrawal symptoms may occur. See Warning section. To prevent a withdrawal reaction when stopping extended, regular treatment with this drug, gradually reduce the dosage as directed. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details. When used for an extended period, this medication may not work as well and may require different dosing. Talk with your doctor if this medication stops working well. Inform your doctor if your condition does not improve or if it worsens.

Your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor or pharmacist first. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you also take drugs that cause drowsiness such as: certain antihistamines (e.g., diphenhydramine), anti-seizure drugs (e.g., carbamazepine), medicine for sleep or anxiety (e.g., alprazolam, diazepam, zolpidem), narcotic pain relievers (e.g., codeine), psychiatric medicines (e.g., chlorpromazine, risperidone, trazodone). Check the labels on all your medicines (e.g., cough-and-cold products) because they may contain drowsiness-causing ingredients. Ask your pharmacist about using those products safely. Also report the use of drugs which might increase seizure risk (decrease seizure threshold) when combined with baclofen such as phenothiazines (e.g., thioridazine), tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline), isoniazid (INH), or theophylline, among others. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for details. This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.

Your condition can cause complications in a medical emergency. For information about enrolling in MedicAlert, call 1-800-854-1166 (USA) or 1-800-668-1507 (Canada).

Keep all of your refill appointments. If you plan to travel, talk with your doctor ahead of time about your refill schedule so you do not run out of medication while you are away from home.

If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents should call the US National Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents should call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of overdose may include: severe drowsiness, slow/shallow breathing, seizures, severe muscle weakness, loss of consciousness.

Before using baclofen, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: kidney problems, seizures, strokes, mental/mood disorders, a certain nervous system disorder (autonomic dysreflexia). This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness until you are sure you can perform such activities safely. Limit alcoholic beverages. Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are using this medication. Kidney function declines as you grow older. This medication is removed by the kidneys. Therefore, the elderly may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug. During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. It is not known whether this drug passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Not applicable. This medication is given in a doctor's office and will not be stored at home.

Dizziness, drowsiness, weakness, headache, nausea, or vomiting may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly. Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: mental/mood changes, seizures, numbness/tingling of the hands/feet, unsteadiness, vision changes, fainting. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: signs of infection (e.g., fever, chills, redness/swelling at the pump site), unexplained stiff neck, severe headache, trouble breathing. A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing. This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist. In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

Serious (rarely fatal) problems may occur if you suddenly stop this medication. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following signs of a withdrawal reaction: high fever, mental/mood changes (e.g., confusion), worsening of muscle tightness/stiffness, itching, dizziness, numbness/tingling of the hands/feet, unusual change in the amount of urine. Special caution is advised for certain patients who are at greater risk (e.g., patients with spinal cord injuries at T-6 or above, trouble communicating, previous withdrawal reaction with oral or injectable baclofen). To prevent a withdrawal reaction and to make sure that this drug is not suddenly stopped, always keep your scheduled appointments for refilling the pump. Your doctor will check that the pump is programmed and working properly during these appointments. If you must miss a refill appointment, contact your doctor immediately to reschedule the appointment before you run out of medication. Also learn what your pump alarm sounds like. If you hear the alarm, contact your doctor immediately.