Baclofen

[Ojibajo]

After a few years on Flexeril I was recently switched to Baclofen. It seems like Bacofen is the go-to drug for MS related spasicity. The wanted me to start out on 1/2 does for 7 days and go to the full dose after that. I made it three days on the 1/2 dose and couldn't take it anymore. Since it takes a while to get to therapeutic levels I was kept awake all night with TERRIBLE spasms, worse than usual, I had muscle weakness and I was puking my brains out. They wanted to try another drug, I said for the time being I would rather live in pain.

Yes I have to deal with muscle spasms, and I ache during the night, but I feel a lot better since I stopped the Baclofen. Has anyone else had a bad reaction to this drug? Just curious.

[SarahL2491]

there is another one, zanaflex or something like that.. you don't have to take it except when you need it, from what I understand.

I take baclofen for my spasms, it took me about a month to get used to it, so I started at nights, then added neurontin for pain, for me it works

sorry that you had such a bad time on baclofen, each of us reacts differently to different drugs.  tramadol is one I can't take.

we miss you!  nice to see you back

[Ojibajo]

The Flexeril just didn't seem to be doing anything which is why I was switched, but the side effects (Vomiting, muscle weakness) from the Baclofen were so rough I honestly would rather live in pain.

With my spasticity I go through periods when it is really bad and periods of relief where I don't seem to have any at all or it is really mild, which is why I preferred to stay on something like Flexeril, but it just wasn't doing the trick when I had spasticity flare ups. They were the worst at night so I couldn't sleep and then the next day my legs would ache I think from being tensed all night long.

I haven't been on anything since I stopped the Baclofen, because I am a little afraid to try anything at this point. It was rough for a while but the past few weeks the spasming in my legs hasn't been too bad. I also get spasming in my hands but it's not painful, just annoying.

[sllowe]

Hey Oji,

I didn't have that experience, but I did end up stopping it over time. Was the vomiting due to the extreme pain?

I'm glad you stopped it. Was flexeril doing the job?
Baclofen minimized my spasms, but gave me some overall weakness along with it - it's understandable, but I just couldn't give up that little extra strength. It's bad enough MS does it let alone add ons from meds.

I try to take as little of anything as I can for the same reason.
Can you go back on flexiril?

[jensequitur]

That's wild - I tolerated Baclofen pretty well.  Had no problem with it, but I can see where you might have had a bad reaction.

[Needhelp16]

I was sick to my stomach on baclofen, but it did keep me up all night.  I was on it for months and it never did anything for my muscle spasms.

Laura