Meds

[Max198]

Recently recommended to try flexoril for muscle spasms and told may have sedating effect.  Told to take at bedtime.  Wondering if Baclofen would not be a sedating.  Neuro said it may be time for either one of these drugs.  Also want to know which is most effective, longer lasting.

[COBOB]

Baclofen is an antispasmodic.  It works at the level of the nervous system.  Flexeril is a skeletal muscle relaxant.  Norflex is in the same class of skeletal muscle relaxants and is considered less sedating,

My neuro prescribed baclofen and my pcp added Norflex and Valium to the mix.  Her idea is to provide several tools to manage the spasticity nd not look for one magic drug.  She says that rarely works.

Bob

[heartfelt77]

Hello nice to meet you. My name is misty. I read your post. I feel bad your going through this. But, you need to know that one day you will come across a Dr that is right for you.  

  I had to laugh at the comment.  Use your degrees you fool MD' s.   That's so true.

Take care, stay positive, god bless........    Happy holidays

[pollyannessister]

ya, this is real - flagg me again

[pollyannessister]

I had fallen quite severely last year - end of Dec. in fact of 2010 - flying over a box in a stockroom after they're just receiving a big shipment of french ironcast cookware. So, box heavy - me propelled up into the air then down straight like a board onto my knees.  Nobody Noone No M.D. would acknowledge anything i was describing as Real.  Whatever you do, Dont go to emergency with Thoracic area in spasm and your abdomen flared out - you just get an iv with morphine - no review and analysis. Not one bit of mental energy from any treating physician.  In fact, if you go to ER as a woman - it will all just be addressed as if you "imagined it!"  And so - here i am - gone through a year of hell - spasms in legs, spasms in thoracic - running out of cyclobenzaprine - going to UCSF pain clinic - they did suggest Baclofen to my md., yet not done, then out to another m.d - neurologist where he too told me that yes, Baclofen important as it addresses spinal cord spasms from the Outside inward and Tizanidine (REMEMBER THIS ONE!)  Tizanidine deals with spasms from the inside of spinal cord area, outward!  And so here writhing in pain still, total insomnia, tripping on everything, arms in spaz mode and body rigid - hey - i wonder if there is something wrong with me?  Why didn't any MD even believe me - with a degree from UC Berkeley and NYU - that hey - she aint so dumb!  Well folks, ya - miss polly bad luck - im sure is parkinson's disease since i cant stop my head or legs and feet shaking (in addition to all the other) and just have to continue to wait til Feb 21, 2012 when i see a Spine Surgeon, Dr. Brian Andrew in S.F. for a consulatation.  Well, i call this all lousey!  Use your degrees you fool M.D.s!  Ive had it!  Cyclobenzabrine i have to take every 4 hrs just to manage - 3 or 4 times as much as pain md perscribes - but you know what?  Just this last month - I TOTALLY GOING DOWN THE TUBES, FAST - and i was a pen and ink artist - NOW, i'm totally loosing mental ability to focus and wacky idears plus body not even mine.  And, I'm still awaiting diagnosis.  What a joke the M.D. profession is.  I'm testimony to it being a tragedy.  Will keep you posted.

[DogTrainer]

I find that Valerian knocks me out when I can't sleep and *it's* totally natural.

[DogTrainer]

I have been on Baclofen for about a month.  I wasn't sure if it was working until I forgot to take it one day.  My legs were shaky and weak and spastic and spasm-y until I took my next dose.  I've noticed that the Baclofen also helps with my bladder and bowels.  I'm on 10mg once a day and have found that that's all I require for now.  I've never gotten sleepy from it or had any noticeable side effects at all.  
I am a recovering drug addict and alcoholic so my doctor is pretty strict with what types of drugs I can try for my MS so I have never tried Flexeril.  I find that Valerian knocks me out when I can't sleep and is totally natural.

[sdsam]

I took flexiril years ago when I was having severe muscle spasms in my back, not MS related.  Flexiril made me very sleepy as I recall.  I have just been prescribed Baclofen for MS related muscle spasms, will be taking my first dose tonite before bed.  Will let you know how it works for me.  Sam

[Sarahsmom46]

Shell gave you vvery good feedback on the baclofen and flexeril.  

I have taken both and think Shell is right about how you can benefit more quickly with the flexeril whereas the baclofen takes longer.  I did not have sedating effects with baclofen either and that would have been my drug of choice if I weren't allergic to it.  It is definitely worth trying.

Now if you are trying to decide when and what drug to start taking, first decide how much problems you are having with the spasms.  It it is relentless, every day then you would be better off with the baclofen for sure.  If you have intermittent spasms, then I guess flexeril might be an option to start out with.  

You are not limited to those two meds as there are other options out there as well.  Start with one and if it's not giving you the relief you need, then move on to another.  You will eventually find the one that works best for your individual symptoms but it is trial and error.  

Hope you find some relief.  

Julie

[sllowe]

Hi Max,

Baclofen was not sedating for me. Side affect I had for a couple months was a general feeling of heaviness when I woke up, but that did pass over time. And, it did minimize my spasms.

From what I understand one of the differences between baclofen and flexoril is that baclofen, because it can take longer to feel relief would be prescribed for longer periods of time and you stay on it for awhile to feel it's full affect. Whereas flexoril I think (please someone correct me if I'm wrong) can be taken intermittent. More on an as needed basis. I'm don't know personally the sedating affects of it, but have heard some experience that.

When I mentioned to my Dr. having to be on and stay on a med to control spasms, i.e., baclofen vs. something I could take from time-to-time, he wanted me on the baclofen, said he wanted to get out ahead of the issue.

Hope this helps. "Welcome" by the way, I don't think we've met.

-shell