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Baclofen 101

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    Baclofen 101

    Can any of you tell me how long Baclofen takes to work?
    I've been having cramps in thighs, calves and feet on and off now for months and this week have had nearly constant pain in my legs, which are rebelling against walking more than a few blocks (I live in NYC). The pain is keeping me awake at night and distracting me by day. My doctor suggested I try Baclofen.

    I've hesitated, because I need my wits for a demanding new job I can barely do (have to try to stay the course because I've been out of work for more than a year and have debts piling up), but now I'm desperate for relief, so ready to give it a go.

    She prescribed 10 mg. 3 x/day, and I just took half of one to test the effect. So far, nada. I'm wondering if any of you might weigh in on how much (or little) you felt when first taking this medication. I realize I've taken a very small dose, but I've heard this can make you dizzy, sleepy and also--big fear here--exaggerate leg weakness, so I want to test it out with caution over the weekend before I return to work.

    Any advice much appreciated! (I've been taking Xanax to sleep and understand that if I take Baclofen I shouldn't take the Xanax. Wonder if that's true.)

    #2
    I take so many meds that mess with my brain, I couldn't tell you about baclofen's effects - but I have to tell you that you need to start taking it! It is AMAZING. I was in horrible pain like you describe - and it helped me SO much. I mean, i still have pain but bac really, really helped. It is SO worth it. You will get used to the med, but you will not get used to the muscle issues. HUGS and good luck!
    Sasha - dx January 2011; tysarbi, zanaflex, gabapentin, and baclofen
    ~Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, it is about learning to dance in the rain.~

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      #3
      Just take it. It doesn't seem to have side effects until a much higher dose. Taking 1/6 of the dose is no way to test it anyway. Take it as prescribed for a week and see how you feel. Many people depend on it.

      BTW, I take baclofen and xanax sometimes. I checked and there is some possibility of interaction, but you can just ask your pharmacist or doctor. I suspect at those low levels it's not a danger.

      You can check drug interactions here:
      http://www.drugs.com/drug_interactions.php

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        #4
        Oh and I realized I didn't answer your question - it took only a day or two on the full dosing to notice.

        I take 60 mg.
        Sasha - dx January 2011; tysarbi, zanaflex, gabapentin, and baclofen
        ~Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, it is about learning to dance in the rain.~

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          #5
          Angels

          You people are amazing!
          I can already feel a lessening of tension in my calves an hour after taking my first measly little 5 mg half tablet. This is the first relief I've had since these cramps started in July. I'm going to take the other half and see how I feel, then go ahead this weekend with the 10 mg 3 x a day. I take very little Xanax, but will Google around and see whether if I still feel I need it to get some sleep I can.

          If this works it will truly be miraculous for me.
          Thanks so much for your encouragement!

          I was afraid to ask my doctor for it, because I was afraid she would think I was being a wimp, but she offered, so I filled the script and then kept it for a week while I had to start my new job.

          So afraid of losing this chance to work while I still (sort of) can. Maybe this will make the difference.

          Comment


            #6
            I am so glad that it is working, just imagine the relief you will feel on the full dose. I remember sitting cross legged for the first time in forever and being SO happy. I cannot do it again, but it was wonderful while it lasted!
            Sasha - dx January 2011; tysarbi, zanaflex, gabapentin, and baclofen
            ~Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, it is about learning to dance in the rain.~

            Comment


              #7
              I just got my baclofen earlier this week - 10 mg twice a day - and the difference has been amazing. The spasms down my leg have decreased, and the spasms that are causing my shoulder pain have settled down quite a bit, so that my should is hardly hurting anymore.
              Diagnosis: May, 2008
              Avonex, Copaxone, Tysabri starting 8/17/11

              Comment


                #8
                Don't worry about getting weakness...if that happens, you can cut back a little on the dosage. the most bothersome symptom for most people is the drowsiness...but everybody's different and you may not have that side effect

                Main thing to remember about baclofen is that you have to decrease the dose slowly of you've been on it awhile and decide to cut back. It is not a drug you can go "cold turkey" with.

                Best of luck...hope you get good results and relief.

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                  #9
                  Less of a Wimp

                  Well, I've taken the other 5 mg. and now have twice the relief, almost. The main thing is I'm still awake.

                  The pain has had me near tears all week, so I'm ready to go ahead with this full-gear (30 mg., still a low dose as I understand it) tomorrow.

                  It's even better than getting new glasses!

                  So glad it's helping you too, Spydre, and Salamandertom.
                  I was also worried that my legs would get too weak, but so far they've stayed the same (crappy, but moving).

                  This site is amazing in so many ways, not least of which is the kind of advice we never get from doctors, especially not on a weekend!

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Good question! I just got a Baclofen Rx for muscle spasms so this is helpful information for me, too.
                    2001: 1st 2 relapses, "probable MS." 2007: 3rd relapse. Dx of RRMS confirmed by MS specialist. Started Cpx. (Off Cpx Feb 08-Mar 09 to start a family; twins!) Dec '09: Started Beta. Oct '13: Started Tecfidera. May '15: Considering Gilenya.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Baclofen seems to be one of those medications that work best when it builds up in your system, so just taking one (or half of one) here and there like a Tylenol isn't really going to work much.

                      I take 60-80 mg a day, but started out with 10 mg a day about five years ago. It doesn't make me sleepy or weak at all, but the other muscle relaxer I tried, Zanaflex, knocks me out.

                      Anyway, good luck with it. I hope it works well for you and you get some relief.

                      Hugs,

                      Lisa
                      Joy is not the absence of suffering. It is the presence of God.
                      Cut aspartame from my diet in 2012 and my symptoms have slowly disappeared. Interesting!
                      Alpha Lipoic Acid (200 mg) + Acetyl L-carnitine (1,000 mg) = No more fatigue for me!

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                        #12
                        I know the doseage of Baclofen that I'm on - 10 mg - doesn't make me sleepy or tired at all.
                        Diagnosis: May, 2008
                        Avonex, Copaxone, Tysabri starting 8/17/11

                        Comment


                          #13
                          One important thing to know about baclofen, particularly if you're taking higher dosages like I am, is that you can't just stop taking it cold turkey. You have to wean yourself off of it gradually over several weeks. (I actually did this last year and was off of it for about four months until I had a flare up in April.) If you just stop taking it, it can give you hallucinations and make you weird for awhile. (We've got enough problems without that!)
                          Joy is not the absence of suffering. It is the presence of God.
                          Cut aspartame from my diet in 2012 and my symptoms have slowly disappeared. Interesting!
                          Alpha Lipoic Acid (200 mg) + Acetyl L-carnitine (1,000 mg) = No more fatigue for me!

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Interesting post. I got up to 50mg per day and I decided to lower it. By Friday (Avonex day of all days), I was on 10mg. Today is my first day without it in a long time.

                            I'm not sure why I did it, I just wanted to feel how much stiffness there was. I suppose I could live without it, though I suspect when I start again, I will feel relief.

                            Right now, my hands are very stiff, but the one thing I noticed is that they don't change throughout the day. Just consistently the same stiffness.

                            Hmm. But seriously, Citlalli. Take the pill. It's the most common drug we're all on. You're not abusing it. I understand perfectly well the desire not to take the meds, especially to convince ourselves we're not really sick. But take it and you'll see how nice it can be.

                            Comment


                              #15
                              I've been on baclofen for 4 days now, and I haven't really noticed a difference yet. I was on neurontin for about 4 months, and it wasn't doing anything for me, except helping me get to sleep and stay asleep so I asked my nuero to put me on baclofen and ampyra (sp?) at the suggestion of the people I get my infusions of tysabri with. I just really hope that the baclofen does something because I can barely move my feet and my right hand is so stiff and numb that it's difficult to type, not to mention my legs. From what I've gathered so far, baclofen seems to work pretty quickly for most people.

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