what does baclofen help with

Precautions

• Diarrhea
• loss of appetite
• muscle or joint pain
• numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
• stomach pain or discomfort
• stuffy nose
• weight gain

What are the long term side effects of taking baclofen?

No. Many people use the word "narcotic" to refer to all prescription medications that relieve pain. But, a narcotic is actually an opioid pain reliever. Baclofen is a muscle relaxer and doesn't treat pain the same way a narcotic medication does.

Is baclofen a strong drug?

SIDE EFFECTS. The most common is transient drowsiness (10 to 63%). In one controlled study of 175 patients, transient drowsiness was observed in 63% of those receiving baclofen compared to 36% of those in the placebo group. Other common adverse reactions are dizziness (5 to 15%), weakness (5 to 15%) and fatigue (2 to 4%).

What are the side effects of baclofen 10 mg?

Baclofen is used to relieve muscle spasms such as those caused by multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injury due to damage or disease. Particularly effective for relieving flexor spasms (involuntary muscle spasms involving the ankle, knee, or hip) and the pain, contractions, and rigidity associated with these. May help restore some muscle function.

Does baclofen help with pain?

Why does baclofen make you feel good?

Although it is still not exactly known how, baclofen is believed to be able to treat painful muscle spasms by interacting with your central nervous system's GABA receptors and blocking the signals that your nervous system sends out to your muscles to spasm. Baclofen can also improve muscle movement.

How long does it take for baclofen to kick in?

Baclofen reduces pain and discomfort caused by muscle spasms. The tablets and liquid start to work after 1 hour after taking it. However, it might take a few days before you find the right dose to control your symptoms. Common side effects include feeling sleepy and feeling sick (nausea).

Does baclofen work for anxiety?

Among the studies in which the anxiety and depression levels of participants were evaluated, baclofen administration reduced anxiety but not depression levels (45–47).

Does baclofen make you sleepy?

This drug can cause drowsiness. Don't drive, use machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how it affects you. Also, don't drink alcohol or take other medications that may make you feel drowsy while using baclofen. It may make your drowsiness worse.

What to avoid while taking baclofen?

baclofen food You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol while being treated with baclofen. Do not use more than the recommended dose of baclofen, and avoid activities requiring mental alertness such as driving or operating hazardous machinery until you know how the medication affects you.

What drugs should not be taken with baclofen?

Baclofen has severe interactions with no other drugs....Baclofen has serious interactions with the following drugs:benzhydrocodone/acetaminophen.calcium/magnesium/potassium/sodium oxybates.hydrocodone.metoclopramide intranasal.Selinexor.sodium oxybate.sufentanil SL.

Does baclofen improve mood?

Baclofen has previously been reported for inducing behavioural disinhibition and manic like symptoms. 1,2) Due to its mood elevating property its abuse potentiality cannot be ruled out.

Is baclofen good for stress?

Conclusions: Baclofen therapy was effective in treating both the PTSD symptoms and accompanying depression and anxiety in patients with chronic PTSD due to combat.

Does baclofen affect your mood?

Side effects such as hallucinations, confusion or mental depression, other mood or mental changes, and severe drowsiness may be especially likely to occur in elderly patients, who are usually more sensitive than younger adults to the effects of this medicine.

What are the major side effects of baclofen?

Side effects of baclofenFeeling sleepy, tired, dizzy or weak. ... Feeling or being sick (nausea or vomiting) ... Diarrhoea. ... Headaches. ... Problems sleeping. ... Dry mouth. ... Rapid eye movements, blurred vision or difficulty focusing. ... Excessive sweating or a mild rash.More items...

Does baclofen cause weight loss?

Results: Administration of baclofen for 12 weeks significantly decreased both body weight (baseline: 93.30 ± 9.80 kg, 12 weeks: 91.70 ± 10.30 kg) and waist circumference (baseline: 107.9 ± 9.0 cm, 12 weeks: 105.6 ± 10.0 cm).

When is the best time to take baclofen?

Take baclofen with a snack or just after eating a meal. Try to take your doses at the same times of day each day, as this will help you to remember to take them. If you do forget to take a dose, skip the missed dose but remember to take your next dose when it is due.

Is baclofen a strong muscle relaxer?

Baclofen is used to help relax certain muscles in your body. It relieves the spasms, cramping, and tightness of muscles caused by medical problems, including multiple sclerosis or certain injuries to the spine.

How long does 10mg baclofen last?

The plasma elimination half-life of baclofen averages 3 to 4 hours. Baclofen is eliminated largely in unchanged form. Within 72 hours, about 75% of the dose is excreted via the kidneys with about 5% of this amount as metabolites.

Can I take 2 baclofen 10 mg?

DO NOT take a double dose. You should not stop taking Baclofen Tablets suddenly.

What time of day should I take baclofen?

Take baclofen with a snack or just after eating a meal. Try to take your doses at the same times of day each day, as this will help you to remember to take them. If you do forget to take a dose, skip the missed dose but remember to take your next dose when it is due.

Before Taking This Medicine

You should not use baclofen if you are allergic to it.To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have: 1. kidney disease;...

How Should I Take Baclofen?

Take baclofen exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose...

What Happens If I Miss A Dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to...

What Happens If I Overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.Overdose symptoms may include muscle weakness, vomiting, drowsiness...

What Should I Avoid While Taking Baclofen?

Do not use baclofen at a time when you need muscle tone for safe balance and movement during certain activities. In some situations, it may be dang...

What Other Drugs Will Affect Baclofen?

Taking baclofen with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing can cause dangerous side effects or death. Ask your doctor before taki...

What is the benefit of taking Baclofen?

2. Upsides. Baclofen is used to relieve muscle spasms such as those caused by multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injury due to damage or disease. Particularly effective for relieving flexor spasms (involuntary muscle spasms involving the ankle, knee, or hip) and the pain, contractions, and rigidity associated with these.

How does baclofen work?

1. How it works. Baclofen is a muscle relaxant. Experts are not sure exactly how baclofen works to relieve muscle spasms but research suggests it inhibits nerve impulses in the spine, which relaxes and relieves muscle contractions.

How long does it take for baclofen to work?

There is a wide variation in the way individuals respond to baclofen, with some people reporting a reduction in symptoms of muscle spasm within a few hours, whereas for some others it may take several weeks.

What medications interact with baclofen?

Common medications that may interact with baclofen include: antidepressants, such as amitriptyline, imipramine, nortriptyline, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors. some medications used to treat mental illness, such as clozapine and thioridazine.

Does baclofen cause sedation?

Drowsiness, dizziness, or sedation, which may affect your ability to drive or operate machinery or perform other hazardous tasks. The sedative effect of baclofen may be enhanced by alcohol or by other medications that also cause sedation (such as benzodiazepines, opiates).

Does alcohol affect baclofen?

some medications used to treat mental illness, such as clozapine and thioridazine. Alcohol may worsen the side effects of baclofen such as drowsiness and dizziness. Note that this list is not all-inclusive and includes only common medications that may interact with baclofen.

Is baclofen good for hiccups?

Baclofen is not effective for muscle spasms caused by rheumatoid arthritis, cerebral palsy, stroke or Parkinson's disease. May also be used off-label to treat other conditions such as hiccups or Tourette's syndrome. Generic baclofen is available.

What is baclofen used for?

Baclofen is a muscle relaxer and an antispastic agent. Baclofen is used to treat muscle-related symptoms caused by multiple sclerosis, including spasm, pain, and stiffness. Baclofen is taken either as needed, or on a regular, daily basis twice daily.

Is baclofen good for MS?

Baclofen is an excellent option for those who experience muscle spasticity with MS, and is not addictive like other muscle relaxers such as valium. Baclofen may impair your thinking or reactions, so you need to be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert. Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects, and you should be careful as your balance may be off. Some patients will find that muscle relaxation may cause walking to be more difficult, but for the average MS patient, this will not be the case.

How to keep side effects from baclofen?

The key to keeping side effects from baclofen to a minimum is increasing the dose slowly enough that the patient’s brain has enough time to adjust to the change in dose. Side effects generally occur when the dose is raised too fast for that patient. When the brain is given more time to adjust, the side effects go away and ...

How to deal with baclofen side effects?

This explains the major strategies for dealing with baclofen side effects – keeping the baclofen at the same dose until the side effect disappears or lowering the dose back to the previous level which was ok, waiting longer there, then raising the dose again but more slowly this time.

How long does baclofen last?

This is common when baclofen is first started and during the early increases in dose. It lasts 2-3 days and always goes away with continuing baclofen at the same dose. Patients are often very tolerant of this side effect which can re-occur then disappear with further dose increases.

How long does it take for baclofen to go away?

The side effects generally go away within a few days while continuing baclofen at the same dose but they can reappear at the next dose increase, only to disappear again with time.

What medications are used for anxiety?

It is also worth a careful inquiry about what other medications the patient is taking. It may include sedative medications like benzodiazepines, painkillers or sedating antihistamines which are being used for anxiety or insomnia .

Is baclofen permanent?

They can be bizarre and unpleasant but are benign and never permanent.

Is baclofen metabolized by the liver?

Baclofen is 80% excreted by the kidney, largely as the unchanged drug with only 15% being metabolised by the liver. This is a very useful feature of baclofen and makes it safe to use in patients who already have severe liver dysfunction from alcoholism or other causes.

What is the rating of Baclofen?

Also known as: Lioresal, Gablofen, Ozobax, Lioresal Intrathecal. Baclofen has an average rating of 7.0 out of 10 from a total of 13 ratings for the treatment of Neuralgia. 62% of users who reviewed this medication reported a positive effect, while 15% reported a negative effect. Filter by condition.

Can you take baclofen with MS?

Yes No. “I have MS and have been taking Baclofen for a one of my symptoms for few years. I have an overactive and painful parotid gland that gets a lot worse depending on the atmospheric pressure. I was erroneously diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia and was prescribed Gabapentin.

What happens if you stop taking baclofen?

Abrupt discontinuation of intrathecal baclofen may result in high fever, rebound spasticity, muscle rigidity, and rhabdomyolysis (mus cle breakdown) that can progress to failure of several organs, including the kidney, and even death.

What is the difference between gabapentin and baclofen?

Gabapentin is an anti- seizure (anticonvulsant) medication used to prevent seizures and to treat post-herpetic neuralgia, the pain that follows an episode of shingles. Baclofen is a muscle relaxant used to treat skeletal muscle spasms, muscle clonus, rigidity, and pain caused by disorders such as multiple sclerosis.

What is the best medicine for nerve pain?

Gabapentin and baclofen are used off-label to treat nerve pain (neuralgia). Gabapentin is also an anti-seizure medication and treats nerve pain from shingles. Baclofen is a muscle relaxant used to treat pain caused by disorders such as multiple sclerosis. It is also injected into the spinal cord for management of severe spasticity.

What is gabapentin used for?

Gabapentin is an anti- seizure (anticonvulsant) drug that is used for preventing seizures and for treating post-herpetic neuralgia, the pain that follows an episode of shingles. Other off-label uses for gabapentin include anxiety, alcohol withdrawal, cocaine withdrawal, hiccups, restless leg syndrome, hyperhidrosis, headaches, diabetic neuropathy, ...

Can baclofen cause seizures?

Abrupt discontinuation of oral baclofen may cause seizures and hallucinations. Abrupt discontinuation of intrathecal baclofen may result in: high fever, rebound spasticity, muscle rigidity, and. rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) that can progress to failure of several organs, including the kidney, and even death.

Does baclofen cause constipation?

Side effects of baclofen that are different from gabapentin include weakness, headache, seizures, low blood pressure, constipation, confusion, respiratory depression, inability to sleep, and increased urinary frequency or urinary retention.

Are gabapentin and baclofen safe to take while pregnant or breastfeeding?

Doctors do not know the safety of gabapentin during pregnancy. Gabapentin is secreted in human breast milk; therefore, if you are pregnant you should only use this medication if the benefits outweigh the unknown risk to the fetus.

What is Baclofen?

Baclofen has active ingredients of baclofen. It is often used in muscle spasms. eHealthMe is studying from 87,780 Baclofen users for its effectiveness, alternative drugs and more.

What is Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis (a joint disease caused by cartilage loss in a joint) is found to be associated with 3,029 drugs and 2,241 conditions by eHealthMe.

How to use the study?

You can discuss the study with your doctor, to ensure that all drug risks and benefits are fully discussed and understood.

How the study uses the data?

The study is based on baclofen (the active ingredients of Baclofen) and Baclofen (the brand name). Other drugs that have the same active ingredients (e.g. generic drugs) are not considered. Dosage of drugs is not considered in the study neither.

Who is eHealthMe?

With medical big data and proven AI algorithms, eHealthMe provides a platform for everyone to run phase IV clinical trials. We study millions of patients and 5,000 more each day. Results of our real-world drug study have been referenced on 600+ peer-reviewed medical publications, including The Lancet, Mayo Clinic Proceedings, and Nature.

WARNING, DISCLAIMER, USE FOR PUBLICATION

WARNING: Please DO NOT STOP MEDICATIONS without first consulting a physician since doing so could be hazardous to your health.

What is Baclofen?

Baclofen has active ingredients of baclofen. It is often used in muscle spasms. eHealthMe is studying from 87,755 Baclofen users for its effectiveness, alternative drugs and more.

What is Sciatica?

Sciatica (a set of symptoms including pain caused by general compression or irritation of one of five spinal nerve roots of each sciatic nerve) is found to be associated with 1,821 drugs and 1,169 conditions by eHealthMe.

How to use the study?

You can discuss the study with your doctor, to ensure that all drug risks and benefits are fully discussed and understood.

How the study uses the data?

The study is based on baclofen (the active ingredients of Baclofen) and Baclofen (the brand name). Other drugs that have the same active ingredients (e.g. generic drugs) are not considered. Dosage of drugs is not considered in the study neither.

Who is eHealthMe?

With medical big data and proven AI algorithms, eHealthMe provides a platform for everyone to run phase IV clinical trials. We study millions of patients and 5,000 more each day. Results of our real-world drug study have been referenced on 600+ peer-reviewed medical publications, including The Lancet, Mayo Clinic Proceedings, and Nature.

WARNING, DISCLAIMER, USE FOR PUBLICATION

WARNING: Please DO NOT STOP MEDICATIONS without first consulting a physician since doing so could be hazardous to your health.

How It Works

Upsides

Downsides

Bottom Line

Tips

Response and Effectiveness

Interactions

Further Information