So I started on the pill yesterday, I understand it needs to be taken on a regular basis and its best to slowly up your dosage. My doc gave me the 10mg n told me to start with 5mg 3 times a day. After taking 10 mg yesterday I literally felt like complete crap. I was drowsy for maybe an hour, then I got all jittery feeling, as if I was on effexor. My stomach was in knots, was sensitive to light and I had a killer headache, which has yet to fully go away. I'm thinking this is not the drug for me.. but before I call the doctor bitching I'm wondering if anyone else had these same symptoms in the beginning?

Wow Ches, that sounds pretty harsh.

When I first started baclofen I would be drowsy for a bit then it would go away. I have been jittery when I have missed a dose.

I would talk with my doctor about it.

Tramadol does the same to me, my doctor and I decided it wasn't for me.

hi ches
i too felt pretty crap when i first went on baclofen, i was very drowsy, got a stinking headache that lasted for days, felt jittery and generally felt quite unwell, it knocked me off for the best part of my first week, but gradually the symptoms dissapeared, now i only have symptoms if i miss a dose, i guess its part of your body getting used to the new drug. but if your worried its always a good idea to seek medical advice. hope things settle down for you very soon
wendy

Hi Ches,

Give it 2-3 days to see if it settles down.

When my pump packed up a couple of weeks ago, my doc put me on 30mg 3 times a day (90mg per day), after a couple of days, I started to get used to it.

Regards

Simon.

I'm on 5 mg twice a day, it makes me slightly drowsy combined with the neurotin, but i've gotten used to it when i first started taking it i was supposed to be on 3mg 3 times a day, which basically made me want to sleep all day, and the smaller does pretty much did the trick, what it didnt take care of wasnt worth the extra crappiness. I would say give it a few days for it to fully get through your system and really begin to work, otherwise i would say call the doc and see what may be done

I agree with the others, baclofen is definitely something your body learns to tolerate. That's why you have to start with a small dose and build it up. Like Wendy, I only get problems when I miss a dose for whatever reason.

I dont even need the stuff daily. Doc was just feeling pill happy when she wrote the Rx..

What are some good alternatives to baclofen that can taken as needed?

I've been taking 20mg 4 times a day since about the 2nd month after my injury. I don't remember any ill effects at all.
I also take 5mg Valium 3 times a day. Both have controlled my spasms over the years.......

Jim

Oh man, I had similar reactions to baclofen only mine didn't go away. I stopped taking the stuff years and years ago. It seems like doctors try to push baclofen on every SCI person but not every SCI person needs it. I'd rather deal with spasms and spasticity (which I find really helps with daily stuff like transfers anyway) than be a zombie but for those that really badly need it, their bodies just learn to tolerate it as others have said. My body is super sensitive to side effects and I try to stay away from taking anything. I also tried Neurontin, sometime around 2001 I believe it was, and I took that stuff for three days before I couldn't take it anymore. I couldn't even function.

Hi ches,

I've had this doctor from a physio therapist come round this morning and he's writing a letter to my doctor to get me on this baclofen.Every doctor in Sheffield Hospital was well against me not haveing it saying it makes you drowsy and when i went on a back up corse down Devon(in England) i met a guy who was bang at it and he looked completely hammered on it.

I was going to make a topic or thread and was wondering where to put it then seen yours.Are you still taking it?.

I get a spasm in my stomach by just moveing a little and get them pretty bad when transfering in my legs but still get about a lot, anyway i'm gonna give a blast.

Really strong grass(cannabis) is amazing for your spasms but very exspensive unless you know someone who grows it.

Hope it chills out for you!!

Geezerx

Geezer, I actually gave it up. I couldnt deal w/ the side effects more pain than relief in my case. I guess I'm one of the few who baclofen just wasnt intended for. Hope it works out better for you!

Clonazepam. I take that as needed at night, and a pretty low dose (0.5 mg)

when thr dr put me on baclofen he put me on 5mg 2 times a day for a few weeks then they put me on 10mg 2 times a day i felt like shit but it was helping me now im on 20mg 3 times a day ive got use to it now i still get some spasmsin my back & legs now they put me diazepam 5mg 3 times a day as well as my baclofen its working

the dr wants me to go on 30mg 3 times a day of baclofen but ive said no it wont stop the spasms completely but its given my life back & i can enjoy my life now & get on with things

from fastwheels

I've been a T7 for 14 years now and have been taking 40mg of Baclofen 4 times a day since the begining of my injury. Your body gets use to it. Give it some time.

One thing that i learned is that STRETCHING your legs will prevent the spasms from happening. I stretch in the morning and a few time before i go to bed and it also makes me sleep more sound..


CHEERS