Baclofen having no effect

New diagnosis and before diagnosis
1

Hi everyone,

I was prescribed Baclofen 10 days ago and I feel they aren’t working and if anything spasm around ribs are getting worse. I was told to try for few weeks but feel like giving up already! Any advice on this medication would be greatly appreciated I think it’s quite a small dose 5mg *3 a day.

Thanks

Kellyann

2

Hi, I think you need to give the meds a bit longer to work.

Most people are told to find their own optimum dosage with baclofen.

15 mg a day could be too low, but you have to increase it slowly. Has your gp or neuro put you on it?

If it was your gp, then ask for a telephone appointment to discuss increasing the dose.

It is a good drug at reducing spasms and stiffness, but as with all drugs, they affect different folk differently.

A word of warning, if I may, but without wishing to alarm you…take care, as too much may cause weak muscles and this may cause falls.

Pollx

3

Hi Poll,

Thanks for your reply. It was g.p. that put me on them will give them another week and then give doc a call. Neuro did warn me about muscle weakness but I don’t see that happening anytime soon my legs are solid at the moment but thank you for advice I really do appreciate it. I’ve tried to stay away from drugs but spasms were just excruciating don’t know what to do for best.

Thanks

Kellyann

4

hi kellyann

I took baclofen to begin with when first dx’d , at that time I found my legs felt like two limp sticks of celery, I put it down to MS , it was in fact the baclofen itself that was causing them to be more limp than the MS had caused. I changed to tizanidine and felt a difference for the better immediately. What I found was that where baclofen made all my muscles feel limp the tizanidine seemed to be more targeted . and I was getting relief from spasticity but at same time it wasn’t causing the limpness in my legs. Tizanidine is worth checking out, I know that what works for one might not work for other but still worth checking.

david

5

baclofen sent me to sleep!

it was like i’d had an anaesthetic.

getting down stairs was scary so i stopped taking it.

carole x

6

Hi

Thanks for replies. I’ve actually stopped taking them a couple of days ago as they weren’t helping at all and felt scared to up dose after reading reviews about them. I’ve got neuro appt in 4 weeks and I’m going to ask if there’s anything he would suggest. I take a lot of magnesium, stretching etc. but feel nothing’s working on tin man legs haha x