Baclofen for Muscle Spasm User Reviews (Page 3)

• DJD...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 12, 2017

"I was diagnosed with a muscular neurological disorder of unknown origin - SPS - with both my legs becoming stiff and my feet cramping a lot, with no control over lower bodily functions. I was given an Rx of 20 mg two times daily and was told to watch for gastrointestinal side effects. I didn't really have any problems there, but the Rx worked at getting me ambulatory again. I tried to up it to 40 mg two times daily, but it made me sleepy and the neuro told me it was better to take the 20 mg three or four times a day rather than 40 mg all at once. As with all diagnoses and prescriptions, some collaboration with the doctor and experimentation by the patient is required to find the right Rx dosage for the symptoms. I am able to ride a bike, walk and drive, get around, but no quick reflex activity."

• daL...
• May 22, 2017

"After using 20 mg in the evening... I was getting no relief from muscle spasms, so I spaced the dose out to 20 mg in the afternoon and 20 mg in the evening. As I got sleepy and dozed off in my chair, I found myself waking but not breathing, I would have to gasp for a large amount of air and wake up... This went on all evening. This has never happened in my life before. I repeated this a few days later and got the same results: I opened my eyes and realized I'm not breathing and gasped for as much air as I could take... Very scary."

• Aro...
• August 17, 2009

"I take 10 mg at night for intense right leg spasms that were occurring every morning and sometimes multiple times per day. Very painful and debilitating. First week on Baclofen felt a bit drowsy at night, but that quickly subsided. It has almost entirely taken away the morning spasms, leg only feels a bit tight when it wants/needs to spasm. This medicine has changed my life! If I miss one dose, the spasms quickly return. I definitely recommend this to anyone with spasm pain."

• Fib...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 19, 2017

"I'm on 20 mg of baclofen tid, and it works pretty well, it takes a little while for it to kick in, but it helps subside my pain/cramps in my legs. I need to ask my doctor to increase my dosage due to the medication not lasting long enough. Overall, it's a pretty good medication."

• cma...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 17, 2019

"Baclofen is sometimes ordered by pain clinics for muscle spasms without consideration for the very bad side effects. Baclofen is given for spasticity. Pain clinics need to understand this. Also not good for the elderly. Pain clinics often use off-label drugs for pain, but patients end up with reactions that can often be severe."

• Bab...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 14, 2019

"Baclofen is the only muscle relaxant my pain doctor will prescribe for me. I have arthritis in my neck that causes headache pain. Seriously, sugar pills do better. Absolutely does nothing. Taking the prescribed amount of one 10 mg tablet every 8 hours. Definitely does nothing for my headaches."

• Pie...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 8, 2019

"Horrible medication, took it for the first time tonight, fell asleep, woke up and felt I was not alive!!! I started having panic attacks, thought I was going to end up at the E.R. Never again am I taking this medication."

• Joa...
• September 26, 2016

"I was prescribed this medication for my back. After 3 days, I lost my muscle coordination, dropping drinks. My glasses could not focus. Within 4 hours, I fainted and woke up in the hospital 2 days later. I don't know if it was a stroke or a short coma. No one will tell me exactly what happened to me. After 2 days off this medication, I have had no symptoms. This is a very bad drug."

• Anonymous
• May 6, 2008

"Baclofen has been the best relief for my back problems in many years. A doctor in our town has refused to write me a prescription for baclofen, stating it is 'bad' for me. Instead, he says I should take 2 Tylenol 500 three times a day EVERY day. Not sure what he is thinking, but I'm sure I don't need that much Tylenol in my system on a permanent basis. I only use the baclofen on an as-needed basis."

• lis...
• October 12, 2011

"Finally, relief. I have suffered all of my adult life with severe pain from menstrual cramps. After taking Lupron (which stopped my period), I was left with these reactive, painful pelvic/uterine muscle spasms. The muscle would seize up and cause pain for no reason. Baclofen worked from day one. And no sleepiness and no loopy feeling-very nice."

• Ste...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 25, 2019

"I used baclofen for headaches due to injuries from a car accident. I was doing well on 10 mg once a day. A month later, my doctor bumped it up to 20 mg 4 times a day! That caused dizziness. I also missed a day, and oh boy! Withdrawal was miserable! It truly was the worst! Anxiety and heart palpitations throughout the night kept me up and I couldn’t sleep, felt like I had to go to the ER. I felt like this for days even though I was taking it like normal (20 mg 4 times a day). It did not help with sleep even when I didn’t have the withdrawal problems. Definitely would not recommend this drug if you don’t have severe muscle spasms!"

• Sho...
• December 5, 2017

"I have a rare form of muscular dystrophy. This drug lets me lead a normal life. Been on it for over 17 years now, no side effects, but takes away my spastic problems. Highly recommend and so grateful for it."

• Jos...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 21, 2020

"I was prescribed this medicine for my hip bursitis because I could not sleep on my sides. I took it at 10:30 PM when I went to bed. I didn't wake up enough to get out of bed until about 3:30 PM. It is now almost 9:00 PM, and I am still groggy and not able to function very well. I slept super sound, did a lot of dreaming that I remember. I slept super soundly, did not suffer with hip pain that hurt when I turned on my side. BUT I was unable to wake up the entire next day. For me, the drug is NOT something I believe is helpful."

• Big...
• October 7, 2019

"Been suffering lumbar L1 to L5 now for 15 years. Spinal stenosis in L2 to L4. Basically, Drs are running out of pain medication. Was given Baclofen, one 10mg tab 3 times a day, no serious side effects, no more than slow-released oxycodone. But basically, now on the maximum dose 3 times a day. Noticed that it restored a little help in that the spasms are less aggressive. But like anything for scale 50 pain is that I'm finding now it's become less effective as body is starting to get used to it. But used with Diazepam on a flare-up, the 2 work well together to calm a sudden onset."

• Geo...
• May 6, 2016

"I have used Baclofen for some time now, but have only in the last 2 to 3 months started to have side effects such as hallucinations, and seeing and hearing things that are not there. I also take Requip, which also gives almost the same side effects. I also take Coumadin (Warfarin)."

• Pip...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 29, 2016

"I don't notice it working. I notice when it stops. Example: I had a physical therapy pool session. I overslept and took my 10 mg dose 30 minutes before pool time. I started my session shuffling my feet along the pool floor. 30 minutes into my pool time, I could pick my knees up like a drum majorette. I convinced my PT about the value of baclofen. Like other antispasmodics and pain pills, baclofen starts working in one hour. It's helpful to set your alarm an hour early and take it before you get out of bed. I take it for mitochondrial myopathy. I always have a low level of spasms that become like charley horses with activity."

• MRS...
• August 29, 2010

"After trying several muscle relaxers with no improvement, my new pain management doctor put me on 10 mg baclofen 3 x daily. I was extremely drowsy the first week, by the second week, I had complete resolution of my lower back pain following 2 lumbar surgeries to correct scoliosis. First time I can walk and stand straight up in years. Initially helped my neck pain, but is now no longer effective. Having surgery tomorrow to repair subluxation of C3/4, hoping that resolves my pain. Status post surgery x 5 for cervical herniations. May need to adjust the dose? Great medicine, highly recommended."

• Law...
• October 13, 2017

"Unless you have MS or are in dire need of spasticity reduction, I would recommend no one take this stuff. It is a nasty, nasty, nasty drug, made me feel out of it, slurred speech. It also caused me to develop sleep apnea, and it also increased my anxiety. It also makes it hard to breathe when laying down. Weaning off of it was awful, wave after wave of anxiety and then aggression. I'd rather have back spasms than feel the way it did. I weaned totally off it 48 hours ago and I've had hiccups for 14 hours and some agitation."

• Poi...
• November 1, 2016

"Baclofen has changed my life. CP suffer, back surgery, spinal arthritis, pinched nerves in my neck and lower back. Before baclofen, 6 Panadine Forte a day, now I take 3. 10 mg tabs per day of baclofen. No more back spasms. Might take 4 Panadine Forte a week now. Have been on Endep for 2 years, but it doesn't compare. Wonderful."

• Anonymous
• March 22, 2009

"Have been put on baclofen for spasms in legs and back after back fusion for injury due to a train crash. The benefit has been enormous. I can now sleep, walk, and lead an almost normal life. I only take 5 mg three times a day."

• Rho...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 6, 2016

"After just a few days' dosing at 120 mg every six hours, I started to feel peculiar in the GI tract... all kinds of strangeness. The drug didn't do enough good for the purpose prescribed, so I quit it and returned the drug to the pharmacy for disposal."

• sab...
• January 1, 2010

"I only gave this medication a 10 because there wasn't a higher rating available! I have severe muscle spasms, I also have some myalgias too. With the combo of Lyrica and baclofen, I can walk again without severe pain. I have had no side effects, and I'm not all doped up on Soma anymore!"

• Joe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 26, 2022

"Had some terrible muscle spasms everywhere on my body that lasted for hours. I took 20 mg of baclofen, my spasms stopped, and it changed my very bad sleeping routine from sleeping at 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. I woke up very uplifted and euphoric, with no body soreness."

• Kan...
• August 22, 2016

"Was taking baclofen 20 mg 3 times a day for cervical degenerative disc disease. I didn't think it really helped until I ran out, now I noticed that my neck hurts more and is stiffer. I moved out of state, and now I don't qualify for insurance. I also had a hard time sleeping while taking it, but I also have insomnia, so I can't say for sure if the baclofen was causing it or not. I just noticed a difference when I ran out."

• Eda...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 10, 2019

"I have been suffering every day from neck muscle spasms, tightness symptoms for over a year now. The pain management doctor put me on baclofen 20 mg twice daily. I experienced horrible mouth symptoms every day. I haven’t felt much of this medicine working. My family doctor told me to increase the baclofen to 20 mg twice daily. Again, horrible, nauseating dry mouth every day and not feeling any improvement in my neck condition. I will stop taking this medicine."