Baclofen

[Guest guest]

Mandy-

I have been taking Baclofen for about a year and a half and it has

worked wonderfully for my leg cramps. I usually just take one and

one quinine capsule at night. Once in awhile I wake up with that

feeling that the cramping might start and I take another baclofen but

that is really rare. It has worked like a miracle for me and I had

really awful leg cramping!

Deb

[Guest guest]

Hey Mandy,

I agree with Deb on this one but along with baclofen and quinine and take a

small dose of vitamin E. I have had very few cramps.

Laurie from Sarasota

[Guest guest]

http://www.drugs.com/baclofen.html

Baclofen can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be

careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase some of the side effects of baclofen. Do

not use baclofen at a time when muscle tone is needed to assure safe balance and

movement for certain activities. In some situations, it may endanger your

physical safety to be in a state of reduced muscle tone.

http://www.medicinenet.com/baclofen/article.htm

Use of baclofen with other drugs that also depress the function of nerves may

lead to additional reduction in brain function.

In addition to the risk of depressing brain function, the use of baclofen and

tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., Elavil, Sinequan) together may cause muscle

weakness.

Use of baclofen and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (e.g. Nardil, Parnate) can

result in greater depression of brain function as well as low blood pressure.

Because baclofen can increase blood sugar, doses of antidiabetic drugs may need

to be adjusted when baclofen is begun.

http://www.rxlist.com/baclofen-drug.htm

SIDE EFFECTS

The most common is transient drowsiness (10-63%). 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 (5-15%), weakness (5-15%) and fatigue (2-4%). Others reported:

Neuropsychiatric: Confusion (1-11%), headache (4-8%), insomnia (2-7%); and,

rarely, euphoria, excitement, depression, hallucinations, paresthesia, muscle

pain, tinnitus, slurred speech, coordination disorder, tremor, rigidity,

dystonia, ataxia, blurred vision, nystagmus, strabismus, miosis, mydriasis,

diplopia, dysarthria, epileptic seizure.

Cardiovascular: Hypotension (0-9%). Rare instances of dyspnea, palpitation,

chest pain, syncope.

Gastrointestinal: Nausea (4-12%), constipation (2-6%); and, rarely, dry mouth,

anorexia, taste disorder, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and positive test

for occult blood in stool.

Genitourinary: Urinary frequency (2-6%); and, rarely, enuresis, urinary

retention, dysuria, impotence, inability to ejaculate, nocturia, hematuria.

Other: Instances of rash, pruritus, ankle edema, excessive perspiration, weight

gain, nasal congestion.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/drug-information/DR601777

Adults and teenagers—At first, the dose is 5 milligrams (mg) three times a day.

Then, each dose may be increased by 5 mg every three days until the desired

response is reached. No more than 80 mg should be taken within a

twenty-four-hour period.

Perhaps you and your neurologist may want to discuss the amount you take and

what the least dose is for best for you.

Gretchen

[Guest guest]

Hey ,

My neurologist prescribed 10 mg at night to ease muscle spasms in my legs. It

has worked very well.

I wouldn't worry about the drug, but your dosage might be worth discussing with

your neurologist.

Jim

[Guest guest]

,

Having CMT is tough enough w/o having multiple docs in the mix. I have found

it best to choose one as your gatekeeper of care. I chose my board-certified,

experienced neurologist. Now when I go to another doc for anything, I tell

them they MUST confirm any treatment or meds they want to prescribe with my

neurologiist. I even insisted on this when the fam practice doc wanted to

prescribe compression stockings for leg swelling. So many meds that are fine

for most people can be bad for us, look at vitamin B-6 for example. We have

a rare disease that many specialists have little or no training in. So let the

doctor who knows you and understands CMT be the one who decides what treatments

are best for you. I have not had any doctors object to this.

Jeanne