Author: Joshua Alexander, MD
COMMON USES:
Baclofen is a muscle relaxant that reduces spasticity.
HOW IT'S SUPPLIED
10-milligram and 20-milligram tablets (taken by mouth)
Liquid Suspension: 5-, 10-milligrams per milliliter (taken by mouth)
Intrathecal (used with baclofen pump): 50 micrograms, 500 micrograms, or 2000 micrograms per milliliter
HOW IT WORKS:
Baclofen acts like a brain chemical to reduce muscle tone and spasticity.
THINGS TO DISCUSS WITH YOUR DOCTOR
* Can cause drowsiness. This usually goes away after a week of use.
* Sometimes useful to start with just a bedtime dose for a week (to let the body adjust to the medicine).
* May cause nausea, dizziness, headaches and sleep problems.
* Use with caution in children with kidney disease.
* May increase seizures (especially if used at high doses).
* If taking high doses, be careful not to stop taking it all at once as the body may react with hallucinations and/or seizures.
* Doses used with the baclofen pump are much lower than doses by mouth because the medicine enters the brain and spinal fluid directly.
* It also may reduce gastroesophageal reflux (GER) by keeping the lower esophageal sphincter (a valve above the stomach) from opening up too much.
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