Baclofen
About
Baclofen belongs to the group of medicines called 'muscle relaxants' used to reduce and relieve the muscle spasms (excessive tension in the muscles) occurring in various illnesses. Muscle spasm is the sudden involuntary contractions of the muscle, which can be painful and uncomfortable. When the nerve impulses that control the muscle movements are damaged or interrupted, it could lead to muscle spasms.
Baclofen works by inhibiting the reflexes at the spinal level and helps in relieving pain and improves muscle movements. Baclofen works on the spinal cord and brain, thereby helps in maintaining muscle strength and relieves muscle spasms or stiffness. Thus Baclofen reduces muscle spasm in the conditions of multiple sclerosis (a disorder which affects the brain and spinal cord), cerebrovascular accidents (damage to the brain due to lack of blood supply), cerebral palsy (a disorder of movement, posture and muscle tone), spinal cord diseases and other nervous system disorders.
Take Baclofen with food. You are advised to take Baclofen for as long as your doctor has prescribed it for you, depending on your medical condition. In some cases, you may experience certain common side-effects such as sleepiness, drowsiness, nausea, headache, weakness, and dry mouth. Most of these side-effects do not require medical attention and will resolve gradually over time. However, you are suggested to talk to your doctor if you experience these side-effects persistently.
Do not discontinue Baclofen suddenly as it could lead to unpleasant side-effects such as rigidity, increased heart rate, changes in mood, fever, mental disorders, confusion, hallucinations, and fits (seizures). Consult your doctor before taking Baclofen if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Baclofen is not recommended for children below 4 years of age and those who weigh below 33kgs. Inform your doctor about all the current medicines you are taking and about your health condition to rule out any unpleasant side-effects. Please speak to your doctor immediately if you experience mood swings, depression, or if you have any suicidal thoughts.
Uses of Baclofen
Medicinal Benefits
Baclofen belongs to the group of medicines called muscle relaxants used to reduce and relieve the muscle spasms (excessive tension in the muscles) occurring in various illnesses such as multiple sclerosis (a disorder which affects the brain and spinal cord), cerebrovascular accidents (damage to the brain due to lack of blood supply), cerebral palsy (a disorder of movement, posture and muscle tone), spinal cord diseases and other nervous system disorders. Baclofen works by inhibiting the reflexes at the spinal level and helps in relieving pain and improves muscle movements. Baclofen is particularly effective for relieving involuntary muscle spasms in the ankle, hip, and knee. Baclofen also helps in restoring muscle function; however, Baclofen is not effective for muscle spasms caused by stroke, Parkinson’s disease, or rheumatoid arthritis. Baclofen works on the centres of the spinal cord and brain, thereby helps in maintaining muscle strength and relieving muscle spasms or stiffness. Baclofen is used off-label to treat hiccups or Tourette’s syndrome (a nervous problem which causes people to make uncontrollable sudden movements or sounds).
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Baclofen
- Sleepiness
- Drowsiness
- Nausea
- Headache
- Weakness
- Dry mouth
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
Do not take Baclofen if you are allergic to any of its contents or if you ever had a stomach ulcer. Talk to your doctor before taking Baclofen if you have kidney or liver problems, mental disorders, breathing difficulty or lung disease, diabetes, difficulty in urination, high blood pressure, Parkinson’s disease, or if you ever had a stroke. Consult your doctor before taking Baclofen if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Baclofen is not recommended for children below four years of age and those who weigh below 33 kg.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Baclofen may have interaction with pain killers (hydrocodone, methadone, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, morphine, fentanyl, tramadol), opiate antagonists (naloxone), muscle relaxant (tizanidine), drugs used to treat mood disorders (lithium, amitriptyline), calcium channel blocker (diltiazem), drugs used to treat Parkinson’s disease (levodopa, carbidopa), anti-histamine (promethazine), sedative medicine (temazepam), and anti-convulsant (carbamazepine).
Drug-Food Interactions: Avoid consumption of alcohol while taking Baclofen as it might cause increased sleepiness, drowsiness, and difficulty in concentrating.
Drug-Disease Interactions: Inform your doctor if you have kidney dysfunction, seizures (fits), psychosis (a severe mental disorder with impaired thoughts and emotions), and autonomic dysreflexia (spinal cord injury).
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeAvoid consumption of alcohol while taking Baclofen as it may increase drowsiness.
Pregnancy
cautionAvoid taking Baclofen if you are pregnant unless prescribed by a doctor. Please consult your doctor if you have any concerns regarding this; your doctor will prescribe only if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Breast Feeding
cautionConsult your doctor before taking Baclofen; your doctor will decide whether Baclofen can be taken by breastfeeding mothers or not.
Driving
cautionBaclofen causes sleepiness and drowsiness. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are alert.
Liver
cautionDose adjustment may be needed in patients with liver impairment. Please consult your doctor if you have a liver impairment or any concerns regarding this.
Kidney
cautionDose adjustment may be needed in patients with kidney impairment. Please consult your doctor if you have kidney impairment or any concerns regarding this.
Children
cautionBaclofen should not be given to children under 33 kgs of body weight. Baclofen should be used in children above 4 years if prescribed by a doctor.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Exercising regularly helps in muscle stretching so that they are less likely to spasm, tear, and sprain. Mild exercises such as jogging and walking are helpful for muscle stretching.
- Massages can also be helpful.
- Avoid extremely cold and hot temperatures.
- Avoid wearing tight-fitting clothes, instead, wear loose garments.
- Rest well, get plenty of sleep.
- To avoid developing pressure sores, change your position at least every two hours.
- Hot or cold therapy can be helpful in treating muscle spasms. Apply an ice-pack or hot-pack on the muscle for 15-20minutes.
- Stay hydrated, drink plenty of water.
Special Advise
- Your doctor may advise you to undergo regular blood tests to monitor liver function.
- Inform your doctor that you are taking Baclofen if you are due to undergo any surgery which requires a general anaesthetic.
- Please talk to your doctor immediately if you experience mood swings, depression, or if you have any suicidal thoughts.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Muscle spasm: It is the sudden involuntary contractions of the muscle, which can be painful and uncomfortable. When the nerve impulses that control the muscle movements are damaged or interrupted, it could lead to muscle spasms. Symptoms include muscle tightness, joint stiffness, unusual posture, difficulty in moving, pain in affected muscles, and joints. Fatigue (weakness), stress, extreme heat or cold, infection, and tight clothing can trigger muscle spasms. Muscle relaxants and exercise can treat muscle spasms. Muscle relaxants sedate the muscle and help in inhibiting painful contractions. Exercise helps in muscle stretching so that they are less likely to spasm, tear, and sprain.
FAQs
Baclofen works on the centres of the spinal cord and brain, thereby helps in maintaining muscle strength and relieves muscle spasms or stiffness.
Baclofen causes sleepiness and drowsiness. So, drive only if you are alert and omit driving or operating machinery if you feel sleepy or drowsy.
Dry mouth could be a side-effect of Baclofen. Limiting caffeine intake, avoiding smoking and mouthwashes containing alcohol, drinking water regularly, and chewing sugar-free gum/candy might help in stimulating saliva and thereby prevents drying of the mouth.
Do not discontinue Baclofen without consulting your doctor. Discontinuing Baclofen suddenly might cause muscle rigidity, increased heart rate, changes in mood, fever, mental disorders, confusion, hallucinations, and fits (seizures). Talk to your doctor if you feel any difficulty while taking Baclofen; your doctor will reduce the dose gradually.
Do not use Baclofen at a time when muscle tone is required for safe balance and movement during certain activities. In some conditions, it may be dangerous for you to have low or reduced muscle tone. Please do not drink alcohol with Baclofen as it can cause side effects. Avoid driving or performing hazardous tasks until you know how Baclofen will affect you and your reactions could be impaired.
