What Is Baclofen?

Many patients seem to take this medication for multiple sclerosis treatment. It may also assist in muscle spasm pain relief. Multiple sclerosis patients may take baclofen as a common mediation for stiff muscles. However, patients may need more information to understand this medication as a treatment for multiple sclerosis and other conditions.

How It Should Work

This medication seems to be a GABA-B agonist. Thus, baclofen appears to activate these receptors. As a result, it should relax the patient's muscles. Some professionals say that this may be why it can be considered similar to pregabalin. This medication may also block the brain from releasing certain neurotransmitters. It also appears to reduce certain reflexes.

Patients seem to be able to expect their body to absorb this medication fast. It may only have a half-life of two to four hours. This looks as if it is why patients may need several doses daily to manage their symptoms. The kidneys seem to get rid of this medication. This process suggests that it may be suitable for liver disease patients whose condition is linked to alcohol use.

Continue to learn about potential uses for this medication next.

Potential Uses

This medication looks to be useful for reducing the severity of muscle spasms. It may also be able to improve muscle pain. Patients appear to experience relief from stiff muscles as well.

Individuals with multiple sclerosis seem to take this medication fairly often. It appears as if this medication helps relieve flexor spasms in these patients. Baclofen may also help restore some function in patients dealing with reversible spasticity. Some doctors suggest this medication to Huntington's disease patients. It may help treat spinal cord injuries too. However, it does not seem to be suitable for some other conditions. The conditions that it may not work for can include strokes, Parkinson's disease, and cerebral palsy.

Sometimes doctors can suggest this medication for 'off-label' uses. It may be a decent acid reflux treatment. This medication may also help patients with alcohol use disorders. However, patients may need to talk to their doctor about this medication's risks and benefits first.

Discover the possible side effects next.

Possible Side Effects

Baclofen seems to result in many possible side effects in patients who take it. Common examples of these effects may include nausea, constipation, and dizziness. Other common possibilities are headaches, confusion, sleeping problems, and sweating. Increased urination can occur as well. In most cases, these side effects appear to resolve when the patient's body has adjusted to the medication. However, it may be possible for them to persist or worsen. If that is the case, patients may want to inform their doctor as soon as possible.

Rare side effects of this medication may be comprised of slurred speech, diarrhea, and ankle swelling. Patients may also notice weight gain and unusual excitement in rare cases. Certain effects of this medication may require an immediate call to the prescribing doctor. Examples may include bloody urine, ringing in the ears, chest pain, and depression. Patients who experience hallucinations or fainting may want to inform their doctor right away as well. Emergency attention appears to be needed for muscle pain, blurry vision, breathing issues, and seizures. The reason seems to be that these are warning signs of an overdose.

Reveal precautions for this medication next.

Precautions

Patients may need to take several precautions when they are considering this medication. It seems as if their medical history matters. Doctors should be aware of a patient's history of kidney disease, high blood pressure, and seizures, if it exists. Other potential points of concern include a history of diabetes, ulcers, and strokes. Blood clots, Parkinson's disease, and cerebral palsy also seem to make this medication unsafe. Mental health issues, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, may also mean that patients should not take this medication.

Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding may not be able to take it, since research does not seem to have determined what effects it will have on them. Women taking this medication may be at a higher risk of ovarian cysts, so they may want to discuss this with their doctor. Additionally, it appears that children younger than twelve years old cannot take it due to safety. Patients may need to avoid physical activity while taking this medication. This may be because it reduces their muscle tone and impairs their balance. It can also reduce their reaction time, so individuals likely need to avoid driving for long periods. They should also stop consuming alcohol for the same reason.

Uncover information on possible medication interactions next.

Possible Medication Interactions

It seems as if baclofen has many possible medication interactions. Approximately twenty-four of them appear to be major ones, and over three hundred may be moderate. Patients may need to list all of their current medications and hand it to their doctor. This suggestion may help them avoid these possible medication interactions.

Patients may face serious side effects if they take baclofen with opioids, such as codeine, and other muscle relaxants. They may also see moderate interactions with medication like buprenorphine. They seem to experience increased drowsiness if they take this medicine along with benzodiazepines as well. These are only a few possible examples, though, so patients still need the list of their medications. They may benefit even more if they include vitamins and supplements on the list.