Muscular spasticity can occur because of many triggers; key among them are injuries in the spinal cord, medical conditions like multiple sclerosis, disorders pertaining to the spine, etc. Spasticity or spasms are often accompanied by pain, stiffness and other related discomforts. Meds belonging to a class of drugs called muscular relaxants are administered to bring about needful relief from such conditions. Baclofen is a commonly used drug in this genre of medications. Before taking this relaxant, you are advised to talk to your treating doctor or pharmacist to understand its likely side effects.
Baclofen is a muscle relaxing drug. It ranks among the most commonly prescribed drugs in the US. This drug regulates and controls the receptors of a substance called gamma – aminobutyric acid / y-aminobutyric acid (GABA). GABA is essential to minimize excitement of muscles. You need to know that an over-excitement of muscles remains a lead cause for muscular pains, spasms and stiffness. Baclofen is administered either orally or in the form of shots. In case of shots, these are given at the spinal cord region. As half-life of baclofen is less than 4 hours, you may need frequent administration of this drug – i.e., at regular intervals – for better relief.
Dosage levels and other possible uses of baclofen
Baclofen is usually administered in dosage forms varying from 10 milligrams (mg) to 20 mg. Your medication plan may not be the same as another person who is experiencing a similar muscular condition. Dosages are influenced by your clinical condition, age and also, based on how well your body responds to the initial dosages of this drug. In order to minimize any major side effects or adverse reactions, your physician may commence the dosage plan at a low level of say, less than 10 mg. If the initial responses are not adverse, doses are gradually enhanced to 10 mg or 20 mg – depending on the underlying clinical condition.
In some instances, baclofen has been used for pains experienced in the back or lower back region. As long as the cause of pains is a muscular condition, this drug may be of some use. But, if the cause behind your pain is not a muscular condition, this drug may be of very little use. The food and drug administration (FDA) has approved baclofen mainly for muscular spasms. This drug – in its off-label form, is used for the treatment of back pains and for a few other related types of pains. Those who are taking this med on a self-treatment mode need to stay cautious of the dosage levels. You also need to know the likely side effects this drug may trigger.
Side effects of baclofen
As a first step, you need to tell your treating physician or pharmacist about any prior allergies or known discomforts that you may have experienced – if any. In such cases, a safer substitute or an alternative is administered to avoid such problems. You also need to keep track of bodily changes or shifts in moods that may show up soon after taking baclofen.
Commonly experienced side effects
Most common side effects of baclofen are abdominal discomforts such as nausea and vomiting. Other common side effects include excessive levels of weariness, migraines, drowsiness, difficulties to pass stools, urge to urinate often, insomnia or other sleep-related problems such as lack of sleep or excessive sleep. At times, this drug can also make you stay unfocused or stay in a confused state of mind. As dizziness, drowsiness and confusion are widely experienced discomforts – you are advised not to perform activities needing high level of focus and mental concentration.
Serious or major side effects and discomforts triggered by the intake of baclofen
This drug is generally considered as safe. The odds of very serious discomforts or acute side effects are very low among most users. In rare instances, people have observed side effects like fits, convulsions or epileptic seizures. In equally remote cases, some users have reported weird dreams or hallucinations; they have also complained of listening to voices that no one else hears. Some users have witnessed imaginary visuals – again, these are illusionary in nature.
So, if your family’s medical history or your clinical history includes conditions like strokes, epileptic fits, Parkinson’s disease, cerebral palsy, other mental conditions like bipolar disorders or schizophrenia – your treating doctor needs to stay aware of such conditions. Those with kidney related conditions or renal failures need to take added precautions. Women who are pregnant may need to stay away from this drug as it is likely to cause some damage to the fetus. Similarly, women who are nursing a baby or breastfeeding need to tell their doctor about their lifestyle. The ingredients of baclofen are likely to get into mother’s milk; owing to this, infants who feed on breast milk may develop withdrawal problems. These can manifest as crying too very often or development of feeding problems.
Side effects of a likely overdose of baclofen
Some users erroneously believe that an excessive dose of this drug can treat muscular problems faster. This is incorrect. Larger intake of this drug may only aggravate your medical condition. Also, an overdose may trigger a few major side effects in your system. Such side effects include convulsions or epileptic fits, respiratory problems such as shallow breathing cycles as well as gasping or wheezing. Upon experiencing any of these major side effects of baclofen, you are advised to call 911 if you are a resident of US. You may also consider calling the FDA helpline contacts. Those living in Canada can either call Health Canada or establish quick contact with a local poison control center.
In sum, common side effects of baclofen include nausea, vomiting, weariness, headaches, dizziness, constipation, sleep-related problems, etc. This medication may also make you drowsy; it is highly recommended not to do tasks that require mental focus and a high level of attention; for instance, you may need to avoid activities like operating heavy machinery, driving, etc. If most of these common side effects do not go away in a few days – you need to call your medical team on an emergency mode. In some cases, medical care is rendered in a professional healthcare setting such as a hospital or a clinic.
Education: Master’s in Public Health (MPH) from the University of Michigan. Experience: Over 8 years of experience writing for health and wellness websites, including WebMD and Healthline, specializing in women’s health and nutrition.
