Learn About Baclofen
Baclofen, ladies, is a muscle relaxant! Switzerland developed it in the 60s, and the marketing pointed it towards treating epilepsy. Most often, this medication is an oral one, but spinal injections are out there too! Ladies, the starting dose is most often 15 milligrams daily. This lasts for about 3 days! Expect your dose to gradually go up. The maximum is 80 milligrams in a day! Your doctor's going to monitor you on this med, even if you get a lower dose via injection.
This medication's a major multiple sclerosis treatment. But ladies, it's not your only option regarding medication for multiple sclerosis! There are more uses too. This is effective as a prescription for muscle spasms pain relief! Ladies, this medication for stiff muscles is powerful, especially with conditions like MS. However, you need to know more about how it works, particularly as an MS treatment!
How It Works
Ladies, baclofen's a GABA-B agonist, and it'll relax your muscle by activating those receptors! This medication is a lot like pregabalin. That's another strong one! This medication is going to block certain reflexes too. It'll even stop the release of specific neurotransmitters as well!
Your body will absorb this medication very fast, ladies. It's only working with a half-life of 2 to 4 hours! Ladies, this is why you need more than one dose in a day. The good news is that this medication isn't going to change much in your body. Your kidneys will get rid of it! This is excellent news when you have liver disease, especially when alcohol caused it!
Uses
This medication is mostly used to stop your muscle spasms, ladies! It works on painful and stiff muscles too. Ladies, when you have multiple sclerosis, this medication is one you want! Flexor spasms go away quite fast when you take this one. This medication even brings back some of the function related to spasticity in multiple sclerosis! It's going to help with spinal injuries and Huntington's disease, but not for strokes or Parkinson's disease.
Ladies, doctors even have 'off-label' uses for this medication. They'll prescribe it for alcohol use disorders and acid reflux! But be sure to discuss the risks and benefits for you with your doctor first. This is very important, especially when it's an 'off-label' use.
Side Effects
Expect some common side effects on this medication, ladies! You'll deal with confusion, nausea, constipation, dizziness, and headaches fairly often. Ladies, there are other common side effects too! They include problems sleeping, weakness, peeing more often, and sweating. However, there's some good news! These side effects disappear once your body adjusts to this medication.
Of course, baclofen causes rare side effects too! Ladies, examples are diarrhea, slurred speech, and weight gain. Swollen ankles and unusual excitement are rare too, but they do happen! Ladies, call your doctor right away when you see blood in your pee, chest pain, and ringing in your ears! Do it for fainting, depression, and hallucinations too. You're going to need emergency help for muscle pain, seizures, blurry vision, and breathing issues. They're rare, yes, but they are serious signs of an overdose!
Precautions
Get ready to stay cautious on this medication. Ladies, you need precautions! Start by talking to your doctor about your medical history. Mention a history of diabetes, seizures, and kidney disease, when they apply! You need to say when you have high blood pressure and ulcers too. Ladies, your doctor's going to ask about strokes, blood clots, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. They'll mention cerebral palsy and Parkinson's disease too! This is vital, ladies. All of these conditions make this medication unsafe!
Ladies, you can't take it when you're pregnant or breastfeeding either. Stay away from alcohol when you're taking this medication. It means impaired reactions and cognitive issues when you do both! Ladies, avoid driving and extreme physical activity on this medication too. Stay safe!
Medication Interactions
Many medication interactions exist with baclofen! Ladies, there are 24 major ones to watch for. There are over 300 moderate interactions too! Telling your doctor about all your current medications is going to help avoid these interactions. Ladies, remember to mention supplements and vitamins too! Your pharmacist needs to know about these medications too.
You can' take codeine or other opioids with this medication. Doing so causes severe side effects! Benzodiazepines with this medication mean feeling very drowsy. Avoid those ones too! This medication also triggers major interactions with drugs like levomethadyl and buprenorphine. Remember, talk to your doctor first!