Last post Sun, Aug 24 2008 5:40 PM by Carlotta. 15 replies.
I am, have been for almost 2 years. I find that it helps me a lot. Before Baclofen I would fall a lot and feel like I was walking sideways a lot, and my legs always felt really tite..
I also use this med, and find it very helpful. I know several people who have had dosage problems (they fall asleep at waking moments, etc.,), but this has not happened to me. I have muscle spasticity from scleroderma, and it helps. I use the oral med, not the pump. No side effects that I know of for me.
yep, i got the pump too.
http://maydayprdx.blogspot.com/2008/02/going-bionic-or-how-i-learned-to-stop.html
i also take baclofen when i think i need it i have MMD (myotonic muscular dystrophy) and find it really helps.
Yeah, I'm on oral, and have been for almost 5 years now! It's the best thing I hever done for myself. I'm quiet spastic so my entire body just feels better. I also think spasticity can cause nerviousness, at least for me anyhow, and that has seemed to gone away. Talking, sleeping, everything is better!
I took it for 6 months but then my body got immune to it. Has others experience this and how you dealt with it?
I drive and work so increasing the dosage is not a option.
I have been taking it for 8 years because of MS. I find it very helpful. My doctor prescribes 2 daily, but I take 1 and it works great with Paxil for me. I work and get few side effects.
Rona
I was prescribed Baclofen after my amputation surgery, because I was having a huge problem with my stump spasming. I kept taking it until about three weeks after my second surgery, and found it very helpful in controlling the spasms until I learned other techniques that did not require meds. It was very helpful while I was recovering, because the spasms were so intense that they would wake me up at night without it. I found that my need for it lessened as I healed, though I understand that other people continue to have difficulty with spasming, and it might be helpful to them for longer term usage. My biggest problem with it was that it did cause slight drowsiness for me during the day, so I only took it at night and just "toughed it out" with the spasming during the day.
ducky
My husband (T5 Para) has been on Baclofen for almost a year now. It seems to keep his spasms in check and makes him more comfortable during the day. It doesn't make him tired, but I've recently done some research where patients with SCI who are on Bacoflen have less nerve regeneration than patients not on Bacoflen. When he did go off of it for a couple of weeks he was extremely uncomfortable.
Am interested in that lack of nerve regeneration. Any more information, or when you have it, can you share? Thanks so much. Bonnie
Bonnie,
The Therapist at Detroit Medical Center Spinal Recovery Center was telling us about Dr. Donald's research. His paper has not yet been published, but she is trying to track down the information for me. We're only there 2 days a week, so as soon as I get it I'll let you know. But from what our therapist has told us, the Doc had three groups of people, one who were on Bacoflen, one group on 1/2 normal dosage, and one group on none at all. In the first case very few nerves were firing in the spinal cord, and the second was about the same as the first group. However, the third group had numerous nerve endings firing. That's really all I know at this time. But as soon as she gets me anything relating to his findings I'll pass it to you.
I use baclofen at night to help my muscles relax. I've been on it since I was 16.
I have CP, and several years ago I tried Baclofen, but it didn't work for me at all. However, I have a friend who takes it to help with her MS, and she says it works great for her. Perhaps it works better on some conditions than on others, or maybe it's just a matter of the individual.
Angel, I am also interested in that research on nerve regeneration so please share the information when you get it. I took baclofen for a short time while in rehab but got scared when I read the side effects, which, ironically, included worse spasms. Plus, the spasms supposedly serve a good purpose including circulation and maintaining muscle tone.
