What is Baclofen Used For? Dosage & Side Effects

Key Takeaways

Baclofen is a skeletal muscle relaxant used to treat muscle stiffness, reduce muscle spasticity in people with diseases such as multiple sclerosis and provide relief from concomitant pain, involuntary muscle contractions, and muscle rigidity.
Baclofen may not be right for people with rheumatic disease, epilepsy, stroke, Parkinson's disease, cerebral palsy, schizophrenia, or kidney disease.
Baclofen can interact with other drugs, including antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, psychiatric medications, antiepileptic drugs, sleeping pills, sedatives, tranquilizers, and other CNS depressants.

Baclofen belongs to a group of drugs called skeletal muscle relaxants. It is used to treat muscle stiffness. Please continue reading to find out more about baclofen uses, dosage, and side effects.

What are baclofen tablets used for?

Multiple sclerosis

Baclofen is a muscle relaxant. It can help to reduce muscle spasticity in people with multiple sclerosis and provide relief from concomitant pain, flexor spasms (involuntary muscle contractions), and muscle rigidity.

Spinal cord injury

People with injuries of the spinal cord nerves and other spinal cord diseases may benefit from baclofen treatment. This drug relieves muscle pain and improves muscle movement by relaxing the muscle groups causing pain.

Not indicated for certain medical conditions

Doctors do not prescribe baclofen for skeletal muscle spasms associated with rheumatic disorders. The effectiveness of this medicine has not been established in treating people with stroke, Parkinson’s disease, or cerebral palsy.

What is the correct baclofen dose?

Baclofen comes in the form of 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg tablets for oral administration (to take by mouth). It is also available as an oral liquid. A baclofen infusion pump can be used to deliver the medicine directly into the spinal canal to reduce spasticity for more severe cases.

The dosage of baclofen is determined on a case-by-case basis, depending on optimal response. Your healthcare provider will likely start you on a low dose of baclofen and gradually increase the dose until the desired effect is achieved.

For example, your healthcare professional may prescribe 5 mg three times a day for 3 days, followed by 10 mg three times a day for 3 days, 15 mg three times a day for 3 days, and then 20 mg three times a day for 3 days.

The usual maintenance dose of baclofen is between 40 mg and 80 mg daily. The maximum dose is 80 mg daily (20 mg four times a day). Your healthcare provider will give you the lowest dose that is effective. If you do not get an improvement in muscle stiffness after a reasonable trial period on baclofen, your doctor may recommend discontinuing this medicine by slowly lowering the dose.

How to take baclofen?

Administration

Baclofen is usually taken three times a day at equal intervals. Read the prescription label carefully and take baclofen exactly as prescribed. Do not change the dose, dosing frequency, or treatment duration without talking to your doctor or pharmacist.

If you are taking liquid baclofen, use a dose-measuring device such as a cup or syringe to measure the dose accurately. Do not use a household spoon to measure baclofen solution — this can result in wrong dosing.

Tell your doctor if you do not notice any improvement in your muscle spasticity after taking baclofen. Continue taking baclofen if your symptoms are well controlled. Do not stop baclofen without talking with your healthcare provider. Abrupt discontinuation of baclofen can lead to withdrawal symptoms, especially if you are on high doses or have been on this medicine for a long time. Withdrawal symptoms may include fever, muscle stiffness, confusion, hallucinations, and seizures. Your doctor will tell you how to reduce your dose gradually to prevent withdrawal symptoms.

Drug interactions

Baclofen can interact with other drugs, including antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, psychiatric medications, antiepileptic drugs, sleeping pills, sedatives, tranquilizers, and other CNS depressants. Give your doctor a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, dietary supplements, and herbal products, to avoid possible drug interactions between baclofen and your other medicines.

Missed dose

In case you miss a dose of baclofen, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose or extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

Overdose

In case of an overdose, call your local poison control center or the national poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Call 911 if someone has collapsed, had a seizure, has difficulty breathing, or is unresponsive. Baclofen overdose symptoms may include severe drowsiness, decreased alertness, vomiting, weak muscle tone, vision problems, difficulty breathing, seizures, and coma.

What are the side effects of baclofen?

Common side effects of baclofen include drowsiness, dizziness, fatigue, confusion, headache, muscle weakness, constipation, nausea, sleep difficulties, urinary frequency, and urinary retention. Call your doctor for medical advice if these side effects are severe or persist after a few days.

Baclofen can also cause some serious side effects. Call your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical attention if you develop an unusual or allergic reaction. Signs of a serious allergic reaction include skin rash, hives, itching, and breathing difficulties. Also, seek immediate medical care for hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there) or seizures.

Who should not take baclofen?

Baclofen may not be right for people with certain health conditions. Tell your doctor if you have rheumatic disease, epilepsy, stroke, Parkinson's disease, cerebral palsy, a mental illness such as schizophrenia, or impaired renal function (kidney disease). Also, tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while on baclofen, call your doctor without delay.

What are the risks of taking baclofen?

Use during pregnancy

Baclofen is used during pregnancy only if the benefits justify the potential risks. Studies in rats have shown that high doses of baclofen can cause health complications in the fetus. No studies have been done on pregnant women.

Neonatal withdrawal syndrome

Infants born to women who took baclofen during pregnancy can develop a withdrawal syndrome after delivery, with symptoms such as jitteriness, tremors, increased muscle tone, and seizures. If you need to take baclofen during pregnancy, your doctor may recommend gradually reducing the dose and discontinuing the medicine before you deliver.

Withdrawal symptoms

Abrupt withdrawal of baclofen can result in hallucinations and seizures. Your doctor will tell you how to lower the dose gradually when you stop taking baclofen.

Impaired kidney function

Baclofen should be used with caution in people with kidney disease. Your healthcare provider may prescribe a lower dose of baclofen if you have reduced kidney function.

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