Baclofen (By mouth)
BAK-loe-fen
Treats muscle spasms.
Drug classes
Skeletal Muscle Relaxant, Centrally Acting (About this – PubMed Health)
Uses
Uses of This Medicine
Baclofen is used to help relax certain muscles in your body. It relieves the spasms, cramping, and tightness of muscles caused by medical problems such as multiple sclerosis or certain injuries to the spine. Baclofen does not cure these problems, but it may allow other treatment, such as physical therapy, to be more helpful in improving your condition.
Baclofen acts on the central nervous system (CNS) to produce its muscle relaxant effects. Its actions on the CNS may also cause some of the medicine’s side effects. Baclofen may also be used to relieve other conditions as determined by your doctor.
This medicine is available only with your doctor’s prescription.
Once a medicine has been approved for marketing for a certain use, experience may show that it is also useful for other medical problems. Although this use is not included in product labeling, baclofen is used in certain patients with trigeminal neuralgia (severe burning or stabbing pain along the nerves in the face); also called ”tic douloureux.”
Other uses (PubMed Health)
How To Use
Tablet
Your doctor will tell you how much of this medicine to take and how often. Your dose may need to be changed several times in order to find out what works best for you. Do not take more medicine or take it more often than your doctor tells you to.
If a dose is missed:
If you miss a dose or forget to take your medicine, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to take the medicine and skip the missed dose.
Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.
How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine:
Store the medicine at room temperature in a closed container, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
Ask your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
Keep all medicine away from children and never share your medicine with anyone.
Drugs and Foods to Avoid
Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.
Make sure your doctor knows if you are using any medicines that make you sleepy. These include sleeping pills, cold and allergy medicine, narcotic pain relievers, and sedatives.
When Not To Use
You should not use this medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to baclofen.
Warnings
Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, epilepsy, diabetes, or have had a stroke.
Do not stop using this medicine suddenly without asking your doctor. You may need to slowly decrease your dose before stopping it completely.
This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Avoid driving, using machines, or doing anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert.
Possible side effects
Summary More details
Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:
Increase in how much or how often you urinate
Lightheadedness or fainting
Muscles weakness, trouble breathing, trouble seeing
Severe tiredness or weakness
If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:
Confusion
Swelling in your ankles
Trouble sleeping
Weakness
If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
More side effects of this drug
Brand names include
Lioresal, Lioresal Double Strength
There may be other brand names for this medicine.