Backing off of Baclofen...mistake?
 

I'm trying to cut back on Baclofen. I've been taking one pill (10mg) every night for most of the winter. I dont really feel like it's doing that much.

Is 10mg a big enough dose that I have to back off slowly, or can I just stop taking it?

Does stretching help more than using Baclofen for spasticity. Right now, I think my spasticity is very mild. Occasionally I get the Charley Horse from Heck and my heel will try to kick me in the butt while I'm sleeping.

I'm starting to stretch several times a day. Standing on my tip toes for the stiffness in my toes (that might be arthritis) and doing stretches for my legs.

I just think that the baclofen might be causing me problems with my sleep patterns and making me feel weird.

Last night, instead of a whole pill, I took a half a pill. Woke up not feeling as hung over as I usually do, and strangely enough my body didnt feel like someone was beating on me while I was asleep. I also wasnt falling asleep every few seconds while sitting at my desk. I dont know if lowering the dose of the baclofen helped or not. Basically I'm experimenting right now.

I'm going to try to do more treadmill walking starting this week. Trying to up it to at least 40 minutes instead of the 25 to 30 that I usually do. Hoping to get up to an hour eventually.

Anyone have any good suggestions on using exercise instead of baclofen for spasticity?

10 mg is the lowest dose available, but your body can get used to it. Snap it in half. take half a dose for a week, and then see how you feel. Doing ok? then start going every other day for a week. Doing ok? then stop, and just take it as needed.

PLEASE speak to your MD and let them know you are trying this.

My new neuro took me off of Baclofen and put me on zanaflex capsules...honestly, Baclofen wasn't helping reduce the spasticity at all. At least I notice that about 30 min after taking zanaflex I loosen up. I was happy to get off of Baclofen. My neuro told me that that drug combined with the IVSM was "literally frying my brain".

I am on 40 mg of baclofen, and I am not sure if it has ever helped. I have been afraid to taper off it it as my spastcity is pretty bad. I think I will aske my neuro about it tomorrow at my appointment. It does not make me sleepy.

The past two nights, I've only taken half a pill. Havent noticed much of a change, other than the fact that I didnt wake up in horrible pain in my back for the last two days. Not sure if there's a connection.

My left big toe has always felt like it was broken...it's been like that for years (since I was in my early teens) I've been told that was arthritis. The last month or two, the pain in that foot has been the worst it's ever been.

This morning, it hurts, but I can actually move the big toe without wanting to scream. Not sure if that's the stretching I've been doing or if it's lowering the dose of baclofen. (probably the stretching) It feels stiff, still feels like it's broken, but it's moving a lot easier.

I dont know if the baclofen has the opposite effect on me from what it's supposed to do. It sure doesnt seem like it's helped me much. If I stop taking baclofen completely, I might switch to flexeril (muscle relaxer) and see if it helps. I have a Rx for that.

I found zanaflex to be MUCH better for my spastic tight muscles, but it gives me wild dreams! I am so involved and intense with dreams that I am not getting good sleep. I stepped back to baclofen. I do slip in a zanaflex now and again.

I'd like to not have to take anything for spasticity. I dont like taking medications. About the only one that I'll take immediately upon noticing a problem is my migraine med.

I just wish there was a medication for numbness. I'm getting tired of being numb, or tingly. If there were an anti-numbness medication I'd be begging for it.

I get the feeling that my numbness might improve. It's better than it was last september, but hasnt gone away. Some mornings I'll wake up and it'll have backed off a bit, but after being up and awake for a few hours the numbness will start to get worse. The fact that it feels better in the morning tells me it's capable of improving, I just wish it would improve back to normal. And stay that way.