NeuroTalk Support Groups - Zanflex to Baclofen

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Zanflex to Baclofen

Hi all. I went to the allergist today. I have had trouble with a post nasal drip that won't go away for quite a while now. ENT's Rx did not help. My first allergy tests were normal today.

So it was suggested I switch to Baclofen because zanaflex can cause rhinitis. I only take it at night. Should I expect it to work as well as Zanaflex for spasms? Any side effects I should know about?

Thank you!

I don't have any advice. They both work for me, most of the time. I generally don't get a lot of side effects.

I take the generic form of Zanaflex- tizanidine before I go to bed. I take 20 mg of Baclofen three times a day.

The tizanidine helps me sleep as well as relieves the spasticity that hits me at night. The baclofen loosens me up, helps with the stiffness and spasticity so I can walk semi normally, bend, and maintain the physical side of my job. I actually do my last dose of Baclofen about an hour before I take the tizanidine, because that way, I seem to get right up and start without the lengthy amount of stretching that I was doing to get going.

I just increased the Baclofen a few weeks ago. It helps.

Times like the last few weeks, I think I need more of both.:(

I hope it works for you! Let us know how it goes!

Thank you Riverwild. I did not know you could take both. I thought it was one or the other, but that is good to know for future reference.

Sorry to hear you have been having a tough time lately. I hope it passes soon. I work too, and some days are harder than others. 9It could be my age too.)

Can you change your routine a little to help? For me that meant not doing cooking every day, consecutively, but taking breaks to work on the sewing project so I could sit more ( teacher).

I did start the baclofen tonight. I noticed it does not make me as tired as the zanaflex. Zanaflex would just knock me right out to La La land. It is keeping the spasms at bay so far tonight.

I am taking Astelin nasal spray now and I think it is doing the trick!! I don't feel the post nasal drip! Yeah! The allergy doctor was so nice. He drew the dosing instructions for me as pictures on the sample box. I had a good laugh over that! Thanks again.

Quote:

Originally Posted by starfish (Post 301398)

AGE??? :eek:

I refuse to accept age as a disability! I am just as nimble in my brain as I was at 25...( nevermind how old I am now) Age didn't do this to me. MS did.

Before MS started attacking me, I was just as able as I was at 25. Everything changed after MS( that $%^&*) I STILL believe that I will have more return of function. I just need time. People report return of function more than two years after the start of Tysabri.

I AM going to be one of those people. I just need to quit eating and move my hiney more and sleep more and...I will...eventually...when I git rid of the spasticity! :p

Glad to hear the baclofen kicked in so fast and the Astelin seems to be helping!

Does Baclofen make either one of you sleepy? I take 20 mg at a time along with 600 mg of Neurontin and it makes me very lightheaded, sleepy and loopy. It does help with the spasticity and pain, though. If I have something to do that I know about ahead of time I will skip my midday dose because I know I'll be staggering if I take it.

Just wish I could find something that doesn't give me side effects. I told my Neuro that I can produce the dizziness myself - I don't need a medication to do it for me! :o

Hello Herekitty. My spasms are from spinal cord damage from an accident, so I only need a muscle relaxer at night. They have calmed down from the initial damage, proabably because he swelling is better ( I had damaged 2 vertebrae in my neck) I was on 4mg of Zanaflex and I did find it made me sleep fast. I would never drive on it.

I am able to go to exercise classes a few times a week and I do find that stretching does help.

Now I just started 5mg (cut pill in half) of baclofen. I did not feel as sleepy after taking it, but I think it may work longer on the spasms. I usually feel them when I am up to tinkle, faithfully around 3am ish when I am on Zanaflex. Supposedly Zanaflex has a peak effective time of 6 hours.

Time will tell how different baclofen is compared to zanaflex. So far the astelin is still working on my drippy sinuses!!

Hi Riverwild. Chances are you are much younger than me. Sorry this disease has taken so much from you. It is nasty, and I feel bad that it can affect people as young as their teens. Its just not fair.

I am a realist, at 51, and I do think my age can influence my energy level, especially when my room is not air conditioned at work. Also I have some unresolved muscle tightness in my legs from a back surgery done through my abdomen. That does not help. I will be back at PT this summer to work on that.

I have been reading your posts about tysabri and I wish you have much success with it. I am still deciding what to do next and going through some other tests. I could not tolerate Betaseron.