Baclofen side effect...drug hangover
 

I went to my GP yesterday as I have had night after night of no sleep because of my "Hokey Pokey" pains. :(

You know; first the right leg hurts and then the left toe hurts; ya just think it's okay and then the right shoulder hurts... etc...

He asked if I wanted to try Klonopin (clonazepam) again and then he said I want you to try Baclofen before bedtime.

I love Baklova so I said okay!! :)

I took a tablet last night about a half hour before going to bed and I SLEPT from 10:00 pm till 8:00 this morning with out waking up! I was so thrilled but the problem is I feel as though I have a hangover and am dragging today. I had an appointment for a pedicure but cancelled it because I don't feel confident to drive.

I know different people react differently to meds and wondered if y'all had any side effects like this?

I have a hair appointment tomorrow morning so will skip the pill tonite as DH can't take me and I refuse to drive if I am not at my best.

I break my baclofens in half (and sometimes into quarters) because I feel like they're too strong for me. I dont like waking up with the hangover, without the fun of drinking alcohol the night before.

They do help when my calves try to make my heels kick me in the butt while I'm sleeping. :)

I take 10mg of baclofen two times a day, and have not had a problem. But it takes alot to knock me out. I also take 2700 mg of neurontin. I think everyone is different.

When I first started Baclofen, the neuro told me to take 10mg three times a day.

So I tried that. First pill I took was at 2pm. Fell asleep for the next 4 or 5 hours.

Took the next one around 12 or 1am, slept till about 230pm the next day.

Took the third one sometime later that night (probably after 10pm) and was out for another 10 or 12 hours. I was so tired thru all that, I decided to back off on the 10mg three times a day. Now I take it when needed. I seem to only have spasticity for a few days a month. So, when I notice a problem, I'll take a half or a quarter of a pill...do that for a few days and then the spasticity seems to go away for a few weeks. Sometimes I can get by for a month or two before I start having a problem with it again.

Seems like it follows the mini flares I seem to get every couple of months. I can tell I'm in a flare because I'll either have increased spasticity or a l'hermittes sign that wont go away for a bit. I'd rather have the (so far) mild spasticity than have a l'hermittes sign. (last time I had l'hermittes, it was really painful)

I'm sorry that you are having that side effect and really hope it settles down for you soon!:hug:

I have been on 10mg Baclofen 3x daily and I didn't have that side effect you mentioned however I did feel very drowsey and my Physical Therapists and Neurologist noticed that since I started taking it, I was way too floppy. It was really strange as the Baclofen made me VERY floppy in the places that I didn't need to be and didn't work where I needed my muscles to losen up! I got so floppy and it got to the point where I could hardly sit up ... I was slouched over with a curved back nearly all of the time. Eventually, my Doctor agreed that it wasn't working and was making me worse so I decided to come off it and felt better for it.

I hope the side-effects have eased now ... it might just be that your body is getting used to the extra meds but I would definitely speak to your doctor if this persists for a period of time!

Please keep us all updated!:hug:

i've experienced that also. it sometimes happens when you first start the med.
i agree with cutting the pill in half and trying that.

with con't use it should abate.
hope it helps.

I take both and I sleep so well now! :) I started out with half a dose and worked my way up. I think that helps you adjust with out that hang over feeling.

LA

Janie - I definitely felt that way when I tried baclofen. It took me a 1 1/2 days to feel normal again and that was on 5 mg.:eek:

I decided to not take it anymore. I was taking it to help with quality of life but feeling that way, to me, was no quality of life. I decided to just deal with the spasms and pain without meds. I do know that it takes about a week to adjust to the meds and over time it supposedly gets better. However, I don't have a week to give up to being a doped up, couch potato, mom. Baclofen is one of those drugs that you need to take for a bit to get the full benefit. It is not one that you can take every now and then.

At my last neuro's appointment they gave me some Valium to try. I have yet to try it as it was around the holidays and knowing that I am sensitive to drugs, I didn't want to be doped up during the holidays. :o