Baclofen

[Gary]

I am wondering if it Baclofen looses its effectiveness over time. Or possibly you build up a tolerance. I take the 20mg 2pills up to 4 times a day. It used to work pretty well. But lately it seems it just doesn't do the trick any more.

My legs are so stiff that I feel like they are made of wood. You cant take pain pills for relief so I wonder if there is anything else anyone has taken. I tried Zanaflex and it interfered with my BP meds and I didn't see much difference between it and Baclofen plus it aint cheap.


It can get pretty miserable especially at nights. I also have noticed the spastic jerking and tremors in my hands and fingers. You would think I had MS or something.

[Pegakafarmgirl]

sorry to hear, its not effective anymore, I take 20 mg 3 times a day, and it helps, I tossed around the idea of the pump, but heard to many negatives about it,, opted for the pill form,,hope someone can help.

[Lazarus]

Hi Gary,
Your question sounds like me. Up until recently I was always afraid of some of my meds losing their effectiveness. I always thought that by taking the fewest doses that I was somehow keeping my body from getting too used to the dose I was prescribed. I did this with baclofen and with my bladder med.

My neuro kept telling me That my thinking was wrong. But I am a thick head and thought I was right. This summer I started taking the meds on the schedule given and wow! So many problems are now controlled. I really thought the meds were no longer going to work.

Anyway, in talking to me about the dosages I became aware that I was taking relatively low doses of the baclofen and that I had a misunderstanding about how much of the bladder med I could take. I still back off the baclofen when I am not having significant problems and start taking the full dose when problems are bad. But I know it is wrong to do that. Knucklehead.
But, maybe talk to your doc about increasing dose or timing between doses when things are not moving smoothly?

I wonder what others do with the meds that they take most regularly.

[Howie]

I went through the med problem with ADs. The first I tried worked so well, I said "I don't need this, I don't feel depressed". Well duh! After that, I had to try something else because the first one wouldn't work the second time. I went through several until I found one that works.

Now anything I take is at the dose and frequency prescribed. Feeling pretty good for a sick guy!

[Sunshine]

Is it generic? If so,did the pharmacy change the company that makes the generic. Some generics do not work!

[Howie]

If I understand the question, I only take generic because I used to pay for meds myself. But now, I'm on Medicaid and each prescription costs me about $2.60.

..................................................
My dad worked for a pharmaceutical company, and he said there is no difference between regular meds and generic. They only change the fill ingredients, but the actual drug is the same.

[agate]

Gary, I haven't had any personal experience with Baclofen but I notice this on the Drugs.com Website:

Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results.

That sounds as if it's one of those drugs that are more or less effective as time goes by. As Linda suggested, talking to your doctor about the dosage is probably a good idea. It might need some re-evaluating.


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[Gary]

I think I will start with my Dr, its been awhile since I had a reevaluation of my meds.

[agate]

Looks like one of those medicines where getting the exact dosage right is pretty important.

[Sunshine]

If I understand the question, I only take generic because I used to pay for meds myself. But now, I'm on Medicaid and each prescription costs me about $2.60.

..................................................
My dad worked for a pharmaceutical company, and he said there is no difference between regular meds and generic. They only change the fill ingredients, but the actual drug is the same.

There are many generics that don't work as well as brand name. Example: Lamictal generic is known to be problematic. Some of Wellbutrin generic is a problem. One of Concerta generic does not work. There is lots of variability in the. Synthroid generics. A generic from one manufacturere may work well, but another generic may not. APOTEX is a generic factory that has been severely reprimanded by FDA for other problems in their manufacturing.

If you google People's Paharmacy generic problems, I bet there will be info on this generic vs brand name issue.

Your pharmacy will have a record as to which manufacturer's generic they sold you each month

[Catdancer]

I've been using ropinerole, with pretty good results, especially for the jerky legs at night issue. You might ask your doctor about that.

As for peoples pharmacy, I'm.really skeptical about what I hear or read there. Lots of reliance on "natural" remedies, lots of suspicion about pharmaceuticals or regular medicine. EVERYTHING I've read from legitimate sources say that the essential ingredients in a generic drug must be EXACTLY the same as the original. The Essential Ingredients. By FDA and other government regulations.

Now, all meds have fillers, even the original, and coatings, sometimes flavorings, all of which might make the med respond differently in different people. Some of the time release coatings for example in some generic meds have been a problem for some folks. But again --the actual.medication inside the pill, or capsule, or bottle has to BE THE SAME MEDICATION, AT THE SAME DOSAGE LEVEL, as the original, despite what the good doctor might tell you on people's pharmacy.

[SalpalSally]

Its true that meds lose their effectiveness overtime Gary. Baclofin doses are usually upped until an effective dose for you is reached. That goes for most ADs as well. Seeing your Doc for an evaluation is a good idea.

[Lazarus]

Thanks everyone. Lots of useful information to explore.

The one experience I have had is that the generic for ditropan works much better for me than the original. I use oxybutin. It works but the ditropan does not work. So, the cheaper version is what controls my bladder function.
Linda

[jendie]

When I was taking Baclofen, I maxed out the dosage and got NO relief from the spasticity. What I have found that helps me the best is cannabis. I take it in edible or liquid form and it is the only thing I've found that actually relaxes my muscles.

[renee]

I'm allergic to Baclofen so I have been on a klonopin generic for 19 years.

There are a few generic producing countries from which I hope to never receive their
products. Where life is cheap, hygiene and quality control are relaxed, there are few
repercussions if something nasty happens to consumers because of a tainted product.