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Gabapentin and Baclofen

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Gabapentin and Baclofen

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MS08773O

05 Feb 2012 at 3:05PM

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I have been given Gabapentin and Baclofen to be taken three times a day along with Co-codamol. GP gave these for pain and spasm in my left leg which is new for me. My right leg has rigidity but is fairly numb and weak but pain free with a drop foot on the right side I started taking these tablets last Thursday and since then I have felt very drowsy and can hardly keep my eyes open. Also feeling quite "spaced out". The spasm in my left leg is somewhat improved and certainly not as painful. Do the side effects of tiredness etc improve over time? The improvement in spasm and pain is good but I don't think I can continue with the tablets if the drowsiness and tiredness do not decrease. Can anyone who is taking this medication please advise.

Hazel

Survivor

05 Feb 2012 at 4:27PM

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I am due to take 5mg of Baclofen and asked similar qestion and most replies were that you do feel drowsy. I am not sure karen and best to speak tour consultant or MS Nurse. Sorry to be useless help.

garfield

05 Feb 2012 at 5:28PM

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hi i take 40mg of beclofen for 6 months now has help a lot not drowsy any more wares of after a month or so bot now on that and clozapam and cant stay on the planet so i think beclafen on own is ok it is proberly because u joined the to medicines together if that helps you a bit beclofen defo on own side afect ware of

SGT

05 Feb 2012 at 5:30PM

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Not surprised you are whacked out by this combination. Baclofen made me drowsy and it took 6 months for it not to knock me out. I tried Gabapentin but that made me high as a kite - I went back to Baclofen and as I said it took a while but the side effects are less. Can imagine the two together would be a real knock out combination. Take care nott to do anything that might be dangerous under the influence!

caro51

05 Feb 2012 at 5:54PM

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I started baclofen about 5 months ago (starting on 5mg per day and increasing gradually to 30 mg per day) and then added gabapentin 200mg per day because baclofen was not working for my spasms. I did find that the baclofen made me drowsy at first, but this wore off after about a week or two. I was told to start with very low dose and increase gradually (5mg every three days), this does help to decrease intial side effects. I am fine with baclofen, it just does,nt help at all with the spasms. Unfortunately I had to stop the gabapentin because increase in dose caused diziness. I think it is normal for most intial side effects to settle in time but you should probably check with your GP. I know baclofen works very well for a lot of people.

Carol

rizzo

05 Feb 2012 at 5:56PM

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I take baclofen and pregabalin (which is very similar to gabapentin). The side effects usually wear off after a few weeks, although it might take longer since you've started two new things at once (that's a complete guess though!).

I've found them to be absolutely brilliant. I did nearly stop pregabalin after a couple of weeks, but my MS nurse persuaded me to keep going. I'm really glad she did!

Karen x

BTW, did you see that Greg had replied to your name change post?

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