Question about starting bac

[Sammi33]

Hello,

Hoping you guys can help me...i started bac 3 days ago and it's not going too well.

My doctor started me on 30 mg a day (3 x 10) does that seem high to you guys? I have been reading through a lot of posts and it seems to me that this is a lot to start on.

The first day i only took 1 dose because i got it in the evening, day 2 i started to feel pretty spaced out, and yesterday i felt horrible....i couldn't stop clenching/grinding my teeth and frowning really hard so my face hurt. For a couple of hours i felt a strange feeling like i couldn't, or at least really didn't want to talk, even to answer a yes or no question, and my mind was completely gone couldnt think straight or even understand a short newspaper article. I didnt end up taking my third dose cos i was feeling really scared.

I have been reading on here about bac for a long time and was desperate to try it after other meds have not really helped, so i don't want to quit. Also my dr has severely warned my about dangerous side effects from stopping suddenly.

I am thinking of dropping down to 3 x 5 but i would really appreciate any advice or feedback from anyone.

Thank you :new:

[bleep]

Question about starting bac

Hi Sammi, and welcome.

It is a slightly hectic start. Maybe try 3 x 5mg's for the first few days? At this point, you have absolutely nothing to worry about regarding withdrawal or dose reduction, it's only after a couple of months that it will become an issue. Even then, reducing your dose is fine, it's abrupt cessation that is an issue.

Even with a gradual titration, there can be side effects though. Know that generally it is well worth putting up with them, as the end result is something you read about in fairy tales.

Good luck.

[ignominious]

Question about starting bac

You clearly seem to be reacting very strongly to baclofen.

It is not unusual to start at 30mg, I did so myself, but 3 x 5 for the first 3 to 5 days is more the norm nowadays.

It can take 3 to 5 days for the full affect of your daily baclofen dosage to fully be felt.

I would suggest immediately cutting your dose to 15mg/day or even 10 and see how you feel in another 3 days.

Welcome and good luck.

[Sammi33]

Question about starting bac

Has anyone else had these side effects?

I am just wondering if the dose being too high or having a bad reaction is actually dangerous or just feels really bad at the time.

[Murphyx]

Question about starting bac

Spaced out, clenching/grinding teeth, can't read more than a paragraph without your mind wandering, these are all side effects most people have had. Me included. It's not dangerous, just annoying.

Your doc definitely started you off too high. You really should start slow at 2 x 5 mg per day and then wait 5 days or a week before increasing.

It's not a race, you'll still reach your goal. If you start slow you should avoid a lot of the side effects.

Welcome btw.:welcome:

[Sammi33]

Question about starting bac

Is it ok to cut back after a few days at the higher dose?

[SlipperyPete]

Question about starting bac

I've had the mental ones, like spaced out, scared, not wanting to talk, but they didn't last too long. I would take bleep's advice and go to 3x5 mg's for a couple days.

[Murphyx]

Question about starting bac

Sammi33;1159481 wrote: Is it ok to cut back after a few days at the higher dose?

From 30/day to 10 or 15? Yes, that's not going to be a problem.

[Sammi33]

Question about starting bac

Thanks pete, how long is not too long? Hours or days?

[SlipperyPete]

Question about starting bac

Hours at most, but usually not that long. It's easy to psyche yourself out when taking baclofen, especially when your doc warns you about serious problems that could occur, however you're at such a low dose, and have been on it for only a few days that there's really no risk of withdrawal.

Just take a deep breath, know that most of us have had the same SE's, and you'll feel better

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Question about starting bac

Sammi33;1159475 wrote: Has anyone else had these side effects?

I am just wondering if the dose being too high or having a bad reaction is actually dangerous or just feels really bad at the time.

I had a very, very hard time with side effects at the lower doses, Sammi.
They wane though.
Not too long can mean both a couple of hours or a couple of days, but the bottom line is that they end.

Stopping suddenly has more to do with stopping when you're taking a lot more, or for a lot longer. (I'm not a doctor and don't play one.)

After some trial and error I started on 5mg once a day, and went up from there.

When I got comfortable, and understood that baclofen was safe (it is) and that what was happening was okay, I was able to go up and find a comfortable dose. It wasn't long before it started to impact my drinking.

Hang in there.

[Sammi33]

Question about starting bac

I just read on another thread that taking smaller doses more frequently can make you very sick.

Thanks to all of your advice i cut down yesterday to 3 x 5mg and definitely felt better, but i couldnt really get out of bed all day. Today i have to work so i was thinking of doing 6 x 2.5mg to try and minimize SE and get through the work day, but after reading this other post i don't want to be throwing up all day either!

Thanks,

S

[ignominious]

Question about starting bac

Hi Sammi. Glad the reduction is showing results.

IMO the SEs will continue to diminish for the next couple of days so I would advise you not to reduce further or frankly make it more complicated by splitting the dose up at this stage.

Another point to consider is that you need to have an overall steady stream of baclofen, gradually increasing in dose until you reach your switch. I personally didn't have to worry about what my colleagues at work thought of me as I'm self employed and I don't envy anybody who has to be bright and bushy all day! This stuff works but very few people have a completely painless ride, despite what Dr L or OA say.

[Murphyx]

Question about starting bac

Sammi33;1160015 wrote: I just read on another thread that taking smaller doses more frequently can make you very sick... after reading this other post i don't want to be throwing up all day either!

Sammi, the great thing about these public forums is that everybody can have their say. It's also one of the drawbacks because a single individual can make a claim, even though it might be based on nothing more than a miscommunication, confusion or sometimes a downright bloody-minded desire to undo the good work of others. New members read it and assume it to have some credit. I have no idea why the other poster you refer to, made the claim about smaller doses making you sick, but (s)he is in a minority of one. No one else has ever reported that to be the case.

The vast majority of people know that smaller doses will help reduce SEs.

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Question about starting bac

Sammi33;1160015 wrote: I just read on another thread that taking smaller doses more frequently can make you very sick.

Thanks to all of your advice i cut down yesterday to 3 x 5mg and definitely felt better, but i couldnt really get out of bed all day. Today i have to work so i was thinking of doing 6 x 2.5mg to try and minimize SE and get through the work day, but after reading this other post i don't want to be throwing up all day either!

Thanks,

S

Hey Sammie! I do know what and to whom you are referring. (DHS, right?) And I know the circumstances. I'm not sure about the circumstances under which Dr. L said that taking smaller doses more frequently were not a good idea, though. I have had several conversations with Dr. L about the fact that taking smaller doses more frequently can be beneficial. (And it is for me. Very beneficial.) I suspect that D had that reaction and that Dr. L said, "well, don't do it like that." Makes sense, right? The majority of us find that splitting up the doses works very well, though. Give it a shot!

And please let us know, simply because it's important to know how people react. Also because we're a curious bunch and we tend to care about how people are. Ya know?

Ne