Baclofen side effects - is it normal to feel like I’m on drugs??

[queenguinevere]

Hi everyone. This is my first post here, I think I have had fibromyalgia for the last two years, however no doctors had actually listened to me until now.

I’ve been referred to a rheumatologist and prescribed 10mg baclofen, three times a day. This is my first day on my new meds and I feel like I’m on drugs, I feel so drowsy and like I’m going to dissociate. Honestly, it feels like I’m going through withdrawals from my anti-depressants. I’m just a bit worried because I’m supposed to be at work whilst feeling like this.

Does anyone else have this experience?

[Hazel_Angelstar Administrator FMA UK Staff]

Hi and a warm welcome to our community. Here you will find information support friendship and laughter too. You will find general information about fibromyalgia on our website fmauk.org

I cannot answer your question re meds as it's not one I've ever been on, however some meds can make you feel drowsy/spaced out to start with then settle down

[releasethemagic]

Baclofen is an unusual choice of treatment for fibromyalgia. It is typically prescribed for muscle spasticity caused by Multiple Sclerosis and spinal injuries. I think you need to find out more about why you have been put on this heavy duty medication, rather than the usual Fibromyalgia treatments. Talk to your GP.

[Al10]

I suggest you get in the car, drive to work, make lots of important decisions, as per your normal and see the results.

If you crash the car, surprise your colleagues, get the sack for incompetence or otherwise cause mayhem there, maybe you can deduce you are on drugs. Otherwise just keep swallowing the smarties and hope they may you feel better.

Or you could ring your GP for advice? (Pronto!)

Um, you are actually taking drugs when you swallow what the GP prescribes. And some people do feel mighty weird doing that. They aren't Smarties. (Drugs are mainly poisons designed to force the body into compliance.) Some folks will settle on meds and they say they feel better, some folks wont. Some folks will try for a long time to settle because the GP says they should persevere. Some of those will say, in time, they feel better. Some wont. And those that dont, often have then the job of withdrawing off those meds.

Treating Fibro is not an exact science. We are all different. Many of us get the the point, after many negative Meds experiences, to become very wary. The GP's still know very little about treating Fibros and even less about treating us as individuals.

My advice as someone damaged by the help I received from Drs, is to educate yourself. Do as much as you can to be well. Look at what your Fibro is trying to teach you. Posture, diet, deficiencies, exercise, lifestyle, thoughts, beliefs, etc. Who are you? Does your life allow you to be you? Why? Do you want to fix that?

A lot of Fibro I think, starts in the Gut. Poor digestion, limited gut bacteria. That's where to start looking at the physical. Is your gut working well? Poor digestion, leads to poor healing, poor sleep, leading to poor healing, leading to poor mental capacity etc. A wonderful spiral down. Lots of us despair. Get depressed. Can't see the light. We should never lose sight of the light.

Meds can sometimes give the body time to heal. But they rarely do the actual healing. That is your job to ensure you are doing all you can. Happy healing!

[Farmerboy]

Hello, I was diagnosed with Ms in 2016 and prescribed Baclofen by my consultant 10mg three times a day. I was instructed by my GP to take half a tablet once a day for 7 days then half a tablet twice a day for the second week and three half tablets three times a day for week three. It took me 6 weeks to get to the correct prescription dosage because of the possible side effects.

[spzgirl51]

Hello queenguinevere ,

I agree with Farmerboy . It is best to built up slow to the required dose , it is a very powerful drug which can affect you in many ways . So it will take a while to be tolerant of it. It is best to build up slowly . You may still get quite a few strange side affects while you adjust to it?

It can induce feelings of depression in some people too . It is important to talk to your gp or consultant prescriber if you are in need of reassurance. I have taken this for sometime and the sideaffects will reduce. It took me ages before I felt able to drive on this drug.

Good luck . I hope it settles for you soon.

[Hidden]

Hi there, I'm on pregablin because of my muscles which twitch or my for jerking in my body , I'm surprised you are on them for fibromyalgia but I'm no Dr side effects you can get tired on and off other than that I'm ok and I'm on max dose . I would ask your GP if you are worried . Clive.