Baclofen is an antispasmodic drug developed by the U.S. Food And Drug Administration and initially approved for relieving excessive tension in your muscles (spasms).

Baclofen is used to reduce and relieve excessive muscle tension and spasms associated with various medical conditions, including cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, cerebrovascular accidents (stroke), spinal cord diseases, and various nervous system disorders. It helps individuals with these conditions by reducing muscle spasticity, enhancing comfort, and improving overall mobility.

Take the Baclofen as advised by your physician. Do not crush, chew, or open the medicine. Your physician will decide the correct dosage and duration based on age, body weight, and disease condition. Only stop taking the tablet if your doctor advises you to stop.

The side effects known to occur commonly during the treatment with Baclofen are headache, dizziness or light-headedness, sleeplessness (insomnia), dry mouth, weakness or pain in your muscles, stomach problems including retching, being sick, constipation and diarrhoea, and excessive sweating. Some serious side effects include difficulty breathing, problems with eyesight, low blood pressure (fainting), skin rash, and problems in passing urine.

Baclofen is contraindicated in individuals with known hypersensitivity or allergy to it or its component. Stop taking this tablet and contact your doctor immediately if you develop a rash or skin symptoms. Inform your physician about your complete medical history, including any past or existing medical conditions. Mention if you have a history of stroke, epilepsy, mental illness, high blood pressure, parkinson's disease, liver disease, kidney disease, lung disease, diabetes, difficulty urinating (urinary retention), or drug abuse or dependence before taking this medicine.

This tablet should generally be avoided during pregnancy unless the potential benefits of treatment for the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. If you are pregnant, suspecting, or planning for the pregnancy, inform your doctor before taking the drug. This drug can pass into breast milk, but the amount is typically small and is not expected to affect the baby significantly. However, discussing its use with your physician before breastfeeding is important. Baclofen should be used cautiously in patients with a known history of kidney dysfunction. The medication can worsen kidney function or cause other adverse effects on the kidneys.

Baclofen contains lactose and sodium. If you have been diagnosed with an intolerance to certain sugars, such as lactose, it is advisable to inform your doctor before taking this medication. This drug can be prescribed for children and adults between the ages of 0 and 18 years to manage muscle spasticity and related conditions. However, this tablet is not recommended for use in children under 33 kilograms(kg) of body weight. This weight limit indicates that the tablet may not be suitable for smaller children.

1. Rx Farma Limited, Electronic medicines compendium (EMC), [Revised on Jan 2022] [ Accessed on 14th Sept 2023], https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.14974.pdf
2. McDermott Laboratories Ltd, The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), [ Revised on Feb 2023] [ Accessed on 14th Sept 2023], https://www.hpra.ie/img/uploaded/swedocuments/874293e0-c5c3-41eb-8eed-a6840a2f627c.pdf
3. Goodman & Gilman’s, The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, Treatment of central nervous system degenerative disorders, 12th edition, 2011, 626.
4. KD Tripathi, Essentials of Medical Pharmacology, skeletal muscle relaxants, 7th edition, 2013, 358.

The drug information on this page is not a substitute for medical advice; it is meant for educational purposes only. For further details, consult your doctor about your medical condition to know if you are eligible to receive this treatment.