Has anyone had experience with Baclofen, a muscle relaxer? When I first having pain, the dentist (who then thought it was TMJ) prescribed muscle relaxers (not Baclofen) which did not help at all.
Since my jaw pain is still very severe, the neurologist has increased my Gabapentin from 300 mg. 4x a day to 600 mg 3x times a day. So I was taking 1200 mg. total every day and now I am to take 1800 mg. every day. In addition, he prescribed 10 mg. of Baclofen three times a day. Reading the info about Baclofen makes me hesitate taking it. I am already feeling goofy from the Gabapentin. So far I don't think Gabapentin has helped or not much but I had an allergic reaction to Oxcarbazepine so I don't know what else to do. Thanks for any advice or relating any experiences with Baclofen.
So far my pain is tolerable under the increased dose of Gabapentin. I got the Baclofen prescription filled but I haven't taken one of them yet. I don't want to if I don't have to. Thank you for your reply. I am learning to search for info here before I post questions. :-)
Take care.
Carol
Jackie said:
Hi Carol
There has been a discussion in the last couple of weeks about this with some interesting answers if you put Baclofen in the search box you should come across this. There is amused reaction to Baclofen. I hated it. I was the 1/10,000 who had a very adverse reaction.
Gabapentin, 600mgs 3x a day, Lamictal 100mg 2x and 5mg oxycodone when needed. I have nearly constant tolerable pain around the border of v2 and v3.I've been taking the oxycodone 2x regularly and it seems to prevent a flare up. I was doing well when The Storm unexpectedly blew into town. Raised my oxycodone dosage and it only helped a little. Speech impediment,chewing etc, pain in cheek nearly crawled into the really uncomfortable zone. These usually last several days but this unwanted visitor siuck around for nearly a week. Honestly, I don't mind feeling a little goofy when the environment allows it. It's better than the alternative.
Tegretol presented my with a body rash and fever. Sometimes it takes a while to find the right mixture.
Be firm with the doctors. Create a fact sheet of the different treatments you see on this site and bring it with you to your next appointment.
Be your own best advocate.It's frustrating ( to say the least) but hang in there.while you search for the right meds.
I also have TN, diagnosed in May. I had a rash with Tegretol, I’m on 1200mg 4x day of Neurontin, 4800mg and its helped but still with pain everyday. I then tried Cymbalta, made me cry all the time, stopped that. Now they want to try Baclofen. Any suggestions??
I also have TN diagnose last November! In the beginning it was horrible the shocking pain was terrible cause by a root canal. My endodontist prescribe gabapentin for me did not work for me. Went to see a neurologist did all the blood work everything came back normal had a MRI did not show anything. He prescribe lyrica it did work for me for a while but then I started getting terrible leg pain. Cymbalta made me very jittery and severe acid reflex. He put me on Tripetal that gave me a very severe reaction to it. It work for a couple of weeks then bam it hit me. I thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown. I went to a different neurologist he put me on Tegrotol it work in the beginning than bam again the severe reaction started again.So right now I am on 45 mg of amitriptyline and Baclofen 10 mg 3 times a day. When my top 2 teeth give me problem and my palette that is when I take the Baclofen.I only take one and seems to help. It makes me sleepy and I do have to take stool softeners when i take it. I hate taking drugs because of all the side effects. So I have been going to acupuncture which has help me alot. I have to warm up my water because the coldness hurts my teeth and I also have to cut up my food when I bite into a sandwich my top two teeth start hurting. I think what has help me the most is acupuncture. I pray that it will keep working! Take care!
I’ve been on Baclofen, and I had no adverse affects at all.
Unfortunately my TN at the time was med resistant, so it didn’t work. Nothing did.
I currently have a new rx for Baclofen should the pain increase. I wouldn’t hesitate to fill it .
We’re all different though…
Mimi
When I was first diagnosed with TN, baclofen was added twice a day along with the trileptal I was taking. I only took if for a few weeks as I saw no difference, but at the same time there was no sedation or side-effects. I have found other medications to be more helpful, but I know that it has helped some.
I was doing well on Tegretol until my sodium levels became dangerously low. Since the end of June, they reduced the Tegretol XR to 400 mg. twice a day plus 10 mg. Baclofen 3 times a day. The first 2 days I took the Baclofen, I couldn't keep my eyes open. Then my body seemed to adjust. I do seem to be a little "foggy", but don't know which, if either, of the meds is causing it. The Baclofen has helped with the reduction of the Tegretol. I'm scheduled for an MVD in Dec. 5. Good luck!