Hi everyone. I’ve been prescribed balcofen today how good is it? Thanks guys xx
I have heard of it being used in addition to your TN meds to help.
Hi tiger, I take pregablin and duloxetine. I’ve been given baclofen for flare ups. Its not doing much I have to say x
Hey Helen, my Dr. just suggested it for me because I am having a bad reaction to tegretol. I am so worried I won't be able to function and work on it.
Hi Helen! I also was just prescribed baclofen for breakthrough pain because I had too many bad side effects with Tegretol. Have only taken it a couple times, but it does help. Just get real tired and little dizzy buts its worth it. Good luck
Lg that’s my concern too. Thanks eadt I’m going to persevere for a few days see if it helps x
I take baclofen along with gabapentin ... at first i used 10mg ... it worked well for about a year ... now i have my dosage increased to 20 mg ... i take it three times a day along with the gabapentin, which i take 2 tablets, four times a day ... needless to say, my memory is lousy
Thanks Rebecca Ive taken the 3 prescribed today. Its made me feel a bit wobbly. Pains in my ear have subsided but I cant tell if that's the Baclofen? Does it work that quick?
it took about a week before i noticed an "improvement" ... everyone is different ... what worked for me may not work for others ... i hope you find some relief
Rebecca I had a 48 hr build up and I have to be honest I don’t like the effect when combined with extra pregablin not very nice I feel gross this morning!!! X
Hi,
I started Baclofen around six months after I was diagnosed in addition to Trileptal. After being on it for a few weeks, I didn’t notice any difference so it was stopped. I didn’t experience any side effects while on the medication which I have with most medication; it just didn’t seem to provide pain relief.
No beth I’ve not had pain relief really. X
Baclofen is a muscle relaxant and is often used together with other meds to treat TN. I was prescribed it last winter. I was only taking 5 mg twice a day. It did help for the pain (slightly). The worst part of it was the bizaar weight gain. I had no change to my appettite or diet. Within two weeks my skin felt like it no longer fit and the weight began to soar up. I gained 18 pounds in less than two months! I had MVD surgery this past September and was taken off the Baclofen while still in the hospital. Immediately the weight began to drop off. Sadly the pain control on just the Carbamazepine is not great but I will not go back on Baclofen unless absolutely necessary. Each person responds diffferently so perhaps my experience was unique. All the best as you consider your options.
Hi Patty, I had a chat to the pain clinic nurse yesterday and discussed my case. She explained that when someone experiences a viral infection and then painful bells palsy like me then it isn't uncommon for the nerves that were affected begin to misfire causing our type of pain. She did say that its possible for there to be nerve damage or compression still left over but she was hopeful the nerve blocks will continue to control the pain cycle. Im determined not to get on some extra drug and try to control pain with pregablin, duloxetine and injections for as long as possible.
Did your MVD surgery not help? x
I am glad you are getting sound advice. Having great people on your team is so important when you have chronic pain. What type of injections are you getting?
My MVD surgery did not make a huge difference. There are some definite improvements for sure but not the massive life changing ones which I had hoped for. Wind does not set off the pain like it used to but talking causes it more. I am not as sensitive to noise as I was either. The frequency and severity of the TN 1 is less but the TN 2 is worse and has been right from the first day of surgery.
There still is swelling and I am hopeful that once recovery is complete I will have significantly less pain.
All the best as you navigate the course.
I just took my first baclofen last night. Only 5mg 3/day to start, and then going up to 10mg 3/day and up to 20 3/day if necessary. Boy did 5mg make me a sleepy-sleepy. The last few days I have only had minor pain so I am wondering if it is even worth starting this medication. Remission, no remission. Do I play chicken or not?!
Patty, I am so sorry your MVD hasn't made much of a difference. Maybe once the swelling is down things will be better?? I really hope so!
Helen, I didn't know a viral infection could cause TN. I had lyme disease pretty badly for several years when I was a child. Sometimes I wonder if that caused my TN. No way to know I suppose.
My injections are steroid. Im due more in Dec.
I agree LG there is no way to know whether or not I would have developed this pain anyway but Ive certainly never been the same. I just know Im having a better time right now and emotionally feel more in control than when it was all so painful and making my life such a mess. x