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Suggest Treatment For Muscle Weakness, Itching And Shaking After Taking Baclofen
Question: Hi:
I have been taking Baclofen for 6-7 years. This past six months I have had strange symptoms and since that is about the only drug I take I decided to look at the side effects. I had so many of the less common ones it was hard to believe. Shaking, heart pounding itching muscle weakness and several others. I decided to go off of it and have begun slowly. I am still suffering from many and am having a difficult time of it. Is it like an addiction I am dealing with?
I have been taking Baclofen for 6-7 years. This past six months I have had strange symptoms and since that is about the only drug I take I decided to look at the side effects. I had so many of the less common ones it was hard to believe. Shaking, heart pounding itching muscle weakness and several others. I decided to go off of it and have begun slowly. I am still suffering from many and am having a difficult time of it. Is it like an addiction I am dealing with?
Brief Answer:
Read below
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
As a drug which acts on the central nervous system baclofen can disrupt the neurotransmitter balance and produce different side efects depending on which side the balance tips to. Generally speaking those side effect which you mention are not common, actually it usually leads to quite the opposite, it has an anxiolytic effect and often improves those symptoms you mention (shaking, palpitations) which are often related to anxiety. If you see the common side effects those are actually sedation and somnolence.
So what I am trying to say is that I wouldn’t be so sure those symptoms are related to Baclofen, especially given that you have been feeling them after such a long time of use. If they are related to anxiety actually withdrawing from Baclofen may make them worse (as it may have been alleviating them till now).
As for the addiction issue, it is not considered an addictive drug. But withdrawal from it can be associated with anxiety, restlessness, palpitation, nervousness etc, so it should be very very gradual in order to give time to the body to adapt to the changes and restore a new neurotransmitter balance.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Read below
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
As a drug which acts on the central nervous system baclofen can disrupt the neurotransmitter balance and produce different side efects depending on which side the balance tips to. Generally speaking those side effect which you mention are not common, actually it usually leads to quite the opposite, it has an anxiolytic effect and often improves those symptoms you mention (shaking, palpitations) which are often related to anxiety. If you see the common side effects those are actually sedation and somnolence.
So what I am trying to say is that I wouldn’t be so sure those symptoms are related to Baclofen, especially given that you have been feeling them after such a long time of use. If they are related to anxiety actually withdrawing from Baclofen may make them worse (as it may have been alleviating them till now).
As for the addiction issue, it is not considered an addictive drug. But withdrawal from it can be associated with anxiety, restlessness, palpitation, nervousness etc, so it should be very very gradual in order to give time to the body to adapt to the changes and restore a new neurotransmitter balance.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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