Baclofen: What It Treats and How to Use It Safely

Wondering if baclofen could help your muscle spasms? Baclofen is a muscle relaxant doctors commonly prescribe for spasticity from conditions like multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injury. It calms overactive nerves and reduces tightness so you can move or sleep more comfortably.

How baclofen works and common uses

Baclofen acts on the central nervous system to slow nerve signals that cause muscle stiffness. For most people it's an oral tablet taken several times a day. In severe cases where pills don’t help, a doctor may use an intrathecal pump that delivers baclofen directly to the spinal fluid.

Typical oral starting dose is low—often 5 mg two or three times daily—and your doctor may raise it slowly. Many people see benefit at moderate doses (30–60 mg/day). Some patients require higher amounts up to about 80 mg/day, but higher doses bring more side effects and need close monitoring.

Baclofen is also studied off-label for alcohol dependence and other conditions, but that use isn’t routine. Ask your doctor if any off-label option might apply to you.

Safety tips, side effects, and tapering

Common side effects are drowsiness, dizziness, weakness, nausea, and headache. These often improve after your body adjusts. Because it causes sedation, avoid heavy machinery or driving until you know how it affects you. Mixing baclofen with alcohol, opioids, or benzodiazepines raises the risk of dangerous drowsiness and breathing problems—don’t combine them without medical approval.

Stopping baclofen suddenly can be risky. Abrupt withdrawal may cause hallucinations, seizures, rapid return of spasticity, or a high fever. If you need to stop, your doctor will give a taper schedule—usually a gradual dose reduction over days to weeks depending on how long you’ve been taking it.

If you’re pregnant, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding, talk to your prescriber. Data is limited, and your doctor will weigh risks and benefits for your situation.

Practical tips: take baclofen with food if it upsets your stomach, try the largest dose at bedtime to reduce daytime sleepiness, and keep to the schedule to avoid peaks and troughs in symptom control. Store tablets at room temperature away from heat and moisture.

Call your healthcare provider right away for severe side effects like trouble breathing, extreme drowsiness, fainting, sudden behavior changes, or a new rash. Also contact them if your muscle spasms suddenly get worse after stopping the medicine.

Got questions about dosing, interactions, or how baclofen fits into your treatment plan? Reach out to your prescriber or pharmacist—they can give advice tailored to your health and other medicines. This page is a quick guide, not a replacement for medical advice.