Medication Information Leaflet

What is this medication for?

Baclofen is a muscle relaxant. It is used to improve the symptoms of muscle stiffness and spasms due to injuries to your spinal cord. It also helps to ease your pain and improve your movements.

Baclofen may be used for other conditions. Check with your healthcare professional if you are unsure why you are given this medication.

How should I take or use this medication?

• Baclofen may be taken with or after food.
• Take your medication according to the instructions stated on the medication label.
• If you have been told by your doctor to take baclofen regularly, it may take around three to four days before you can feel its full benefits. You should not stop taking this medication even if you do not feel better at the beginning. Continue to take this medication even after you feel better to prevent your symptoms from returning.
• Do not stop taking or adjust the dose of this medication without checking with your doctor. You may experience unpleasant effects such as muscle stiffness, cramps, fast heart rate, fever, confusion or seizures (fits) if you stop taking baclofen suddenly.
• Do check with your doctor on how long you will have to be on this medication.

What should I do if I forget to take or use this medication?

• If you have been told by your doctor to take Baclofen regularly but you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if more than half of the time to the next dose has passed, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at your usual timing.
• For example, for a medication to be taken two times daily at 8am and 8pm, and you missed your first dose at 8am, skip the first dose if it is after 2pm, and take your second dose at the usual timing at 8pm. Do not take two doses to make up for the missed dose.

What precautions should I take when taking or using this medication?

Inform your healthcare professional if:

• You are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients of this medication.
• You are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. If you are pregnant and/or breastfeeding, your doctor would have discussed the potential benefits and side-effects with you and should you have further questions or concerns, do consult your doctor.
• You are taking any other medications (including those that can be bought without a prescription), supplements, traditional Chinese medicine and herbal products. Some of them may affect how this medication works or cause serious drug interactions.
• You have or have ever had:
  • Other drug allergies
  • Respiratory or kidney disease
  • Medical conditions such as:
    • Stroke
    • Stomach problems
    • Seizures (fits), Parkinson’s disease, or Cerebral Palsy
    • Urinary retention
  • Mental health conditions such as psychosis or Schizophrenia

What are some common side effects of this medication?

The mentioned side effects generally affect up to 10% of patients.

• Drowsiness or feeling tired
  • Avoid driving or taking part in activities that require concentration
  • Discuss with your doctor if you can take your medication at a different time of the day
• Nausea, vomiting
  • Take the medication with or after food
  • Take small but more frequent meals, and avoid fatty or spicy food
• Constipation
  • Drink more water (if you do not have any fluid restriction), eat more high-fibre foods, and exercise regularly
  • Speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you need medication to help with your constipation
• Dizziness
  • Get up slowly from a sitting or lying down position
• Headache

Most of the side effects listed here will improve with time. Speak with your doctor if any of them continues, worsens or affects your daily life.

What are some rare but serious side-effects that I need to seek medical advice immediately?

The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:

• Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue
• Difficulty in breathing
• Itchy skin rashes over your whole body

Rarely this medication may cause:

• Seizures (fits)
• Confusion or agitation
• Seeing or hearing things that are not there
• Muscle weakness
• Difficulty controlling or passing of urine (urinary incontinence or retention)
• Swelling of the ankles

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medication and see your healthcare professional immediately.

What food or medication should I avoid when I take or use this medication?

Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Baclofen as it can cause excessive sleepiness.

How should I store this medication?

Store in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight. Keep this medication away from children.

How do I throw away this medication safely?

Pack this medication into a trash bag and seal it tightly before throwing into the rubbish chute or bin.

Disclaimer

Please take note that the above is not a complete list of all possible side effects. If you have any concerns about your medication or if you have other side effects that you think are caused by this medication, please consult your doctor or pharmacist.

If you take more than the recommended dose, please seek medical advice immediately. The information provided on this page does not replace information from your healthcare professional. Please consult your healthcare professional for more information.

This article is jointly developed by members of the National Medication Information workgroup. The workgroup consists of cluster partners (National Healthcare Group, National University Health System and SingHealth), community pharmacies (Guardian, Unity and Watsons) and Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore. The content does not reflect drug availability and supply information in pharmacies and healthcare institutions. You are advised to check with the respective institutions for such information.

Last updated on Mar 2023