Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved baclofen oral tablet to treat muscle spasms related to:
- multiple sclerosis
- spinal cord conditions, including spinal cord injury
This article describes possible side effects of baclofen oral tablet. You’ll also find information on cost savings and coupon options for baclofen.
Baclofen oral tablet is a generic medication. It isn’t available in a brand-name version. Baclofen also comes in an injectable form, but this form isn’t described in this article. Some brand-name drugs contain baclofen, although they’re not available as generic versions. These brand-name drugs include liquid solution Ozobax and liquid suspension Fleqsuvy. To learn more about these forms, talk with your doctor.
You can explore this overview article to learn more about baclofen oral tablet, including the drug’s uses, its dosage, and more.
More common side effects of baclofen
Baclofen oral tablet may cause mild or serious side effects. Below are some of the more common side effects of this medication.
Commonly reported side effects of baclofen oral tablet include:
- drowsiness
- dizziness
- weakness
- fatigue (low energy)
Mild side effects of baclofen
Baclofen may cause certain mild side effects. Typically, mild side effects are temporary and can be managed easily. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that don’t go away or become bothersome.
Mild side effects of baclofen oral tablet occurred in studies. Examples are:
- bladder problems, including:
- urinating more often than usual
- urinary retention (inability to urinate completely)
- incontinence (overactive bladder)
- nighttime urinary frequency
- constipation
- dizziness
- drowsiness
- insomnia (trouble sleeping)
- fatigue (low energy)
- confusion
- headache
- nausea
- low blood pressure, which can cause fainting in rare cases
- sexual side effects, including:
- inability to orgasm
- erectile dysfunction
- slurred speech
- vision problems, including:
- double vision
- blurry vision
- strabismus (crossed eyes)
- involuntary eye movements
- weakness
- weight gain*
- mild allergic reaction*
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of baclofen in detail” section below.
Baclofen oral tablet may cause more mild side effects than those listed above. For details, see the drug’s prescribing information.
Serious side effects of baclofen
Baclofen may cause certain serious side effects. If you have any serious side effects from baclofen oral tablet, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency or your side effects feel life threatening, act immediately. Call 911 or a local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.
After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Visit MedWatch’s website if you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with baclofen oral tablet.
Serious side effects of baclofen oral tablet that occurred in studies include:
- syncope (fainting)
- mood and mental health side effects, including:
- depression
- hallucinations
- agitation
- seizures
- withdrawal symptoms*
- impaired ability to perform hazardous activities requiring coordination*
- severe allergic reaction*
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of baclofen in detail” section below.
Common questions about side effects of baclofen
Here are answers to some common questions about the side effects of baclofen oral tablet. If you have other questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
How do side effects of baclofen in older adults compare with those seen in younger adults?
Side effects of baclofen in older adults are expected to be the same as those seen in younger adults. (Older adults are usually considered ages 65 years and older.)
But older adults may be at higher risk of side effects from baclofen. Your body uses your kidneys to get rid of baclofen after you take a dose. Kidney function usually worsens over time, so older adults are more likely to have a kidney problem. This increases their risk of side effects because baclofen may begin to accumulate in the body.
Generally, side effects in older female adults taking baclofen are the same as in other people. But urinary incontinence (also known as overactive bladder) can occur as a side effect from taking baclofen. Older adults are also more likely to have incontinence, especially females.* So, older female adults taking baclofen may be at higher risk of this side effect.
Talk with your doctor and pharmacist about your health history. They can help you learn how it affects your risk of side effects from baclofen.
* Sex and gender exist on spectrums. In this article, we use the term “female” to refer to a person’s sex assigned at birth.
Do the different strengths of baclofen, such as 10 mg, cause different side effects?
No, different strengths of baclofen aren’t expected to cause different side effects.
But taking a higher dose of baclofen can increase your risk of side effects. Generally, higher doses of medication have a higher risk of side effects than lower doses.
Find out how your baclofen dosage may affect your risk of side effects. Learn more from your doctor or pharmacist.
Can baclofen cause weight gain?
It’s possible to experience weight gain during baclofen treatment. But this wasn’t common in the drug’s studies.
With some conditions that baclofen treats, such as spinal cord injury, exercising can be difficult. And too little exercise can contribute to weight gain. So it’s possible that other factors, your condition, or baclofen could be causing it.
Talk with your doctor if you’re concerned about weight gain with your baclofen treatment. Together you can review possible causes and ways to help you manage your weight.
Does baclofen cause long-term side effects?
It’s possible, although long-term side effects don’t occur commonly with baclofen treatment. These side effects can start during treatment and continue for a long time, possibly after stopping treatment. They can also start after you’ve taken the drug for a long time or after stopping treatment.
The long-term side effects reported with baclofen include:
- withdrawal symptoms*
- impaired ability to perform hazardous activities requiring coordination
To learn more about these two side effects, see the “Side effects of baclofen in detail” section below.
* See the next question for a description of withdrawal symptoms.
Is withdrawal a possible side effect of baclofen?
Yes, withdrawal symptoms* are a possible side effect if baclofen treatment is stopped suddenly.
To learn more about baclofen and withdrawal, see the “Side effects of baclofen in detail” section below.
* Withdrawal symptoms are side effects that occur when you stop taking a drug on which your body has become dependent. (With dependence, your body needs the drug to function like usual.)
Coupon for baclofen
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Side effects of baclofen in detail
Below you’ll find details on some of the side effects of baclofen oral tablet.
Withdrawal symptoms
You may experience withdrawal symptoms if you suddenly stop taking baclofen.
Withdrawal symptoms are side effects that occur when you stop taking a drug on which your body has become dependent. With dependence, your body needs the drug to function like usual. Withdrawal symptoms typically appear within hours or days after your last baclofen dose.
In rare reports, people have had hallucinations and seizures when suddenly stopping baclofen. But mild symptoms have also been reported, including:
- nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
- blood pressure changes
- irregular heartbeat
- headache
- muscle tremor
Ways to manage
To avoid withdrawal symptoms, do not stop taking baclofen suddenly. If you’re considering stopping baclofen, you and your doctor should discuss how to stop taking it safely.
If you both agree that you’ll stop treatment, your doctor will lower your dose gradually over time. They’ll continue this until it’s safe for you to stop taking baclofen. Lowering a drug’s dose slowly over time is called a drug taper. It helps reduce the risk of having withdrawal symptoms.