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What Causes Dizziness And Twitching In The Hands While On Baclofen?

Posted on Tue, 6 Sep 2016

Question: Hello, my name is XXXXXXX and i have been taking 25mg Baclofen (1 Tablet, 3 Times per day) for the last 2 days and since then i'm having trouble walking due to dizziness and being very tired and i also having been getting nerve twitching in my hands, arms and in my head and the other problem is if i look up or down i get more dizziness occurring. Can you please help me?
Kind regards, XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Olsi Taka (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Baclofen dosage should be reconsidered.

Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.

Like all drugs acting on the nervous system baclofen has the potential of causing some dizziness. Now to reduce the chances of that happening it is normal practice to start by a low dose and increase very gradually.

I am not sure what tablet dosage you refer to...in my knowledge Baclofen pills are 10 or 20 mg (though may vary among countries, I'm referring to US) and none of those amount to 25 mg a day if taken 3 times daily. Whichever of those though it would be a little high. Generally it is started with 5 mg three times daily.

So I suggest you to discuss these side effects with your physician and lower the initial dose. Afterwards dosage increase (or discontinuation) will depend on whether side effects persist and on efficacy.

I remain at your disposal for other questions.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Olsi Taka (13 minutes later)

Thank you very much Dr. Taka for replying so quickly :-)

I will make an appointment ASAP with my GP so i can get this all sorted out.

Thank you again.

Kind regards,
XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Olsi Taka (58 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
You're welcome

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for your appreciative words.

From what I can see on an aussie site in Australia you should have 10 mg and 25 mg tablets. In that case do you mean that you take 25 mg three times daily (for a total of 75 mg a day)....it would be a too high ddose to start right away, so the previous recommendation to reconsider it applies even more.

Wishing you good health.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Olsi Taka (9 minutes later)

Thank you again Dr. Taka and i will get on the phone right now and ring my GP.

Thanks Heaps and also wishing you good health :-)

Kind regards,
XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Olsi Taka (2 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Thank you!

Detailed Answer:
Glad to have been of help.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar