Has anyone tried Baclofen (Clofen) for RLS?

[john_a]

My doctor has prescribed Baclofen (Clofen) to use with Mirapax for my RLS. I am wondering if anyone has tried this or is it know to help RLS, and what is a usual dose?

Thanks

[Polar Bear]

Hi John

If I recall correctly, my doc at one time prescribed me Baclofen (isn't this a muscle relaxant)?? as well as my usual requip, and for some reason I did not take it. But I can't remember why. I think it was because perhaps Dr B on his site (Mayo Clinic) had said there was no evidence that it helped, or perhaps it was on this forum somewhere. Excuse me being vague. I reckon I was taking so much medication for rls that I didn't want to take something that did not have good evidence.

Perhaps I should have tried it, I still have it.

Some of the others will be more helpful than me, but welcome to the site, you will find good advice.

[john_a]

Thanks PB, I don't know much about it either, hopefully someone else has tried this, but doesn't sound too promising so far.

John

[ViewsAskew]

Have you looked at rlshelp.org? If it's ever been used for RLS, it would be discussed there. I seem to recall it was used briefly - that a few people were helped, but that it's not a sure-fire thing.

[mackjergens]

This was copied/pasted from www.rlshelp.org

Lioresal (Baclofen)
This drug is used as a muscle relaxant and anti-spasm medication. It is used in MS to alleviate muscle spasms and the resultant pain. Lioresal was found in one study to decrease the arousals from PLMD (the intensity of the movements was decreased). Its effect on daytime RLS symptoms is less well understood.

Lioresal comes in 10 and 20 mg tablets. It should be started at the lowest dose (5 mg, 1-3 times per day) and increased every 3 days until symptoms are relieved. The average dose for MS patients for muscle spasticity is 40-80 mg per day. The most common side effect is drowsiness; weakness and fatigue can also be a common problem.

[SquirmingSusan]

I tried it and had a very weird experience. It made me very sleepy, but unable to sleep because my mind was racing. Then the next day I was driving my kids somewhere, and I had a kind of out of body experience. I tried it a couple more nights, but it was the same - very sleepy, couldn't keep my eyes open, but mind racing and unable to sleep.

But then I seem to have weird reactions to just about everything.

[john_a]

Thanks for the replies, that's it for now, I'm going to give it a miss. BTW, last night was one of my worst RL nights for a while, really awake, acute insomnia, and legs and arms mad till about 5 am. This is really messing up my life.

Thanks all for the replies.