What medicines do you take for muscle spasms?

[jenniferh]

My husband is a C5 C6 quad, incomplete, Asia B. We are having so many troubles do to the amount of baclofen he has been on. He has been in the hospital for the past two months, home two weeks and is now back in the hospital again.

He takes Baclofen, Dantrolene and Klonopen for his spasms but the Baclofen and Dantrolene are affecting his liver and giving him problems with his kidneys.

I am just wondering what everyone takes out there, be it prescribed or even homeopathic ideas? I feel pretty desperate here. I am his sole caregiver and I am completely overwhelmed.

Thanks so much!
Jennifer

[SCI-Nurse]

Another common med is Tizanidine (Danaflex) and some people find relief with Gabapentin, though this is mainly used for neuropathic pain.

I am hoping you get some occasional relief for your caregiving responsibilities and someone to talk to about these issues. Caregivers need to take care of themselves.

AAD

[Sh1wn]

I don't know what state your in but you may want to try pot, it works good for me and the side effects are you eat and go to sleep.

[Broknwing]

AAD, you mean Zanaflex don't you? That's the med I take & it's brand name here is Zanaflex. Also Jennifer, I've found that Bio-Freeze is a WONDERFUL topical medicine to help with spasms. It's over the counter, but you need to get it from a PT, Massage Therapist or Independent Pharmacy. There are places to buy it online as well, but if you want to buy it locally, those are the places to look.

[michael5462]

hi,

I went the oral med route until I got to Valium. Valium was very effective until I built up a tolerance to 30 mg, 3 x a day. I was then referred to a certain doc (I forgot what tyoe of surgeun he was,) and BOY oh BOY, did he have the answer for all of my spasms. He inserted a bacloafen pump in my abdomen and I haven't had a spasm since. I go in every three months to get my pump refilled. Juust like magic! The pump has a cathrter attached to it that goes to my spine and distributes baclofen thouhjout my body.

Moving forwaed with this surgery was the best medical decision I have made sine becoming paralyed.

Best of luck to you no matter what route you take.

If you have further questions, don't hesitate.

Michael

[kel13]

I switched to zanaflex capsulus last year and they work wonders for me.
I was on the generic tablets for years and they quit working as did baclofen.
The capsules are very pricey but my crappy medi-medi does pick up the tab. I only pay $3.20 and they retail for $1550 per month.
Good luck

[david varner]

Zanaflex is the best muscle relaxer that I have found. I break it into 2 mg doses and I'll take it as much as every one and a half to two hours. This works for me and I don't have quite as much " sedation " episodes as I did before. That is the major drawback to Zanaflex. I think the recommended does is something like 8 mg three times a day but I would be asleep forever if I did that. You just have to work it out by trial and error. On the days that I go to work , I will also take a small dose of Ritalin. My daughter has narcolepsy and started to take that medicine and it worked well for her. I said if it will work for her problem why not me? It is the best thing I've ever done I am much more alert at work and I can tolerate the spasticity.

David


Sent from my iPhone

[rdf]

I agree. I've had a pump since the mid 90s. It completely changed my life for the better. The spasms and spasticity I had before the pump precluded me from doing much of anything.

hi,

I went the oral med route until I got to Valium. Valium was very effective until I built up a tolerance to 30 mg, 3 x a day. I was then referred to a certain doc (I forgot what tyoe of surgeun he was,) and BOY oh BOY, did he have the answer for all of my spasms. He inserted a bacloafen pump in my abdomen and I haven't had a spasm since. I go in every three months to get my pump refilled. Juust like magic! The pump has a cathrter attached to it that goes to my spine and distributes baclofen thouhjout my body.

Moving forwaed with this surgery was the best medical decision I have made sine becoming paralyed.

Best of luck to you no matter what route you take.

If you have further questions, don't hesitate.

Michael

[vjls]

baocflen pump just becareful if it kinks and you can od on it i had a defect and it almost killed me 3 times we shut the pump down

[michael5462]

baocflen pump just becareful if it kinks and you can od on it i had a defect and it almost killed me 3 times we shut the pump down

Wow. that is scary. I am lucky, at this point, not to have any complications. I certainly hope that continues.