Baclofen Dosages: Your GoodRx Guide
Key takeaways:
Baclofen is a muscle relaxant. It treats muscle spasticity (stiff or tight muscles) caused by multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injuries. It’s usually taken three or four times a day.
Baclofen dosages typically start at 5 mg three times a day. Your healthcare provider may increase your dose every few days if you're still having symptoms. The maximum daily dosage is 80 mg.
Don’t stop taking baclofen abruptly. This can lead to withdrawal symptoms like worsening muscle spasticity, fever, and nausea. If you want to stop taking baclofen, talk to your healthcare provider first.
Table of contents
Baclofen (Fleqsuvy, Lyvispah, Ozobax) is a muscle relaxant. It’s FDA approved to treat muscle spasticity (stiff or tight muscles) caused by multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injuries.
In this guide, we’ll review common baclofen dosages. But if your healthcare provider recommends a different dose, follow their instructions for how to take baclofen.
Good to know: Baclofen comes in multiple oral dosage forms and as an injection that’s given into the spinal cord fluid (called an “intrathecal” injection). In this article, we’ll focus on the oral dosage forms of baclofen.
What’s the typical baclofen dosage for adults?
Your baclofen dosage will depend on how severe your muscle spasticity is and how your body responds to treatment.
The typical starting dosage is 5 mg three times a day. If your symptoms don’t improve, your healthcare provider may increase your dose every 3 days. This is called a “dosage titration.” A typical dosage titration schedule for baclofen goes something like this:
5 mg three times daily for 3 days
10 mg three times daily for 3 days
15 mg three times daily for 3 days
20 mg three times daily for 3 days
Your total daily dose may be increased up to 80 mg. Many people will need between 40 mg and 80 mg daily, taken in divided doses. For example, if your total daily dose of baclofen is 80 mg, you may take 20 mg four times a day.
Good to know: Baclofen comes in multiple oral dosage forms. This includes tablets, granules (Lyvispah), and a liquid suspension (Fleqsuvy) and solution (Ozobax). The granule packets can be mixed with 15 mL of liquids or soft foods (like applesauce or yogurt). They can also be administered through a feeding tube.
What’s the typical baclofen dosage for children?
Baclofen is FDA approved for children who are 12 years of age and older. The dosing schedule is the same for adults.
Your child may start with a dose of 5 mg three times a day. If their symptoms don’t improve, their healthcare provider may increase the dose every 3 days according to the schedule below:
5 mg three times daily for 3 days
10 mg three times daily for 3 days
15 mg three times daily for 3 days
20 mg three times daily for 3 days
The maximum daily dosage is 80 mg.
Good to know: Intrathecal injections of baclofen (Lioresal, Gablofen) are approved for muscle spasticity from brain- and spinal-related injuries in children as young as 4 years old.
Are there any dosage adjustments for medical conditions?
It’s possible. If your kidneys aren’t working as well as expected, you may need a lower baclofen dosage, especially if you’re older.
People with kidney problems
People with kidney problems may need a lower baclofen dosage. This is because baclofen is removed from the body through your kidneys (in your pee). If your kidneys aren’t working as well, baclofen may build up in the body. This increases your risk of side effects, such as drowsiness, dizziness, and weakness.
Some experts recommend giving a lower baclofen dosage for people with mild to moderate kidney disease (stage 2 or 3) and avoiding baclofen completely in people with more severe kidney disease (stage 4 or 5). So if you have existing kidney problems, let your healthcare provider know before starting baclofen.
Older adults with kidney problems
If you’re 65 years or older and you have kidney problems, taking baclofen may increase your risk of side effects. This includes brain damage. So baclofen should be avoided entirely in older people with moderate or severe kidney disease.
What if you want to stop taking baclofen?
Abruptly stopping baclofen isn’t a good idea. If you take baclofen regularly, you may experience withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking it. Withdrawal symptoms include:
Nausea
Fever
Muscle weakness
Changes in mood or behavior
Worsening of muscle spasms
In more severe cases, baclofen withdrawal can cause delirium and seizures. So talk to your healthcare provider if you want to stop taking baclofen. If it’s safe for you to stop taking it, they can work with you to lower your dose slowly.
What happens if you miss a dose of baclofen?
If you miss a dose of baclofen, take it right when you remember. However, if it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you forgot. Take your next dose at your usual time. Never double your dose to make up for the missed one.
Missing too many baclofen doses can cause withdrawal symptoms. Symptoms can appear within hours or up to 4 days after stopping baclofen. Even forgetting one or two baclofen doses might cause withdrawal symptoms.
If you have trouble remembering to take baclofen, talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist. They can help you find a method that helps you remember to take your doses more consistently. For example, you might consider using an app that reminds you to take your medication.
What should you do if you take too much baclofen?
Taking too much baclofen can lead to serious health concerns, including excessive drowsiness, vomiting, and trouble breathing. Muscle weakness, coma, and seizures are also possible.
If you think you’ve taken too much baclofen, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 or seek immediate medical care.
How to save on baclofen
Baclofen tablets are available as a lower-cost generic. GoodRx can help you navigate ways to save on your prescription.
Save with GoodRx. GoodRx may be able to help you save over 20% off the average retail price of generic baclofen products. Generic baclofen tablets may be as low as $10.98 with a free GoodRx coupon. And generic baclofen liquid suspension may be as low as $199.47.
Save with a copay savings card. If you have commercial insurance, you may be eligible to pay as little as $15 for Ozobax (liquid baclofen) using a savings card from the manufacturer.
The bottom line
Baclofen is a muscle relaxant that treats muscle spasticity caused by multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injuries. The typical baclofen dosage starts at 5 mg three times a day. It may be increased up to 40 mg to 80 mg per day.
You may need a lower dose of baclofen if you have kidney problems. If you’re 65 years old or older, you should avoid baclofen if you have moderate or severe kidney disease.
Don’t stop taking baclofen abruptly. This can lead to withdrawal symptoms like worsening muscle spasms, muscle weakness, and nausea. If you want to make changes to your baclofen dosage regimen, talk to your healthcare provider first. They can help you decide what’s best for you.
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References
2023 American Geriatrics Society Beers Criteria® Update Expert Panel. (2023). American Geriatrics Society 2023 updated AGS Beers Criteria® for potentially inappropriate medication use in older adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC. (2023). Lyvispah- baclofen granule [package insert].
Bryant Ranch Prepack. (2023). Baclofen- baclofen tablet [package insert].
Leo, R. J., et al. (2005). Delirium associated with baclofen withdrawal: A review of common presentations and management strategies. Psychosomatics.
MedlinePlus. (2019). Baclofen.
Romito, J. W., et al. (2021). Baclofen therapeutics, toxicity, and withdrawal: A narrative review. SAGE Open Medicine.
Wolf, E., et al. (2018). Baclofen toxicity in kidney disease. American Journal of Kidney Diseases.
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