Coming off baclofen: why stopping suddenly is the risk

Baclofen is prescribed for muscle spasticity, often in multiple sclerosis or after a spinal cord injury. This episode walks through what the FDA label says about stopping it: abrupt withdrawal has resulted in hallucinations, seizures, high fever, altered mental status, and rebound spasticity worse than before treatment. We cover why timing matters. Baclofen has a half-life of only about six hours, so a missed dose drops blood levels quickly. We also cover what a taper usually looks like: lowering the daily dose by around 5 to 10 mg every one to two weeks, with smaller steps spread further apart for people on high doses or long-term treatment, and the early signs that the pace is too fast, which are increased spasticity, itching, and tingling of the hands and feet. Read the full guide: How to Safely Come Off Baclofen. To find a provider trained in deprescribing, visit mydeprescriber.com/find-a-provider. The hosts of this episode are AI-generated from the written guide. Educational only, not medical advice. Never stop a medication without your provider. If you are in crisis in the US, call or text 988.