Baclofen Is Helping Me Sleep

I have always had anxiety about taking medication. Even before I became sick, I would be reluctant to take any medication, even paracetamol. I’m not sure why, but putting medication into my body has never sat well with me. Especially stronger medications. I hate feeling out of control. It scares me so much.

I quickly had to get over this fear when my ankylosing spondylitis symptoms began. Over the past 2 years, I've been taking many different medications. Often very strong medication. A huge sense of anxiousness comes over me whenever I begin a new medication. I’ve been practicing mindfulness to overcome this anxious feeling, but I haven’t been able to master it yet.

In March, at my third pain management appointment, my doctor prescribed baclofen. This is a tablet that helps relax muscle spasms. Thankfully, along with botox, it is working. Will baclofen help improve my insomnia symptoms and relax muscles? They both took some time to work but finally they are helping!

Baclofen is helping me sleep!

Along with baclofen easing my spasms, it is helping me sleep! Yes, you read that correctly, it is helping me sleep! I thought to myself, "This won't last forever. This has happened before."

I also take a tablet every night called amitriptyline. Another tablet to help ease my muscle spasms. For the first 2-3 weeks, it really helped me fall asleep and stay asleep. But my body quickly got used to it and it doesn’t help anymore. I’ve been taking this for 2 years now and it does not aid my sleep at all.

Will this last forever?

But I’ve been taking baclofen for 5 weeks now and it is still helping me fall asleep and stay asleep! So, I decided to do some research.

Small study on baclofen

According to the website ‘Neurology Advisor,’ a very small study has done on baclofen and sleep. This was a study of 5 people, so very small. But, from this study, research shows that baclofen can offer sleep benefits. It reduces sleep latency and increases slow-wave sleep. Baclofen has been shown to increase both REM and non-REM sleep duration. I believe this is what is happening to me, along with feeling drowsy after I take it.

Baclofen side effect: drowsiness and nausea

As I said, this was a very small study that was researched. I am in no way advising anyone to ask their doctor for this tablet. I have been prescribed this medication as I have been living with debilitating chronic muscle spasms in my neck for 2 years. This is the only tablet that has helped my spasms. It is a huge plus that it is helping me sleep.

This tablet does make me feel drowsy, and sometimes nauseous. I make sure to eat before taking it and take a stomach protector called Nexium with it. I will happily get over these side effects as it is helping my spasms so much and helping me sleep!

Baclofen helps improve my insomnia symptoms!

Often, my muscle spasms used to wake me up. Thanks to baclofen this has stopped!

Let’s hope it continues to help my sleep. I hope my body doesn’t get used to it like it did with amitriptyline.

What medications have been successful for your insomnia? Share what has worked for you in this forum!