Baclofen Dosage: How to Start, Titrate, and Stay Safe

If you’ve been prescribed baclofen for spasticity or muscle cramps, the first thing you’ll wonder about is the right dose. Baclofen isn’t a one‑size‑fits‑all drug – you need to begin low, go slow, and listen to your body. Below you’ll find the practical steps most doctors follow, plus a few shortcuts to keep side effects at bay.

Typical Starting Dose and How to Increase It

For most adults, the usual starting point is 5 mg three times a day (total 15 mg). You’ll take each dose about six to eight hours apart. After a few days, if you’re handling it well, the doctor will usually add 5 mg to each dose. That means moving to 10 mg three times a day (30 mg total). The goal is to find the lowest amount that eases your muscle stiffness without making you drowsy.

Most people end up in the 20‑60 mg per day range, split into three doses. Some need up to 80 mg daily, but that’s usually only after a careful titration period lasting weeks. The key is to increase by no more than 5‑10 mg per day and give your body at least three days to adjust before the next bump.

Special Situations: Seniors, Kidney Issues, and Missed Doses

Older adults often start at half the usual dose – 2.5 mg three times a day – because they’re more sensitive to the sedating effects. If you have kidney problems, your doctor may keep the total daily dose under 30 mg and space the doses further apart.

Forgot to take a dose? Take it as soon as you remember, unless it’s almost time for the next one. In that case, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule. Double‑dosing can cause dizziness or low blood pressure, so avoid it.

Signs of an overdose include intense drowsiness, slow breathing, or a feeling of being “out of it.” If you notice these, call your doctor right away or head to urgent care.

When you finally get to a stable dose, keep a simple routine: take baclofen with or without food at the same times each day. Setting an alarm on your phone can help you stay consistent, which is crucial for maintaining muscle tone control.

Remember, baclofen works best when you pair it with physical therapy or stretching exercises. The medication relaxes the muscles, but you still need to move them to keep strength up.

If side effects like nausea, tingling, or blurred vision show up, talk to your doctor before changing anything. Often a small tweak – lowering the dose by 5 mg or taking it with a snack – clears it up.

Bottom line: start low, increase slowly, keep a schedule, and let your doctor know how you feel. With that plan, baclofen can be a powerful tool to manage spasticity without knocking you out of the day.