What are some side effects How long do I have to take of baclofen? baclofen? Common What Can I Do if I You and your provider will decide on Side Effects Experience This? your treatment plan. Drowsiness Most common side Most take baclofen for at least effect. Your body will 6 months and often longer. likely adjust over time Headache You may take a non- opioid pain reliever For more information about drinking if recommended by and Hepatitis C visit the VA’s website: your provider Nausea • Take with food http://www.hepatitis.va.gov/ or Upset • Eat plain rice, toast, patient/daily/alcohol/index.asp Stomach or crackers Dizziness Rise slowly to prevent falls Veteran's Crisis Line 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or Do not drive, use machinery, or do Text - 838255 anything that may be dangerous until you know how the medicine affects you. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Notify your provider if you experience: Veterans Health Administration VA PBM Academic Detailing Service ¡ Allergic reactions (skin rash, hives, swelling of lips) Baclofen ¡ Chest pain Contact info: ¡ Hallucinations Using Medications to ¡ Seizures Help Manage Alcohol Use All medicines can have side effects. Disorder with Hepatitis C Not everyone has side effects though. They usually get better as your body gets used to the new medicine. Talk with your provider or pharmacist if May 2017 PBM Academic Detailing Service any of the above side effects trouble you. IB 10-949, P96831 www.va.gov How can baclofen help me What do I need to know before Drinking and Hepatitis C cut down or stop drinking? starting baclofen? If you have Hepatitis C, drinking Baclofen is a medication that reduces alcohol can be the single biggest your urge or craving to drink, and can threat to your health. help you stop drinking. Drinking alcohol weakens your A successful alcohol treatment immune system, and reduces your program will include a combination of body’s ability fight the virus. medicine and social support, like: Drinking alcohol carries a much higher ¡ Alcoholics Anonymous risk of: (AA) meetings ¡ ¡ Scarring of the liver leading to a Counseling worsening of the disease ¡ Individual or group therapy ¡ Baclofen is commonly used to ¡ Hospital treatment, sometimes ¡ Cirrhosis treat muscle spasms. ¡ Liver cancer ¡ Some studies have shown it may If you have Hepatitis C, there is no What percent of "pure alcohol" is in also be useful to treat alcohol safe level of alcohol use. Decreasing, one standard-size drink of...? use disorder. or stopping your use of alcohol is 80-Proof ¡ Taking medicine for alcohol use the most important thing that you Regular Malt Table Distilled disorder is not substituting one can change. Beer Liquor Wine Spirits* drug for another. By changing this behavior, it can lower How should I take baclofen? your chance of developing or dying 5% 7% 12% 40% from cirrhosis. ¡ The most common dose of baclofen is 10 milligrams Recommended Drinking Limits (mg) by mouth three times daily. Single-day Weekly Limit Limit ¡ Do not stop this 12 8–9 5 1.5 medication suddenly as Men 4 or less 14 or less fl oz fl oz fl oz fl oz shot it may cause a reaction. Age 65 standard- standard- or under size drinks size drinks * Gin, rum, tequila, vodka, whiskey, etc. ¡ Discuss with your provider before changing dose. Women 3 or less 7 or less or Age standard- standard- Remember that even if your over 65 size drinks size drinks Hepatitis C is cured, alcohol can still increase your risk of liver damage..