Sativex and spasticity

[popsie]

I am taking Sativex and after taking it for only a few days I saw a reduction in burning pain, spasms, skin pain and deep pain and after a couple of weeks I was pain free which was great.  I do also have a pump delivering a low dose of Baclofen which was not helping those pains but is still working for other pain.  Because I am very allergic to oral Baclofen and it was no longer helping pains it had previously helped, I wanted to replace it with Sativex.  However while I was taking Baclofen together with Sativex the spasticity was reduced in both my back and legs.  However as soon as I started reducing the Baclofen the spasticity increased noticeably even though I had increased the Sativex to 7 sprays.  I was hoping to find someone who was successfully using Sativex to reduce Spasticity.   THANKS.  TRISH

[Nick]

Great to see you posting Trish and a very interesting and informative comment.  I've no experience of Sativex myself, but sounds like it's a great help to you. Hope you get some helpful replies.

 

Nick 

[PaulX]

Sativex has been something that is very difficult to get. My previous health authority would not prescribe it, due to the NICE recommendation on it.

I have now moved, so I am under a different authority.

In light of the recent use of medical cannabis in other cases, I brought up the topic of Sativex when I recently saw my new MS nurse, who is lovely by the way.

She said the jury was still out on the whole issue.

Initially I would have to go the Baclofen route again as a primary treatment for spasticity. I have been this route before and I really couldn't get on with it. Second time around I still can't get on with it. I am having horrible side effects. I am hanging on, just in case these are early stage adjustments, but we shall see.

I need to do this before Sativex becomes an option.

 

Your account is interesting to say the least.

 

Paul

[derby42]

I take Sativex and Pregabalin for spasms in my toes primarily.  Only at very dose but I'm about to increase them.  I find Sativex helpful but only 1 spray at night because it makes me slightly stoned if I have more. My consultant said that only a few people have this feeling and unfortunately I'm one of them. It makes my legs feel like they have more substance to them.

 

[popsie]

 

Have you tried Baclofen?  It really helped me for the first 6 years.  I wanted to take Sativex so I can stop taking Baclofen which gives me a lot of side effects and is not working very well as I was having various pains that Baclofen used to stop.  Sativex stops all the various pains at about 3 sprays.  But I am currently taking 6 sprays (between 8.00 am and 10pm) + some Baclofen to even moderately control the spasticity.  No side effects.  I was going out to lunch and wanted to be able to sit without spasms so I had 5 sprays between 8.00 and 1.00pm .  This did  control the spasms for 2hrs but it also made me giggly and high.  Lunch was blast I laughed almost non stop, but it is definitely better to be laughing than squirming in pain.  So would I do it again ?  Absolutely

[derby42]

I tried baclofen years ago but it made me giddy so I stopped taking it. I'm suffering a lot right now with sacroiliac joint pain which I've had for years but recently has worsened so I might have a chat with my ms nurse about trying Baclofen again.

[popsie]

Its really hard but sometimes you have to decide whether its better to be pain free or have the side effects.  Pain is really difficult to live with I know some people can get beyond it but I do not seem to be able to do that and I find it just seems to become all absorbing.  You might have success if you asked the MS nurse if it is possible to get pure Baclofen as it seems to be the fillers that cause the problems.  I know they put pure Baclofen into the pump so it is available and you could get the compounding chemist to make some up in a bland cream and then you can put it onto your skin.  Good luck

[derby42]

I 'll ask about that. Thanks.