Compare baclofen vs. Botox
Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, ratings, and more.
Relaxes your muscles.
Lioresal (baclofen) is a first choice treatment for muscle spasticity caused by multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injuries, but it's not recommended for other types of muscle spasms.
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3.5/ 5 average rating with 33 reviewsforbaclofen
Prevents headaches in people with chronic migraines and treats various other problems such as muscle spasms, wrinkles, and excessive sweating.
Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) is a prescription medicine that's good at treating many conditions, but it has potentially dangerous side effects.
Upsides
- A better option for seniors compared to other muscle relaxants since it has fewer side effects than other similar medicines.
- Lioresal (baclofen) is available as a generic and is a relatively inexpensive medication.
- Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) can prevent migraines before they even start.
- Since Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) only prevents migraines, you can continue to take other medicines to lower pain once a migraine has already started, unless your doctor has given you other instructions.
- You may start to feel results in a few days to a few weeks, depending on what you're using it for.
- Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) isn’t a daily or weekly medication. Depending on your condition, you only need to take it every couple months.
Downsides
- Except for specific muscle spasms caused by brain injury or multiple sclerosis, Lioresal (baclofen) is not a recommended medicine.
- If you've been taking Lioresal (baclofen) regularly for a long time, you'll need to get off of it slowly.
- Lioresal (baclofen) can make you sleepy.
- If you've had a stroke, Lioresal (baclofen) may not work as well, and you're more likely to experience side effects.
- Only comes as an injection.
- Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) works by weakening your muscles, which can cause swallowing, speaking, or breathing problems. Tell your doctor if you already have these problems before injection. If you develop these problems after injection, call your doctor or go to the emergency room right away.
- If you take Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) for chronic migraines, it’s unknown if it’s safe or will work for adults who have 14 or fewer headache days each month.
Used for
- Chronic migraines
- Excessive sweating
- Neck muscle spasms
- Spasticity
- Overactive bladder
- Strabismus
- Wrinkles
- Cerebral palsy
Dosage forms
- Pill
- Injection
Price
Lowest price
$12.72
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$1156.46
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Reviews
33 reviews so far
61%
saidit'sworth it
55%
saiditworked well
15%
saidit'sa big hassle
Have you used Lioresal (baclofen)?
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Side effects
13possible side effects
- Neck pain9%
- Headache5%
- Migraine4%
- Drooping eyelids4%
- Stiffness in bones, joints, muscles4%
- Muscle weakness4%
- Bronchitis3%
- Muscle pain3%
- Pain in bones, joints, muscles3%
- Injection site pain3%
- Facial paralysis2%
- Muscle spasms2%
- High blood pressure2%
Risks and risk factors
- Withdrawal symptoms
- Stopping Lioresal (baclofen) too quickly
- Driving impairment
- Taking with alcohol
- Taking other medicines that make you less alert
- Age 65 or greater
- Seizures
- Higher dose
- Using other medicines that can cause seizures
- History of seizures
- Alcoholism
- Eating disorders
- Brain infections
- Increased toxic effect
- Child using Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) for spasticity
- Using Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) for uncontrollable neck spasms
- Adult using Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) for spasticity
- Lung damage
- History of lung problems
- Greater risk of side effects
- History of neuromuscular disease
- Urinary tract infection or urinary retention
- History of multiple sclerosis
- History of diabetes mellitus