Helping Patients Navigate Baclofen Shortages

When patients can't fill their Baclofen prescription, your office is often the first call they make. As a prescriber, you're in a unique position to help — not just by adjusting therapy, but by guiding patients through the practical steps of finding their medication during a shortage.

This article is a hands-on guide for providers and clinical staff. It covers the current availability landscape, why patients are struggling, and a five-step workflow you can implement today to help patients get their Baclofen filled.

Current Baclofen Availability

As of early 2026, Baclofen oral tablets continue to experience intermittent availability issues. The situation varies by region and pharmacy type:

• Chain pharmacies (CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid): More likely to experience stockouts due to high patient volume and centralized ordering systems
• Independent pharmacies: Often have access to different wholesalers and may carry stock when chains do not
• Mail-order pharmacies: May have more consistent supply for 90-day prescriptions
• Oral solution (Ozobax): Generally more available than tablets but at higher cost ($50–$150+ vs. $5–$58 for tablets)
• Intrathecal (Gablofen): Periodic shortages continue; pump patients need close monitoring

For real-time data, Medfinder for Providers allows you to search pharmacy inventory by location and medication.

Why Patients Can't Find Baclofen

Understanding the root causes helps you counsel patients more effectively:

Limited Manufacturer Base

Generic Baclofen is produced by a small number of manufacturers (Zydus Pharmaceuticals, Innogenix, and others). A disruption at any single facility has an outsized impact on national supply. Unlike medications with dozens of generic producers, Baclofen's limited manufacturer base makes it vulnerable to shortages.

Supply Chain Fragility

The active pharmaceutical ingredient for Baclofen is sourced from a limited number of global suppliers. International shipping delays, quality control holds, and raw material shortages have contributed to inconsistent production over the past three years.

Demand Growth

Off-label prescribing of Baclofen has increased, particularly for alcohol use disorder. While evidence supports its use in reducing alcohol cravings and promoting abstinence, this expanding indication has added to overall demand without a corresponding increase in manufacturing capacity.

Pharmacy Allocation Practices

During shortages, wholesalers often allocate medications based on historical purchasing patterns. This means pharmacies that haven't historically stocked large quantities of Baclofen may receive smaller allocations — even as their patients' demand increases.

What Providers Can Do: 5 Actionable Steps

Step 1: Proactively Identify At-Risk Patients

Review your panel for patients currently on Baclofen, especially those on higher doses (60–80 mg/day) who face greater withdrawal risk. Flag these patients for early refill outreach and ensure they have a documented taper plan in their chart in case of supply interruption.

Key risk factors for complicated withdrawal:

• Daily dose >40 mg
• Duration of therapy >3 months
• History of seizure disorder
• Concurrent use of other CNS depressants
• Intrathecal Baclofen pump patients

Step 2: Prescribe Proactively

During shortage periods, consider these prescribing strategies:

• 90-day prescriptions: Send to mail-order pharmacies when possible — they often have better supply
• Multiple pharmacy options: Write the prescription as "may be filled at any pharmacy" so patients can shop around
• E-prescribe flexibility: Be prepared to re-send prescriptions to different pharmacies if the first one can't fill it
• Specify "generic Baclofen" only: Don't limit to a specific manufacturer, as availability varies by manufacturer

Step 3: Direct Patients to Medfinder

Recommend Medfinder as a first-line tool for locating Baclofen in stock. Patients can search by zip code to find pharmacies with confirmed inventory, saving time and reducing the frustration of calling multiple pharmacies.

Consider having your front desk staff assist patients with Medfinder searches when they call about unfilled prescriptions.

Step 4: Have a Backup Therapy Plan Ready

For each patient on Baclofen, document an alternative therapy plan in the chart that can be activated quickly if Baclofen becomes unavailable. Common alternatives include:

• Tizanidine (Zanaflex): Most direct substitute. Start 2 mg TID, titrate to 8 mg TID. Monitor LFTs. Generic cost: $8–$25/month.
• Dantrolene (Dantrium): For patients where CNS side effects are a concern. Start 25 mg daily, titrate to 100 mg TID. Monitor LFTs. Generic cost: $30–$80/month.
• Diazepam (Valium): Bridge therapy only. 2–10 mg TID-QID. Schedule IV — document rationale. Generic cost: $4–$20/month.

Remember: when transitioning from Baclofen, always taper the Baclofen dose while up-titrating the replacement to avoid both withdrawal and overmedication.

Step 5: Educate Patients About Withdrawal Risks

Ensure every Baclofen patient understands:

• Never stop Baclofen abruptly
• Refill at least 7–10 days before running out
• Contact the office immediately if they can't get a refill
• Recognize withdrawal symptoms: increased spasticity, anxiety, tremor, sweating, seizures, hallucinations

Consider providing a patient handout with this information, particularly during active shortage periods.

Alternative Therapies in Detail

For a comprehensive comparison of Baclofen alternatives from a clinical perspective, see our provider shortage briefing. For patient-facing information, direct patients to our article on Baclofen alternatives.

Workflow Tips for Your Practice

Integrating shortage management into your clinical workflow can reduce disruption for both your team and your patients:

Front Desk Protocol

Train front desk staff to:

• Recognize incoming calls about unfilled Baclofen prescriptions as urgent
• Assist patients with Medfinder pharmacy searches
• Escalate to a clinician if the patient is at risk of running out within 48 hours

EHR Alerts

Set up an EHR alert or patient list for all patients on Baclofen. This allows proactive outreach when new shortage information becomes available.

Pharmacy Relationships

Develop relationships with 2–3 independent pharmacies in your area that consistently carry Baclofen. When patients can't find it at their usual pharmacy, you can direct them to these reliable alternatives.

Document Everything

Document shortage-related prescribing decisions in the chart, including:

• Reason for pharmacy change
• Alternative therapy rationale
• Taper plan if applicable
• Patient education provided

Final Thoughts

Baclofen shortages are an ongoing reality in 2026, but with a structured approach, you can minimize the impact on your patients. Proactive identification of at-risk patients, flexible prescribing, patient education, and tools like Medfinder for Providers can make the difference between a smooth transition and a medical emergency.

For the patient perspective on saving money, consider sharing our guide on how to save money on Baclofen and our provider savings guide on helping patients save money on Baclofen.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute clinical guidelines. Always use clinical judgment when making prescribing decisions for individual patients.