An Overview of Baclofen What is Baclofen? Is Baclofen Addictive?

Since baclofen acts similarly to GABA, it’s believed that it blocks certain nerve activity that controls skeletal muscle contraction and relaxation. Specifically, baclofen can be used to treat skeletal muscle contraction, muscle clonus, pain from disorders like multiple sclerosis and rigidity. For the most part, baclofen is taken orally, but it can also be injected into the spinal cord for patients with severe cases of spasticity.Off-label uses of baclofeninclude managing alcohol and drug dependence. Baclofen is a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) analog that activates the GABA-B receptor subtype, and is used worldwide in neurology for the treatment of spasticity due to its myorelaxant properties (1). While it is clearly established that the myorelaxant properties of baclofen are related to a dampening of the spinal motor reflex (13), its potential mechanism of action in AUD remains elusive.

Later studies concluded that baclofen could not only reduce the rewarding effects of alcohol and opioids but also minimize the symptoms of withdrawal. There are also side effects of taking baclofen that need to be considered before the individual undergoes treatment with this medication. These side effects include difficulty breathing, seizures, and suicidal ideation. If these side effects are experienced, medical help should be obtained right away. While bacolofen has benefits in the treatment of addiction, it does carry a risk of side effects and addiction potential. Our guide will help you learn more about baclofen, its uses, baclofen addictive side effects, and how to find addiction treatment for you or a loved one.

Baclofen Side Effects

Furthermore, GHB itself is used as a treatment of AUD, and it is possible that the effectiveness of GHB is related to its ethanol-mimicking action, making it behave as a substitute for alcohol in the brain (142). Although these are only hypotheses, they exemplify the many ways by which a substance could work as a substitution. However, there are no solid theoretical bases supporting the hypothesis that baclofen is a substitution treatment in AUD. If you are suffering from a baclofen addiction treatment, know that hope is not lost.

• Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals.
• If your dependence gets so bad that your behavior changes and you will do almost anything to obtain more baclofen, you are suffering from a baclofen addiction.
• Baclofen is absorbed quickly from the gastrointestinal tract, and peak concentration in the bloodstream occurs about 1-3 hours after oral administration of the medication.
• Baclofen is prescribed to alleviate symptoms and improve the quality of life for individuals facing these challenges.
• However, there are also some risks in using it that both treating professionals and individuals who might want to use it should be aware of first.
• We cannot guarantee payment or verification eligibility as conveyed by your health insurance provider will be accurate and complete.

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• A very small computer, called a programmer, tells the pump how much medicine to release.
• Although Lioresal is not a narcotic, a handful of cases demonstrating Lioresal addiction have been documented.
• If you are currently dealing with the impact of addiction and you’re not sure how to overcome these challenges, you may benefit from our addiction treatment services.
• Eventually, physical dependence may occur, which is when the person experiences withdrawal symptoms when they aren’t taking the drug.
• A stereo-selective gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-B receptor agonist, baclofen is a drug that directly affects GABA’s activity—a major inhibitory neurotransmitter that acts on the central nervous system.

Both of these methods can help people as they seek liberty from substance dependence. While in an individual therapy session, a person can discuss his or her needs, feelings, emotions, experiences, challenges, and more with a therapist. This one-on-one setting allows people to freely express themselves without fear of judgment. It also enables people to receive individualized and personalized care and guidance. When it comes to the side effects baclofen use may produce, it is important for individuals to be aware of the ways in which this drug may affect them.

Baclofen Overdose

Patients should not switch between medications or stop Lioresal on their own. Otherwise known as low blood pressure, this can cause a person to become dizzy and faint. The drug starts working within a few hours after entering the body as a pill or solution, and blood levels of the drug peak within 2 to 3 hours following use.

Benefits of Professional Addiction Treatment

At our drug and alcohol rehab in Hollywood, FL the addiction treatment specialists at Recovery First are ready to help you find lasting and meaningful recovery. The overall effect is the depression of activity in the brain and spinal cord, which may be responsible for relieving muscle stiffness and tightness. As a depressant, it causes euphoric effects, reduces stress, and can reduce pain sensations. As a trusted Georgia recovery center, we are dedicated to serving our clients through various alcohol and drug addiction programs. We have a firm belief that it is possible for YOU to achieve and sustain long-term recovery. A blend of medical detox, therapy, and ongoing support can help you overcome addiction and withdrawal.

In the case of baclofen, kidney damage, liver disease, and memory impairment are just some outcomes that could permanently impact your quality of life with baclofen misuse. If you are taking other medications for health reasons, make sure to tell your doctor before you also start taking baclofen. Taking baclofen with other central nervous system depressants could lead to severe levels of drowsiness. Therefore, you should not operate a vehicle or any other form of heavy machinery while taking this combination of medications. Oftentimes, people will combine baclofen with central nervous system depressants to increase its effects.

It is important to emphasize that baclofen, while it may be useful in supporting addiction treatment, is not a standalone solution to managing substance use disorders. The drug can help diminish cravings and make it easier to avoid relapse to substance use, but it is necessary to provide complementary therapy and other treatments to help the individual. One of the tools that has been researched and used in the past two decades is a drug called baclofen. The risk of severe withdrawal is high if you have used the injectable form.

Tell your doctor right away if your baby has shakiness or tremors, seizures, or increased muscle tone. Using cannabis, heroin or methadone with baclofen will increase the drowsy effects of baclofen. There’s a risk you will not be able to breathe properly, and you may have difficulty waking up.

Treatment Programs for Baclofen Abuse

The risk of addiction is generally low when baclofen is taken under medical supervision, but it’s not zero. Our writers and reviewers are experienced professionals in medicine, addiction treatment, and healthcare. AddictionResource fact-checks all the information before publishing and uses only credible and trusted sources when citing any medical data.

Signs of a possible overdose include muscle weakness, extreme drowsiness, pinpoint pupils, and slowed breathing. Baclofen was originally designed as a drug for the treatment of epilepsy. While use of baclofen in addiction treatment is still considered experimental, it is gaining prominence in the field, and clinical trials continue to explore the possibilities of its use. Baclofen overdose primarily arises from drug screening before pump implantation or human error during pump refilling and programming. Baclofen overdose may cause altered mental status, somnolence, seizure, hypothermia, respiratory depression, and coma.