It is dangerous to mix baclofen with other drugs that affect the central nervous system including opioids, sleep aids, alcohol, muscle relaxers or certain vitamins. At a minimum, mixing baclofen with something like alcohol can amplify side effects like dizziness or drowsiness. At worst, combining baclofen with another CNS depressant can cause an overdose. Without the help and supervision of professionals, it is difficult and sometimes impossible to overcome addiction. Effective treatment requires successful detox, followed by continuing therapy.
Taking too much baclofen could cause severe side effects or an overdose. It is also used in some drug rehabs to treat conditions of mental health caused by alcohol addiction and substance abuse. The medicine works as a supportive treatment by helping patients’ nerves relax. This class of drugs has been in the national and worldwide spotlight in recent years because of the addiction and dependence they cause. Even in people who are prescribed opioids for pain relief, it’s possible to become addicted. When a physician is discussing prescribing a patient baclofen, it’s natural they might want to know if it’s a narcotic.
Through professional treatment programs, those who suffer from addiction can break free from substance use disorders. The risk of severe withdrawal is high if you have used the injectable form. Treatment is supportive and can include medications to control seizures and muscle stiffness. In severe withdrawal, your doctor may give a low dose of baclofen. Additionally, some individuals may develop a dependency due to its pain-relieving properties, even though it is not classified as a narcotic. Over time, the brain may rely on these effects, prompting individuals to exceed their prescribed dosage.
How Is Baclofen Used in Addiction Treatment?
Baclofen can come in the form of an oral tablet, oral solution, oral powder for suspension, or spinal injection. The peak concentration of baclofen in the bloodstream occurs 1-3 hours after taking the medication orally. The half-life of baclofen is 3-4 hours in baclofen habit forming the plasma, and the total shelf life of baclofen after its date of manufacture is 3 years. Only a healthcare provider can give you the spinal injection form of baclofen.
Signs of Baclofen Abuse
Baclofen could be able to compensate the deficit in GHB, thereby suppressing dysphoria and possible dependence (Table 1). 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.
One of the main reasons a doctor can use Lioresal for alcohol use disorder is because it helps to reduce the compulsion to drink. Medical professionals have discovered that using it for alcohol cravings helps to stop drinking. It has been found to completely switch off the thirst for alcohol in patients diagnosed with alcohol addiction. Baclofen medication for alcoholism produces an instant effect. The patient can choose to stop taking alcohol or continue to drink after completing alcohol treatment. Baclofen is a GABA-B agonist used to treat muscle spasms and belongs to a class of medications called skeletal muscle relaxants.
Lioresal For Alcoholism
Not tapering your baclofen dosage could lead to severe side effects. Baclofen is used as an off-label addiction treatment medication because its chemical makeup mimics gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a bodily chemical that calms your mood. As a result, baclofen has a calming effect that causes dopamine levels to increase in the body. Because of the relaxing effects that baclofen has on muscles, baclofen is considered a muscle relaxer. If you need it to be, you can also use baclofen as one of a combination of medications for combination therapy.
It is also proposed that this action is made possible by the fact that baclofen and alcohol act on similar brain systems in certain regions of the brain. While baclofen isn’t a narcotic and doesn’t have a significant potential for addiction, it can cause physical dependence. Physical dependence to baclofen occurs when it’s taken regularly for a period of time. The body becomes dependent on its presence, so suddenly stopping the use of baclofen can cause withdrawal symptoms.
- This may induce bradycardia or an extremely slow heartbeat, elevated blood pressure, sluggish reflexes, or coma.
- In the early 2000s, an individual by the name of Oliver Ameisen provided details about his recovery from alcoholism with the help of baclofen.
- Medical professionals did find, however, that baclofen was helpful in minimizing spasticity.
- Through our services and programs, those who are struggling will have access to professional treatment and resources that can help guide the way to recovery.
- Medical professionals have discovered that using it for alcohol cravings helps to stop drinking.
- Mixing baclofen with other substances is dangerous because it can lead to severe side effects.
Find Drug Rehabilitation Centers Near You Anywhere In the US
This certainly remains true in cases of baclofen dependence and addiction. The experimental use of baclofen is swiftly catching on and becoming more and more of a topic of discussion. So, it only seems fitting that, since using this medication for addiction treatment is still in the experimental stage, people would wonder about its qualities and characteristics. Learning about whether or not baclofen is addictive and gaining more information about baclofen withdrawal can be helpful for those who are wondering about this treatment method.
Because the drug mimics GABA and has a calming effect, it increases dopamine levels and may reduce cravings for an addictive substance. Baclofen is a prescription drug that individuals can use to treat muscle spasms. These spasms may be caused by medical conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS), as well as spinal cord diseases or injuries.
However, for those suffering from chronic kidney disease, this half-life can extend to 14.1 hours, which heightens the risk of Baclofen toxicity. Yes, it can be, and we want people who struggle with addiction to know that there is help. If you take baclofen for addiction and know that you are misusing it, we can help.
Is Baclofen Addictive? What Is It Used For?
- Lioresal is the most well-known brand name version of baclofen.
- Because of the relaxing effects that baclofen has on muscles, baclofen is considered a muscle relaxer.
- GABA-B receptors are heterodimeric metabotropic receptors consisting of one GABA-B receptor-1 subunit (GABBR1) and one GABA-B receptor-2 subunit (GABBR2).
- Baclofen detox is essential when receiving addiction treatment for baclofen because of the severity of baclofen withdrawal symptoms.
- For further details, consult your doctor about your medical condition to know if you are eligible to receive this treatment.
Baclofen may also be known by other brand names such as Lioresal and Kemstro. Baclofen is a pain medication that many people aren’t familiar with. Every day, opioid-related drug overdoses kill over 130 people in the US.1 Addiction treatment in a rehab facility can help with recovery from substance use disorders. When taken as prescribed by a doctor, it was not found to be particularly addictive. However, when taking the substance with too much of a dose or not even prescribed the medication, it induces a “high,” and becomes addictive when abused. Over time, the person abusing baclofen will need to take more and more drugs to experience the same sensation as the body begins to develop tolerance.
An injectable form is also available, which is injected into the spinal cord by a medical professional. Brands in the US include Lioresal, Kemstro, Ozobax, and Gablofen. Mixing alcohol and baclofen can even increase your blood pressure and heart rate and cause you to have seizures. Drinking alcohol while taking baclofen can also cause you to unknowingly overdose on baclofen. Because baclofen and alcohol are both central nervous system depressants, mixing them heightens both of their effects to dangerous levels.
Unfortunately, substance use disorders affect individuals and their families alike. Since this is the case, it is important for families to seek support and guidance as they navigate through the challenges that occur as a family member works through recovery. Family therapy helps to equip family units with the education and understanding they need throughout this time. Those who suffer from substance use disorders should never attempt to end substance use without help. It’s both important and even necessary for individuals to seek assistance from others.