Baclofen, uses, precautions, dosages & side effects

There were multiple studies conducted in Germany that yielded different results in treating alcoholism. If you’ve been looking for addiction treatment resources and services, allow us to help you. At Sana Lake, you can find what you have been searching for and gain the skills you need to overcome substance use disorder in your life. Individuals who are suffering from baclofen dependence can find hope and healing here baclofen addictive at Sana Lake Recovery Center. 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. Addiction treatment almost always starts with detox, also called detoxification.

Long-Term Residential Treatment

If you are physically dependent on baclofen, you may choose to continue your addiction treatment after completing a baclofen detox program. Research shows that long-term rehab is an effective way for people to overcome their physical and psychological addiction to drugs and alcohol. Medical detox for baclofen addiction may also greatly reduce the risk of relapse because it offers a safe and supportive environment that is drug-free.

How Common Is Baclofen Abuse?

Baclofen withdrawal can be deadly if a person suddenly stops taking it after taking it regularly for a period of time. A baclofen pump is a method of administering the drug directly into the spinal fluid of patients. A baclofen pump requires invasive surgery to use and is not recommended for all patients suffering from spasticity. Read our guide to find out more about baclofen pumps and intrathecal baclofen treatment. Baclofen has pain-relieving and muscle-relaxing qualities that make it susceptible to abuse.

Baclofen and other drugs

• A person should not drive or operate heavy machinery unless they are certain that the drug does not affect them in this way.
• However, its clinical efficacy in this regard is still unclear 1.
• Doctors will only prescribe the drug if the benefits of doing so outweigh the risks.
• Scientific studies show that baclofen can cause both psychological and physical dependence.
• Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of Baclofen tablets in the pediatric population.
• Baclofen has been used off label as add-on therapy to help people with alcohol use disorder with alcohol abstinence and withdrawal 3, 4, 5.

Baclofen tablets and liquid start to work after 1 hour of taking it. However, it might take a few days before you find the right dose to control your symptoms. Baclofen is usually started at a low dose and slowly increased over a few days. The most common side effects of baclofen are transient sedation, confusion, muscle weakness, vertigo, nausea, drowsiness, dizziness and fatigue 9. Baclofen is commonly taken orally but can also be administered intrathecally for cerebral spasticity. It is quickly absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract and reaches peak plasma concentration within one to three hours.

What to Do in Case of Overdose

The drug has a plasma half-life of two to four hours and undergoes minimal liver metabolism. Baclofen is also available as compounding powders and oral suspensions. Always seek medical attention when attempting to quit baclofen use after prolonged exposure.

Patients should not switch between medications or stop Lioresal on their own. However, if you have a long history of use, tapering may last several weeks. That said, certain behavioral changes might help identify abuse. If you are nursing an infant, talk to your doctor before taking this drug.

In addition to treating neurological disorders, baclofen is also prescribed to those suffering from spinal injuries. Avenues Recovery is a community-based drug and alcohol rehabilitation center with locations across the United States. Northpoint Seattle’s outpatient treatment program is located in beautiful Seattle, Washington, and we work to help the surrounding communities. Baclofen was first used as an addiction aid in 2004 when French cardiologist Olivier Ameisen tested its effectiveness against alcohol addiction on himself.

This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter OTC) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements. If your doctor decides to stop your treatment, your Baclofen dose will be reduced gradually over 1 to 2 weeks. Baclofen is a unique drug in that while someone can get addicted to it, it can also be used to treat other addictions.

• When you are stopping taking baclofen, do so in small increments over a period of 1-2 weeks.
• Once the detox process has been completed, it is then time to begin your addiction treatment.
• Addiction Resource is an educational platform for sharing and disseminating information about addiction and substance abuse recovery centers.
• It is also used in some drug rehabs to treat conditions of mental health caused by alcohol addiction and substance abuse.
• With our treatment programs, comfortable atmosphere, and understanding staff, Sana Lake offers people hope and healing.
• In the case of mixing Lioresal and alcohol, it can cause dangerous effects in the person who combines them due to the depressant effects of both substances.

If you need it to be, you can also use baclofen as one of a combination of medications for combination therapy. People with conditions such as multiple sclerosis and spinal injury and disease are primary candidates for the use of baclofen. Baclofen has a 70% to 85% bioavailability and is rapidly absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract following oral administration. Peak plasma concentrations are generally observed 2 to 3 hours after ingestion. The absorption is dose-dependent and increases with higher doses. Due to the short half-life of 2 to 6 hours, baclofen should be administrated frequently to achieve optimal effect.

Other substances that people often mix baclofen with to receive a high are opioids, alcohol, and amphetamines. According to the Electronic Medicines Compendium, you should increase and decrease your dosage of baclofen gradually over time. The action of gradually increasing and decreasing your dosage of medications is called tapering. Not tapering your baclofen dosage could lead to severe side effects. More dangerous and severe side effects of baclofen include seizures and difficulty breathing. Baclofen can come in the form of an oral tablet, oral solution, oral powder for suspension, or spinal injection.