Sober living

Baclofen: Side Effects & Addiction Signs

  • August 28, 2023

We welcome residents of the Mid-Ohio Valley area and West Virginia to reach out to us for treatment. Our skilled team believes that everyone deserves to live life without the restrictions of addiction. We treat people who struggle with multiple forms of drug addiction and alcohol addiction. To learn more about our treatment options for baclofen addiction or baclofen misuse, please contact us.

Baclofen Addiction, Abuse, and Treatment

If an allergic reaction is suspected, it is important to seek medical attention immediately. Baclofen can cause a range of side effects, including drowsiness, dizziness, headache, nausea, and vomiting. It is important to be aware of these potential side effects and to talk to a doctor about any concerns.

How Is Baclofen Used in Addiction Treatment?

Known under the brand names Kemstro and Lioresal, pharmaceutical manufacturers originally conceived baclofen to treat epilepsy. After synthesizing the drug in 1962, however, clinicians discovered that baclofen displayed minimal benefits in controlling seizures. Medical care providers have subsequently used the drug as a muscle relaxant to alleviate spasticity caused by a variety of diseases. In sum, taking a glass of wine with baclofen can lead to harmful side baclofen habit forming effects.

However, baclofen is not without some abuse potential and risks, so it’s important to talk to your doctor about what medications may work best for you in addiction treatment. Baclofen is a muscle relaxant that physicians may prescribe to treat muscle stiffness, tightness, or spasticity. They may prescribe it to people with spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, or other diseases that affect the muscles. When professionals use baclofen for addiction treatment, they typically prescribe it to treat withdrawal or to attempt to reduce dependence on another drug. Baclofen is a prescription medicine mainly used as a muscle relaxant to treat neurological illnesses, spinal cord injuries, and multiple sclerosis-related spasticity. It is a reasonable choice for treating addiction since it may reduce opiate and alcohol cravings.

  • It works by affecting GABA receptors in the brain, reducing muscle spasticity.
  • We strive to provide a holistic level of treatment with evidence-based care, giving you the helpnecessary to regain your sobriety for good.
  • The overall effect is the depression of activity in the brain and spinal cord, which may be responsible for relieving muscle stiffness and tightness.
  • It may take a lot of effort and rehab support to make you de-addicted / get away from such habits.
  • Dependence occurs when a person cannot function normally without using a drug.

This article will discuss the signs and symptoms of Baclofen overdose and available treatment options. Historically, doctors have used benzodiazepines as the preferred medication for treating alcohol use disorder. Various inquiries into baclofen and the drug’s efficacy for treating substance use disorder between 2001 and 2004 indicated that the medication may be as effective as benzodiazepines. Both prescriptions help manage AUD withdrawal symptoms, and each has its own set of unique side effects. Baclofen is a muscle relaxer that’s used to treat muscle spasms from conditions like multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injuries. In the past decade, baclofen has been used off-label in the treatment of drug and alcohol use disorder to lessen the symptoms of withdrawal.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of a Baclofen Overdose?

Physical dependence on baclofen can look like withdrawal symptoms when the drug is suddenly discontinued. These symptoms may include increased muscle spasticity, itching, low blood pressure, lightheadedness, and tingling sensations. If you suddenly stop taking baclofen, your muscle spasms may get worse. If you miss your doses or do not take your baclofen as scheduled, it may not work as well as it should.

Side Effects Associated with Baclofen

Our team takes pride in creating a safe environment where people can feel confident and comfortable. The programs we offer are designed to help people discover the keys to beating the cycle of addiction and staying in recovery. It is important to notify a physician of any of the above side effects. There are some rarer side effects that are potentially dangerous.

Addiction Treatment

It is a central nervous system depressant that works by blocking the nerve impulses that are responsible for the spasms. Baclofen is also sometimes used to treat alcoholism, but this is an off-label use. When someone takes baclofen, it relaxes muscles, thereby alleviate cramping and tightness. It’s not a cure for certain conditions like MS, but it does provide a way for people to get other forms of treatment like physical therapy.

baclofen habit forming

Keeping personal information up-to-date

This has happened to individuals taking baclofen, especially those with chronic illnesses or muscle problems. As tolerance develops, people may be tempted to increase their dosage. At Harmony Ridge Recovery Center, we feel that everyone in the area deserves the best treatment and support. We provide detox, residential treatment, partial hospitalization treatment, outpatient treatment, case management, and multiple types of therapies. Also, we treat co-occurring mental health disorders along with addiction.

Can you take this drug along with a glass of alcohol – say, wine? You may need to know the consequences prior to starting such practices.Baclofen eases strained muscles. There are many reasons for muscles to undergo stressful conditions.

Clinical Trials on Baclofen for Addiction

  • Patients with a personal or family history of addiction may be more prone to problematic use or dependence on baclofen.
  • For these individuals, the preferred goal of any treatment for alcohol addiction is maintaining complete, life-long abstinence from the drug.
  • They started with 5 mg of baclofen three times daily before upping the dosage to 10 mg in the same increments over four consecutive weeks.
  • Amanda earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work from Purdue University, graduating Magna Cum Laude, which serves as a strong educational foundation for her contributions.Read More.
  • Those who took stool softeners over the long term may find it hard to pass stools without the intake of laxatives.

Baclofen treats muscle spasticity, which is often a condition in people who have multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries or diseases, and cerebral palsy. It’s believed that baclofen’s chemical structure is similar to gamma-aminobutyric (GABA). The role of GABA is to block or slow certain nerve signals, so it has a calming effect.

Boxed warnings (or black box warnings) inform prescribers about the potentially fatal risks of a prescription drug. Nonetheless, there is a substantial risk of many negative health consequences, including coma and death. People with a history of strokes could develop more side effects to baclofen than the average person. Baclofen may not even be able to treat your muscle spasms if you have a history with strokes. People with kidney problems or kidney disease may have issues clearing baclofen from their bodies.

baclofen habit forming

Overdose can occur when the drug is taken at high doses or in combination with other drugs or alcohol. Symptoms of overdose include confusion, difficulty breathing, and coma. Yes, taking too much baclofen can lead to overdose, causing severe respiratory depression, confusion, seizures, or coma. Safely stopping the medicine depends on a systematic tapering plan under the direction of a medical expert. Professional addiction treatment programs, which offer medical monitoring and support to simplify the process, could help patients suffering from withdrawal issues. When taken in high doses, Baclofen can cause respiratory depression, which is a condition that causes the body to stop breathing.

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. We can also help if you have a loved one who takes baclofen for addiction and is struggling with misuse. Prolonged misuse can lead to addiction, which is what happens when a person is unable to stop taking a substance even though the individual is aware of the harm it causes. To overcome addiction successfully, a person needs professional treatment.

According to the results of one study, participants who used baclofen successfully reduced their use of cocaine over time. Although baclofen can be beneficial in some addiction treatment programs, some people can become addicted to it and may abuse the drug. Yes, and it is important to understand how to identify baclofen abuse and its dangers. While baclofen does offer benefits for certain conditions when taken as prescribed, it does come with potential risks of misuse and dependence. The most dangerous situation is caused by mixing baclofen with alcohol, benzodiazepines, or opioids.