Baclofen is a gamma-aminobutyric acid type B receptor agonist used as an anti-craving agent for treatment of alcohol dependence. It has gained popularity in the recent times because it is well tolerated even in patients with hepatic impairments. Literature review and case study of a 36-year-old male with alcohol dependence with comorbid major depressive disorder was prescribed with tablet baclofen as an anti-craving agent along with antidepressant medicines. The patients who did not improve with conventional antidepressant therapy started feeling better in terms of his mood symptoms on taking tablet baclofen. Despite its safety profile in hepatic impairment, one must be very cautious in prescribing baclofen because of its mood altering property which may account for its abuse potentiality.
- This calm can lead to a slight uptick in dopamine, lessening cravings for certain addictive substances.
- Very small quantities of baclofen can be passed to babies through breast milk, but amounts are minimal – low enough that no undesirable effects are typically expected.
- Baclofen itself is not considered highly addictive when used as prescribed.
- More severe symptoms include very high fever, confusion, muscle stiffness, and in rare cases, significant organ dysfunction.
- It reduces muscle tension and spasms by mimicking the calming effects of GABA, which can help people with conditions like multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injuries.
- This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter OTC) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.
- They’re not tested in the same way as pharmacy and prescription medicines.
The Addictive Potential of Baclofen
Experts worry that people may have started to take these drugs as an alternative to opioids. Amidst rising baclofen addictive concerns of abuse, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Michigan categorized gabapentin as a Schedule V controlled substance. Absolutely, and it can cause real problems if used in ways not directed by a doctor.
How Does Baclofen Work as a Muscle Relaxant?
If you are nursing an infant, talk to your doctor before taking this drug. Misusing or abusing the drug can be very dangerous and may cause death. This is because the FDA requires the drug to pass several tests before it reaches the market. The journey from invention to market typically takes more than a decade. Drugs in this class work by blocking signals from nerves to muscle fibers.
Mixing Alcohol and Baclofen Side Effects and Interactions
Baclofen may cause dizziness, drowsiness, vision problems, or clumsiness or unsteadiness in some people. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert, well-coordinated, and able to see well. If your doctor decides to stop your treatment, your Baclofen dose will be reduced gradually over 1 to 2 weeks. If the user takes other CNS depressants or alcohol in addition to baclofen, this can exacerbate the high and result in profound dizziness and drowsiness. Correspondence between potential mechanisms, symptoms and neurobiological substrates.
Baclofen Addiction, Abuse, and Treatment
- However, you might go straight to residential treatment if your care team decides that intensive inpatient care isn’t necessary.
- An injectable form is also available, which is injected into the spinal cord by a medical professional.
- On enquiry he was found to be having moderate depression with sleep problem for last 1 year.
- Scientists got a success rate of 68.2%, but only 43 patients were tested in the study.
- Later studies concluded that baclofen could not only reduce the rewarding effects of alcohol and opioids but also minimize the symptoms of withdrawal.
Your doctor probably will want to decrease your baclofen dose gradually. Baclofen comes as a tablet and a solution (liquid) to take by mouth. Baclofen is also available in various generic forms as well as under the brand names of Lioresal and Remular in tablets of 10 or 20 mg and in formulations for intrathecal injections of 0.5 mg/mL. The recommended adult dose for spasticity is 10 to 20 mg orally three to four times daily at evenly spaced intervals. American Addiction Centers (AAC) is a leading treatment provider and has trusted rehab programs across the country.
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.
Baclofen interacts with GABA-B receptors in the brain, which are involved in the regulation of neurotransmitter systems for dopamine, serotonin, and glutamate as well as memory pathways and other cognitive functions. Baclofen is used to relieve discomfort caused by muscle pains, spasms, strains, cramping, and tightness. Baclofen interacts with the central nervous system and causes relaxation and pain relief. This means that the drug is susceptible to abuse, dependence, and addiction. At United Recovery Project, our holistic approach to addiction treatment centers around addressing and healing the underlying issues at the root of addiction.