Baclofen Addiction Non-Opioid Pain-Killer

To overcome addiction successfully, a person needs professional treatment. If a person experiences itching, swelling of the throat or face, difficulty breathing, severe dizziness, or severe itching, it may be an allergic reaction. While allergies to baclofen are rare, they require emergency medical attention. Our facility is in Dittmer, Missouri and its serene surroundings offer individuals a peaceful and safe environment. With our treatment programs, comfortable atmosphere, and understanding staff, Sana Lake offers people hope and healing.

• People who have overdosed on baclofen need treatment at an intensive care unit.
• By increasing the body’s dopamine levels, baclofen helps people feel better when dealing with cravings.
• Some of the less common possible side effects include confusion, headache, nausea, constipation and visual disturbances.
• There is no definitive answer to this question, as everyone reacts differently to medication.

This will ensure that people are using it safely and effectively without danger of severe and serious effects. When using baclofen, someone could feel similar effects as narcotics but only if they take a high dose of it. A baclofen overdose can only happen when the prescription drug is used in a recreational way and not for a medicinal purpose. Nonetheless, when used on a recreational basis, a baclofen high can also occur. This may induce bradycardia or an extremely slow heartbeat, elevated blood pressure, sluggish reflexes, or coma.

Is Baclofen Addictive? What Is It Used For?

If you are suffering from a mental illness on top of your addiction, we also offer dual diagnosis treatment. We even provide numerous different forms of individual therapy and group therapy. Individualized treatment programs delivered in a comfortable, relaxed setting promote healing in your recovery journey. Also known as Lioresal, Baclofen is a GABAb receptor agonist and central nervous system depressant used to treat spasticity, and holds promise as a treatment for alcoholism. It exhibits mild intoxicating effects similar to phenibut or pregabalin. AddictionResource aims to present the most accurate, trustworthy, and up-to-date medical content to our readers.

What Is Baclofen and Is It a Controlled Substance?

Baclofen is great for helping people manage their withdrawals and dependence on substances such as alcohol, opioids, cocaine, and tobacco. Clinical research trials have particularly shown promise in baclofen treating opioid addiction. There have been many reports and claims of baclofen helping with addiction treatment since that time. Baclofen undergoes partial metabolism in the liver, but it is primarily excreted unchanged by the kidneys. When taken at therapeutic doses, the drug is rapidly absorbed, exhibiting a half-life of three to 6.8 hours in individuals with healthy kidney function.

Binding and expression of GABA-B receptors have been studied in rodents. 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. All these systems and functions are possibly involved in the anti-addictive effects of baclofen.

• You’re supposed to take oral forms of baclofen around 3 times a day.
• Admission Line and explanation of convenient private phone and free prescreening.
• Although the number of cases with Baclofen abuse is growing, it is not on the list of controlled substances.
• This is because of the side effects of narcotics and their habit-forming potential.
• Our skilled team believes that everyone deserves to live life without the restrictions of addiction.
• In severe cases, baclofen use can lead to seizures or breathing problems.

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Dr. Michael DeShields, MD, ASAM, DABAM, is a distinguished Medical Director with nearly 40 years of expertise in addiction medicine. A diplomate of the American Board of Addiction Medicine baclofen habit forming and the American Society of Addiction Medicine since 1996, he is renowned for his leadership and commitment to evidence-based, patient-centered care. Dr. DeShields earned his medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine and completed his training at Cooper University Medical Center, where he cultivated his passion for addiction treatment. His dedication and innovation continue to shape the field, guiding clinical teams and supporting patients on their recovery journey. Although Lioresal is primarily used as a muscle relaxant to treat spasticity and pain in muscles, it is also used for a few purposes that are not indicated in FDA-approved Baclofen uses.

Drug Addiction

Although Lioresal is not a narcotic, a handful of cases demonstrating Lioresal addiction have been documented. The patient was given the drug in the pill form and eventually abused it, a behavior which the researchers attributed to the mood-elevating properties of the medication. The primary function of Lioresal in alcohol addiction treatment is to help curb the craving and, as such, increase the dopamine level.

It can be dangerous to stop baclofen suddenly because withdrawal from this drug can be deadly. Patients are advised to speak with their doctor and get their recommendation about stopping baclofen. The treatment shouldn’t be stopped without first speaking to a healthcare professional. 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.

In the present paper, the biological effects of baclofen are reviewed in the light of its clinical effects, assuming that, in many instances, clinical effects can be reliable indicators of underlying biological processes. Although the person takes baclofen for opiate withdrawals, baclofen withdrawals may start if the individual stops. The person may experience other negative symptoms and may be more likely to relapse. Some people take it for alcohol withdrawals or to manage dependence on another substance, which can create a complicated problem when baclofen abuse exists.

Tolerance happens when a person’s brain and body do not respond in the same way they did when they started taking a substance. Risks for relapsing on a different drug also exist in this situation. For example, a person taking baclofen for opiate withdrawals may no longer feel the effects and may take opiates again.

This is because of the side effects of narcotics and their habit-forming potential. The man in the case study said that in large doses, baclofen gave him a feeling of euphoria. Other studies show that people who take baclofen can build a tolerance to it, which means that physicians may prescribe increasing doses over time.

Although it also relieves pain related to muscle stiffness, it does so differently than opioid analgesics or narcotic painkillers. Although cases of Baclofen abuse are rarely reported, it is advised to start with a Baclofen 10 mg or 5 mg dose a few times a day, gradually increasing it over time when necessary. Currently, studies have not proven that the drug helps with opiate or cannabis addiction.

They teach people how to cope with triggers or situations and avoid others. It is important to notify a physician of any of the above side effects. There are some rarer side effects that are potentially dangerous. They include hallucinations, depression, and profound confusion. It is important to report those side effects to a doctor immediately.