Baclofen Addiction, Abuse, and Treatment

As the name suggests, it acts directly on spinal cord nerves to relax the spasms that cause the jerking, twitching, and involuntary “jack-knifing” caused by neurological orders. Baclofen also works on the central nervous system to relieve pain and muscle stiffness, which can be profound and even crippling in an MS spasticity attack. Some people will start to feel baclofen withdrawal symptoms within a few hours of their last dose, while for others, the start of withdrawal may take longer to surface, up to 48 hours. Seeking treatment for baclofen abuse may not be easy, but avoiding the severe and dangerous side effects of misuse, overdose, and withdrawal is essential.

Treatment Can Be Life Changing. Reach out today.

Although the withdrawal symptoms from baclofen can be very uncomfortable, the psychological side of addiction can be much harder to recover from. Dopamine levels are affected by substance abuse, and, as such, the brain begins to crave the rush of dopamine that the drug provides. Users often develop a tolerance after taking baclofen over an extended period. Because of this, they may increase their dose to experience the same effects from the drug.

What Are the Symptoms of Baclofen Withdrawal?

If you’re looking for a trusted team of providers who can help guide you toward the right treatment plan, Zinnia Health can help. Baclofen may be prescribed for a variety of conditions that result in muscle stiffness and tightness, including spinal cord injuries and multiple sclerosis. ” This is a valid question and a concern that recovery centers should certainly address. It’s important for those who are suffering from addiction to find hope at addiction treatment centers that have their best interest in mind.

• For efficiency purposes, it is also crucial to not miss any doses or not taking them as scheduled.
• In most cases, baclofen withdrawal lasts anywhere from one to two weeks, which is how long your detox program will last.
• Long-term treatment, even after the blood levels have normalized, is necessary.
• Going “cold turkey” is very dangerous and can be fatal as it can lead to organ failure.

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. This is because a certain amount of baclofen must be in your body at all times for baclofen to work properly. Taking too much baclofen could cause severe side effects or an overdose. American Addiction Centers (AAC) is a leading treatment provider and has trusted rehab programs across the country. If you are ready to begin your journey to recovery, please call a caring AAC representative free at to learn more about your treatment options.

Although the timeline of withdrawal varies, there is a rough guide of what to expect. Some people will start to feel baclofen withdrawal symptoms within a few hours of their last dose. In other people, the start of withdrawal may take longer to surface and may take up to 48 hours. The brain and body begin to fight back when this source of dopamine is removed, resulting in baclofen withdrawal symptoms. The user can start to feel a range of physiological and psychological withdrawal symptoms. The way baclofen acts on the body means that dependency and addiction are possible.

Many Baclofen/alcohol forums online do not recommend using them at the same time. Baclofen is not a controlled substance, narcotic, opioid drug or benzodiazepine. However, Baclofen is quite a bit like Soma in that it is a muscle relaxer. Still, Lioresal reviews tell us that most patients prefer this drug over Soma. Doctors who prescribe Baclofen also believe that it might be a better choice. Right now, there are many different methods of opioid replacement therapy on the market to help.

In severe cases, baclofen use can lead to seizures or breathing problems. Long-term residential treatment provides structured care in the therapeutic community or a sober living home. The treatment aims to resocialize addicted individuals and helps them reintegrate into society with minimal problems.

You Can and Will Overcome your Addiction

Therefore, you should not operate a vehicle or any other form of heavy machinery while taking this combination of medications. Because of the calming effect and the feel-good increase in dopamine levels that baclofen has on the body, many people start misusing baclofen. One way that people misuse baclofen is by taking more than what is prescribed to them. 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.

How to Get Help for Baclofen Abuse

Sober living homes are safe, structured, and supportive living environments for men and women who are in recovery. Many of the residents have already completed detox or rehab, are on probation or parole, or have recently relapsed and need help getting back on track. Some of the side effects can be exacerbated when the drug is taken in large amounts or in conjunction with other CNS depressants such as opioids and or alcohol.

For example, France’s Bacloville study, one of the world’s largest baclofen/alcohol addiction studies, cost around $1.4 million dollars for a year-long trial involving 320 patients. This equals about $4,375 spent for each patient, a not-inconsiderable sum for a simple clinical trial. Anyone using Baclofen for addiction treatment should never just rely on the medication.

In the worst possible scenario, it can affect your central nervous system, resulting in someone overdosing. Individualized treatment programs delivered in a comfortable, relaxed setting promote healing in your recovery journey. In truth, individuals who use baclofen for a while may develop a tolerance for it. Baclofen causes a pleasurable calming effect, which many may grow to desire often.

How is Kemstro Used to Treat Addictions?

Group therapy also gives recovering individuals an atmosphere in which they can develop healthy and supportive interpersonal relationships. Those in recovery can take advantage of the benefits of group therapy and individual therapy. Both of these methods can help people as they seek liberty from substance dependence. While in an individual therapy session, a person can discuss his or her needs, feelings, emotions, experiences, challenges, and more with a therapist.

You are also most likely craving Baclofen, and you may go through withdrawal when you stop using it. By 2016, using Baclofen for alcoholism was being promoted as the next promising treatment. It remains to be seen whether or not that will happen in the near future. Some people are claiming that Baclofen may be the addiction cure that everyone has been waiting for. We invite you to share your journey of recovery and be featured on Recovery Connection!

First and foremost is the fact that this drug is not FDA approved for treating addiction. It is, however, FDA approved to treat muscle spasms with spinal cord lesions and chronic neuropathy. It can also can you get addicted to baclofen be used to treat muscle spams in people with multiple sclerosis. The fact that it is being studied for the treatment of addiction is fairly new. Intensive inpatient treatment means you’ll be admitted to a hospital where you will get 24/7 medical supervision and care. Once you complete the program, you’ll spend time at either a residential facility or an outpatient program to get the continued support you need to prevent relapse and ensure your success.