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 is a prescribed medication for people who need pain relief from muscle spasms. Therapy can also help people overcome past trauma or cope with the effects of it.

We combine it with success coaches who help you change habits that push you to drink. Counseling can also be crucial for some people’s success, particularly if their drinking stems from trauma or mental illness. While counseling isn’t part of our program, we are partnered with an addiction specialist, Adi Jaffe, to whom we can refer members.

Baclofen and Alcohol Withdrawal

Side effects are generally minimal and occur primarily when first starting treatment with this medication. Whether you are looking to receive addiction treatment for baclofen or some other substance or mental health issue, Discovery Institute is here to help. To learn more about the addiction treatment services that we provide, contact us today. Because you will go through an intense detox during your baclofen addiction treatment, baclofen habit forming it is wise to attend an inpatient or residential treatment program afterward. That way you can receive the 24/7 care that you’ll need to remain sober after treatment is done. Other people that could develop more side effects to baclofen include the elderly, and people with impaired renal function.

• An overdose occurs when Baclofen ingestion vastly exceeds the recommended dosage.
• Our team does their best for our readers to help them stay informed about vital healthcare decisions.
• Specifically, baclofen can be used to treat skeletal muscle contraction, muscle clonus, pain from disorders like multiple sclerosis and rigidity.
• More information and research are needed to confirm that addiction may be a risk with this drug.
• Many avoid treatment in fear of being labeled an alcoholic while others have failed to find an effective and sustainable solution.
• Withdrawal is common, and you may need to take other prescription drugs to stabilize your condition.

Why Professional Addiction Treatment Is Important

• If you or anyone you know is undergoing a severe health crisis, call a doctor or 911 immediately.
• Although Lioresal is not a narcotic, a handful of cases demonstrating Lioresal addiction have been documented.
• However, the man self-reported baclofen abuse, totaling about 20 pills per day.
• This tablet should generally be avoided during pregnancy unless the potential benefits of treatment for the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby.
• Neuroplasticity happens passively, through repeated behavior, or actively, when you intentionally create new habits.

Our writers and reviewers are experienced professionals in medicine, addiction treatment, and healthcare. AddictionResource fact-checks all the information before publishing and uses only credible and trusted sources when citing any medical data. The Verified badge on our articles is a trusted sign of the most comprehensive scientifically-based medical content. Addiction Resource does not offer medical diagnosis, treatment, or advice. Only trained and licensed medical professionals can provide such services.

Find Baclofen Addiction Treatment Programs

This means it’s not considered to have the same high risk of abuse as other medications. While baclofen can lead to physical dependence if used long-term, it’s not tightly regulated like some other prescription drugs. Another approach to the substitution hypothesis has been proposed by Ameisen (92, 141), who hypothesized that there is a deficit of GHB in the brain of AUD patients. He highlighted the similar behavioral effects of alcohol, baclofen and GHB. Baclofen and GHB share several common neurobiological effects, including GABA-B activation; among alcohol, baclofen and GHB, only GHB occurs naturally in the brain and has brain specific receptors. According to Ameisen, a deficit in brain GHB could cause dysphoria, itself promoting alcohol misuse.

Mixing Baclofen With Other Medications and Substances

Taking Tramadol and Baclofen together to relieve pain can result in serious adverse effects for some individuals. Baclofen medication belongs to the group of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) agonists, which are naturally occurring neurotransmitters in the brain. Based on the FDA label information, the precise Baclofen mechanism of action is not fully known.

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. 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.

All of the research above indicates that baclofen can be a helpful tool supporting treatment of substance use disorders. However, there are also some risks in using it that both treating professionals and individuals who might want to use it should be aware of first. The professional addiction treatment community is always on the lookout for new, more reliable ways of treating substance use disorders, and research is continually ongoing into various means of medical support for treatment.

Types of Therapy

However, there are no solid theoretical bases supporting the hypothesis that baclofen is a substitution treatment in AUD. Once the body has been stabilized, you are ready to move to the next phase of treatment. An inpatient program is an intensive treatment that aims to achieve long-lasting sobriety.

Scientific studies show that baclofen can cause both psychological and physical dependence. An injectable form is also available, which is injected into the spinal cord by a medical professional. Brands in the US include Lioresal, Kemstro, Ozobax, and Gablofen. Baclofen activates GABA receptors, which inhibit nerve activity and soothe the nervous system. Prolonged use of baclofen downregulates these receptors, leading the body to depend on the medication to sustain normal nerve function. When baclofen is abruptly stopped, the nervous system may become hyperactive, resulting in a rebound effect and withdrawal symptoms.

If you or anyone you know is undergoing a severe health crisis, call a doctor or 911 immediately. Lioresal is known to be prescribed for prolonged intake if used for treating addiction or for spasticity management. When the drug is used for several months, it is not surprising that a patient may become psychologically dependent.