He was put on quetiapine 100 mg and baclofen was gradually tapered. He is under motivational therapy and put on bupropion 150 mg in view of the history of nicotine dependence and anxiety symptoms. Similar risks are present for individuals with liver disorders such as cirrhosis or hepatitis. In patients with compromised liver or kidney function, Baclofen may accumulate in the body, potentially leading to toxicity or overdose.

Variation in baclofen toxicity presentation

The brain can become dependent on the positive effects it has on the GABA receptors. This can lead to the user experiencing baclofen withdrawal symptoms when they discontinue use. Some people may have severe baclofen withdrawal symptoms, while others may not.

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. Because you will go through an intense detox during your baclofen addiction treatment, 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.

Detoxing from baclofen can be very dangerous and should not be done without the right support. Many users can feel the urge to go “cold turkey” when they make the decision to stop using, but this is rarely successful and can be extremely dangerous. Baclofen detox should be supervised and undertaken in a safe environment. The psychological symptoms can be much longer-lasting, with users experiencing mental health problems for months after they’ve stopped using. Detoxification should always be done under the supervision of medical professionals due to the nature of the drug.

Peak withdrawal symptoms usually begin to happen within 72 hours and may last for several weeks, baclofen dependence depending on the individual. Although many of these withdrawal symptoms will subside over time, the psychological effects of addiction can be long-lasting. Even after detoxification, a user may find overcoming the psychological withdrawal a challenge. The symptoms of withdrawal can be similar in nature to those experienced with other drugs, particularly benzodiazepines or alcohol. Like alcohol and benzodiazepines, addicts should not stop taking baclofen suddenly. Therefore, detoxing should always be done under medical supervision.

Their reflexes and reaction times may be severely diminished, or they may fail to react entirely. Join 40,000+ People Who Receive Our Newsletter Get valuable resources on addiction, recovery, wellness, and our treatments delivered directly to your inbox. For example, if the user tapers off the drug slowly or suddenly stops taking it.

An Unusual Case of Baclofen Abuse

A doctor may prescribe the drug only if the benefits outweigh the potential risks to the fetus. Thus, it is evident that baclofen is likely to cause fatal complications in some users. Instead, a boxed warning aims to promote the safe use of powerful drugs. Nonetheless, there is a substantial risk of many negative health consequences, including coma and death.

Oral baclofen dosing for spasticity

Call to speak with a knowledgeable, compassionate admissions navigator and learn more about your options or to start treatment today. Baclofen misuse and addiction is considered very rare.5 However, as evidenced by the presence of withdrawal symptoms when use is ceased, the drug can cause physiological dependence when taken for extended periods. It is important to only use baclofen under the prescribed direction of a medical professional. 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. After detox, you can then attend our very effective residential or intensive outpatient treatment program.

These side effects can make anyone more at risk of death and getting emergency medical help is advised as soon as possible. Research published in The Cureus Journal of Medical Science reveals that around 15% of Baclofen is metabolized by the liver through deamination, while the kidneys excrete 60 to 80% in its original form. Due to its primary elimination through the kidneys, long-term use of Baclofen may, in rare instances, lead to kidney issues, significantly if kidney function is already impaired. Although liver toxicity is not a frequent side effect of Baclofen, monitoring liver function is advisable, particularly for individuals with a history of liver problems. Baclofen 20 mg and 30 mg sustained release capsules were provide free of cost by Sun Pharmaceuticals to many patients.

AddictionResource fact-checks all the information before publishing and uses only credible and trusted sources when citing any medical data. 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.

Baclofen is absorbed quickly from the gastrointestinal tract, and peak concentration in the bloodstream occurs about 1-3 hours after oral administration of the medication. Baclofen’s half-life is 3-4 hours in plasma, and its shelf life is three years from the date of manufacture. Oral tablets of the medication also contain lactose, pregelatinised maize starch, maize starch, magnesium stearate, and water. Because baclofen and alcohol are both central nervous system depressants, mixing them heightens both of their effects to dangerous levels. People who take baclofen may mix it with alcohol to heighten their euphoric and calming effects.

Spasticity

Calls to our general hotline may be answered by private treatment providers. We may be paid a fee for marketing or advertising by organizations that can assist with treating people with substance use disorders. The primary function of Lioresal in alcohol addiction treatment is to help curb the craving and, as such, increase the dopamine level. All information provided in featured rehab listings is verified by the facility officials. The details are kept up to date to help people with addiction treatment needs get the most full and precise facts about the rehabilitation facility. While bacolofen has benefits in the treatment of addiction, it does carry a risk of side effects and addiction potential.

Withdrawal can also be more severe depending on the form of the drug that is taken. Those that take a spinal injection over a tablet form will often find withdrawal more intense. If your dependence gets so bad that your behavior changes and you will do almost anything to obtain more baclofen, you are suffering from a baclofen addiction. Therefore, make sure to talk to your doctor about whether or not baclofen is safe for you to use. Like other narrative reviews, this review did not follow a specific set ofevidence-based criteria to select or evaluate the included references, potentiallyintroducing bias.

Is It Possible to Overdose on Baclofen?

These baclofen withdrawal symptoms will subside when the user takes the drug. This can encourage them to continue taking the substance or increase their dose. During this process, the user can develop a strong addiction after repeated behaviors resulting in pleasant feelings in the brain and body. In 2020, Rigal et al.27 published a randomized controlled trial (Bacloville’s study)comparing baclofen titrated up to 300 mg/day versus placebo in adultoutpatients with high-risk alcohol consumption. In this study, authorsreported that baclofen was more effective than placebo in reducing alcoholconsumption to low-risk levels.

The recommended method of weaning yourself off the medication is through a professional detoxification program under the medical supervision of a qualified rehabilitation center. Not only do they have the expertise and medical tools to deal with any adverse effects, but they can also manage the patient for any comorbidities or changes in mental state. At United Recovery Project, our holistic approach to addiction treatment centers around addressing and healing the underlying issues at the root of addiction. People who have overdosed on baclofen need treatment at an intensive care unit. Long-term treatment, even after the blood levels have normalized, is necessary. It is critical because baclofen is slowly removed from the brain.

Drug Addiction

Additionally, individuals with a history of substance use disorder (SUD) or a family history of addiction may be at greater risk for the misuse and abuse of Baclofen. Apart for the two widely used, the US-Food and Drug Administration approved, drugs acamprosate and naltrexone, many other agents have been used specifically for the management of craving. These include ondansetron,11,12 buspirone,13 fluoxetine, and other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors,14,15 topiramate,16 and baclofen. Once the body has been stabilized, you are ready to move to the next phase of treatment.

The stored drug in the brain can cause sedation long after the blood levels of the drug are within the normal range. The use of two drugs – gabapentin and baclofen – has soared in recent years. Experts worry that people may have started to take these drugs as an alternative to opioids. Amidst rising concerns of abuse, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Michigan categorized gabapentin as a Schedule V controlled substance. If you’ve been looking for addiction treatment resources and services, allow us to help you.

Recovery Resource Center provides information on the best evidence-based treatment centers for people struggling with addiction and mental health. Usually, those that are used to taking a higher dose will experience greater baclofen withdrawal symptoms, but low-dose users can also experience withdrawal. If you take baclofen regularly, then you may experience withdrawal symptoms when you lower your dose or discontinue use. These symptoms will likely be more severe if you have developed an addiction to the drug and have become highly dependent on it. You’re supposed to take oral forms of baclofen around 3 times a day. When you start taking baclofen, you should do so in small doses at first and then gradually increase to larger doses.