If you suspect that someone you know has overdosed on baclofen, it’s important to remain calm and call 911. If they’re conscious, try and prevent them from taking any more drugs in the meantime. Do you suspect someone of your life of struggling with baclofen abuse? Read on to discover what signs to check for and what you can do to help. Taking baclofen along with alcohol, is a very risky combination. It can intensify negative effects on your body such as dizziness or acute nausea.
To stay on the safe side, the medication should only be taken as prescribed. A 24-year-old male “X,” smoking 24 cigarettes per day (CPD) attended our outpatient department for smoking cessation. He was referred to us by the physician who treated his lower respiratory tract infection. He expressed craving, anxiety, insomnia, difficulty in defecation, and mild tremor on reducing the number of smoked CPD. He was diagnosed to have primary nicotine dependence without any comorbid psychiatric illness.
In many instances, medical detox may be necessary to safely detox from baclofen. Medical detox provides professional assistance and medication-assisted treatment to ensure that you’re comfortable and safe throughout the duration of your baclofen detox program. People who abuse baclofen may also consume it with other central nervous system depressants like alcohol to enhance the high.
It has shown promise in clinical trials for treating alcohol and opioid addictions, though official FDA approval for addiction treatment is still pending. Still, many professionals find it beneficial, especially when standard treatments like other medications or behavioral therapies aren’t enough. Baclofen can also lead to tolerance in many patients, meaning they require higher doses over time to achieve the same muscle-relaxing effects or withdrawal relief. People with chronic illnesses or persistent muscle pain are particularly at risk of tolerance—and possibly, misuse. Addiction is marked by compulsive drug abuse despite the negative consequences it causes.
Long-Term Residential Treatment
The seriousness of the symptoms will determine if quick treatment – including respiratory assistance or activated charcoal – is needed. Persons who experience Baclofen toxicity have difficulty breathing, lightheadedness, and lower than average body temperature. Scientists noticed that the same symptoms of overdose were observed in adults and adolescents.
Treatments for Baclofen Addiction and Withdrawal
An addictive substance can cause physical or psychological dependence, or both. 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. Nonetheless, there is a substantial risk of many negative health consequences, including coma and death. Some people thrive with the flexibility that outpatient programs provide, especially if they have a lot of friends and family around to help them stick to their treatment plan.
Addiction Therapy FAQs
Thus, the can baclofen be abused DEA has not yet categorized it in the list of controlled substances. Nonetheless, it has been more than two decades since the first case of abuse was reported. The DEA categorizes substances based on their abuse potential and approved medical use. As per the Controlled Substance Act (CSA), there are Five drug schedules. Outpatient treatment is considered the least intensive level of care. With outpatient treatment, you may be asked to attend therapy sessions throughout the week and have regular appointments with your healthcare providers.
People in the withdrawal process and relapse are at a higher risk of overdose. In large quantities, baclofen can lead to pleasurable feelings similar to those created by drinking alcohol, which is why it can be addicting. Baclofen is not a controlled substance in the United States, however, baclofen misuse can be dangerous.
Effects of Baclofen
One case study tells the story of a 24-year-old who started on baclofen to help quit smoking, combining it with nicotine gum. Eventually, he admitted to abusing baclofen, taking about 20 pills a day. While baclofen isn’t particularly addictive when taken as prescribed, any drug that produces a high can become addictive when abused. It does produce tolerance, which is a sign of developing dependence. Tolerance occurs when the brain alters its neurotransmitter activity in an attempt to normalize brain function with the presence of the extra chemicals in the brain.
Read our guide to find out more about baclofen pumps and intrathecal baclofen treatment. Always seek medical attention when attempting to quit baclofen use after prolonged exposure. Despite its muscle relaxant properties and interaction with the CNS, the DEA does not consider baclofen to have any potential for abuse. Therefore, it is not regulated under the Controlled Substances Act and is not under any schedule. Furthermore, the unpleasant physical symptoms can make it harder to quit baclofen.
On understanding his change of behavior after abusing baclofen 80 mg they stopped baclofen but immediately the patient becomes depressed like before. It means the patient was having hypomanic switch on taking 80 mg of baclofen. Interestingly during his hypomanic phase he never took alcohol which is most probably for taking baclofen which is an anti-craving drug for alcohol. People who start abusing Lioresal can neglect the doctor’s advice and take it in higher doses or combine it with alcohol. As each body is unique, for some, it can cause nothing but slight discomfort. However, others might need professional Baclofen overdose treatment.
The negative consequences that come from baclofen dependence are how addiction is measured. It is hypothesised that baclofen’s interaction with GABA-B receptors is what is responsible for its ability to null cravings for certain substances, including alcohol. Olivier Ameisen, a physician who suffered from AUD claimed in a 2005 paper that he was able to nullify the desire for alcohol with a 270mg daily dose of baclofen. Though his case study on himself seemed to prove the efficacy of baclofen for treating addiction, further studies have failed to designate exactly why it works. The risk of overdose is especially high if you are combining baclofen with other drugs or alcohol.
Warning Signs of Baclofen Abuse and Overdose
This makes it hard to tell whether the signs of abuse are due to those medications or baclofen. Addiction Resource is an educational platform for sharing and disseminating information about addiction and substance abuse recovery centers. Addiction Resource is not a healthcare provider, nor does it claim to offer sound medical advice to anyone. Addiction Resource does not favor or support any specific recovery center, nor do we claim to ensure the quality, validity, or effectiveness of any particular treatment center.
Case managers may help with practical concerns like job placement or educational opportunities, ensuring your life stability continues to strengthen even after formal treatment is done. Research suggests baclofen may help people dealing with alcohol or drug addictions by influencing the brain’s chemistry. According to studies in Frontiers in Psychiatry, baclofen chemically imitates gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which has a calming effect on mood. This calm can lead to a slight uptick in dopamine, lessening cravings for certain addictive substances.
Potential Risks of Taking Expired Muscle Relaxants
- It helps patients feel relaxed and calm, thus providing relief from anxiety, stress, and depression.
- For these reasons, people are advised to keep baclofen away from kids or teens, including anybody who has no prescription for it.
- The withdrawal process can be uncomfortable both physically and mentally.
- Abrupt discontinuation of an addictive drug causes many undesirable effects.
Baclofen abuse is common among those with mental health conditions. Since the drug can have a relaxing, anti-anxiety effect, some people might try to self-medicate by taking baclofen regularly. Baclofen can indeed help with some anxiety and depression symptoms. Without support from a doctor, it is possible to take the wrong amount and make your symptoms worse.
A baclofen overdose often results in severe versions of typical baclofen side effects too. This means that people who overdose may vomit, hallucinate, or have seizures. It can act somewhat like a depressant since it reduces breathing, slows heart rate, and relaxes muscles.