Conditions like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia could influence a patient’s use of baclofen. Baclofen may be used as a means of self-medication for these disorders, leading to overuse or addiction. Patients should be carefully screened and treated for any co-occurring psychiatric disorders. If you’ve been looking for addiction treatment resources and services, allow us to help you.
Where Should an Overdose be Treated?
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. The way a specific drug affects a person’s neurological condition, muscle spasms, and withdrawal symptoms changes over time. If patients depend solely on it for treatment, the sharp drop in its usefulness can cause extreme spasticity or severe withdrawal symptoms. In some cases, an expected treatment not only fails but causes more issues than intended.
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Effective treatment requires successful detox, followed by continuing therapy. When people try to detox on their own, the effects can be dangerous. For example, imagine that someone who takes baclofen for opiate withdrawals develops a tolerance to the drug and stops taking it. Taking higher doses of baclofen or any habit-forming substance can lead to dependence.
Baclofen causes a pleasurable calming effect, which many may grow to desire often. Some individuals may begin to use baclofen outside of the recommended use. Instead, individuals should consult a medical professional and decrease the dosage for a week or two. Eventually, they will likely be able to stop using the drug altogether. But this treatment did not prove to be overwhelmingly successful.
Through professional treatment programs, those who suffer from addiction can break free from substance use disorders. 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. During treatment at an inpatient facility, addiction specialists will also check if you have other co-occurring mental illness.
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. However, for those suffering from chronic kidney disease, this half-life can extend to 14.1 hours, which heightens the risk of Baclofen toxicity. Some individuals also face muscle weakness, potentially affecting their physical abilities. Other possible side effects include nausea, constipation, or gastrointestinal discomfort.
Treatments for Baclofen Addiction and Withdrawal
Baclofen is primarily used to treat muscle spasms and spasticity from conditions like multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and spinal cord injuries. It can help reduce muscle stiffness, pain, and frequency of spasms. Baclofen is available as an oral tablet and can also be administered intrathecally for severe spasticity.
What are the Health Effects of Abuse?
The journey from invention to market typically takes more than a decade. This page contains brief details about the drug , it’s indication, dosage & administaration, mechanism of action, related brands with strength, warnings and common side effects. Seth brings many years of professional is baclofen habit forming experience working the front lines of addiction in both the government and privatized sectors. Expired medication may not work as intended and could lead to unexpected side effects. We are dedicated to admitting and serving all residents and patients equally, regardless of race, color, or national origin. Our facilities ensure everyone receives fair access to compassionate, comprehensive, and top-quality care.
Chronic misuse of baclofen can lead to dependence and addiction. Once you develop dependence or addiction to baclofen and you try to stop taking the medication, baclofen withdrawal symptoms arise. Another way people misuse baclofen is by mixing it with other substances to increase their feel-good effects.
The Risks of Using Expired Baclofen
Physicians typically prescribe three daily doses that patients take at different intervals. Although it comes with a risk of dependence, it is also important to not stop taking the drug suddenly. When a person stops taking baclofen as directed suddenly, there is a risk of hallucinations, seizures, fever, and confusion. Lioresal is known to be prescribed for prolonged intake if used for treating addiction or for spasticity management.
- Some individuals also face muscle weakness, potentially affecting their physical abilities.
- This effect, in turn, reduces their cravings to indulge in addictive behavior.
- Addiction treatment almost always starts with detox, also called detoxification.
At Sana Lake, you can find what you have been searching for and gain the skills you need to overcome substance use disorder in your life. 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.
As the study on baclofen and its use in addiction treatment continues, many cannot help but wonder, “Is baclofen addictive? ” After all, individuals often find themselves wondering if MAT, in general, is effective as it uses prescription drugs to help people end substance dependence. Some wonder if this approach to alcohol and drug use treatment is the same as “trading one addiction for another”. Baclofen is contraindicated in individuals with known hypersensitivity or allergy to it or its component. Stop taking this tablet and contact your doctor immediately if you develop a rash or skin symptoms.
Some serious side effects include difficulty breathing, problems with eyesight, low blood pressure (fainting), skin rash, and problems in passing urine. A baclofen overdose comes from consuming too much of the drug, either intentionally or accidentally. Since this medication depresses the central nervous system, an overdose can be life-threatening, especially in combination with other substances.
Baclofen acts by inhibiting both monosynaptic and polysynaptic reflexes in the spinal cord. This is achieved by hyperpolarisation of the primary afferent neurones resulting in muscle relaxation. The choice depends on the severity of abuse and your doctor’s recommendations. The drug starts working within a few hours after entering the body as a pill or solution, and blood levels of the drug peak within 2 to 3 hours following use. Misusing or abusing the drug can be very dangerous and may cause death. This is because the FDA requires the drug to pass several tests before it reaches the market.
To learn more about the addiction treatment services that we provide, contact us today. If you are taking other medications for health reasons, make sure to tell your doctor before you also start taking baclofen. Taking baclofen with other central nervous system depressants could lead to severe levels of drowsiness. 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.
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. Our medical detox program is accessible to anyone looking to discontinue Baclofen use, regardless of whether they have an addiction. This medically supervised detox offers 24/7 care, a carefully managed tapering schedule, and additional support to ensure a safe and comfortable withdrawal experience.
The highest-rated alcohol and drug addiction treatment center in Missouri with support for life. This may include a partial hospitalization program (PHP) or an intensive outpatient program (IOP). When it comes to the side effects baclofen use may produce, it is important for individuals to be aware of the ways in which this drug may affect them.
Baclofen also helps to improve the overall movement of muscles as it combats spasms. But addiction treatment professionals are finding a use for this drug on the rehab scene as well. Higher than recommended dosages represent another element of risk. Some people use baclofen for euphoria or relaxation, which greatly increases their risk of overdose.