If misused, baclofen can lead to addiction and withdrawal symptoms when stopped abruptly. There is a higher risk of addiction for those with a history of substance abuse. Discontinuing baclofen abruptly can lead to withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, insomnia, and seizures. If you need to stop taking baclofen, consult your doctor for a proper tapering schedule. They may gradually decrease your dose over weeks or months to minimize withdrawal effects.
Baclofen (Lioresal, Fleqsuvy, and others) – Uses, Side Effects, and More
Furthermore, affecting a patient’s capacity to continue with their therapy are baclofen side effects, including tiredness, dizziness, and mood swings. As part of a larger addiction treatment strategy, patients undergoing therapy in a rehabilitation centre could be provided baclofen in precisely controlled dosages. 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.
As such, they should be used discreetly or even avoided in cases caused by Heat pathogens, and Deficiencies of the Spleen and Liver,” stated Physician Yew. We asked Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Physician Brandon Yew to explain why someone might need a muscle relaxer in the first place. B, baclofen; Eth, ethanol; VTA-NAc, Ventral Tegmental Area-Nucleus Accumbens; Gaba inhibition, local injection of baclofen+muscimol; TMS, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; DBS, Deep Brain Stimulation. References, only the first author is cited; Two references on the substitution line, the first refers to alcohol, the second to baclofen or other GABA-B agonists.
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Muscle spasticity is caused by injury to parts of the brain or spinal cord involved with movement. Conditions that can cause muscle spasticity include multiple sclerosis (MS), cerebral palsy, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Baclofen can also adversely interact with other medications. Patients shouldn’t use baclofen with tricyclic antidepressants before talking to their doctor because it can cause muscle weakness.
Dosing
Speak to your doctor about how drug interactions should be managed. They work immediately and their effects last for 4 to 6 hours before wearing off. Because of this, muscle relaxers can be very addicting and habit-forming. Prolonged use can increase tolerance and lead to physical dependence. Using muscle relaxers in older adults can cause serious side effects, such as slowed or difficult breathing and death. Despite this, older adults accounted for 22.2 percent of all muscle relaxant office visits in 2016.
Abuse
Theauthors did not find any difference between baclofen and placebo andconcluded that the evidence regarding the use of baclofen as a first-linetreatment for AUD is uncertain. Conversely, a meta-analysis by Pierce et al.21 evaluated 13 randomized controlled trials and concluded that baclofenseems to be effective in the treatment of alcohol dependence, especiallyamong heavy drinkers. It works by increasing the activity of a certain neurotransmitter to decrease the occurrence of muscle spasms. Side effects can include drowsiness, fatigue, and muscle weakness.
Many people take outdated doses without knowing, which can cause them a range of health issues as well as reduced effectiveness and uncertain impacts. People who suffer from baclofen addiction may need help from a rehabilitation centre to safely detox and recover. A course of treatment is needed to reduce withdrawal symptoms and prevent relapse. It may include medical supervision, behavioural therapy, and slow dose reduction.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines. Your muscle spasms or spasticity are likely treatable with rest, physical therapy, medications, or all of the above. Work with your doctor to put together a care plan that can ease your pain and get you moving comfortably again.
If someone suddenly stops using baclofen, they may have seizures and hallucinations. Rare baclofen side effects include abnormal liver function tests, bloody urine and chest pain. Some people may also experience a false sense of well-being or mild euphoria when using this drug -which is why it is baclofen habit forming has a potential for abuse.
- At Solution Based Treatment, our team is ready 24/7 to guide you toward recovery.
- The drug should only be used under close medical supervision, even if it could help with addiction therapy.
- Your healthcare provider will make sure you are receiving it as scheduled.
- Statistics from the 2018 National Survey On Drug Use and Health indicates that millions of Americans struggle with heavy drinking, binge drinking, and Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), while only 6% ever seek help.
- Also, baclofen should not be prescribed for a prolonged duration.
- If someone suddenly stops using baclofen, they may have seizures and hallucinations.
“These factors cause the formation and accumulation of pathogens like Wind, Cold, Heat, Dampness and Phlegm within the meridians located along the affected muscles, obstructing the flow of qi and blood. The normal functioning of the muscles are affected, thus giving rise to aches and pains,” stated Physician Yew. Muscle relaxers can vary in terms of their chemical structure and how they work. Generally, they act as a central nervous system depressant, causing a sedative effect and preventing your nerves from sending pain signals to the brain.
- If baclofen is used by people with diabetes, it can increase blood sugar levels.
- The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
- Speak to your doctor about how drug interactions should be managed.
- Its effectiveness in this sense is still under debate due to its potential for side effects and dependence.
- If you think you’ve taken too much of this drug, call your doctor or local poison control center.
- Higher doses and long-term use of baclofen increase the risk of dependence.
Baclofen and other GABA-B agonists microinjected into the VTA suppress alcohol-seeking behavior (70), alcohol consumption (71), and alcohol-induced conditioned place preference (72). Microinjection of baclofen in the nucleus accumbens also decreases binge-like alcohol drinking (73). Patients and caregivers should be instructed on the importance of adhering to refill appointments and recognizing early symptoms of baclofen withdrawal. Special caution is advised for patients with spinal cord injuries at the level of T6 or higher or a history of baclofen withdrawal symptoms. The technical manual on implantable infusion systems provides further guidance.