What is Baclofen? Side Effects and Withdrawal Symptoms of Baclofen

Nevertheless, only a minority of people with AUD seek and receive medical treatment (4, 13, 14) and current approved medications for AUD are of limited effectiveness (15). Therefore, identification of other medications may contribute toward increasing the number of AUD patients who benefit from pharmacological treatments with a different mechanism of action. When starting baclofen, it is very important to set expectations around the time frame of treatment. Some patients come with an expectation that baclofen will “cure” their alcohol addiction within a day or two of starting.

Mixing Alcohol and Baclofen Side Effects and Interactions

A competent family member or other care-giver may undertake a similar role. Patients prescribed sedative medications (e.g., benzodiazepines, z-drugs, and antipsychotics) should be informed about the risk of excessive sedation, and respiratory depression in case of overdose, if baclofen is added to their therapy. The patient needs to be aware that the effective dose to achieve his/her treatment goals may vary considerably. Patients should be informed that reaching the effective dose may be challenging, and that when doses are increased, baclofen may induce adverse effects, some of them potentially severe. There is some preliminary evidence that baclofen may have a role as an adjuvant treatment of AWS (16).

The RTI review included 13 RCTs on baclofen and excluded 4 of the RCTs included in the Cochrane Review due to narrower inclusion criteria regarding eligible study designs and outcomes. The difference in the certainty of evidence ratings was likely the result of inclusion of different studies and possible differences in the methodologies for grading evidence. Both reviews found baclofen had limited impacts on other alcohol consumption outcomes and limited safety concerns, although common adverse events included fatigue and dizziness. Apart for one study,23 we are not aware of any systemic study for the baclofen use in India.

Baclofen: its effectiveness in reducing harmful drinking, craving, and negative mood. A meta-analysis

It’s useful for the patient to fill this out before a consultation – to reflect on how treatment is going and where there are still problems. It’s a good conversation starter for the consultation and helps to guide baclofen titration and the need for other treatments. Normally I review weekly during the titration stage but now dispense the baclofen in scripts of 100 tablets of 10mg. Patients with alcohol addiction usually have very poor quality sleep- they often use alcohol to get to sleep by rendering themselves unconscious but then wake several hours later and struggle to stay asleep. FIGURE 1

Baclofen withdrawal

• Baclofen is the only medication widely used for alcohol relapse prevention which has inbuilt anxiolytic effects – acamprosate and naltrexone don’t have any.
• Don’t wait— reach out today to take the first step toward taking control of your life.
• In review visits, the key is the patient’s evaluation of their progress.
• I normally reinforce a couple of points with the patient at each follow up visit.
• Some side effects can distress patients greatly and lead to them refusing to continue the baclofen treatment despite reassurance.
• That baclofen reduces alcohol consumption in animal models has been further strengthened by the demonstration that R(+)-baclofen, and not S(-)-baclofen selectively reduces self-administration of alcohol in rats (66).

It’s typically given to patients experiencing muscle stiffness and tightness due to conditions such as spinal cord injuries and diseases. Baclofen doesn’t MAKE a patient stop drinking alcohol; it gives them a choice again. Some patients chose to keep drinking alcohol in large or small amounts although they are aware that they don’t have to anymore.

Evidence For the Effect of Baclofen on Alcohol Use

You come in for scheduled therapy sessions while still meeting personal obligations like work or family. If you notice any of these serious mental changes, talk to a doctor right away. In rare cases, baclofen allergies can cause swelling, breathing trouble, or intense baclofen addiction treatment itching, which all need immediate medical attention. Studies over the last decade have shown evidence that baclofen may be a treatment option for those suffering from AUD, though exactly how it works is unclear.

• The maximum recommended daily dose of this medication is 100 mg unless careful medical supervision is provided.
• Further studies that compare long-term alcohol-related outcome of baclofen with established drugs such as naltrexone and disulfiram are needed.
• Systematic searches were conducted in multiple databases, including the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and CINAHL.
• Baclofen has pain-relieving and muscle-relaxing qualities that make it susceptible to abuse.
• Most often, residential treatment is suggested as a transitional option after an inpatient program.
• Correspondence between potential mechanisms, symptoms and neurobiological substrates.

Expanding access to evidence-based treatments remains a critical public health priority. Evidence for dose effects and study duration in comparison between baclofen and other medications was limited. The available studies did not consistently report outcomes stratified by dose or duration, making it difficult to assess whether these factors influenced the comparative effects of baclofen, acamprosate, or naltrexone. For this reason, it is helpful to get professional treatment through a certified, experienced treatment program.

It’s crucial to recognize how to spot baclofen misuse and understand why it’s risky. While evidence supports multiple medication options for AUD treatment, including baclofen, a larger body of higher-certainty evidence exists for FDA-approved medications like naltrexone and acamprosate. Treatment decisions should consider individual patient factors, medication characteristics, and setting-specific considerations.