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Is Baclofen an Another Alternative for Addiction Treatment?
Some people are claiming that Baclofen may be the addiction cure that everyone has been waiting for. This claim in and of itself raises some eyebrows. How is it possible for addiction to be cured? Could this drug really be the answer to addiction? These are great questions, and they need to be answered.
If you are considering using Baclofen, you need to be aware of many things. First and foremost is the fact that this drug is not FDA approved for treating addiction. It is, however, FDA approved to treat muscle spasms with spinal cord lesions and chronic neuropathy. It can also be used to treat muscle spams in people with multiple sclerosis. The fact that it is being studied for the treatment of addiction is fairly new. Please, keep this in mind.
You need to know as much about Baclofen as you can before you make a decision. This information is provided to you for this purpose. It is so important to learn about the risks associated with using a drug like Baclofen. Also, you need to know if this drug carries any addiction risks with it before you begin using it.
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What is Baclofen?
Baclofen falls into the classification of GABA-B agonist. As was previously mentioned, it is primarily a muscle relaxer. Some might even say that it’s stronger than Flexeril. This is what has made it so useful in chronic conditions.
There are also other names for Baclofen, and these are:
- Kemstro
- Gablofen
- Lioresal
Typical Baclofen Dosage Amounts
Baclofen is a drug that must be started slowly. It is a pill, but it can also be prescribed in liquid form for those who have trouble with pills. Most adults who are started on this medication use the following Baclofen dosage regimen:
- Days 1 – 3: Baclofen 5mg three times per day
- Days 4 – 6: Baclofen 10mg three times per day
- Days 7 – 9: Baclofen 15 mg three times per day
- Days 10 – 12 and possibly beyond: Baclofen 20mg three times per day
There are some patients who need to take more than this. For these individuals, the maximum dosage of Baclofen is 80mg per day. This dosage needs to be divided up into four doses of 20mg per day.
Of course, this information is for those taking this drug for its approved purposes. As more information comes out, dosage information for Baclofen may change for those with addictions.
How is Kemstro Used to Treat Addictions?
Opiate addiction is such a big problem in our country. In fact, the CDC has gone so far as to call it an epidemic. Right now, there are many different methods of opioid replacement therapy on the market to help. Is it possible to use Kemstro for opiate addiction recovery? What about other types of addictions, such as alcoholism, or cocaine addiction? Again, these are questions that need to be answered.
There have been studies done regarding Baclofen and opiate addiction. In one study, 40 opioid dependent patients participated in a 12 week, double blind trial. Some received Kemstro, while the others received a placebo.
The results indicated that treatment retention was much higher in the group of patients receiving Kemstro. These individuals experienced fewer withdrawal symptoms, and reported less use of alcohol too.
Similar studies have also been conducted to determine Baclofen’s success in treating alcoholism. It could also be possible to use during cocaine detox as well. The evidence for these uses remains to be seen.
It’s normal to have questions about a drug that is so new to the market. This one raises a lot of questions, such as:
- Is Gablofen an opioid drug?
- Is Gablofen a benzo?
- Is Baclofen a controlled substance?
- Is Kemstro a narcotic?
- Is Lioresal like Soma (another muscle relaxer)?
Using Baclofen in the treatment of opiate withdrawal seems to be just months away. So, asking these questions makes sense. After all, there are many other drugs that treat opioid addiction, and they are controlled substances.
Baclofen is not a controlled substance, narcotic, opioid drug or benzodiazepine. However, Baclofen is quite a bit like Soma in that it is a muscle relaxer. Still, Lioresal reviews tell us that most patients prefer this drug over Soma. Doctors who prescribe Baclofen also believe that it might be a better choice.
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How to Use Baclofen to Stop Drinking
In the future, there may be many doctors who prescribe Lioresal for alcoholism. Right now, extensive studies are being done on Baclofen and alcohol in the UK. The question is, how does Lioresal help with alcohol withdrawal?
When it comes to Baclofen and alcohol, the NHS frowns upon its use to help people stop drinking. According to the Guardian, in 2011, one man took matters into his own hands. His goal was to test the theory of Baclofen and alcohol on himself.
What he found was that he needed a pretty high dose of the drug to achieve complete alcohol indifference. He found a doctor willing to work with him and test the drug’s use in alcoholism. He did experience a number of Baclofen side effects, but he feels that they were all worth it.
By 2016, using Baclofen for alcoholism was being promoted as the next promising treatment. It remains to be seen whether or not that will happen in the near future.
Understanding Lioresal’s Abuse Potential
Baclofen abuse is actually pretty rare; although that doesn’t mean it can’t happen. When people take Lioresal, or other forms of this drug, it does produce a euphoric effect. That effect can be quite pleasing, and it can lead people to abuse it. Actually, in this way, this drug is similar to other drugs that are often abused. For example, with Soma vs. Baclofen abuse, its potential to be misused is about the same.
Lioresal can be abused in a number of ways. These can include:
- Taking a Lioresal prescription that’s not yours
- Taking too much of the drug at one time
- Taking too many dosages of Lioresal in a day
- Taking Baclofen along with alcohol or other drugs
- Crushing the pills in an effort to increase their effects
Why Take Baclofen to Get High?
People who take Baclofen to get high are usually looking for a way to relax. The Baclofen high will produce those effects, along with several others. It’s not possible to take Baclofen 10mg to get high. That’s simply not enough of the drug, and it’s more of a starting dose than abusing dose.
According to Erowid, much larger doses need to be taken to produce a high. However there are other dangerous effects that go along with higher doses. People may begin to lose feeling in their bodies. Their other senses may also change. They may experience hallucinations and have delusions, as well.
People who are seeking a Baclofen high will frequently look for other drugs to mix with it. For example, someone taking Gabapentin and Lioresal for opiate withdrawal might experiment with both drugs. The same could be said for people taking Kemstro and clonidine for opiate withdrawal. Online forums state that the Baclofen opiate potentiation is actually very good. This, of course means that there is a very real risk of misusing this drug along with opiates.
It should be noted that the Baclofen and alcohol high is quite dangerous. These are two drugs that do not mix well together. Severe vomiting and other effects are likely to result if they are. Many Baclofen/alcohol forums online do not recommend using them at the same time.
Is Gablofen Addictive?
One of the questions people often ask when starting Gablofen is, can you get addicted to it? Again, Baclofen 10mg is not going to be addictive. However, in larger doses, Baclofen dependence or addiction is possible, just like with other drugs.
If you have formed a Gablofen addiction, you probably have some obvious signs of dependence. Some of these might include:
- Excessive muscle weakness
- Depression of your central nervous system
- Extreme drowsiness and dizziness
- Problems with sleeping
- Fatigue during the day
You are also most likely craving Baclofen, and you may go through withdrawal when you stop using it. It’s important to know if you have become addicted to this drug. If you’re not sure, you may want to try taking an addiction quiz.
Kemstro’s Side Effects in the Short and Long-Term
Kemstro is a very powerful, potent drug. It stands to reason that it would have some side effects. Most people find that they’re willing to experience the side effects to get the drug’s benefits. This goes for those who are taking it appropriately, and those who are abusing Kemstro.
The short-term side effects of Kemstro might include:
- Feeling weak and tired
- Having painful headaches
- Insomnia or other sleep problems
- Increased bouts of nausea
- Increased urination
- Bouts of constipation
If you continue to take this drug long-term, you may experience additional effects of Baclofen. These might involve:
- Problems with your vision
- Feeling confused, or experiencing brain fog
- Loss of muscle coordination
- Problems with breathing
- Chest pain
- The risk of developing seizures
Additional Information You Should Know About Gablofen
As you may be aware, current forms of opiate replacement therapy are also quite addictive. Suboxone is an excellent example of this. It’s possible that in the future, Gablofen may be used for Suboxone withdrawal. Studies are still in the works for determining the Baclofen and Suboxone interactions, if there are any.
If you do choose to take Baclofen for addiction, drinking caffeine is not recommended.
Doing so can cause your body to have a very different reaction to the caffeine. You may find that you’re more jittery than usual, or it may make you extremely tired.
This question remains to be answered, but the speculation is that, yes, it is. There may be some doctors in the United States who are willing to prescribe Baclofen off-label. Even so, just like with all other forms of alcoholism treatment and ORT, precautions must be made.
Anyone using Baclofen for addiction treatment should never just rely on the medication. An excellent drug or alcohol treatment program should also be a part of the regimen. In many cases, an IOP program can fill this role very well. Others may find that they need something more, such as inpatient drug or alcohol rehab.
Medication can be extremely helpful during the detox phase for those with addictions. However, it should never be used as a standalone treatment. Even after going through an IOP program, additional treatment is recommended for the long-term. This will help to ensure that you are able to remain drug-free or alcohol-free. You need that type of support during this critical time in your life.
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Getting Help for Your Drug Addiction or Alcoholism
You may be someone who has been suffering from an addiction or alcoholism for quite some time. Maybe you’ve even tried other recovery methods but found that they didn’t really work all that well for you. If that is the case, you need to know that you’re not out of hope. There is more you can do to go through the recovery process.
Here at Northpoint Seattle, we’ve worked with many people in your situation. We know how difficult it is to make the decision to recover when you have an addiction.
We also know the best methods to treat you. Whether you choose to begin using Baclofen or not, we are here to support you during your healing journey.
Do you need to know more about Baclofen and other methods of recovering from addiction? We want to assist you as much as we can. Please contact us right away to get more information, or to get your questions answered.
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