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. However, it is much less structured than a partial hospitalization program. Residential treatment is often preferred to the outpatient alternatives because of the around-the-clock care and support provided. You’ll be in a home-like setting with specialists and like-minded people, and it’s often a better environment for your mental health.

Baclofen Addiction, Abuse, and Treatment

Our facilities ensure everyone receives fair access to compassionate, comprehensive, and top-quality care. Access State-Specific Provider Directories for detailed information on locating licensed service providers and recovery residences in your area. Studies over the last decade have shown evidence that baclofen may be a treatment is baclofen addictive option for those suffering from AUD, though exactly how it works is unclear. If you are nursing an infant, talk to your doctor before taking this drug. Drugs in this class work by blocking signals from nerves to muscle fibers.

Baclofen Mixed with Other Drugs

Baclofen can help with alcohol and drug addiction treatment by altering the chemical processes that contribute to substance abuse. Because the drug mimics GABA and has a calming effect, it increases dopamine levels and may reduce cravings for an addictive substance. It is also used in some drug rehabs to treat conditions of mental health caused by alcohol addiction and substance abuse. The medicine works as a supportive treatment by helping patients’ nerves relax. Seeking treatment for baclofen abuse may not be easy, but avoiding the severe and dangerous side effects of misuse, overdose, and withdrawal is essential. If you’re looking for a trusted team of providers who can help guide you toward the right treatment plan, Zinnia Health can help.

How Is Baclofen Used in Addiction Treatment?

The feel-good effects of baclofen can lessen cravings for other substances altogether. As a result, baclofen helps people suffering from addiction manage their withdrawal symptoms. Those who engage in baclofen abuse – including taking higher doses than prescribed or mixing it with alcohol or drugs – are at an increased risk of developing an addiction to the drug. Baclofen is indicated primarily for treatment of spasticity from spinal cord injuries and multiple sclerosis. Baclofen has been used off label as add-on therapy to help people with alcohol use disorder with alcohol abstinence and withdrawal 3, 4, 5. At Harmony Ridge Recovery Center, we feel that everyone in the area deserves the best treatment and support.

Over time, the brain can become dependent on the drug’s effects, leading to baclofen addiction. Chronic misuse increases the risk of dependency, causing withdrawal symptoms when the drug is finished. Lioresal is predominantly prescribed to control muscle spasms caused by spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, and other skeletal and muscular disorders.

Therefore, you should not operate a vehicle or any other form of heavy machinery while taking this combination of medications. Other people that could develop more side effects to baclofen include the elderly, and people with impaired renal function. If you have galactose intolerance, active peptic ulceration, or porphyria, do not take baclofen.

People with a history of strokes could develop more side effects to baclofen than the average person. Baclofen may not even be able to treat your muscle spasms if you have a history with strokes. For example, if allergic to baclofen, you could develop trouble breathing and/or swelling of your throat or tongue. Taking baclofen again after a severe allergic reaction could lead to death. Therefore, healthcare professionals suggest not taking baclofen if you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to it. Many people wonder if baclofen is addictive and if is there such a thing as a baclofen withdrawal.

As such, doctors will introduce the drug slowly to find the minimum effective dosage. If a person later needs to come off the drug, the doctor will taper the dosage gradually to minimize the risk of withdrawal. However, a 2017 study notes that doctors may prescribe the drug off-label to help treat comorbid alcohol use disorder and anxiety disorder.

Baclofen Abuse and Addiction Treatment Options

  • Instead, you will have to visit the facility 3 to 4 times and spend a few hours during each visit.
  • While baclofen is generally considered safe when used as prescribed, it does have the potential for abuse and addiction.
  • When professionals use baclofen for addiction treatment, they typically prescribe it to treat withdrawal or to attempt to reduce dependence on another drug.
  • Medical professionals have discovered that using it for alcohol cravings helps to stop drinking.
  • After detox, you can then attend our very effective residential or intensive outpatient treatment program.

Complications are rare, but it is important to know the possible side effects and what to do if something goes wrong. Side effects of baclofen may include constipation, nausea and blurred vision. These usually settle over time, but if they continue, they can be managed in various ways, which you can discuss with your child’s doctor. Joined to the pump is a long catheter, which is inserted into the space surrounding your spinal cord.

  • Many people wonder if baclofen is addictive and if is there such a thing as a baclofen withdrawal.
  • Baclofen for anxiety is an off-label use, so getting professional medical assistance from a doctor is crucial.
  • Baclofen is an anti-spasmodic medication that is used in drug rehab facilities for the treatment of alcohol withdrawal.
  • Over time, the brain can become dependent on the drug’s effects, leading to baclofen addiction.
  • These spasms may be caused by medical conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS), as well as spinal cord diseases or injuries.
  • Residential treatment is often preferred to the outpatient alternatives because of the around-the-clock care and support provided.

Patients may also be evaluated for any underlying mental health or substance use disorders, which frequently occur together, allowing for a dual diagnosis treatment approach. Some individuals also face muscle weakness, potentially affecting their physical abilities. Other possible side effects include nausea, constipation, or gastrointestinal discomfort. Additionally, some users may notice confusion, memory lapses, or mood changes. Fortunately, many of these side effects can lessen or become more manageable over time, particularly as the body adapts to the medication.

Usually, for muscle spasms, the medicine is administered through a pump that delivers the medication directly to the spinal cord. Side effects of the pump are considered to be much less compared to when it is taken in the oral form. Therefore, the pump is prescribed to individuals who have trouble tolerating its oral forms. Baclofen may also be used to relieve other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Insurance Coverage for Addiction Treatment

Other studies show that people who take baclofen can build a tolerance to it, which means that physicians may prescribe increasing doses over time. For people with chronic illnesses or muscle problems, the risk of tolerance is especially high. If you or someone you know has developed an addiction to baclofen then contact a rehab center near you today to begin treatment. Addiction treatment specialists in an inpatient or outpatient facility can provide the care, therapy, and support needed to get free of addiction. There are certain drugs that are dangerous when taken with baclofen and greatly increase the risk of fatal overdose.

Long-term treatment, even after the blood levels have normalized, is necessary. It is critical because baclofen is slowly removed from the brain. The stored drug in the brain can cause sedation long after the blood levels of the drug are within the normal range.

Once breathing is established, move them into a recovery position and wait for help to arrive. Otherwise known as low blood pressure, this can cause a person to become dizzy and faint. In 2004, a cardiologist from France discovered that baclofen suppressed the alcohol-induced release of dopamine from the brain.