Opioids Are Not the Only Pain Medications That Can Be Abused

Also, baclofen has structural homology with GHB, another GABA-B agonist with high abuse potential and is illicitly used as a party-drug. If you or someone you love abuses baclofen or struggles with its use, treatment can help end the addiction for the long-term and improve quality of life. Addiction is a treatable disease, and treatment works for most people who fully engage with their recovery plan. The medication can be administered as a pill, topical cream, or injected directly into the cerebral spinal fluid by way of a pump implanted beneath the skin.

• Every day, opioid-related drug overdoses kill over 130 people in the US.1 Addiction treatment in a rehab facility can help with recovery from substance use disorders.
• Some people with a baclofen use disorder have a legitimate baclofen prescription, while others may have never been prescribed baclofen by a doctor.
• Understanding your options is important to make sure you get the help you need for successful addiction recovery.
• Psychological support can also play a vital role in managing Baclofen withdrawal, as individuals may experience emotional distress such as anxiety or depression during this time.
• Addiction is a treatable disease, and treatment works for most people who fully engage with their recovery plan.

What to Do in Case of Overdose

Those without a prescription for baclofen may obtain it and take it because it relieves pain and relaxes the body, which can lead to feelings of elatedness in large quantities. Just like any other type of addiction, a baclofen use disorder comes with a huge host of problems. When dealing with a substance use disorder, it is hard to prioritize yourself, your loved ones, and your long-term goals. Even when baclofen use causes all sorts of unpleasant side effects and consequences, you may continue to use it.

Baclofen withdrawal seizures may manifest as generalized tonic-clonic seizures, characterized by loss of consciousness, muscle rigidity, and convulsions. It’s essential for individuals experiencing seizures during Baclofen withdrawal to seek immediate medical attention for evaluation and treatment. The withdrawal period is when your brain and body adjust to not having baclofen in your system.

Treatment Programs for Baclofen Abuse

Contact a doctor about different treatment options to quit the medication safely. For instance, a case reported by John J. Miller told us about a 48-year-old white female can baclofen be abused who was admitted to the ER after a family member found her unresponsive and in respiratory distress. The family reported that a patient took no medications, and there was no significant substance abuse history other than the occasional intake of husband’s diazepam tablets for insomnia.

How to Get Help for Baclofen Abuse

Drugs usually hit the brain cells significantly faster when snorted, that is why this is the easiest way to overdose on Baclofen. The possibilities of feeling Lioresal adverse effects are even higher as the drug reacts quicker in the body than it is supposed to. The reaction of a person who takes a Lioresal 10 mg orally will be milder than one that snorts a 10 mg Baclofen pill powder, even though both scenarios contain the same dose. When combined with alcohol or other medications, such as sleeping pills, anti-depressants, or tranquilizers, the sedative effects of the drug are enhanced and can lead to addiction.

• The detox method (taper or cold turkey) will also have an impact on how long baclofen withdrawal lasts and how severe it is.
• Some people thrive with the flexibility that outpatient programs provide, especially if they have a lot of friends and family around to help them stick to their treatment plan.
• Currently, studies have not proven that the drug helps with opiate or cannabis addiction.
• If you or someone you know has developed an addiction to baclofen then contact a rehab center near you today to begin treatment.
• This is because the FDA requires the drug to pass several tests before it reaches the market.

Addiction Treatment that Just Works

Baclofen is used to reduce cravings in alcohol abuse and heavy smoking. Some people may abuse it, as it causes euphoria and calming effects. Some people also abuse other prescription drugs such as sleeping pills and antidepressants to enhance the effects. Most importantly, its use in suicide attempts has soared in recent years. Another difference between these two types of baclofen rehab programs is cost. Residential treatment is generally more expensive than outpatient treatment, but most rehab centers accept insurance to reduce the out-of-pocket cost of rehab.

Withdrawal symptoms from baclofen can also be dangerous and should always be overseen by a medical professional in a dedicated detox setting. Despite its muscle relaxant properties and interaction with the CNS, the DEA does not consider baclofen to have any potential for abuse. Therefore, it is not regulated under the Controlled Substances Act and is not under any schedule.

Our Programs

However, you might go straight to residential treatment if your care team decides that intensive inpatient care isn’t necessary. One of the biggest risks of baclofen is that it’s easy to overdose on it. People in the withdrawal process and relapse are at a higher risk of overdose.

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. Baclofen has pain-relieving and muscle-relaxing qualities that make it susceptible to abuse. When someone abuses baclofen in high doses, it is possible that they will build a tolerance to the drug’s effects and eventually develop a physical dependence on it. The negative consequences that come from baclofen dependence are how addiction is measured.