Baclofen Addiction and Abuse

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Baclofen

Baclofen is known to be a muscle relaxant. It’s mainly used for managing complications with the muscles that affect them with spasms, muscle cramps, and tension.  This is often used to control other medical disorders such as multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy. Baclofen has also been widely used to aid in the management of drug use complications, but this is known to be an “off-label” solution.

Baclofen Gradually Became a Substance of Abuse

People can abuse Baclofen easily as it gives the effect of a temporary feeling of pain relief. This can become very appealing and make someone take it more than they should with the dosage, leading them down the path of addiction. People who are more prone to addiction due to have an addictive personality or having a family history of it are more at risk of abuse and misuse increases of Baclofen.

When someone raises their quantity beyond the recommended dose, this can also suggest a drug use disorder. Eventually, if anyone with baclofen unexpectedly ceases, there might be symptoms of withdrawal.

Is Baclofen a Narcotic?

Baclofen isn’t a narcotic. Even though it helps with pain specifically in the muscular skeletal region, it’s not categorized as under a painkiller or opioid. Although it has similar effects on the body and mind, which include mood or behavior psychoactive feelings. Narcotics can induce dizziness, and they are depressant to the central nervous system. Substances may include prescription drugs and illicit substances such as methamphetamine, and opioids can be used interchangeably with the term narcotics.

Due to its addictive and dependence impacts, this class of drugs has been at the center of national and global focus in recent years. Even people with its prescription for pain relief can become addicted to it. As a doctor explains administering baclofen to a patient, it is normal that they would want to ask if it is a narcotic. That’s because of the adverse effects of narcotics and their habit-forming abilities.

Can You Get High On Baclofen?

When using baclofen, someone could feel similar effects as narcotics but only if they take a high dose of it. A baclofen overdose can only happen when the prescription drug is used in a recreational way and not for a medicinal purpose. Nonetheless, when used on a recreational basis, a baclofen high can also occur.  This may induce bradycardia or an extremely slow heartbeat, elevated blood pressure, sluggish reflexes, or coma. For these reasons, people are advised to keep baclofen away from kids or teens, including anybody who has no prescription for it.

Baclofen Mixed with Other Drugs

When taking baclofen, it’s important to consult your doctor before you mix it with another type of medication to make sure it won’t counteract or make it a deadly mixture when consuming both together. There is also a risk that someone would recreationally use baclofen either by using it in massive doses to get baclofen high or combining it with other specific drugs to enhance the impact. Baclofen is dangerously mixed with other substances, including opioids, sleeping aids, alcohol, muscle relaxers, or certain vitamins that affect the central nervous system.

Taking baclofen along with alcohol, is a very risky combination. It can intensify negative effects on your body such as dizziness or acute nausea. In the worst possible scenario, it can affect your central nervous system, resulting in someone overdosing.

Baclofen Street Terms

There have currently been no known street terms for the drug. Even though there’s lack of slang, the rise of the street price (value) indicates that the drug has entered the market for illegal drugs. Prices in the black market continue to differ.

Effects of Baclofen Addiction

When abusing baclofen, either by consuming an excess amount of mixing it with alcohol or other substances, it can make someone feel euphoric when high. This high is similar to that of marijuana or by being drunk. Baclofen users who seek this sensation often mix drugs with opioids, alcohol, or amphetamines.

When taken as prescribed by a doctor, it was not found to be particularly addictive. However, when taken the substance with too much of a dose or not even prescribed the medication it induces a “high,” and becomes addictive when abused. Over time, the person abusing baclofen will need to take more and more drugs to experience the same sensation as the body begins to develop tolerance.

Baclofen side effects may include:

• Headache
• Insomnia
• Nausea
• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Fatigue

More severe side effects may include:

• Hallucinations
• Seizures
• Weak or shallow breathing
• Confusion

These side effects can make anyone more at risk of death and getting emergency medical help is advised as soon as possible.

Overdosing with Baclofen

There is a high risk of overdosing with baclofen, especially when used for recreation. Symptoms of overdose include muscle weakness, lethargy, vomiting, dilated or distended pupils, and weak or low breathing. If untreated, an overdose may cause fatal seizures, hypothermia, a dangerously slow heart rate/bradycardia, coma, and sometimes death. When combined with alcohol or other drugs, it can cause more dangerous side effects and a potential increase in the overdose rate.

Baclofen Withdrawal

People who have previously abused baclofen report that tolerance can be quickly developed. Symptoms of withdrawal are severely uncomfortable and potentially dangerous when not being treated by a health professional. Baclofen withdrawal symptoms include:

• Lightheadedness
• Increase in or return of spasticity
• Tingling sensations
• Low blood pressure
• Itching

Untreated early withdrawal symptoms may result in more dangerous and unpleasant side effects. Advanced symptoms can include high fever, muscle stiffness, altered mental status, and in exceptional cases, failure of many vital organs and possibly death.

When dealing with withdrawal, it is crucial to seek healthcare experts at a detox facility or addiction treatment center.

Treatment for a Baclofen Addiction

If you’re dealing with baclofen abuse, it is crucial that you receive the proper therapy that will help you break the cycle of compulsive abuse and start moving toward recovery of addiction.

Various types of management for Baclofen abuse may include the following combination:

Detox:

Detox is usually the first step into the treatment of drug use disorder. Over time, you slowly wean yourself off drugs so that the body can get used to drug-free to operate normally. When you have stabilized, you will be assessed by a care specialist so you can proceed to the next level of therapy.

Inpatient Care:

Inpatient treatment requires you to stay in a treatment center during the program, during which you can undergo comprehensive counseling, including behavioral therapy, drug management, and group therapy. Inpatient is best if you require a higher level of treatment and monitoring during your recovery, such as a dual diagnosis. During inpatient recovery, health care services can seek to resolve any other drug use problems or mental health concerns that you face besides Baclofen misuse.

Residential Treatment:

Our programs are offered in a variety of models. Depending on your addiction level, care in our residential program can last from one month to one year or more. These services are beneficial if you do not have a healthy home life or severe drug use problem.

Residential care will help you prepare for re-entry to work or school by offering support and instruction, as well as time and space for you to evaluate your choices.

Outpatient:

Our outpatient care helps you to stay at home while rehabilitating daily. It is a perfect choice if you can’t take time away from your family, pet, education, career, and other functions. It uses the same treatments as our residential program but allows you to go home after treatment.

Help Groups:

There are many support services available to you before, during, and aftercare. We offer an alumni program to help you after you leave our program; 12-step services are perfect additions to every recovery plan. Alternatives to the 12-step program that offers social reinforcement as you maintain sobriety when you transition out of recovery.

Aftercare:

Recovery takes a lifetime, which is why it’s important to find what works well for you. Before you come out of recovery, we will work on an aftercare plan for you to be more equipped to cope with triggers or impulses.

For some, aftercare includes seeing a therapist periodically and remaining involved in their 12-step program either as a client or as an alumnus. It’s essential to find an aftercare plan that works best for you.

How Does Baclofen Help Treat Alcoholism?

Baclofen is commonly used to manage muscle spasms, fatigue, and other problems in the neck. But it is still being tested against alcoholism. Baclofen’s response to GABA receptors in the brain can help reduce the symptoms of alcohol cravings and withdrawals. That could help keep people away from alcohol. More research is needed to find out how effective Baclofen is in alcoholism treatment.

Baclofen Addiction Treatment at Resurgence

Drug abuse is a significant public health problem that affects many people. Many drugs are effective and are considered a significant therapeutic choice for rehab treatment for alcoholism and opioid dependency.

However, when abused, any drug, no matter its benefits, is a problem. Give us Resurgence Behavioral Health a call at 855-458-0050, and we will be happy to go over your goals. We will then put together a plan with you to help you to recovery.