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**I-want-to-be-sober** · January 31, 2011, 04:58 AM

Misinformation about baclofen

I've read many bluelight posts about baclofen. Often they seem not to understand the difference between physical and psychological dependence. Baclofen has no abuse potential and does not lead to psychological dependence, but long-term - especially high dose - treatment can lead to physical dependence. Therefore it has to be tapered down slowly & carefully.

Here is a report of a man who's oral baclofen treatment has been stopped abruptly. He suffered status epileptics and resulting brain damage.

Baclofen is widely used in the treatment of spasticity of spinal origin. It is relatively free of side effects or toxic actions on the nervous system or other organs. Agitation, personality change, and auditory and visual hallucinations have been described following its abrupt withdrawal. One patient with generalized seizures and one with complex partial seizures after baclofen withdrawal have been reported. This paper presents a patient who developed status epilepticus after baclofen withdrawal, and who sustained hypoxic cerebral injury. This observation further emphasizes the possibility of infrequent complications of baclofen therapy, and the advisability of gradual changes in baclofen dosage.
Another source about risks of suddenly interrupting baclofen treatment: Delirium Associated With Baclofen Withdrawal

Withdrawal syndrome
Discontinuation of baclofen can be associated with a withdrawal syndrome which resembles benzodiazepine withdrawal and alcohol withdrawal. Withdrawal symptoms are more likely if baclofen is used for long periods of time (more than a couple of months) and can occur from low or high doses. The severity of baclofen withdrawal depends on the rate at which baclofen is discontinued. Thus to minimise baclofen withdrawal symptoms the dose should be tapered down slowly when discontinuing baclofen therapy. Abrupt withdrawal is most likely to result in severe withdrawal symptoms. Acute withdrawal symptoms can be stopped by recommencing baclofen.[17]

Withdrawal symptoms may include auditory hallucinations, visual hallucinations, tactile hallucinations, delusions, confusion, agitation, delirium, disorientation, fluctuation of consciousness, insomnia, dizziness, Nausea, Feeling Faint, inattention, memory impairments, perceptual disturbances, anxiety, depersonalization, hypertonia, hyperthermia, formal thought disorder, psychosis, mania, mood disturbances, restlessness, and behavioral disturbances, tachycardia, seizures, tremors, autonomic dysfunction, hyperpyrexia, extreme muscle rigidity resembling neuroleptic malignant syndrome and rebound spasticity.[17][18]

Baclofen - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

**bleep** · January 31, 2011, 05:18 AM

Misinformation about baclofen

I've also read quite a few posts there, never come across a bunch of people so desperate in search of a high! Haven't read the whole site, so my impression may be skewed.

**Guest** · January 31, 2011, 05:23 AM

Misinformation about baclofen

Yes most of them enjoy, or are addicted to drugs including alcohol. Just as we are/have been.

Baclofen is PHYSICALLY addictive - sorry I'll correct this because I was wrong and misinterpreted the information I had read(apologies for this as apparently it's scared some readers). I was getting addictive and dependent mixed up, stupidly and I am sorry. Baclofen isn't addictive, you can't however suddenly stop taking it as you may experience withdrawl symptoms.

and from what I've read here, as well as elsewhere a lot of people simply moderate on it. Only a few abstain completely. Many addicts seek abstenance since they simply don't enjoy their drug of choice, it's only a compulsion and if Bac makes you indifferent then why bother at all?

**beatle** · January 31, 2011, 05:42 AM

Misinformation about baclofen

bleep;1051354 wrote: I've also read quite a few posts there, never come across a bunch of people so desperate in search of a high! Haven't read the whole site, so my impression may be skewed.

Sorry, I didn't look at the whole site. That interchange seemed to be among fairly sober (?) people who were just misinformed or misinforming in a know-it-all, opinionated way. (And let's be honest, an awful lot of that goes on here on this forum, too.

)

**beatle** · January 31, 2011, 06:07 AM

Misinformation about baclofen

Is baclofen addictive?

can somebody please tell me how to make font style changes within the posts? The standard command+b, command+ i and command+u don't work.

**Ne/Neva Eva** · January 31, 2011, 06:34 AM

Misinformation about baclofen

ukblonde, you're misinformed.
I don't have time, but hopefully someone will follow up with the fact that ONCE AGAIN you are spreading misinformation. On a misinformation thread, no less
beatle, you can't do it in "post quick reply." You have to go to advanced or use the 'post reply' button. That will give you options as to font size and color.

btw, beatle, you rock!

**Guest** · January 31, 2011, 06:36 AM

Misinformation about baclofen

but neva I thought you couldn't stop bac suddenly because you would go into withdrawl?That's what I have been told by people on here?that means you do become physically dependent?

Or is that not true?

I've heard of some people becoming abstenant, but not everyone(like Bleep for example), is that not true either?

This is all information people have posted on here, are they incorrect and posting misinformation?

Please explain.

**seeking_serenity** · January 31, 2011, 07:27 AM

Misinformation about baclofen

UK--baclofen is not physically addictive. There is no craving for bac, no addictive high. I have to remind myself to take my pills, or I"ll forget. That doesn't mean that sudden withdrawal is safe...baclofen is very active in the brain, and it's never a good idea to suddenly withdraw from any drug that is active in the brain. However, if one titrates down slowly/safely, from what I understand the lower doses are tolerated well, with no "rebound anxiety" as one would experience from Xanax withdrawal.

**37degrees** · January 31, 2011, 07:32 AM

Misinformation about baclofen

IWTBSober's post already explained it very well.

**Murphyx** · January 31, 2011, 07:32 AM

Misinformation about baclofen

Has anyone used Bac, reached the switch, titrated down and then completely tapered off? Or is it necessary to forever remain on the maintenance dose?

I'm only asking out of curiosity; personally I'm very happy to keep taking this stuff for the rest of my life if it means I can get rid of Al.

**Guest** · January 31, 2011, 07:51 AM

Misinformation about baclofen

seeking_serenity;1051401 wrote: UK--baclofen is not physically addictive. There is no craving for bac, no addictive high. I have to remind myself to take my pills, or I"ll forget. That doesn't mean that sudden withdrawal is safe...baclofen is very active in the brain, and it's never a good idea to suddenly withdraw from any drug that is active in the brain. However, if one titrates down slowly/safely, from what I understand the lower doses are tolerated well, with no "rebound anxiety" as one would experience from Xanax withdrawal.

So you simply become physically dependent, as opposed to addicted as such?

**AllyB** · January 31, 2011, 07:51 AM

Misinformation about baclofen

Murphyx;1051406 wrote: Has anyone used Bac, reached the switch, titrated down and then completely tapered off? Or is it necessary to forever remain on the maintenance dose?

I'm only asking out of curiosity; personally I'm very happy to keep taking this stuff for the rest of my life if it means I can get rid of Al.

They are in the minority but there have been one or two posters who came off it completely or who are on very, very low maintenance doses. It is certainly possible long-term, though I'd advise that when it comes to tapering off you should go very, very slowly. Let it take years if you have to. And always have feeling no cravings as your priority, not tapering down.

**beatle** · January 31, 2011, 08:08 AM

Misinformation about baclofen

Ukblonde;1051419 wrote: So you simply become physically dependent, as opposed to addicted as such?

Exactly, UKB.

I had a long post ready to explain it (just needed that font style tip -- I guess I never tried it in advanced -- strange

), complete with the American Society's Addiction Medicine's definition of "addiction", but Serenity explained it perfectly in about one 20th the space.

**AllyB** · January 31, 2011, 08:11 AM

Misinformation about baclofen

Why do all of those people on that thread keep making derogatory references to baclofen as a "miracle?" They are like cavemen exclaiming at a telephone. Is the concept of science so hard to understand? Sure recovery on baclofen seems miraculous but no more so than treating infection with penicillin did 80 years ago.

I had very serious internal infection in 2002 which would likely have killed me had I lived in 1902. Instead I took a pill 3 times a day for a week, while going about my normal life, and that was it. The only difference is that I, my parents and even my grandparents (to a lesser extent) grew up in a world where antibiotics were not only available, but common. In a generation or two, hopefully, serious addiction will be as rare as dying from a small cut and no-one will think it's a miracle.

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