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**LadyLush** · February 28, 2011, 12:00 AM

can we take baclofen with antidepressant?

Dixon,

Welcome!:welcome:
I personally think Baclofen heals many symptoms. That is IMPO (In my personal opinion). I went to the doctor Tuesday and for the first time in many years I asked for NOTHING. I feel in my case the alcohol was the major contributor to the depression and anxiety that was escalating in my life. Bacoflen helped me tremendously... BUT, we are all different and react differently depending on other aspects of our life and genetics. I will always suggest you get medical advice before stopping or starting any other medication with Baclofen.

I will only definitely say you are on the right track to get your life back.

Enjoy the ride!

Lady

**dixon** · February 28, 2011, 12:42 AM

can we take baclofen with antidepressant?

Thank you sweety!
Lush, May I ask some questions please?
Had you also suffered from depression and anxiety?
If so did you leave antidepressant totally while taking baclofen?
-Are you now free from depression and alcohol as well?
-Have you stopped all medication and enjoying the life without them ?
Wait for your valuable information as before.
Dixon

**bleep** · February 28, 2011, 01:29 AM

can we take baclofen with antidepressant?

Hi Dixon - there are some very knowledgeable posters regarding this who I am sure will be along shortly. In the meantime, perhaps you could post the specific antidepressants you are on, they will need that information, I am sure.

I do know that baclofen has definite anxiolytic properties, which is a tremendous help. Unfortunately, that's about all I know in this field.

Good luck!

**LadyLush** · February 28, 2011, 02:13 AM

can we take baclofen with antidepressant?

Dixon,

I screwed up my password and it kicked me off for 15 minutes; 15 minutes seems like 60!
SO SORRY!

My answers are mine and only mine. Another mentor will give you the whys and such...I am sure.

-Have you also suffered from depression and anxiety? YES
If so did you leave antidepressant totally while taking baclofen? YES

-Are you now free from depression and alcohol as well?
Depression yes; the alcohol still lingers but I can shut it out. I have not met my switch yet..........but the carrot dangles. I know personally I am at the beginning to an end.

-Have you stopped all medication and enjoying the life without them ? YES
I need nothing. I am so into this you can not imagine.

So much to tell you but I have to work tomorrow....

Keep with us!
Lady

**Murphyx** · February 28, 2011, 02:38 AM

can we take baclofen with antidepressant?

Hi Dixon

Some people have definitely not felt the need for ADs after after taking Baclofen and alot of people have had anxiety issues relieved by it.

But in my case (and it is only my case I can talk about because we are all different and one person's experience won't necessarily be another's) I cut down on Wellbutrin significantly when I started Baclofen but had to quickly reverse that as depression started to set back in, even though I had hit the switch.

So now, I'm back on full dose Wellbutrin and titrating down on Baclofen.

Murph

**Guest** · February 28, 2011, 03:47 AM

can we take baclofen with antidepressant?

As I understand it alcohol + antidepressant is not "poisonous" but the two cancel each other out since alcohol is a depressant full stop - which is mainly the reason it's not advised, and also why most find their depression lifts when they stop drinking.

My experience with Baclofen is the complete opposite. 13 years ago I was diagnosed with depression, and took prozac for several years, weaning myself off when I realised I didn't require them any more.

Since starting Baclofen just after Christmas I have started to think about death - by this I am obsessed with wondering what happens when you die, and have gotten very down as a result. These death thoughts are occuring almost constantly during the day, I'm feeling detached from life itself too and feel like "What's the point doing anything, as I'm going to die and it will be a waste anyway". I am also crying/tearful for no reason at all. I feel unable to share this with my counsellor or Dr since I'd have to explain where I am with Baclofen, and I'm pretty sure they'd tell me to stop taking that drug I've bought off the internet. I've not had thoughts like these for 13 years. I did take overdoses when I was drinking more recently that that - but that was attention seeking cries for help, at no time did I have these morbid thoughts during any of that. I just wanted people to look after me and save me, ie I wanted to live. Right now I couldn't give a stuff. By the way I've had AF stretches of 1 week, 11 days, 10 days and 5 days on the baclofen and the thoughts carried on as normal. My drinking is more spread out now and not as intense as it was - less or same units per week, just spread out instead of a full on binge. So I'm not linking it to that either.

So this is where I am.

**bleep** · February 28, 2011, 03:53 AM

can we take baclofen with antidepressant?

UK, the reason you are weepy is that baclofen stimulates the production oxytocin (thanks edostan), also called the hormone of love. Quite why that is making you think thoughts of death, I can't say, although it is dose dependent and should pass.

On a side note, how do you make a hormone?

Don't pay her.

**LadyLush** · February 28, 2011, 04:40 AM

can we take baclofen with antidepressant?

Dixon,

Everyone has their own side effects with this drug. I took a complete 360 after my first pill. My mind set completely changed. I am so happy waking up every day for the first time in years. I finally have a grip on my life I will never let go. I am awake now because of one of my minor side effects. BUT, I have a BIG sober smile on my face as I type.

Glad you are here! There is not a better path!
Lady

**redhead77** · February 28, 2011, 04:45 AM

can we take baclofen with antidepressant?

Hi Dixon. It depends which antidepressant you're on. Some antidepressants may increase seizure risk. Combined with high dose baclofen, it could theoretically spell trouble. If you could post which one you take, it would help.

**Greg** · February 28, 2011, 06:24 AM

can we take baclofen with antidepressant?

Hi Dixon, this is what Novartis, manufacturer of the Lioresal brand of baclofen, says in its information leaflet:

Interactions with Other Drugs

Where Lioresal is taken concomitantly with other drugs acting on the CNS or with alcohol,
increased sedation may occur (see under "Precautions"). The risk of respiratory depression is
also increased.

During concurrent treatment with tricyclic antidepressants, the effect of Lioresal may be
potentiated, resulting in pronounced muscular hypotonia.

Concurrent use of baclofen with monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors may result in
increased CNS-depressant and hypotensive effects. Caution is recommended and dosage of
one or both agents may require reduction.

Aggravation of hyperkinetic symptoms may possibly occur in patients taking lithium.

The full text of the information paper can be seen at:

http://www.novartis.com.au/PI_PDF/lrst.pdf

Many members here take baclofen while still drinking and don't seem to run into deadly problems; most take the baclofen to work their way up to becoming indifferent to alcohol. Combining sedating antidepressants with either alcohol or baclofen, or both, could be a worry however. You would really have to talk to a doctor about this, but most of them wouldn't have any experience with combining very high-dose baclofen with other drugs. Maybe Dr Levin could know the answer, or else someone who works in neurology helping MS, spasticity, etc. patients who take large doses of baclofen.

This is yet another unnecessary problem with baclofen treatment, because if more doctors knew about it and were willing to prescribe the needed doses, they could advise patients about interactions with other drugs.

**Ne/Neva Eva** · February 28, 2011, 06:33 AM

can we take baclofen with antidepressant?

Hello, again, Dixon.

My personal philosophy was that I wasn't going to take any other medications/drugs that might interfere with the efficacy of baclofen. I stand by that.

That said, there are real dangers in stopping anti-depressants abruptly. (increased risk of suicidal behavior is one of them.) I highly recommend that you seek professional help with that, even if you can't share information about baclofen.

Is your question hypothetical or are you considering baclofen as a course of treatment? Are you taking an anti-depressant? Which one and how much?

Please remember that there is no medical advice to be found here. None.

**Murphyx** · February 28, 2011, 07:56 AM

can we take baclofen with antidepressant?

Interestingly, looking at Greg's post of the Novartis baclofen leaflet, NRI type antidepressants aren't mentioned. So, according to that it would be safe to use it along with Bupropion (Wellbutrin) at least.

I also read on the wiki bupropion page:

Clinical depression itself was reported to increase the occurrence of seizures two-to-sevenfold compared with the general population; in this light, the above statistics could indicate that low to moderate doses of antidepressants, including bupropion, may actually have an anti-convulsive action

The answer really is: we ain't got much of a clue really. We're all thrashing about, gathering scraps of information and searching for the definitive answer to questions of life the universe and baclofen.

I know I do it, and so do a huge number of other people, but Baclofen really isn't a drug you should take without medical supervision.

**Guest** · February 28, 2011, 08:01 AM

can we take baclofen with antidepressant?

I'm thinking I'm going to have to take an anti-depressant, since I'm struggling so much and have an idea that I am truely suffering with clinical depression. Now I have the concern about which one to take, since if I admit to taking Baclofen I have a very good idea my GP as well as my counsellor will tell me to stop the Baclofen. So generally going to have to do this on my own.

**Ne/Neva Eva** · February 28, 2011, 08:06 AM

can we take baclofen with antidepressant?

Interestingly, Murph, my doc wouldn't prescribe wellbutrin/bupropion once she found out that I drink. The risk of seizure is enhanced not from drinking, but from QUITTING drinking. And the risk of increased suicidal behavior/thoughts is greater when stopping many anti-depressants.
That said, those risks are perhaps manageable and certainly in this and all things I offer no medical advice, just support.

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