The latest research on baclofen

[Chi]

Hi all.... I'm still out of town, and since I needed to kill some time I've been looking for recent developments on baclofen.

Does anybody have any recent news?

I just found this:

Chronic baclofen abuse and withdrawal delirium

January 2011, Vol. 45, No. 1 , Pages 86-87 (doi:10.3109/00048674.2010.524622)

Julian J. Nasti, Vlasios Brakoulias

Nepean Hospital, Penrith, New South Wales

Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Nepean Hospital, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia


Read More: Informa Healthcare - Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry - 45(1):86 - Citation

I don't have a subscription so I was wondering if anybody here is familiar?

[Chi]

The latest research on baclofen



This is the one I was trying to access.

[Chi]

The latest research on baclofen

I can't access the article but was able to screen grab the first part......

baclofen is working for me, but I am interested in any new and ongoing research..... interested in others thoughts.

[Chi]

The latest research on baclofen

Also fairly recent:

Baclofen for alcohol cravings and decreasing cocaine abuse
Posted on March 15, 2011 by DrChris

Baclofen is a medication that I have used as a Anesthesiologist for spasticity, mostly via the intrathecal route. In the appropriate patient I have prescribed it orally for intractable muscle spasm.

Baclofen is a GABA-B receptor agonist and exerts its effects at spinal and supraspinal sites. It also inhibits the release of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain, this neurotransmitter is involved not only in movement, but also in the reward system in the brain.

In our Addiction Medicine Practice we have used it successfully as an adjuvant medication, for withdrawal symptoms and to crub cravings for alcohol. Additionally, we use it for our alcohol patients with severe liver disease including alcoholic cirrhosis.

We also treat our patients addicted to cocaine and heroin with Baclofen, as part of a ?cocktail? to curb the ?high? caused by cocaine and the continued cravings for opioids.

This is an off-label use of Baclofen and we inform patients of this.

As with most medications it has its fare-share of side-effects including, drowsiness at higher doses, fatigue and headache. Then again, every patient has to find out for themselves what they can tolerate for helping them overcome their cravings.

Baclofen for alcohol cravings and decreasing cocaine abuse | ARCA Blog

[Cinders]

The latest research on baclofen

Chi,

The thing that grabbed my eye was this:

baclofen is working for me,

The rest is all fluff.

I am so grateful Baclofen is working for you.

It is working for me, too, this time out the gate.

I do NOT know why it is working this time versus last time. The last time, I just started taking Baclofen and kept drinking.

This time I am committed. I want to be cured. I want to be whole.

I am guessing that our commitment makes a difference.

I am thinking that on 30 mgs/day, which has a whole host of SEs for me (psychosomatic or not,) means that I am committed to being sober. I so truly want to be sober and snuggle up to my husband at night sober and my dog. I want to welcome my grandchildren into my home when I am sober. I simply want to be sober.

So. Baclofen seems to be helping that. It really does. Otherwise, it is sheer hell. Today it is not.

No, I am not OA. I am taking low dose Baclofen, which I have done before, and today it is making a huge difference. In the past, it did not.

I hope this rambling post helps someone besides me.

Love,
Cindi

[Chi]

The latest research on baclofen

Thanks for sharing Cindi, I'm glad things are going better this time around. :goodjob:


This article is interesting and so are the comments:

http://scienceblogs.com/neurotopia/2...tion_could.php

[bleep]

The latest research on baclofen

Hi Chi,

Other than the study underway in Holland, I'm not really aware of any new research being done on baclofen. To be honest, I had sort of stopped looking once I decided that baclofen had cured me. Not sure why, I would have thought my interest would have gone the other way - during my titration I obsessed about finding any and all information I could lay my hands on, now I'm just grateful.

Good luck in your quest, there is a surprising amount of information out there. The "Consolidated Baclofen Information" thread is a good place to start, if you haven't already seen it.

[Ne/Neva Eva]

The latest research on baclofen

Hi, Chi.
I've been following your thoughts with interest.

These studies are another great addition to the knowledge we are amassing about baclofen. Thank you for taking the time to seek them out.

I may be able to get my hands on the details from the first research paper you cited, and I think it's both important and relevant. I'll work on that today.

The second is rather heartening, isn't it? Also telling in that it seems that the doctors are using baclofen as one of several tools to combat addictions.

Thanks again! Definitely food for thought.
Ne

*Cinders! yay! I'm so glad that you are seeing some results. You're right, of course, in that what matters at this point is that it is working for you!

[Greg]

The latest research on baclofen

Just noticed that baclofen is a GABA-A agonist aswell as GABA-B, according to the article. They say that's because of its structural similarity to GABA, which it does have. It would presumably share some properties with benzodiazepines if that was the case, e.g the sedation and anxiety reduction they mentioned, but it must be an effect that only starts happening at high bac doses otherwise people couldn't take so much and keep functioning.

[Chi]

The latest research on baclofen

Ne that would be great if you have the rest of the article, like Greg I am interested in the GABA-A agonist part and see this only came out in January of this year.

The note by "Dr. Chris" is from last month so I feel encouraged by that blurb it tells me more doctors are getting on board with baclofen.

I can truly see a day where baclofen is altered to be used for decreased AL consumption without the SE's of the generic version we are all using now. An extended release sounds great, and I could also see a little caffeine added to counter somnolence and headaches. In fact in my searching last night I saw a blurb about names to watch in 2011 and baclofen was one of them.

Greg back to what you said about comparing bac to benzo's..... I too wonder about that. I have long been familiar with xanax, and I have noticed similarities. I personally think bac is a great alternative especially for addicts, but it does make me worry a bit about tapering and withdrawal. Maybe "worry" is not the right word, I just want to be fully informed. I've tapered from xanax.... didn't like the experience, but it was worth it considering what I was going through at the time. After that I still had to keep xanax on hand (and continue to this day) to stop a panic attack if one came up... I am glad to report I have seen a huge reduction in panic attack symptoms since being on baclofen. Very interesting indeed, especially considering how the FDA treats benzo's vs baclofen.

[Chi]

The latest research on baclofen

ps- I am interested in some opinions on this--

Would you take baclofen to reduce AL consumption without the goal of going AF? If so do you think this is a healthy alternative?

My answer is yes, and I did in fact do that for most of 2010. My drinking was reduced by about 1/2 from Feb 2010 on.... now I am going for more, but I really do feel that the 1/2 reduction made me healthier even with the baclofen in my system. Curious as to how others feel about this.

[bleep]

The latest research on baclofen

I reckon it could certainly be used with an eye on reduction, although why not go the whole way and reach indifference? I think even after reaching indifference, the goal need not be complete abstinence anyway.

[Murphyx]

The latest research on baclofen

Chi, low dose bac for lowering desire for alcohol? Absolutely!

Low doses seem to have that effect on a lot of people, whether they are on the way up searching for the switch or not. I'd be a little concerned about long term drinking with bac, but if it's a low dose then why not? Plus, it's probably a lot healthier to be drinking less and taking a little bac.

I actually think this is an aspect of bac that is often overlooked and should be given more prominence.

[Chi]

The latest research on baclofen

bleep;1089634 wrote: I reckon it could certainly be used with an eye on reduction, although why not go the whole way and reach indifference? I think even after reaching indifference, the goal need not be complete abstinence anyway.

Hi bleep,

I'm still out of town (but not with the room-mate from hell anymore, lol, thankfully) so I've had a lot of time to think/reflect/etc... and in looking back on my bac experience I can say that for me the thoughts of going AF were too overwhelming. I mean I wanted to think I could/would do it, but psychologically I did not want to give up booze entirely. I needed a year of reduced drinking to really see the joys of increased sobriety. I know that sounds nuts, but that's how ingrained drinking was for me. I kind of envy those who can immediately jump into full on sobriety and feel instant joy and never look back..... I had to take the long road.

The truth is, if AL wasn't bad for my health, no hangovers, blackouts, and the negatives we all know I would never have considered cutting down. I thought the buzz was all the rage. It's taken me a long time to prefer clarity over buzz for more and more increased periods of time. My coping mechanisms have improved... but for me it had to be baby steps. I'm still taking them.

IMO there are all kinds of applications for baclofen. I would love to know what more doctors are thinking behind the scenes. Of course it might put conventional rehabs out of business, but do those ever work anyway? I'd rather walk on hot coals for 30m days than go to one of those scary places, but that is JMO.

[Chi]

The latest research on baclofen

Murphyx;1089637 wrote: Chi, low dose bac for lowering desire for alcohol? Absolutely!

Low doses seem to have that effect on a lot of people, whether they are on the way up searching for the switch or not. I'd be a little concerned about long term drinking with bac, but if it's a low dose then why not? Plus, it's probably a lot healthier to be drinking less and taking a little bac.

I actually think this is an aspect of bac that is often overlooked and should be given more prominence.

I agree Murphy-- what is worse having 50 mg of bac in your system or the extra six pack in your system??

I think for anyone who drinks too much it could only be a win/win situation.