What is Baclofen and how does it work
Baclofen is a GABA-B agonist that activates the gaba beta receptor in the brain. Baclofen reduces cravings to alcohol by reducing alcohol's motivational and reinforcing properties, it has been demonstrated that baclofen suppresses alcohol stimulated dopamine release in the brain. Dopamine is elevated in the reward center in the brain, it is partly responsible for cravings in long term alcoholics, it is the most prominent reason why alcohol is highly addictive due to cravings.
The amount of baclofen required to eliminate cravings is known as the switch dose. The dose varies from person to person and should be anywhere between 1-4mg per kg of bodyweight. The dose is slowly increased every few days until the switch dose is reached. Initially side effects include somnolence, insomnia and irritability. Once on a given dose, side effects diminish and in most cases go away completely.
Why Baclofen is a cure to alcoholism as a disease
Prescribing guide
Books by Dr Ameisen
How does Baclofen work
Safety of High dose Baclofen
Studies
A review of alcohol and its effect on the brain and chemical dependency
Case Studies
Videos
Other useful links
Baclofen is a GABA-B agonist that activates the gaba beta receptor in the brain. Baclofen reduces cravings to alcohol by reducing alcohol's motivational and reinforcing properties, it has been demonstrated that baclofen suppresses alcohol stimulated dopamine release in the brain. Dopamine is elevated in the reward center in the brain, it is partly responsible for cravings in long term alcoholics, it is the most prominent reason why alcohol is highly addictive due to cravings.
The amount of baclofen required to eliminate cravings is known as the switch dose. The dose varies from person to person and should be anywhere between 1-4mg per kg of bodyweight. The dose is slowly increased every few days until the switch dose is reached. Initially side effects include somnolence, insomnia and irritability. Once on a given dose, side effects diminish and in most cases go away completely.
Why Baclofen is a cure to alcoholism as a disease
One characteristic that separates addiction from the vast majority of other diseases is that it is symptom driven and symptom dependent. in addiction the symptoms are the disease. In nearly all other diseases, symptoms do not drive the progression of the disease. when symptoms are discernible, they can often be suppressed, while the disease itself rages on in the body. Stopping the symptoms of addiction - the cravings, obsessive thoughts, and the motivation to consume an addictive substance or engage in an addictive behaviour would in fact stop the disease. the patient would go into complete remission.
Craving for an addictive substance, or a compulsive behaviour, is the primary symptom of addiction and compulsion in two senses. From the suffering patient point of view, craving is the constant enemy that must be battled - even after years of abstinence. and from the point of view of the disease process, craving is now recognized as the number one cause of relapse.
Among addiction medicines, baclofen is unique to date in showing the ability to suppress, as opposed to reduce, motivation to consume alcohol, cocaine, heroin, nicotine and amphetamine in animal studies. it is also unique among addiction medicines
~ Dr Ameisen
Craving for an addictive substance, or a compulsive behaviour, is the primary symptom of addiction and compulsion in two senses. From the suffering patient point of view, craving is the constant enemy that must be battled - even after years of abstinence. and from the point of view of the disease process, craving is now recognized as the number one cause of relapse.
Among addiction medicines, baclofen is unique to date in showing the ability to suppress, as opposed to reduce, motivation to consume alcohol, cocaine, heroin, nicotine and amphetamine in animal studies. it is also unique among addiction medicines
~ Dr Ameisen
Prescribing guide
Books by Dr Ameisen
How does Baclofen work
Safety of High dose Baclofen
Studies
- Suppression of Alcohol Dependence Using Baclofen: A 2-Year Observational Study of 100 Patients
- 2013 study on baclofen "a success rate of 68%
- April 2015 - High Dose Baclofen proven efficacious versus placebo in German in a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial
- BACLOFEN EFFICACY IN REDUCING ALCOHOL CRAVING AND INTAKE: A PRELIMINARY DOUBLE-BLIND RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED STUDY Alcohol and Alcoholism Vol. 37, No. 5, pp. 504-508, 2002
- Role of the GABAB receptor system in alcoholism and stress: focus on clinical studies and treatment perspectives
- Effectiveness and safety of baclofen for maintenance of alcohol abstinence in alcohol-dependent patients with liver cirrhosis: randomised, double-blind controlled study.
- Suppression de la dependance a l’alcool et de la consommation d’alcool par le baclofene a haute dose : un essai en ouvert Annales Medico-Psychologiques
- Two studies showing the safety of high dose baclofen
- Baclofen Prevents Drug Cue-Induced motivational processing
A review of alcohol and its effect on the brain and chemical dependency
- A review on alcohol: from the central action mechanism to chemical dependency (2015)
Less heavy reading - What Alcohol Actually Does to Your Brain and Body
Case Studies
- Clinical Experience with Baclofen in the Management of Alcohol-Dependent Patients with Psychiatric Comorbidity: A Selected Case Series
- Complete and prolonged supression of symptoms and consequences of alcohol-dependence using high-dose baclofen: a self-case report of a physician Oliver Ameisen
- Supression of symptoms of alcohol dependence and craving using high-dose baclofen William Bucknam Alcohol and Alcoholism 2007
Videos
- An interview with Dr. Ameisen- the first doctor in this news clip, Dr James Garbutt, is a researcher that did a study with alcoholic patients and low dose baclofen (3x10mg/day). He found that it was effective, but not completely successful. Dr. Ameisen lost all craving for alcohol when he reached a dose of 270mg/day, nine times the dose used In the study. He continues to take 50mg/day now, five years later:
- YouTube video of PET scan showing reduced cocaine craving in the brain, Baclofen works for alcohol craving via the same mechanism:
Other useful links
- French baclofen discussion forum
- French wikipedia entry which has much more useful information (translate to English)
- English wikipedia entry
- Baclofenuk.com another informational website
- Reddit discussion group on Baclofen
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