Baclofen

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Baclofen is a GABA-like drug that has been used for decades in the treatment of spasticity. It has muscle relaxant, anxiolytic, and sedative properties.

Outside of its medical use for spasticity, it has been researched as a possible treatment for alcohol dependence.

The drug is sometimes taken in non-medical settings because it can provide anxiety reduction, sedation, and some euphoria. It’s usually described as somewhat similar to phenibut in its effects.

Baclofen = Lioresal; Liofen; Gablofen; Kemstro; (RS)-4-Amino-3-(4-chlorophenyl)butanoic acid

Contents

Dose
Timeline
Experience Reports
References

Dose

Oral (medical)

Range: 30 – 75 mg/day

Oral

Light: 10 – 20 mg

Common: 20 – 50 mg

Strong: 50 – 75 mg

Timeline

Oral

Total: 3 – 6 hours (extended with strong+ doses)

Onset: 00:15 – 00:45

Experience Reports

References

(2015) Baclofen and gamma-hydroxybutyrate differentially altered behavior, EEG activity and sleep in rats.

(2014) Misuse of the γ-aminobutyric acid analogues baclofen, gabapentin and pregabalin in the UK

(2014) The use of very high-doses of baclofen for the treatment of alcohol-dependence: a case series

(2013) Clinical effectiveness of baclofen for the treatment of alcohol dependence: a review.

(2013) Efficacy and tolerability of baclofen in substance use disorders: a systematic review.

(2013) Baclofen for alcohol-dependence: anticraving or partial substitution?

(2013) Baclofen for alcohol withdrawal.

(2012) Baclofen overdose mimicking brain death.

(2012) A case of de novo seizures following a probable interaction of high-dose baclofen with alcohol.

(2012) Is baclofen a revolutionary medication in alcohol addiction management? Review and recent updates.

(2012) Baclofen intoxication: a “fun drug” causing deep coma and nonconvulsive status epilepticus–a case report and review of the literature.

(2011) Chronic baclofen abuse and withdrawal delirium.

(2010) Efficacy and safety of baclofen for alcohol dependence: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

(2006) Intrathecal baclofen overdose and withdrawal.

(2006) Baclofen overdose: defining the spectrum of toxicity.

(2005) Delirium associated with baclofen withdrawal: a review of common presentations and management strategies.

(2005) An unusual presentation of baclofen overdose.

(2003) Baclofen antagonizes nicotine-, cocaine-, and morphine-induced dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens of rat.

(2002) Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling of the antinociceptive effect of baclofen in mice.

(2001) Death due to baclofen and dipyrone ingestion.

(2000) Coma mimicking brain death following baclofen overdose.

(1999) Death after acute withdrawal of intrathecal baclofen: case report and literature review.

(1998) Baclofen overdose: drug experimentation in a group of adolescents.

(1996) Topical Review: Baclofen in the Treatment of Cerebral Palsy

(1995) Enhancement of morphine analgesia by the GABAB agonist baclofen.

(1992) Comparison of the actions of baclofen at pre- and postsynaptic receptors in the rat hippocampus in vitro.

(1981) Complications of baclofen withdrawal.

(1981) Baclofen selectively inhibits excitatory synaptic transmission in the hippocampus.

(1978) The biological activity of d-baclofen (Lipresal®)

(1974) Baclofen: A Preliminary Report of its Pharmacological Properties and Therapeutic Efficacy in Spasticity

Category Depressants Tag Drug Overviews

Steven
I’ve noticed it to be inferior to other muscle relaxers, like Soma. It is better than Flexeril though.
- whiteout
  Very much agreed with that first part. I was Rx’d it for sleep for years. It really did nothing, but, I didn’t notice how little it did ’til I switched to Soma (carisoprodol), which works great. Better than Flexeril? I’d say both are pretty useless. MAYBE they do something if you mix with opioids and benzos.
  - Steven
    Very careful mixing anything like that. I know when in pain, you’re desperate … Trust me ,I know..
    I’ve never had a muscle relaxer help my back the way soma has..
    I’d rather be dependent on soma, and have more pain relief.
    Baclofen increases HGH, allowing you to get muscle back for PT. It helps involuntary muscle movements too. Just much less analgesia.
    - whiteout
      Oh, I know. I’m done with opioids/opiates, unless you count the Subutex I take now. I haven’t used oxy/hydro/heroin/etc. for 3 and a half years now and I don’t take Subutex before sleep (when I take my Soma and when I took baclofen) – even though it does have a very long half-life. I just don’t think baclofen or Flexeril do anything for analgesia, even with opioids and/or benzos, in my experience.