Baclofen is a drug that was originally known primarily under the trade name Lioresal. Meanwhile, the same active ingredient is also sold in the form of various generics, for example as Baclofen dura. You can learn more about the active ingredient Baclofen below.
What is baclofen?
Baclofen is used to reduce muscle tone, which is the strength of muscle tension. Baclofen thus falls into the drug class of antispasticity medications and muscle relaxants. A special feature of baclofen is its central effectiveness. This means that from the blood, the active ingredient also partially crosses the blood-brain barrier into the brain and spinal cord and therefore acts directly on the nerve cells there.
How does baclofen work?
Baclofen is an agonist at the GABA receptor, a receptor for gamma-aminobutyric acid. GABA and the aforementioned receptor have an inhibitory and thus relaxing effect on nerve cells in the central nervous system (CNS, which includes the brain and spinal cord) and, via detours, also on the muscles. Baclofen, in turn, mimics the effect of GABA and thus also achieves the described relaxing effect. Consequently, it is used as a drug in the therapy of spasticity, convulsions and, in some cases, alcoholism (outside the approved indications).
Baclofen for alcohol addiction?
To date, there is insufficient scientific research and experience regarding the use of baclofen for addiction in general and alcoholism in particular. Mainly single-case studies on the use of baclofen for alcohol addiction can be found in the literature. Some of the studies show, for example, that baclofen does not appear to have a greater effect on alcohol dependence than placebos at normal and approved doses. Other studies, however, in which baclofen was also taken at much higher doses, suggest a supportive effect of baclofen in addiction treatment in some cases.
How does baclofen work against alcohol dependence?
The study status suggests that there may be efficacy against alcohol dependence, depending on the dosage of baclofen. For example, study participants with alcohol dependence described that their cravings for alcohol became less when they received therapy with high-dose baclofen tablets. However, there is no clear scientific recommendation in this regard. It should also be noted that higher doses can also cause more side effects. For this reason, baclofen is not approved in Germany for the treatment of addiction. Treatment can only take place if the drug is prescribed for therapy off-label, i.e. outside the approved areas of application of baclofen, by prescription from a doctor.
Nalmefene for alcohol addiction
In contrast, nalmefene, another agent that has also been under discussion for some time for the treatment of alcohol addiction, is now approved for the treatment of alcohol dependence.
Side effects of baclofen
The side effects that can occur during therapy with baclofen are mainly related to the depressant effect.
- Drowsiness
- Muscle weakness
- Low blood pressure
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Drowsiness to confusion
- Seizures
- Soft speech
- Double vision
- Breathing difficulties
Caution: when baclofen is used concomitantly with other depressant medications or psychotropic drugs, such as antidepressants, there may be a mutual amplification of effects. These groups of drugs should therefore only be taken together in close consultation with a doctor and pharmacist.
Use of baclofen
When taking baclofen, there are, among others, the following points to consider:
- When to take. Baclofen is used primarily to treat severe spasticity that occurs, for example, after injury, in multiple sclerosis, or in other diseases of the spinal cord. The active ingredient can be taken as a tablet, usually in 10 mg or 25 mg form. If particularly high doses are needed, baclofen can also be given directly into the nerve fluid via a baclofen pump. These pumps are usually implanted directly with minor surgery.
- How long to take? Baclofen, provided it is well tolerated, is often prescribed for long-term therapy of severe spasticity and taken daily for several years.The normal dosage is between 30 and 75 mg per day. Higher doses are recommended only under stationary monitoring.
- How long does baclofen stay in the body? The half-life of baclofen is about 7 hours.
Can you buy baclofen over the counter?
Baclofen requires a prescription, so you can not buy it without a prescription in Germany. Only by prescription, the drug can be purchased at a pharmacy.
Alternatives to baclofen
Another drug that is also used in the treatment of severe spasticity is tizanidine (Sirdalud). This works by a different route than baclofen: tizanidine is an agonist at alpha2 receptors. Other alternatives also exist that can be used to relax the muscles: These include tetrazepam and pregabalin (Lyrica), for example.
