Baclofen for alcohol withdrawal

[Znub3]

Hello,

I am trying to get off of alcohol and don’t want to go back to detox. Does Baclofen help with alcohol withdrawal symptoms? I have that at home with gabapentin and I take both of them for pain management.

In doing some research, I have found that Baclofen can help aid with anxiety and the terrible withdrawals of alcohol.

Thanks !

-Znub3

 

[junkequation]

Alcohol primarily affects GABA-A receptors, like benzodiazepines, which is where the relaxation and euphoria come from. Baclofen works on GABA-B.

I like Baclofen. I took high dose baclofen for years to help me stay off other drugs, and I found it worked pretty well. But a lot of people don't like baclofen in high doses. It has a lot of weird side effects. And I would think baclofen might help alcohol withdrawal a little but not any more than it might help opiate withdrawal, by taking something that makes you feel a little better. But it's not going to hit the same receptors as alcohol, so I don't think it will help you taper or prevent possible dangerous withdrawal symptoms. If you are physically dependent on alcohol, my understanding is that the withdrawal is dangerous, possibly fatal, and the only safe way to get off is to taper, usually with a long-acting benzo like valium.

 

[Them Witches]

Nothing wrong with in-patient medical detox. From what I hear, alcoholics get decent treatment