Can you overdose on Baclofen? Baclofen, a muscle relaxant prescribed to treat spinal injuries, can cause an overdose if too much is consumed. This can occur when someone takes a higher dose than prescribed over an extended period, when one takes a significant amount of pills at once, or when someone consumes the Baclofen medication that was prescribed for someone else entirely.
What is Baclofen?
Baclofen is a drug that can be prescribed to treat multiple sclerosis (MS), cerebral palsy, and other spinal injuries or conditions that cause spasming and tension in the spine. It relieves the user of the tightness, cramping, and spasticity in the spine, common to people struggling with spinal irregularities, by interacting with the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain and spine. Baclofen can be taken in tablet form, as a solution, or pumped directly into the spine (intrathecal administration) in cases of extreme pain.
Baclofen Toxicity
“Baclofen toxicity” is the term used by mental health professionals for overdose. There are many ways that people accidentally overdose on Baclofen. Children sometimes overdose by gaining access to their parent’s medication and trying them out. Some people who were prescribed Baclofen can take a higher dose than is safe in order to relieve themselves of chronic pain. Others may attempt to consume many pills at once when they find themselves in physical and emotional pain and lack the tools to cope with them in a healthy way. Baclofen toxicity can also occur when errors are made at medical facilities where intrathecal administration (ITB)- the pumping of Baclofen into the spine - is performed.
Can you overdose on Baclofen 10 mg?
Although Baclofen medication is usually packaged in pills of 10 mg each, you can not overdose on just a single 10 mg tablet. It would take around 200 mg of Baclofen for the body to experience serious damage. As with all drugs, there are many factors that affect how much of the substance would cause an overdose, including but not limited to: age, gender, history of substance abuse, and whether or not other substances are used concurrently.
Baclofen Overdose Symptoms
Many symptoms can indicate that someone has overdosed on Baclofen. It’s important to call emergency services right away if you notice someone who may have overdosed. Don’t leave the person alone until help arrives, and have a sample of the drug ready so the medical team can take proper action to reverse the damage.
Some Baclofen toxicity symptoms are:
- Seizures and tremors
- Memory problems
- Low blood pressure
- Lethargy
- Mania
- Hypotonia (Decreased muscle tone)
- Hypothermia (Dangerously low body temperature)
- Bradycardia (Slow heart rate)
- Cardiac abnormalities
- Respiratory depression
- Coma
If you or your loved one is abusing Baclofen and at risk of overdose, it is crucial to explore treatment options for recovery and develop a plan that can be employed as soon as the user is ready to reach out for help.
Baclofen Overdose Treatment
There is no specific treatment plan to rid the body of Baclofen in the event of an overdose. Of course, if Baclofen toxicity occurs while a medical professional is administering Baclofen into the spine (through the method known as intrathecal administration), treatment is ceased immediately, and cerebrospinal fluid aspiration is administered.
The most important course of action, when someone is brought into an ER, is to attach the patient to an IV line with fluids so the body can naturally dispose of the drug. Another vital intervention involves assisting and bolstering the respiratory and (hemodynamic) circulatory systems, both of which process the substance and excrete it from the body. Additionally, oxygenation, electrolytes, and renal and hepatic function are all monitored, and appropriate action is taken to support these functions on a case-to-case basis. There are also protocols in place to manage other symptoms of Baclofen overdose, such as benzodiazepines to manage seizures, and fluids and other treatments for hypotension.
Baclofen Overdose Death
Listed below are some intervention types that may be employed once it has been determined that a person is experiencing the effects of an overdose:
- Activated charcoal- this is a substance that is dissolved in water and binds to foreign substances in the body in order to remove them.
- Physostigmine- this is a controversial drug that can be used in small doses, with evidence of effectiveness.
- Hemodialysis- for patients experiencing renal failure, this treatment can help.
Fortunately, the rate of Baclofen overdose-related deaths is not especially high, and if caught early enough, treatment can be highly effective in reversing the damage that Baclofen overdose causes.
Baclofen Addiction Treatment
As with any addiction, Baclofen addiction is debilitating. It may impair your ability to function optimally, nurture healthy and long-lasting relationships, maintain a stable and steady income, and perform other basic behaviors. At Avenues Recovery Center, we help people struggling with addiction find a unique treatment plan with one-on-one therapies, support groups, and other holistic treatment options. Our dedicated and professional team are experts in the field of addiction and will stop at nothing to provide you with the help you need. We have helped thousands of people achieve sobriety and peace of mind, and we can help you too! Contact us today to take your first step towards a happier, healthier and sober life.