"Baclofen Nightmare"...that's what I get for self-medicating!!

[Guest [kl...]]

Hi...I have been self medicating with baclofen for about 6weeks now trying to use it in the same manner that it is used for alcohol indifference.  However...since i take klonipin and have been for 24yrs...it appears that the bac has done nothing but really mess me up even worse than i already was!!  I have been in a terrible state ever since starting the baclofen and so I woke up this morning and decided to just STOP it all together!  I have to get it out of my system because it is making me so very sick!  Apparently it is clashing with the klonipin and throwing my system into total hellacious chaos!!  I hope I've learned my lesson about "self medicating"!!  How much i will suffer wd's from it i have no idea!!  But Must get off it (baclofen) NOW!! 

 

I can not even begin to think about titrating down on klonipin until this "baclofen nightmare" is over! 

 

I will give periodic updates as the baclofen gets out of my system...hope and pray it will not be too difficult...i don't have the time or the patience to titrate down on it...must get back to normal functioning ASAP...by getting this "poison" out!!    wish me luck!!  klon24   

[[fi...]]

That's true.  I would recommend slowly tapering it.

 

fg

[[fi...]]

Here is an excerpt from that article:

 

Withdrawal syndrome

 

Discontinuation of baclofen can be associated with a withdrawal syndrome which resembles benzodiazepine withdrawal and alcohol withdrawal. Withdrawal symptoms are more likely if baclofen is used for long periods of time (more than a couple of months) and can occur from low or high doses. The severity of baclofen withdrawal depends on the rate at which baclofen is discontinued. Thus to minimise baclofen withdrawal symptoms the dose should be tapered down slowly when discontinuing baclofen therapy. Abrupt withdrawal is most likely to result in severe withdrawal symptoms. Acute withdrawal symptoms can be stopped by recommencing baclofen.[10]

 

Withdrawal symptoms may include auditory hallucinations, visual hallucinations, tactile hallucinations, delusions, confusion, agitation, delirium, disorientation, fluctuation of consciousness, insomnia, dizziness, nausea, feeling faint, inattention, memory impairments, perceptual disturbances, pruritus/itching, anxiety, depersonalization, hypertonia, hyperthermia, formal thought disorder, psychosis, mania, mood disturbances, restlessness, and behavioral disturbances, tachycardia, seizures, tremors, autonomic dysfunction, hyperpyrexia, extreme muscle rigidity resembling neuroleptic malignant syndrome and rebound spasticity.[10][11]

 

fg