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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Chan Fook on December 2, 2010, at 11:55:03
Hello babble,
I know that baclofen off-label has many been used to treat addictions, but I have also read that it has great anti-anxiety properties too. Now my medical knowledge is pretty patchy, but from what I understand it interacts with the GABA-b receptors which are apparently related to anxiety in some cases.
Now this might just be a poke in the dark, maybe the properties only show themselves in someone that has an addiction and is being treated with baclofen, but maybe it also works in people without the pre-disposition. Has anyone tried baclofen, and if so, how did you manage to persuade your doctor to prescribe you it? I hear as high doses as 100mg (they come in 5/10mg) a day are used because of it's small half-life.
Posted by sigismund on December 2, 2010, at 13:46:23
In reply to Baclofen and anti-anxiety properties?, posted by Chan Fook on December 2, 2010, at 11:55:03
I've heard of it being used for alcoholism.
Never taken it myself.
Posted by KathrynLex on December 2, 2010, at 20:03:32
In reply to Baclofen and anti-anxiety properties?, posted by Chan Fook on December 2, 2010, at 11:55:03
I hadn't heard of Baclofen before but a quick Google search just told me that it's a pretty popular anti anxiety drug. You seem eager to take it. A good pdoc is usually open to letting you try different medications (unless they think you might react badly).
Have you tried other anti anxiety meds? There are a number of them out there, many of which have gone generic and can be bought at a reasonable price.
Posted by Chan Fook on December 3, 2010, at 6:56:23
In reply to Re: Baclofen and anti-anxiety properties?, posted by KathrynLex on December 2, 2010, at 20:03:32
Problem is, baclofen has withdrawal when you take it for an extended period of time. Although you do not develop a tolerance for it, a high amount is required each day to maintain the effect (or so I've heard). I researched other anxiety medication and none seem to appeal to me (SSRI's have sexual side effects I'm not to happy about, benzo's can't be used for an extended period), although baclofen is a very cheap alternative and can be used to kill two birds with one stone in my case.
Problem is in the UK they do not prescribe anything off-label unless there is a very good reason to do so (to save their ***) so I'm going to have to find a good reason for them to try it.
I'm on some alternative medication for anxiety but it's not 100% effective (it helps to stop me from thinking obsessively, but the thoughts still crop up now and again). I'm hoping that I will bring this up with my doctor and see what the results are like. Here the pills are very cheap too, so it's cost effective.
Posted by ed_uk2010 on December 3, 2010, at 9:24:17
In reply to Re: Baclofen and anti-anxiety properties?, posted by Chan Fook on December 3, 2010, at 6:56:23
I wouldn't say that baclofen is an anti-anxiety medication. It can certainly cause drowsiness (often to an unpleasant degree) but that's not the same thing. Baclofen frequently makes people feel nauseated and can cause psychiatric adverse effects.
In my opinion, there's no reason to even consider baclofen until you've tried all the standard treatments for anxiety first.
This is the end of the thread.
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