Experiences - Baclofen is very, very cool

[Benzeneringz]

Baclofen (brand name Lioresal, Kemstro) is a GABA-B agonist used as a muscle relaxant in multiple sclerosis. I've long been interested in this drug for several reasons: muscle relaxers often have some type of abuse potential, it is a GABA-B agonist and the benzo's, barbs and Ambien-type drugs are GABA-A agonists, and it is an analogue of the popular drug GHB. I finally decided, after much research, that I must try it. Several weeks ago I ordered fifty baclofen 25 mg tablets from a commercial source. Upon recieving the package I immediately went to work.

My initial experience was profoundly intense, so much so that I would consider it adversive. This was probably do the excessive dose I had ingested over the course of the day (325 mgs in a 18-hour period). The initial effects weren't apparent after 75 milligrams, so another dose of 75 milligrams was taken to produce mild dizziness. It still didn't feel like much of anything so a third dose of 75 milligrams, bring the total amount to 225 milligrams, was taken with water. Wow. Again, wow. The effects manifested themselves without being shy about it. That feeling of dizziness multiplied to a feeling of clumsiness, but not an unpleasant clumsiness. It was strangely similar to the "buzzing" of alcohol intoxication, but there were unique aspects that are hard to describe. My mood was enhanced, yet SWIM wasn't euphoric to manic proportions as he is on amphetamine or opiates. It was an antidepressant-like mood-enhancement. Words weren't slurred and coordination was in tact roughly 75-80%. After interacting with my family for a while the intensity of the "buzzing" dizziness became too much and I went to go lay down. I turned the TV on and put my head down on my bed with a pillow covering it. This was at approx. 1:30 PM. After what seemed like a half hour, I sat up and a wave of disbelief swept over my body when I looked over at the window. It was dark outside! Not twilight-dark, I mean middle of the night dark. I stumbled upstairs and stared in awe at the digital clock: it read 12:45. It was forty-five minutes after midnight and I had just lied down a half-hour ago, it seemed. I suddenly became nausious and went downstairs, only to end up vomiting on my patio. I laid back down after that. I was in for an unbelieveable experience but I didn't know it at the time.

It was a dream, I know that now. But while it was happening, it wasn't a dream. It was to real to be a dream. I had suddenly found myself driving down a road, cornfields on both sides of me. My car was missing everything but the wheels and a metal bar in-between the front and back axels. The sun was shining; it was probably 11 in the morning. A cop was in the process of writing a speeding ticket to a car on my right. I was high as can be. All of a sudden I was upstairs in my friend's house, alone, smoking pot. I looked out her window; it was night. I thought to myself "man, I'm really flipping high. I hope ********'s parents don't come up here." And then, I woke up. It was more like I sprung out of bed. I was dreaming! I couldn't believe how real the dreams had been. I was actually feeling high in the dream, I could actually feel the sun on my skin when I had been "driving", and I felt actual fear of her parents catching me... yet it was only a dream? What is this stuff, I asked myself.

I took 50 milligrams after waking up; this was approx. 11:30 in the morning. The dizziness was apparent, only it was different this time. It was more enjoyable. It felt like psychedelic Xanax, so to speak. My mood was enhanced, only greater than it had been the day before. My body felt nice, where yesterday it had felt "weird" in a bad way. This is the way it's been ever since that morning. It took an initial adversive experience to become familiar with the drug and it's effects, sort of like first-time marijuana users usually don't get high on their first experience because they have to become familiar with marijuana's effects and learn to find them pleasurable. This is why experienced smokers report more intense effects than inexperienced smokers: their brains have learned that marijuana is indeed psychoactivly euphoric. Baclofen has very similar properties.

I hope this look into the somewhat-obscure drug baclofen is at least an interesting read!

Reputation Comments on this post:

	Nice Report: Thanks for sharing
	interesting read
	Very good experience report of an obscure chemical! Though please edit out self-incrimination.
	Interesting trip report
	Very interesting read, thanks for sharing.
	Very good report, inspired SWIM's own testings, thanks

[~lostgurl~]

Is this prescribed for anything other than multiple sclerosis? Nice Experience Report too, thanks for sharing.

[Lehendakari]

Have SWIY tried phenibut? If so how would SWIY compare it to Baclofen? SWIM has been long interested in this chemical since he saw reports claiming baclofen being very similar to phenibut, but better.

[Jatelka]

@lostgurl: Baclofen is indicated for the treatment of muscle spasticity associated with MS and Spinal Cord Injuries, it is sometimes used for spasticity in Stroke, Cerebral Palsy and Parkinsons Disease, but this is off-license.

It is NOT a downer/sleeping pill in the traditional sense, and SWIJ wonders whether this should be moved to "Various". However, it undoubtedly has effects at GABA receptors, and so maybe it is more appropriate here.

EDIT: After some thought, moved to Various

[Benzeneringz]

Is phenibut a generic or brand name? I've never heard of it before. And on the subject of moving the thread, Jatelka is absolutely right. Although baclofen is a GABA-B agonist it doesn't have the sedative-hypnotic properties that would make it a "downer/sleeping pill" canidate. In fact, I was rather surprised to find falling asleep or even keeping still very difficult. There was pointless, repetitive behaviour observed during the second half of the day, akin to the repetition of movement seen with amphetamine intoxication. I really should write a report on baclofen because it was so unique and educational. I have a totally different perspective on GABA receptors and the role of GABA in the CNS. There's more to the neurotransmittor than what a benzo or barb would lead you to believe.

[monkeygone2heaven]

very interesting!

they're also using baclofen a lot recently as an alternative to opiates in chronic pain (esp opiate-resistant ones like neuropathic pain conditions).
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...=pubmed_docsum

in general GABA is an active target in pain research although especially the potential of GABA-B agonists remains mysterious. there may be yet other subtypes.

review: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...=pubmed_docsum

i remember seeing something about baclofen having antidepressant qualities but don't recall where and don't have a reference.

cheers!

Reputation Comments on this post:

	nice, esp. with the links. very informative
	Nice abstracts, thanks

[~lostgurl~]

SWIM took 4 X 10 mg baclofen last night but did not feel any euphoria, when she started to feel tired she lay down and could feel her heart beating hard, but not in a scary way, she thought this would prevent her from falling asleep but she slept very well and today SWIM felt very mellow. Overall SWIM thought it to be very useful as a sleep aid but perhaps a bigger dose is required for recreational purposes.

[old hippie 56]

Wife took them for years for her MS, her doctor wean her off of them because of possible heart related problems. Now, she is on Skelaxion.

[toe]

ISE baclofen has no recreational value. Obviously, this is only an opinion, and everybody knows what those are like. However, there is quite a lot of evidence of its extreme addictive potential.

My houseplants were prescribed this drug for non-pathological muscle spasms and found it effective for that purpose.

[OhCasey]

Swims just been persribed Baclofen Today. Hes excited and scared.Will return with results. Oh ya 20 MG btw seems kinda high but Doc says it will help swims nerve pain and sleep.

[Kernacktur]

SWIM took 8 of the 10 mg ones once. He felt VERY dizzy and disoriented for about 12 hours and didn't much enjoy it. That's the only time he's ever tried it but he knows of some very dumb friends who did 20 on multiple occasions. One of them OD'ing and ending up in a 2 day coma after taking 25-30. Obviously SWIM doesn't recommend this he's just telling what he knows to be the approximate overdose range.

[ironmics]

Swiy's experience sounds a lot like Swims experience taking doses of gabapentin along with different varieties of muscle relaxers and opiates(all prescribed for pain/trying to find the best combo for said pain). When taken without opiates the experience was similar to the one swiy had, except no vivid dreams. With opiates it was slightly euphoric(low doses opiates), with the dreams.

[sandy222]

I have been suffering from baclofen withdrawal syndrome for the last 5 months. Its the worst hell you are ever likely to experience and i was only on it for two and a half weeks. If anyone has had a bad experience with this drug please get in touch.

[Jatelka]

sandy222: Please share your marmoset's experience of baclofen withdrawal.

How did it feel, what problems has your marmoset had?

There are several case reports that list delirium as a consequence of withdrawal

[sandy222]

In the last 7 months ive had the following-I had delirium. I bled for fourty days, my whole body had crawling sensations, I was violently retching(this went on for almost 3 months every day) ear infection, a feeling of swinging inside me like I was on a hammock, touch sensitive-where ever you touched me I would retch, nightmares, insomnia, muscle twitching and jeking, tinnatus, thoughts of impending doom, visions of me dying, nausea on one side of my body onlt, tingling all over, nausea to the extreme-you have to experience it to believe how bad it was,inner vibrations, a feeling of a big wheel turning inside me, floppy muscles, a feeling like I have just had flu or am recovering from flu(This went on for a whole week) chronic fatigue, fear of death and dying, foul taste in the mouth, extra sensitive smell (my flat smelled like a rubbish dump to me) visulal hallucinations, sharp shooting pains, burning pains inside my ears and throat, sever migraines and muscle spasms,gasto-intestinal issues, a feeling of movement even though your still. This experience will stay with me for the rest of my life!!


I know have had 5 months off the drug and this is where I am- my muscles are not back to normal, gastro intestinal isues, nausea feeling on one side of my body-not as bad as 4 months ago, a feeling of movement inside my body- a rotation feeling-it is horrid and muscle twitching and jerks so all in all I guess I must be recovering compared to the list above. oh and my jaw is also affected I cant control it sometimes. Guess its a muscle thing

Does any of this ring any bells with anyone. Does anyone know if I could be permamnently damaged as i dont understand how the drug works and whether it is temporary. i know it works on GABA B receptors but am not scientificaly minded so cant take in too much info at the moment-plus im unwell so if anyone can help?

[Euphoric]

Sandy, how long had the drug been used for before quitting and what doses were taken? What makes you think this is a result of the drug and not something else?

Reputation Comments on this post:

helpful/good question to ask

[sandy222]

because I was absolutely fine before I took baclofen and have been thoroughly checked out. Ive had lots of different docs and neuros see me and they have confirmed that it is because of the withdrawal from baclofen...and also the fact that the symptoms have started to reduce on their own over the months without any medication. My symptoms are almost identical to people who come off benzos who also have a cns malfunction when coming off the drug. It can take up to 2 years for all their symptoms to go even after coming off the drug. Ive had a brain scan, a spinal scan, and numerous other tests and everything is clear. The baclofen caused a chemical reaction and cns malfunction cos I was taken off it too abruptly. My brain reacted very badly to it. All my symptoms match with the possible side effects of baclofen and reactions if your cold turkeyed off it. My neuro has confirmed this and looked it up. The drug comapny are investigating it at the moment and why I suffered so badly. Thanks for your reply

[Euphoric]

Fair enough, thanks. Can you add the dosage, frequency and how long baclofen was used for?

[MrTommyGun]

Friends! Baclofen is perfect! I love to call it a G's brother, but more euphoric one.

[~lostgurl~]

Originally Posted by MrTommyGun

Friends! Baclofen is perfect! I love to call it a G's brother, but more euphoric one.

As in GHB? SWIM says Balclofen doesn't come close to the euphoria of GHB/GBL

[llcmva]

SWIM has not tried baclofen but I know soma (carisoprodol) is pretty sick stuff, as in sick i mean fun. I guess baclo could have some good qualities. I will hit up the OP next time and get some perhaps. But yeah soma is good stuff too (same thing muscle relaxant)

Reputation Comments on this post:

Please try to stay on topic, thread not about soma.

[Shakyleg#13]

F.Y.I Baclofen is not for recreational use and can be fatal if abused in that manner. The human tolerance is about 120mg(oral) a day and should be taken in intervals not all at once. I hope no one is trying to get high from a medication used to treat moderate to severe spasiticity . I know this because I have been on baclofen since 2004 to treat a movement disorder caused by a spinal cord injury. I have an intrathecal baclofen pump implanted in me which cuts off all side affects of the medication because baclofen is pumped directly in the intrathecal space of the spine and does not have to go through the body to reach the affected area. Because there is no cure for spasiticity this is the next best and benificial treatment for it. Baclofen is also very addictive and withdraw from both oral and intrathecal baclofen also can be fatal. Again I cannot stress enough that baclofen is not a recreational drug and should not be used in that manner.

Reputation Comments on this post:

	Thanks for signing up to share personal experience
	thx, this warning was indeed called for

[Alfa]

What happens when more than 120mg is used?
Asides from being very addictive; hat are the dangers of baclofen?

[Jatelka]

Aside from addiction, and a potentially serious withdrawal syndrome (see here... http://www.drugs-forum.com/forum/loc...tid=17&id=2936)

Baclofen tends to have an additive depressant effect when taken with other CNS depressants, such as alcohol, benzodiazepines or other "Downers". It can exacerbate psychosis, mania and confusional states. It lowers the seizure threshold, and should be avoided in those with a history of seizures.

Baclofen can cause acute urinary retention, it also causes hypotension and syncope has been reported.

Here's a (copy n pasted from the BNF) list of AE's:

Transient drowsiness, daytime sedation, dizziness, weakness and fatigue.
Neuropsychiatric: headache < 10%), insomnia < 10%), and rarely, euphoria, excitement, depression, confusion, hallucinations, paresthesia, nightmares, muscle pain, tinnitus, slurred speech, coordination disorder, tremor, rigidity, dystonia, ataxia, blurred vision, nystagmus, strabismus, miosis, mydriasis, diplopia, dysarthria, epileptic seizures, lowered convulsion threshold, and respiratory depression.

Cardiovascular: hypotension < 10%), rare instances of dyspnea, palpitation, chest pain, syncope.

Gastrointestinal: nausea (approx. 10%), constipation < 10%), and rarely, dry mouth, anorexia, taste disorder, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, positive test for occult blood in stool.

Genitourinary: urinary frequency < 10%), and rarely, enuresis, urinary retention, dysuria, impotence, inability to ejaculate, nocturia, hematuria.

Other: instances of rash, pruritus, ankle edema, excessive perspiration, weight gain, nasal congestion, visual disturbances, hepatic function disorders and paradoxical increase in spasticity.

Reputation Comments on this post:

thorough info. esp. helpful in a thread where the main post is so euphoric about a substance

[Maxfrombx]

It would have been nice to know for how much time "Mr A" had been taking Baclofen, which isn't precised in the case report.

In SWIJ's opinion, what would be the duration necessary to get a withdrawal syndrome when Baclofen is abruptly discontinued? Would it be comparable to benzos?

EDIT: Damned, the guy experimented severe withdrawal with only 30mg/day...