Substance use disorders: Baclofen as a promising drug

Abstract

Introduction

Baclofen, a drug currently used in the treatment of spasticity, has been reported to be useful in reducing the intensity of withdrawal symptoms of substance use disorders of alcohol or other psychotropic drugs.

Objectives

With our clinical case we aim to demonstrate that baclofen reduces severe withdrawal symptoms and also helps to achieve and maintain abstinence in severe cases, in agreement with the current literature.

Aims/methods

We present a clinical case of a 68 year-old patient with alcohol use disorder since his childhood, with familiar antecedents, multiples relapses and associated organic pathology such as alcoholic polyneuropathy and Wernicke syndrome. We used to high doses of baclofen to reduce the craving and withdrawal symptoms. Additionally, we searched in PubMed for more case reports and for a systematic review of the efficacy and tolerability of baclofen.

Results

We were able to demonstrate that high doses of baclofen can be useful in resistant cases of substance use disorders like alcoholism. For our case study, we obtained positive results with a large remission, in comparison with the previous detoxications, with doses up to 150 mg/day.

Conclusions

We conclude that baclofen is an interesting alternative for resistant cases, with a good outcome and tolerability, in complicated patients, with important organic repercussions.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.