Baclofen and Depression: What Users Say

• ray...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 8, 2023

For Muscle Spasm "Stay away from this drug. It is highly addictive. I never had issues with narcotics or alcohol, but I started this medication and realized it was an instant cure for any depression, gave me energy, took away all anxiety, made me happy. The withdrawal is absolutely horrible. The most extreme anxiety you'll ever feel, and it can be deadly as well, since the withdrawal is similar to the withdrawal of benzos and alcohol. It does completely change your brain. After taking this drug, you'll be very depressed and unmotivated."

• hop...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 23, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "I want to advise people that yes, this drug works to help reduce migraines and muscle spasms. However, I feel obligated to advise you that if you use this drug, even in small doses on a daily basis, you may/will have some severe withdrawal symptoms (i.e., depression, insomnia, nausea, more spasticity, mood swings, hallucinations, and more). The sad part is doctors love prescribing drugs to medicate but so often do not give you the whole picture. I was not advised of the withdrawal symptoms even after weaning myself off of this drug. Please do your research before taking ANY drug."

• Cou...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 17, 2020

For Alcohol Withdrawal "Severe alcoholism for over a decade. Tried everything to stop. Started to take this in the morning instead of the first drink. Reduced w/d symptoms: sweating, anxiety, obsessive thoughts about drinking, tachycardia. It took a year or so of using baclofen while working hard to reduce drinking, but when I was ready, it gave me the ability to stop. It treated a host of related problems: panic, tremors from drinking for so long and the embarrassment that comes from that, balancing mood since it helped calm the mind, neuropathy from likely nerve damage, spasms, PTSD. Very dangerous to mix this with alcohol, so if you are not able to control yourself from mixing them to get an exaggerated alcohol effect, don't use it. I think the desire to quit or reduce was essential to its effectiveness. It worked for me the way naltrexone is supposed to. But without the anhedonia (inability to feel pleasure in normally pleasurable activities). I still get anhedonia occasionally, but on naltrexone, it was constant."

• Anonymous
• December 10, 2011

For Alcohol Withdrawal "A dream come true. I have some serious psychiatric problems, and I'm addicted to alcohol. I slowly upped the dose, and the side effects at 80 mg were vision problems, depression, and confusion, but they went away. Now, 5 weeks later, I quit drinking and feel more confident. Getting there!"

• KBr...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 14, 2024

For Chronic Spasticity "I am incredibly grateful for Baclofen. I suffered a spinal injury a few years ago, and my leg cramping has made sleep impossible. I was struggling to stay alert at work. Within 2 nights, the cramps started to dramatically improve, and I was sleeping for up to 3 hours at a time. Within a week, I was sleeping up to 5 hours at a time. It's still not perfect, but I can function. Importantly, unlike the other options my doctors tried, there are no side effects I have experienced. I wake up fully alert, and my leg does not drag. I've heard about depression as a side effect, but I'm thrilled to finally be able to sleep and function."

• Jul...
• December 24, 2014

For Chronic Spasticity "I take baclofen (20 mg 3 times a day) for muscle twitching, spasms, and spasticity. It has helped some (for instance, I can still feel the muscle twitching, but it's no longer visible twitching). It hasn't seemed to help with the spasticity, though. As for side effects, at first, I had a lot of drowsiness and dizziness. Now, I am horribly depressed and think it's from the baclofen, so I may discontinue soon."

• Ben...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 4, 2019

For Alcohol Withdrawal "Baclofen is amazing for benzo withdrawal. It simply removes all the anxiety and depression that comes with any benzo withdrawals. You need to get to at least 30-60 mg, though. Baclofen should revolutionize the benzo withdrawal or recovery treatment. Ask your doctor for some and free yourself from this nasty disease. I just fear the withdrawals now from baclofen, but I’ve heard they are nowhere near as severe as coming off benzos."

• Qua...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 29, 2017

For Muscle Spasm "I took this for 1 week, and not only did it do nothing for my muscle spasms, but it made me depressed. I had never been like this in my life! Thankfully, I realized what was happening and stopped taking them immediately. So, ineffective and severe side effect. Not taking ever again."

• Max...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 5, 2015

For Alcohol Withdrawal "Works very well to stop cravings for alcohol. After about 6 months, it made me extremely depressed - too depressed to keep taking it, even though it was keeping me from drinking. Disappointing, hence the 5 stars. However, just 1 star for me personally because of the depression caused."

• Scu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 28, 2020

For Spasticity "I had transverse myelitis in 1998. I have had mild spasticity for the last few years that has gotten much worse. I have 24/7 leg pain, and I was prescribed baclofen at 10 mg once or twice a day. This was a year ago. I had to stop because I had severe depression. Well, I thought I would try taking this medication again only before going to sleep at night. I have to stop again because my wife is telling me she doesn't like how my personality has changed. I don't know what to do now. I need a medication that doesn't mess with my whole central nervous system, and I don't think there's one out there."

• Unh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 8, 2020

For Alcohol Withdrawal "Do not use baclofen! The potential for terrible side effects isn't worth it. Google the side effects for withdrawal, another user did a great job of explaining the insomnia and mental issues associated with this drug. I also hallucinated for days."

• Onl...
• May 29, 2016

For Alcohol Withdrawal "I wanted so badly to be cured, but it's not a cure. I'm still an alcoholic, but it gave me severe depression. I'm back on Antabuse. It works for me, but my cravings are intense. I was so hoping I could be normal. Fool's gold."

• Bro...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 17, 2020

For Alcohol Withdrawal "My GP suggested I take one baclofen a day to help me abstain from alcohol. It certainly worked, felt very chilled, and helped also with mild depression."