Baclofen is a medication used to treat muscle spasticity such as from a spinal cord injury or multiple sclerosis.
It is primarily used for the treatment of spastic movement disorders, especially in instances of spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, and multiple sclerosis. Its use in people with stroke or Parkinson’s disease is not recommended. Baclofen has also been used for the treatment of alcohol use disorder but evidence as of a systematic review conducted in 2018 shows that the evidence of its use as a first line intervention remains uncertain.
Baclofen, at standard dosing, does not appear to possess addictive properties, and has not been associated with any degree of drug craving. Euphoria is however listed as a common to very common side-effect of baclofen.
Although baclofen does not produce euphoria or other reinforcing effects, which is unlike alcohol and benzodiazepines (as well as GHB), it does similarly possess both sedative and anxiolytic properties.
