Continuation of the Baclofen saga. This muscle relaxant which reduces alcohol dependence has been reimbursed by Health Insurance since 2014. However, in July 2017, the National Medicines Agency (ANSM) reduced the maximum dose that can be prescribed by 300 mg / day at 80 mg / day: according to several studies, Baclofen could indeed worsen certain psychiatric pathologies and increase the risk of suicide. It would also be responsible for “an increased risk of hospitalization and death”.
On January 24, 2018, a patient however revived the controversy by seizing the Council of State. The latter filed two appeals contesting the ban on prescribing high-dose Baclofen: the first consists of an appeal for annulment (to request the cancellation of the measure in the long term) and the second is a summary suspension (for request the suspension of the measure urgently).
“Baclofen can get people 30 years old from alcoholism in a few months”
Her husband, Thomas Maës-Martin (who is the founder of the Collectif Baclohelp and who launched a petition entitled “Baclofen saves lives, let’s save Baclofen” already signed 9,500 times) told AFP: “there is a real emergency. 40,000 people are in immediate danger of relapse into their alcohol addiction. The benefit-risk ratio is clearly favorable to its authorization at high doses ”.
“Of course, there are side effects at the start, mainly psychiatric, which is why this drug must be given by competent doctors. But it passes after three months, and Baclofen can get 30-year-olds off alcoholism in a matter of months. I have seen miracles. My wife, treated since the end of 2012, went from two liters of alcohol (per day) to zero. »To be continued …
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