According to the World Health Organization (WHO), excessive alcohol consumption is responsible for 2.5 million deaths per year, not to mention the associated health and social consequences which are disastrous.
To date, there was no effective treatment for alcohol addiction. Baclofen, the first drug to benefit from a temporary recommendation for use (RTU), would it then be a miracle cure?
In 2008, the publication of the book “Un last glass” ed. Denoël of Doctor Olivier Ameisen, cardiologist and former alcoholic, sows general confusion. At a time when the treatments have a very average effectiveness against alcohol dependence, especially in the face of the problem of relapse which concerns 2/3 of people after withdrawal over one year, Dr. Ameisen testifies to his almost miraculous recovery thanks to baclofen , a muscle relaxant known for 40 years.
Since 2011, there has been an increase in prescriptions of baclofen by addictologists.
In France, baclofen obtains a temporary recommendation for use (RTU), a first!
Under the encouragement of the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM), baclofen has been the subject of clinical trials without marketing authorization (AMM) to assess its action on the problem of alcohol dependence.
On March 14, 2014, after evaluation of the benefit / risk ratio, baclofen therefore received a temporary recommendation for use (RTU) as part of an individualized treatment strictly protocol and without obscuring the need for its psycho aspect. -social and multidisciplinary.
This device will allow the regular and rigorous follow-up of patients for 3 years in order to understand and identify closely and as best as possible the possible side effects or undesirable effects.
Baclofen: how does it work?
Alcohol acts on dopamine neurons generating the pleasure of consumption while baclofen, by stimulating GABA-B receptors, would decrease the release of dopamine, thus reducing this feeling of pleasure: alcohol would no longer make you want to.
Fighting against alcoholism is a real struggle every day and every moment.
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