In an excellent review of withdrawal symptoms from Baclofen the authors in the following article Delirium Associated with Baclofen Withdrawal: A Review of Common Presentations and Management Strategies by Raphael J. Leo, M.D., F.A.P.M., and Daniel Baer, M.D. in Psychosomatics 46:503-507, December 2005  highlight how important it is to not abruptly stop Baclofen and what are the typical withdrawal symptoms encountered from such an abrupt discontinuation. Their findings in this review article are the following:
Psychiatric symptoms associated with baclofen withdrawal included auditory hallucinations (30.4%), visual hallucinations (56.5%), tactile hallucinations (4.3%),delusions (17.4%), confusion (47.8%), agitation (56.5%), disorientation (17.4%), fluctuation of consciousness (8.7%), insomnia (17.4%), anxiety (13.0%),depersonalization (4.3%), and formal thought disorder (4.3%).

Treatment approaches consisted of reinstitution of baclofen alone in 10 cases (43.5%). Other treatment approaches included reinstitution of baclofen in combination with other agents, such as haloperidol or other antipsychotics (17.4%), benzodiazepines (26.1%), and anticonvulsants (4.3%). In some cases, baclofen was not reinstated, but the patients were treated with other agents, including dantrolene (4.3%) or benzodiazepines (4.3%).The time to complete resolution of psychiatric symptoms after treatment was 42.9 hours, with a range of 4 to 72 hours.

In four cases (17.4%), a history of a preexisting psychiatric disorder was reported. Prior psychiatric disorders included depression, schizophrenia, atypical personality disorder, and a remote alcohol abuse history.

Baclofin is a potentially important drug for psychiatrists and is likely to be prescribed more as the benefits of using GABA agonist drugs are researched in psychiatric syndromes such as cocaine withdrawal, cocaine craving, anxiety and depressive disorders. Caution should be used for prescribing this drug or any drug in an off labeled manner. Nonetheless, the GABA neurotransmitter system in the brain will yield new psychopharmacological approaches to treating mental disorders much like the serotonergic agonists transformed treatment of depression in the 1990’s.