LifeBac Review – Can Baclofen Help You Drink Less? We Found Out

For many, drinking too much is an unhealthy habit that’s hard to kick, but studies have shown that, unfortunately, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, alcohol consumption and related harms have increased drastically. Likewise, an unprecedented amount of people have – while cooped up at home – tried virtual telehealth services to diagnose and reduce their drinking. 

If you’re new to at-home treatments, you may still think, does virtual rehab work? It’s a good question, and the results are pretty promising. A new study has shown that because telehealth is typically more affordable and accessible, patients are more likely to engage with such services (from the convenience of their home) than traditional in-person appointments – ESPECIALLY when it comes to overcoming addiction.

One of the most promising virtual treatment programs to emerge in the US recently is LifeBac. LifeBac offers a holistic, innovative, and highly effective program for anyone who wants to drink less. Whether your goal is to abstain entirely or simply consume alcohol less frequently, this program has successfully helped millions reduce cravings for alcohol, allowing them to reduce their drinking and develop healthier relationships with themselves and others. 

But what makes LifeBac one of the best online alcohol recovery programs? We will explore the science behind baclofen for alcoholism, underlying its effectiveness and safety for craving reduction. We’ll also compare LifeBac with other competitors and alternative virtual rehabs.

Know that Baclofen, the primary active ingredient/drug in Lifebac’s prescription medication, is both widely popular and clinically proven throughout Europe and Australia — it’s only just become accessible to US consumers. Read on to find out if LifeBac can help you curb your alcohol consumption the way it has for the company’s founder, as well as millions of others all over the globe. 

LifeBac’s unique approach to alcohol treatment

Binge drinking is a bad habit that may lead to serious health issues if left uncontrolled. But that doesn’t always mean you have to quit your consumption of alcohol altogether, especially if you feel like it’s not entirely out of control. Hence, LifeBac is an intelligent and efficient approach to mindful drinking because – unlike most other treatments – it doesn’t relegate users to abstinence or any sort of cold-turkey approach.

LifeBac takes a different approach than its competitors and programs that you may have heard of, like AA, NIAAA, and 12-Steps. With little to no change in the alcohol treatment industry over the past 80 years, LifeBac has a solution to how people can manage their drinking by using research-supported science, personalized medication, and community to help you achieve a healthier relationship with alcohol. 

Their main goal is to supply you with the tools, meds, and support you need to make alcohol something that’s fun and social, not a coping mechanism you need to survive daily life. We reiterate that Lifebac makes it so that you don’t have to completely go cold turkey and say goodbye to alcohol, shifting the power of choice back into your hands.

Considering most people who drink too much don’t accept they have a drinking problem until they hit rock bottom, the option to reduce without quitting entirely is especially interesting. In other words, most of us would benefit from drinking less, even without being a diagnosed alcoholic or acknowledging that we have a serious “problem,” so it’s no wonder baclofen is already so popular overseas.

Source: LifeBac

What is LifeBac’s virtual alcohol treatment program?

LifeBac’s online alcohol treatment plan includes your medication, follow-up visits with LifeBac providers, a personal LifeBac Guide, and access to their mobile app, web portal, community forum, and Resource Center. The all-inclusive plan can be paid monthly or quarterly and can be canceled at any time. 

Lifebac’s plan includes: 

• Prescription medication: Delivered monthly straight to your door, your medication will be adjusted based on your consultations & progress
• Unlimited medical provider appointments: You’ll meet with a licensed medical provider to adjust your medication plan as much as you need at no extra cost.
• Unlimited 1:1 coaching: You’ll have 1:1 meetings with a LifeBac coach specialized in helping people through the program to empower you in changing your drinking habits. Starting as weekly meetings, you can increase or decrease the frequency to adjust to your recovery journey.
• Mobile App: Access drink tracking tools and medication management on the go.
• Online Community: Access an anonymous 24/7 community forum to chat with others going through the same condition/treatment journey.

What medications does LifeBac prescribe?

Lifebac’s medication program is entirely transparent. While they used to offer two medication options – Baclofen and Naltrexone – they now primarily focus on prescribing the latter given its superior results. You’ll take a brief assessment to determine if this craving-fighting medication is right for you.

What is Baclofen?

Traditionally used to treat muscle spasms, Baclofen is an FDA-approved medication prescribed off-label to help users suppress alcohol cravings and break their drinking habits. Baclofen reduces or even eliminates the cravings and withdrawal symptoms associated with reducing your drinking. It does not impact your body’s response to alcohol, like some other medications, and is most effective when taken regularly throughout the day (recommended 3x a day to remain effective).

While no medication works 100% of the time for every user, many have reported that they don’t even notice that they’re drinking less alcohol and are shocked at how much they’ve naturally reduced over time.

Source: LifeBac

How does baclofen work to reduce alcohol consumption?

The human brain contains GABA receptors which, when bound with a neurotransmitter called GABA, regulate feelings of fear or anxiety, among other things. Alcohol is similar to the GABA neurotransmitter, and for someone who’s dependent on alcohol, it works so well as a GABA agonist that the brain can slowly stop producing its own natural GABA. This can cause anxiety and depressive symptoms, as well as an intense craving for alcohol.

Source: LifeBac

Baclofen is also a derivative of GABA, binding to the GABA receptors in the brain, but without the serious adverse effects of consistent alcohol use. By stimulating the brain’s GABA receptors, baclofen stops the brain from craving alcohol to accomplish the same job.

Studies have concluded that once a user has reached their effective dose (usually 1 to 3 months), 92% of “high-risk” drinkers report an effortless reduction in drinking.

Does baclofen have any side effects?

Even though it essentially replaces alcohol’s role as a GABA agonist, baclofen does not seem to be addictive and doesn’t cause cravings. 

Any side effects experienced are temporary – some have reported nausea, dizziness, tiredness, and insomnia, and there have been very rare cases of more severe side effects such as tingling or hallucinations (both of which have been on very high doses). 

LifeBac’s 3-Tier support system

Another feature that adds to the efficiency of LifeBac for substance abuse treatment is its 3-Tier Support System. This support system lets you connect as often as necessary with the providers and coaches, as well as other members of the community also undergoing treatment. Thus whenever you need any consultation, advice, or support, LifeBac helps you access the right group of people at the right time.

• Medical providers: You’ll be matched with a LifeBac provider who can answer questions about the program & get you started with the prescription that’s right for you.
• Coaches: After being approved, you’ll meet your personal LifeBac coach, who’ll provide consistent motivation to reduce or quit drinking. They are available every step of the way.
• Community: This anonymous platform gives program members access to a private forum with other members for support, questions, and discussions. Similar to AA, sharing stories from your own journey encourages others to do the same and to hold themselves accountable for their own journey.

How much does LifeBac cost? 

One of the most significant advantages of choosing LifeBac for addiction treatment was its payment transparency. While expensive, they offer everything at one cost with no additional hidden fees and nothing extra for prescriptions.

Their monthly plan is $249 per month, with the ability to cancel your plan at any time.

Their quarterly plan saves you 10% at $672 every 3 months ($224/month) and can be canceled after the quarter is finished.

How effective is LifeBac at curbing alcohol cravings?

According to the results of LifeBac’s clinical research, those that have effectively stuck with the program saw a 50% reduction in drinking at the end of 3 months and an 82% consumption reduction in 6 months. Pretty impressive!

LifeBac offers many other studies on the efficacy of each of the available prescription medications on its website. Thousands of happy customer testimonials also indicate that it works incredibly well for many.

LifeBac vs Workit Health vs Sunnyside vs Tempest: What’s the best online AUD treatment?

There are many other online addiction treatment programs, but what primarily separates LifeBac from its other “virtual rehab” competitors is its focus on keeping you on a smooth and safe alcohol consumption routine by reducing your alcohol cravings. Other online programs primarily work to completely eliminate your consumption.

Here’s a comparison of some of the leading online AUD treatment providers — LifeBac vs Workit Health vs Sunnyside vs Tempest — to help you understand how each program differs from one another and which is ultimately worth trying.