Today is my first day :) Glad I found this forum

[Jenguss]

After struggling with my drinking for the past several years, I finally heard about Baclofen and got my package yesterday. I'm nervous but I'm ready to stop having alcohol be in my thoughts all the time. I've been to AA and have tried Revia but it didn't have much effect. AA by me (northern Vt) is very limiting because it's only one group and gets basically the same people every single day. Also as a nurse in a small town, it's just not that "anonymous". I am starting with 10mg 3gimes a day and will go up by 5mg amounts every three days until I start to feel a difference. Any help/guidance is much appreciate.
Jen

[available]

Hi Jen and welcome, this is the best choice you can make to stop drinking. Others on here wil pop in with advice on Baclofen to help you along. Congratulations on being sober.

[aihfl]

Welcome, and good luck. First off, I would caution you that baclofen is not necessarily a cure. In fact, I am coming off of it. It did not "cure" me of alcoholism, and I drank heavily on and off for several years while taking it, which in hindsight is making me question its efficacy in my own case (blackout falls became commonplace). Which is not to say that I think I think psychiatry doesn't have its place. However, if I was to credit any specific medication, it would have to be Celexa, which my last detox psychiatrist put me on. I've been sober for nearly 100 days now. I don't know if it's the Celexa, just being over drinking, or some combination of the two, but that hasn't happened since I started drinking regularly at age 17.

Funny thing about AA, I used to live in Southern Vermont, and I very much enjoyed the AA community there, unlike Florida, where I live now. Dogma and religiosity rule AA here. I went to my last meeting at Day 71, and still haven't had a drink. Former AA friends keep telling me I'm doomed to relapse because if they didn't believe it, their worldview would come apart. I'm grateful for the support AA provided in the early days, providing me with a support network when I had none, but there are other places to get it besides AA.

I really would recommend using baclofen under a psychiatrist's supervision. There is an addiction shrink I went to see in Rutland that is willing to prescribe baclofen. That may be a haul for you, but it's Vermont and long drives are relative. If you want his name, send me a PM. I do not want to post his name publicly in an anonymous forum such as this.

[Baclofenman]

After struggling with my drinking for the past several years, I finally heard about Baclofen and got my package yesterday. I'm nervous but I'm ready to stop having alcohol be in my thoughts all the time. I've been to AA and have tried Revia but it didn't have much effect. AA by me (northern Vt) is very limiting because it's only one group and gets basically the same people every single day. Also as a nurse in a small town, it's just not that "anonymous". I am starting with 10mg 3gimes a day and will go up by 5mg amounts every three days until I start to feel a difference. Any help/guidance is much appreciate.
Jen

Hi Jen, Welcome

Unfortunately due to circumstances beyond the control of the medication thread posters, discussion on Baclofen, in particular are mainly discussed at

The End Of My Addiction - Baclofen, Naltrexone and Other Medications for the Treatment of Alcohol Dependence

Where you will find information about titration, side effects, prescriber information and all other issues Baclofen, correlated

Regards


Bacman

[Mom21961]

Baclofen

Baclofen saved my life. I was drinking heavily 24/7 for 10 years. I tried everything, but the only thing that worked for me was Baclofen. That's not true for everyone, and ymmv. That's not to say it was easy, and it's true that it's not the whole answer. I had to address the reasons that I drank, and antidepressants where a part of the solution. However it can be the answer for some. Good luck!

Mom2

[Lavande]

Hello & welcome to MWO Jen. This is a good place, glad you found us

In addition to the meds you need to make a good working plan for yourself. The Tool box here is full of great ideas to help you get started.
We all need to figure out what we need to do. Quitting is not a 'one size fits all' thing.

Wishing you the very best!

Lav