Veritas takes the Baclofen plunge

[billyb]

Veritas takes the Baclofen plunge

Veritas - I noticed that you mentioned taking anti-histamines. Were you taking these when you had your bad experiences?

Baclofen and anti-histamines don't play nicely together. I took an anti-histamine allergy pill about a week or two ago because I was going to visit my parents, and they have pets that I'm allergic to. Well, after I arrived I was so tired that I literally could not keep my eyes open. I had to actually lie down and take a nap in the middle of the day, and I had to stay longer than I wanted because I was afraid to drive home while the anti-histamine was still in my system. (So much for a nice visit with the folks...)

I now use a half-pill of the anti-histamines for nights when I have trouble sleeping. I generally tolerate medications very well (I've never had problems with drowsiness and allergy pills before baclofen), but even just half a pill now puts me right to sleep.

[veritas]

Veritas takes the Baclofen plunge

Billyb, I only take them at night. I would be out of it if I took them during the day.

I have realised that my side effects are probably more related to the way I react to asprin. For some reason asprin upsets my balance and the nausea that goes with it is horrible. With asprin I also get a gastritis. I am not getting a gastritis on bac at all.

I suddenly realised that despite all my drama, I am now 7 days AF. Its exactly a week ago that I had my first horrible experience.

I also responded very quickly to bac. I do think that my main problem was that I probably went over my therapeutic dose because I did not trust the process. I saw all these amazingly impressive doses and continued when I should have been cautious. Possibly it was a very toxic dose for me.

[Siwan]

Veritas takes the Baclofen plunge

withdrawn

[veritas]

Veritas takes the Baclofen plunge

Siwan, I agree that we also need to earn our stripes here.

Regardless of whether I feel a craving, at a certain time of the day, my thoughts go to alcohol. It is such a habit. I go to the local mall and there are reminders all around me of a path well trodden. It will take time before these thoughts disappear. I had stopped white knuckeling though.

Today I will be up to 15mg for my second day. Tomorrow I will start slowly to tirate up to 30mgs and see if I can stay at that level.

Even as I write I can feel the light headedness of my morning dose kick in.

[veritas]

Veritas takes the Baclofen plunge

I have a problem. Its pproaching bedtime and I thought that I would take my bac for the night.

I found a lovely bar of forgotten chocolate in my bedside drawer where I keep my bac and started chomping on the chocolate. Now I've forgotten whether I've taken my bac or not

The chocolate was good though

[Cinders]

Veritas takes the Baclofen plunge

I would say take another one, but you are so sensitive that if you can go to sleep without it, I would.

Jealous on the chocolate.

Cindi

[veritas]

Veritas takes the Baclofen plunge

I think I'll try a half.

I did notice that I look forward to my bac now. The nausea is going and I am starting to really enjoy the feeling.

[veritas]

Veritas takes the Baclofen plunge

NO nausea today and I seem to have the worst side effects under my belt. I am now back on 30mgs a day.

I am having very vivid dreams. I have considered selling the plots to Stephen King. They are unfortunately not always pleasant, but at least I am not waking up with a hangover.

I have noticed that I am having a mildly paradoxical reaction to bac. There is no doubt that there is a lessening of anxiety, but there is also a slightly excited euphoria. I do have moments of sleepiness, but they are short compared to my general increase of energy. The increased energy might simply be due to not being hungover or intoxicated.... Its great to be feeling normal, guilt free, healthy again..... well almost.

I love the fact that there is hope.

[Zman]

Veritas takes the Baclofen plunge

Hi Veri,

Youre only at 30mg and youre AF? Thats awesome!

[veritas]

Veritas takes the Baclofen plunge

Zman, I have reacted very quickly. I am very grateful for that. I have had a few cravings today. I had a very stressful day. What I have noticed is that I am able to push a craving aside and it does not keep returning.

I have never had withdrawals from alcohol. In one posting, someone suggested that more bac might be needed in some cases to cope with the withdrawals. I am going to stay on 30mgs for a few days and see if I feel that I need more. My work can sometimes place me in such alcohol saturated situations that I worry about my possible responses.

[veritas]

Veritas takes the Baclofen plunge

Just another feedback.

No vivid dreams last night. I am still experiencing mild cravings from time to time. I am wondering if I should keep titrating, but very slowly. I have no nausea at all, which is great. This time last week I was flat on my back, wishing I were dead.

I am finding that I am experiencing a lifting of my mood. I have not been depressed, in actual fact, I am by nature rather an upbeat and optimistic person. However, with the lessening of the anxiety, I am no longer plagued by the overwhelming self doubt I sometimes experience.

Anxiety, for me, is a curious thing. I am most aware of it in my thoughts. I will get an idea, get very enthusiastic and then the thoughts will come... the fear of failure, the fear of being a nuisance, the fear of success even...

I am currently starting the most exciting project of my life. It is my life's passion. I have been procrastinating... and I am aware that the procratination is largely anxiety driven. Sometimes it almost feels as though my mind freezes. Over the past few days I have started acting more pro-actively. I have started to move the uncomfortable things from my past, out of my life. I am taking small, practical steps towards realising my goal. I think that it is the bac that has stopped the mind freeze.

[Zman]

Veritas takes the Baclofen plunge

Thats great news Veri,

But if I were you, i'd titrate up in order the quash the cravings completely. Youre still at a very low dose...

[veritas]

Veritas takes the Baclofen plunge

I think I will Zman. In actual fact, I took another 10mg at tea time.

I have just been reading Dr A's book. I am forcing myself to put it down in order to go and walk the dogs.

What strikes me so much at this point is Dr A's feeling of uselessness, the overwhelming shame that followed him all his pre-bac life.

I am more and more starting to see these feelings as linked to a kind of anxiety, a moral anxiety. I am finding that I am not struggling to push the overwhelming self doubt I sometimes feel, aside. I am more able to take the thoughts and examine them in a much more dispassionate way.

[veritas]

Veritas takes the Baclofen plunge

Well, I read late into the night. I am so excited by this.

I can see so many aspects of myself in Dr. A. I also loved his description of his first dose of bac. The words could have fallen from my mouth. I am realising now, after 3 weeks on bac, that this is what "non alcoholics" feel like. This is what "normal" feels like.

For me, the greatest effect that I have seen is that it has helped me with my crippling procrastination. I no longer have this sense of overwhelming dread when I have to do something I don't like. I am even finishing tasks more completely. I am not rushing off in a manic panic.

I am also happy for my children. Addiction is such a family reality for me. Not one member of my father's family has escaped addiction, other than my one brother. It is my greatest fear for my children. The thought that they will have better options has lifted such a weight from my shoulders.

[veritas]

Veritas takes the Baclofen plunge

I finished work yesterday and walked past the usual group of revellers. I really enjoy them. I sat down and joked around for a while. The person I was sitting next to was drinking wine. For a brief moment I was tempted again. At some point I received a whiff of dry white. Much to my surprise it turned my stomach. My frontal lobes could take over and I was remembering the bad effects of a hangover.

Horay for bac

Dr A:thanks: