Consolidated Baclofen Success Thread

[Zman]

Hello All,

As a fan of consolidated threads, I wanted to start one for people who have hit the off-switch to post on. Just thought it would be useful to have a thread where people who have reached the off-dose can state they have done so, and at what dose they hit the "switch".

I havent hit the switch, so will not be posting, but will be keenly reading. Hopefully I will be able to post with my success story soon.

Thanks,

Zman

[beatle]

Consolidated Baclofen Success Thread

Thanks again for a much-needed thread starter.

I'd also like to know what it feels like to hit the "switch". Is it totally obvious-- how do you "know"?

And has anyone thought they hit the switch and then later relapsed?

Also, for those who have hit the switch, what dose do they need for "maintenance"? (And how do they know what dose they need?)

[Cinders]

Consolidated Baclofen Success Thread

Hi,

I think I hit my off switch. In my case it was 160 mg /day 40 mgs 4 x day.

I realized it hit it when I actually went a few days without even thinking about a drink.

However, the side effects were a bit too rough on me. I was not only tired, I was having horrible sleep issues. Dreams I could not awake from, nightmares, inability to move when waking up, etc.

I titrated back down to 120 mgs/day 40 mgs 3 x day, insuring I take my last dose by 5:00 pm (1700) so that I am through most of the effects by the time I go to bed.

At 120 mgs / day, I do occasionally have the "thoughts" of alcohol but I can easily slap them aside. I simply do not want to drink and I will take the occasional urges as just a part of my life. I cannot go back up to 160 mgs/day because of the side effects, the cost and my psychiatrist's admonition not to go above 90 mgs/day. :H:H

I have also been able to deal with some extremely stressful events without resorting to any medication. Yes, I do stress out still but my physical reaction is no longer to have panic attacks. Yay!!

I am very happy at my current dose and actually looking forward to being able to reduce it in the future. However, I will do that very carefully and I am going to wait until I feel confident I can do so.

For me, drinking again is not an option. I have a chance to live my life sober and happy. I am going to take it and run.

hth,
Cindi

[Zman]

Consolidated Baclofen Success Thread

Thanks for sharing Cinders. Looking forward to other success stories...

[billyb]

Consolidated Baclofen Success Thread

I hit the switch at 150mg, taking 25/25/50/50.

If I had taken four equal doses, it would have been higher than 150mg, since the late afternoon/evening cravings were the most difficult to overcome. That's why I like tailoring doses for when the craving is strongest. Also, taking 20-40mg extra per day when needed for strong cravings was very helpful - I rarely take that extra dose any more, but it was crucial to my success early on.

In terms of what the switch feels like, its hard to say except that you just don't feel like having anything to drink. Or, you just feel completely satisfied after having only a couple sips. Since I was drinking throughout, it was the second one for me. I still had that habitual urge to drink, it was just that after the switch it was no longer a physical urge. So I would get the psychological urge to go to the fridge and grab a beer, but once I started drinking it I felt completely indifferent, and didn't really care whether I finished it or not.

So you don't need to worry whether you will recognize it when you hit the switch - you will most definitely know. While it is very subtle in terms of how it "feels," its effects aren't subtle at all - everything you've understood about your life up until that point completely changes.

My maintanance dose is 100mg.

As far as relapsing, I still occasionally drink socially, which hasn't generally been a problem for me. One time, however, I had more than I should have (it was only about 4-5 drinks, but since I haven't been drinking much since hitting my switch, it made me feel pretty drunk). I didn't drink that amount because I felt a craving for it - it was more a kind of peer pressure thing, with everyone buying rounds for each other, etc. After that day, I had to up my daily dose to 120-130mg for a few days, since I started feeling some cravings creeping back. I didn't continue to drink, though, and after a few days I went back down to 100mg. But it indicated to me that relapse might be a possibility. It was easy to defeat the momentary craving with a little extra baclofen, though, so it didn't strike me as a very big concern.

[Pete1]

Consolidated Baclofen Success Thread

beatle;689026 wrote:

I'd also like to know what it feels like to hit the "switch". Is it totally obvious-- how do you "know"?

I think it was one of the bills that said "it's like porn- you'll know it when you see it!" I can't wait.

[me1455]

Consolidated Baclofen Success Thread

wow zen thats amazing, you to billy p.. somtimes i forget you guys were actually drinkers since you've been so sober these days!

[Anna B]

Consolidated Baclofen Success Thread

To Zen, Cindi, billyb, Bill.P., etc. etc.--it's so important to everyone to hear about your success with bac. I'm still struggling to balance the side effects (extreme somnolence) with the benefits (AF).

I'm slowly getting to where you're at but it's been incredibly important for me to read about your success. Please keep giving all of us inspiration!

Love,
Anna

[Andy R]

Consolidated Baclofen Success Thread

Going well still.

No thoughts of drinking. No craving. Anxiety levels lowest they have been since pre puberty (I am late 40's but I am being literal in this statement - I rememeber this so clearly post Dr A's book and beginning taking the Baclofen!) So ALochol Free - and feeling better than OK - which is bloody marvellous and a first for me!

[cpn1004]

Consolidated Baclofen Success Thread

Keep posting y'all, this is great news.
Phil

[brightlite]

Consolidated Baclofen Success Thread

Andy,

I am so inspired by your determination. Keep it up, you are on the road to success.

[Guest]

Consolidated Baclofen Success Thread

I have to say I believe I am a success. I have "had" a past drinking history of every day wine spirits beer whatever it wasnt unusall for me on weekends to wake up and start drinking wine at (:00 am in the morning before breakfast YUK!!!!.. I havent posted much about progress and stuff as others here are doing it with so much more eloquence than me . Any way I had to go up to 210 mgs I went up very fast before the switch flicked. I think I may not have had to go so high if I did it slowly. I am a 6 foot 7 inch high 240 pound male. I had no side effects except indegestion and the occassional sleepiness when I got to 210mg I found the most amazing feeling of "indifference" I am amazed. I have dropped back to 190 mg (slowly) to see what happens. Can I say in conclusion for those that are not experiencing un palatable side effects keep triating up YOU WILL hit your switch. I hope this comes across as a positive post i feel for those that are desponding under the weight of this horrible disease . This stuff has saved me!!! Even if the side effects are to bad go slowly and just do it with a doctor if possible..
Kind Regards
Reggie

[Zman]

Consolidated Baclofen Success Thread

Reggie,

I cant express how positive your post was. I just went up to 135mg today and am still drinking, and getting incredibly pessimistic about whether the Bac will ever work for me. But your post gives me hope.

I weigh 175 pounds, so the equivalent amount of Bac for me would be about 150mg (though not sure it works that weigh exactly).

But my question to you (and I guess to all other people who have reached the off-switch) is, is it sudden or incremental? I mean, did you slowly start feeling less and less desire to drink, and then at 210 you didnt feel any further cravings? Or did you suddenly feel the extinguishment of cravings at 210?

Also, how long were you at 210 before you hit the "off".

As i said, im at 135, and while i feel a small reduction in cravings, its nothing major.

Many thanks to you all.

[Guest]

Consolidated Baclofen Success Thread

Remember Zman I went up to 210mg I have only been on 210mg for 2 days it was for me A "sudden" realisation I work right next to a bottle shop first thing on a Friday night was drinks with the work freinds "normal" behaviour was to go and get wine and look forward to getting drunk at home. Now Friday Im sitting here completley sober drinking green tea!!!!! I began to think Friday drinks but I was over the road and getting in the car before I even thought about alcohol its friggin amazing I just dindnt have drinking thoughts if you can get my drift... Its hard to explain but suddenly the planning and scheming that drinking thoughts that constantly occupy my mind dissapeared I cant sleep im so excited
keep at it triate up slowly I was drinking to.... but my partener was getting annoyed at all the wasted glasses of al I was leaving unfinished it just happens Zman I am so happy !!!!!! it will happen to you too!!!!!!!..... hang in my man but just go with the flow try and reduce the al intake and enjoy the relaxion and decrease in aniexty that the Bac produces start to read and listen to music do the things you used to do before the al fog froze you up
Reggie

[billyb]

Consolidated Baclofen Success Thread

Keep at it, zman.

A "small reduction in cravings" is all you can really expect to see before you feel the switch. Until you get to 300mg, there's no reason to despair. You're not even halfway there!

Keep in mind that Dr. Ameisen weighs even less than you do, and he didn't see results until 270mg.

If you're tolerating the side-effects well, just keep going. Above all, don't give up - that's the only way to guarantee failure.