Consolidated Baclofen Success Thread

[AMELIA]

Consolidated Baclofen Success Thread

Hello Ryan and Welcome!! :welcome:

I am also on Baclofen. Just over a month now and still alcohol free! This is the first time in my 18 year drinking history that I have managed more than 30 days. I am on 90mg of Baclofen and my thoughts of drinking are all but gone. I get the occasional thought throughout the day, but in no way do I want to act on it.
My partner drinks a couple of beers most nights and I don't even take any notice of those anymore.

I think I felt a bit like what you do at the moment, before I decided to give Bac a shot.
Drinking had taken over my life. Morning, noon and night, booze seemed to dominate my thoughts (and actions). It was depressing.

So, yes Baclofen is working for me too.

Read as much as you can about all of the methods that people are using here in their journeys away from alcohol. Take part in the boards as much as you want to.

This forum does offer a lot of support, insight and information.
Best wishes
Amelia

[j-vo]

Consolidated Baclofen Success Thread

Hi Ryan,
I just started on the bac. I've noticed some decrease in cravings and some anxiety. If you haven't done so, Zenstyle has started a thread "Dr. A's cure of Addiction, Relevant Information. Read that for a brief synopsis of this med. Also, all of the other threads are full of information that will be helpful. Good luck, Ryan.

[j-vo]

Consolidated Baclofen Success Thread

I'm sorry. It's called Dr. A's Bac Cure: Relevant Information.

[tiptronic_ct]

Consolidated Baclofen Success Thread

Hey, all. I made it!!! Decided to push the limits and went to 240mg. Day 1 and counting!

[Guest]

Consolidated Baclofen Success Thread

Bionnnng up thread great news tigger

[tiptronic_ct]

Consolidated Baclofen Success Thread

Thx, Reg! Early days, but the feeling of freedom is amazing.

[Zman]

Consolidated Baclofen Success Thread

Tip,

You mean you reached zero cravings?

[tiptronic_ct]

Consolidated Baclofen Success Thread

Z, not quite no cravings, but I felt ready to go AF. It was more of a mental obstacle than physical. Bad sweats in the night, but today was OK. Day 2 AF.

[cowgal]

Consolidated Baclofen Success Thread

Great to hear!!!

Glad you made to T!!! Were you really tired?! I am only at 100 mg, and a little tired right after I take it, but still thinking about al, so may up it again today......still a little anxious too, but that may be IMPOSSIBLE to ever cure.......!???

Please keep us posted as to your success today......

MA

[Bill.P.]

Consolidated Baclofen Success Thread

tiptronic_ct;699377 wrote: Z, not quite no cravings, but I felt ready to go AF. It was more of a mental obstacle than physical. Bad sweats in the night, but today was OK. Day 2 AF.

I mustve posted on the wrong thread. I gave you a shout out saying congrats.

I've had my eye on you lol

but seriously, Ive read how you seemed a bit discouraged at your progress at a high dose.


Just to let you know, even from me, I titrated if I can remember to 100mg in a week. I never drank after 40mg/day b/c I was in combination of withdrawal and taking baclofen.


Anyways, I willl post more about that later. I wish you and all the newbies continued success.
I am always available for PM, I love hearing success stories and answering questinos so feel free.
As any of the regular members know, my baclofen was to save my marraige to bring my aussie wife over. Welll baclofen does miracles but we do have to some work ourselves so if there is a delay on PM returns I hope you understand.

Regardless of that disclaimer, the reason why I am posting to this thread is to sen
congrats to what, I dont know what to call it. Tigger? lol

Cheers
Bill.P

[individualnz]

Consolidated Baclofen Success Thread

I second that, congrats to........Tigger, or Tippy

indiv x

[tiptronic_ct]

Consolidated Baclofen Success Thread

Bill.P.;700040 wrote: I mustve posted on the wrong thread. I gave you a shout out saying congrats.

I've had my eye on you lol

but seriously, Ive read how you seemed a bit discouraged at your progress at a high dose.


Just to let you know, even from me, I titrated if I can remember to 100mg in a week. I never drank after 40mg/day b/c I was in combination of withdrawal and taking baclofen.


Anyways, I willl post more about that later. I wish you and all the newbies continued success.
I am always available for PM, I love hearing success stories and answering questinos so feel free.
As any of the regular members know, my baclofen was to save my marraige to bring my aussie wife over. Welll baclofen does miracles but we do have to some work ourselves so if there is a delay on PM returns I hope you understand.

Regardless of that disclaimer, the reason why I am posting to this thread is to sen
congrats to what, I dont know what to call it. Tigger? lol

Cheers
Bill.P

From the mouth of the guru himself - why thank you :-)

I'm mostly on the Army Thread, where I'm known as Tig, Tigs, Tigger, Tipps, Tipper, Tippers... as long as its identifiable as me, I don't care what I'm called :-)

I'm midway through day 4 AF now, still at 240mg. I am adjusting the times I take the bac, though. Instead of three doses each day, I take 30mg when I get up, 40mg at around lunchtime. 60mg around 18.00, 40mg around 20.00, 40mg 20.30, 30mg 22.00.

I have found, as I titrated higher, that I needed to "listen" to my body more carefully. After tapering my alcohol intake (I was drinking a bottle of vodka and a bottle of red wine a day down to 2 glasses of red wine every evening) I found that evenings presented the greatest difficulty, so I adjusted to take more during the evenigs and less during the day.

As for going AF, I really want to impress on people that bac is NOT a silver bullet. Even though I can truly say that I do not feel any physical desire for alcohol, the decision to go AF was very tough. It is the final goodbye, and after so many years, I was wrestling with it. Its a mind game...

One must also expect to go through withdrawal - bac doesn't take all the effort out of going AF. On Wednesday and Thursday last week, I slept really well when I got to 200mg, but I was still drinking the 2 glasses. Since going AF, I've had terrible night-sweats, to the extent that I have to put on a dry t-shirt in the middle of the night, and change the sheets in the morning. My sleep has also been disrupted: for the past three nights I've had only 2 - 3 hours sleep every night. I might add that I have had an atypical response to bac: no side effects whatsoever until I hit 200mg, and since then only mild somnolence during the day, as well as a slightly "buzzed" feeling shortly after taking it. My functioning at work hasn't been affected.

I relied on many of the other techniques & supportive therapies to be found on MWO:

- knowing why you want to go AF and wanting it enough
- changing old habits and patterns
- taking L-glutamine to assist with cravings (while titrating up to help with alcohol tapering process)
- B-complex vitamins & milk thistle to help repair the damage I've done to my body
- St. Johns Wort to alleviate depression

Looks like Bill.P's propensity for long posts is infectious. Apologies for the long post!

[brightlite]

Consolidated Baclofen Success Thread

Great to hear you are doing so well Tigger! I know we were all pulling for you! Sounds like you are through most of the physical stuff. Just remember, you don't want to go back there! Keep going forward.

[Zman]

Consolidated Baclofen Success Thread

Tip,

How do you tell the difference between physical and non-physical cravings?

Best,

Zman

[beatle]

Consolidated Baclofen Success Thread

I think the non-physical cravings come from habit, knee-jerk reactions, and for some people (not me) boredom, i.e, inability to find something else to do to distract your mind from its old habits.

For me, the physical cravings are very, well, physical. I get nervous, anxious, shaky and unable to focus or concentrate. The only way to alleviate this condition physically is to drink alcohol, and it always works... just about instantly. I have plenty of meds I could use for this kind of physical need, but none of them works instantly, or even close to that.

But I'll bet others have varying definitions of the difference between the two.