Using baclofen strictly for anxiety

[cowgal]

Using baclofen strictly for anxiety

luck

wishing you luck too virgil, it is great if it works for u!!

keep us posted, ok!!

MA

[Virgil]

Using baclofen strictly for anxiety

Thanks, cowgal. I do hope baclofen works for me as I've had so many disappointments with medications generally and I've tried a lot.

V.

[tiptronic_ct]

Using baclofen strictly for anxiety

I'm just thinking out loud, Virgil:

I'm on an AD. My psychiatrist prescribed Molipaxin (Trazodone). The primary reason for that choice was that it offers additional anti-anxiety properties that SSRIs like Prozac don't do.

Off-label uses of Molipaxin include panic disorder & alcohol withdrawal. Even though I self-prescribe baclofen, he is fully aware that I'm taking it, and thought that it would complement the effect of the bac. I believe it does. I titrated up from 100mg to 400mg over two months, and have now settled on that level. I'm on month 4 now.

Info on Molipaxin:

Trazodone - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Virgil]

Using baclofen strictly for anxiety

Hi tiptronic,

Thanks for the feedback.

I presume by 'AD' that you mean an antidepressant? Despite saying above that I've tried a lot of medications, I have no recollection of ever trying trazodone. I say 'no recollection' because, having tried so many medications over the last 30 years, there will no doubt be some that I have forgotten. So, I will mention trazodone to my psychiatrist. Are you finding trazodone to be beneficial with anxiety/panic disorder/alcohol withdrawal?

Once again, thank you!

V.

[tiptronic_ct]

Using baclofen strictly for anxiety

Virgil;787262 wrote: Hi tiptronic,

Thanks for the feedback.

I presume by 'AD' that you mean an antidepressant? Despite saying above that I've tried a lot of medications, I have no recollection of ever trying trazodone. I say 'no recollection' because, having tried so many medications over the last 30 years, there will no doubt be some that I have forgotten. So, I will mention trazodone to my psychiatrist. Are you finding trazodone to be beneficial with anxiety/panic disorder/alcohol withdrawal?

Once again, thank you!

V.

AD is an antidepressant, yes.

I've just noticed in one of your earlier posts that you have OCD - that's another off-label application of Trazadone.

I went through alcohol withdrawal before I started on it, although I think my withdrawal might have been more psychological than physical. The whole concept of the "final goodbye" and learning to live without alcohol caught me unawares. Although my cravings had steadily lessened, the point of indifference came as a bit of a shock. I had started forgetting to buy wine about two weeks before hitting 240mg. Then one night, I looked at the bottle, and realised it was pure habit that was making me reach for the corkscrew... I put it away, but had terrible night sweats for about three days after going AF.

I.t.o. anxiety: yes, I do believe it is helping. Trazadone is best taken at night. Keeping in mind that although I became terribly somnolent at such high doses of bac, I averaged 3 - 4 hours sleep at night. Its difficult to describe, but on a very high dose of bac, I often had a feeling of what I imagine people with sleep apnea must go through: waking up gasping for air. That in itself caused anxiety. About three weeks after starting on Molipaxin, that went away altogether. In addition, I'm finding that it is easier for me to "switch off" after a day at the office. Additional bonus: it has a similar effect to antihistamines, which means I'm now getting 6 - 8 hours of sleep at night - pure bliss

W.r.t. anxiety, I cannot really comment. My panic attacks went away as soon as I started tapering my drinking in preparation for starting on baclofen.

[Virgil]

Using baclofen strictly for anxiety

Tiptronic,

Thanks for the clarification.

V.

[beatle]

Using baclofen strictly for anxiety

jonboy43;782709 wrote: Hi Beatle

Really interested in your experinces with Baclofen for anxitey.

Can you tell me:-

1) What dose you are currently taking?
2) Can you recommend a safe reliable place to buy these online?

Sorry, I've been out of touch here of late.

1) currently taking 80-140mg per day (weigh 48kg, so this is quite a high dose)

But anxiety reduced rapidly, at about 15mg/day

2) Tiptronic has recommended 4rx. I have also ordered from 4rx and the time for delivery has been variable, sometimes 2-3 weeks, sometimes more. 4rx customer service is great, though. You can call them 24/7 and they are very helpful.

[thpio]

Using baclofen strictly for anxiety

Trying to find Bac

Would you be so kind as to tell me where I can order online?
I was warned not to do this cause it's not controlled. But have been to 3 doctors and none will prescribe due to lack of knowledge and research. I am desperate to try for both drinking problem and my combined massive anxiety issues.
Thanks!!

[Lo0p]

Using baclofen strictly for anxiety

All Day Chemist
4RX
InHouse
GoldPharm
River Pharmacy (pricey)

All of those are trusted around here.

[hoping4better]

Using baclofen strictly for anxiety

Thpio, have you brought any studies about baclofen to your doctors? LoOp has kindly gathered links to many studies on the Consolidated Baclofen thread. I brought several to my dr and they convinced her to let me try it (for alcohol, not anxiety.) I would think if you were using bac strictly for anxiety, you'd need a much smaller dosage than what is recommended for alcohol cravings.

[Androcles]

Using baclofen strictly for anxiety

This thread about baclofen and anxiety encourages me so much, as my partner has suffered with anxiety-related alcohol dependence for so long. We read Dr. Ameisen's book, and his description of his life-long anxiety matched hers almost exactly--it was uncanny. It was the first time we'd ever heard another person describe his struggle with anxiety and alcoholism that way. The description of baclofen hitting a "switch" that makes a person become indifferent to alcohol is very interesting to me because I have long thought of my partner as not having a turn-off switch (as most people do) that prevents her from drinking too much.

I'm hopeful that *eventually* my partner and her psychiatrist will be able to get on the same page and decide to try out baclofen as a course of treatment.

In the meantime, I wish everyone here the best of success in *your* attempts to overcome anxiety and alcoholism.

[Ernie D.]

Using baclofen strictly for anxiety

Thanks for all the great information on Baclofen. I just started taking it for GAD so I am starting at a low dose of 5mg 3x/day and then will increase if I need to. I will keep you all posted as to my experience with this drug.

[Maggie Humphreys]

Using baclofen strictly for anxiety

Virgil;786388 wrote: As Beatle says, we are all different. I have OCD and GAD. I am currently on 90mg baclofen per day and have been slowly ramping up to this dosage over the last four weeks. As yet, my OCD and GAD have not been helped by the baclofen. Nor has my alcohol intake been reduced. But I am still hopeful that things will get better. Fingers crossed.

V.

Hi I'm new to this forum but am more than interested in all your quotes. My experience of baclofen has been in relation to my husband who is a long term alcoholic. He was prescribed Bac by a psychiatrist in Edinburgh who is a friend of Dr A. He started on 30mg a day and increased to 90 mg a day. The result was that he was asleep most of the time.
I think it has helped with anxiety and the craving, but I feel that alcoholism is so much more than just craving - it's a psychological prop and he literally cannot go out of the house with a drink inside him. Having said that he is 71 and although abstaining for 15 years in is 50s/60s, only returning to it about 6 years ago. His decline has been spectacular - hence our hunt for help (other than rehab - can't afford it any more). GPs seem fairly unconvinced about this drug and some don't understand it's positive effects on alcholism.
A lot more research needs to be done I think.

[Sunnyvalenting]

Using baclofen strictly for anxiety

Maggie,
Please read the thread started a few days ago by Otter on the first clinical trial of high dose baclofen.
I lifted the following link and abstract from that thread. Maybe it would help your GP if he had more information. This really is a medical disorder with psycho-social aspects.
Good Luck to you and your husband
Sunny

Baclofen helped in 88% of those in the study.
Suppression de la dépendance à l’alcool et de la consommation d’alcool par le baclofène à haute dose : un essai en ouvert - EM|consulte

The results show that after three months of treatment, 88% of patients had completely stopped or significantly reduced their alcohol intake, and most of them have become indifferent to alcohol without effort. The doses of baclofen were required vary from one patient to another, ranging from 15mg/day to 300mg/day, with an average of 145mg/day. Approximately two thirds of patients required a dose greater than that permitted 80mg / d.

[Cinders]

Using baclofen strictly for anxiety

Maggie Humphreys;944288 wrote: Hi I'm new to this forum but am more than interested in all your quotes. My experience of baclofen has been in relation to my husband who is a long term alcoholic. He was prescribed Bac by a psychiatrist in Edinburgh who is a friend of Dr A. He started on 30mg a day and increased to 90 mg a day. The result was that he was asleep most of the time.
I think it has helped with anxiety and the craving, but I feel that alcoholism is so much more than just craving - it's a psychological prop and he literally cannot go out of the house with a drink inside him. Having said that he is 71 and although abstaining for 15 years in is 50s/60s, only returning to it about 6 years ago. His decline has been spectacular - hence our hunt for help (other than rehab - can't afford it any more). GPs seem fairly unconvinced about this drug and some don't understand it's positive effects on alcholism.
A lot more research needs to be done I think.

Maggie,

A lot of us who were "cured' by Baclofen can attest that is not the "do all end all." Your husband is sleeping because of the side effects of Baclofen. I truly understand that. I do, too.

But, at the end of the day, we need to address the issues we used alcohol to deal with.

Keep helping your husband. He needs it. At least I know I do.

But, at least we are not drinking to deal with it. I hate alcohol and what it does to me. I am grateful for the Baclofen. Now I can work on what I drank for. Not work on the drink.

Your husband, also.

cindi