Consolidated Baclofen Information Thread

[tiptronic_ct]

Consolidated Baclofen Information Thread

Ta-Daa!!!

Thank you, Moderators - you're the best

:goodjob:

[Isolde]

Consolidated Baclofen Information Thread

:whee::yay:

[Lo0p]

Consolidated Baclofen Information Thread

Big thanks to the mods! :thanks:

If anybody really feels like they're going to have a :brainfart: don't do it on here!

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Consolidated Baclofen Information Thread

Then where shall we take those moments?

[Lo0p]

Consolidated Baclofen Information Thread

neva eva;991960 wrote: Then where shall we take those moments?
Any other thread of mine is fair game! Let the flatulence flow freely :bum: ! Most of my threads are filled with it already anyway!

But you said it yourself:

neva eva;990284 wrote: hallowed ground--the Consolidated Baclofen Thread.

Fightin' words on this thread are...well fightin' words, and they don't belong here! :boxer:

[guardian]

Consolidated Baclofen Information Thread

Maybe to make this stickie worthy, you outta consider cleaning it up by deleting some of your erroneous and/or pointless posts.

I'll start in 3 days.

[Chribster]

Consolidated Baclofen Information Thread

Baclofen & 1-4 Butanediol(cousin to GBL) addiction

Hi, does anyone know if Baclofen is truly an adequate replacement for 1-4 But/GBL for an addict? Does anyone have any 1st, 2nd or even 3rd hand knowledge of this?
In a moderate state o' panic - C

[Chribster]

Consolidated Baclofen Information Thread

Baclofen & 1-4 Butanediol/GBL addiction

Baclofen & 1-4 Butanediol

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Does anyone know - Is Baclofen an effective replacement for those looking to quit GBL and specifically, 1-4 Butanediol which I have been on for the last 7 months? Does anyone have any 1st, 2nd or even 3rd-hand knowledge of this?
In a moderate state o' panic - C

[terryk]

Consolidated Baclofen Information Thread

I edited my response...

I'm no doctor or expert, but I believe that 1,4-Butanediol (and GBL too) is a GHB prodrug, that is, it turns into GHB in your body. GHB acts on GABA-b receptors as does baclofen. From various articles in wikipedia:


1,4-Butanediol is converted into GHB by the enzymes alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase and differing levels of these enzymes may account for differences in effects and side effects between users.[18] Because these enzymes are also responsible for metabolizing alcohol there is a strong chance of a dangerous drug interaction.[18][19] Emergency room patients who overdose on both alcohol and 1,4-butanediol often present with symptoms of ethanol intoxication initially and as the ethanol is metabolized the 1,4-butanediol is then able to better compete for the enzyme and a second period of intoxication ensues as the 1,4-butanediol is converted into GHB.[18]

GHB has also been associated with a withdrawal syndrome of insomnia, anxiety, and tremor that usually resolves within three to twelve days.[72][77] Treatment with benzodiazepines can be used, although extremely high doses may be required (e.g. > 100 mg/d of diazepam). With the exception of baclofen, other treatments are often ineffective. Evidence shows that baclofen is the most effective drug for GHB withdrawal. GHB and baclofen are agonists for the GABAb receptor.[78] Benzodiazepines do not affect GABAB receptors and thus have no cross-tolerance with GHB; baclofen which works via GABAB receptors is cross-tolerant with GHB and is effective in alleviating withdrawal effects of GHB.[79] Thus baclofen can be used to substitute for GHB and gradually titrated to reduce withdrawal severity.

GHB withdrawal is not widely discussed in text books and as a result most psychiatrists are not familiar with this withdrawal syndrome.[80]

Hope that helps. And your situation sounds serious, like medical professional serious, not random guy with wikipedia quotes serious.
-tk

p.s. I've also sent you a PM

[manlooking4nothing]

Consolidated Baclofen Information Thread

Titrating Down

hello

I have titrated down to 250 today with absolutely no Cravings.

AF since switch

[I-want-to-be-sober]

Consolidated Baclofen Information Thread

Chribster;998194 wrote: Hi, does anyone know if Baclofen is truly an adequate replacement for 1-4 But/GBL for an addict? Does anyone have any 1st, 2nd or even 3rd hand knowledge of this?
In a moderate state o' panic - CBaclofen can be used to come off GHB or it's prodrugs. As a longer acting GABA-B agonist it's easier to slowly taper it down, but for severe withdrawal benzos may still be needed to combat anxiety and protect from seizures.


Baclofen and Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate Withdrawal

Introduction

Benzodiazepine treatment of life-threatening gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) withdrawal is frequently unsatisfactory. Animal studies suggest strongly that treatment with GABAB agonists, such as baclofen, will be a more effective strategy.

Methods

A case report from the medical intensive care unit (ICU) of the university tertiary care hospital.

Results

A 61-year-old woman was admitted to the medical ICU for severe withdrawal symptoms from chronic GHB use. This manifested as delirium, tremor, and seizures despite only small decreases in GHB dose and treatment with benzodiazepines. The addition of baclofen allowed the rapid sequential decreases in the GHB dose without seizure or delirium and resulted in long-term improvement of her tremor.

Conclusions

Baclofen, a GABAB agonist, may be a useful agent in the treatment of severe GHB withdrawal.

Baclofen and Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate Withdrawal

[terryk]

Consolidated Baclofen Information Thread

bump

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Consolidated Baclofen Information Thread

back up to page 1!

bump

[c0ffee]

Consolidated Baclofen Information Thread

Hi,

I found a string on bac schedules for how doses were increased and at what point others had hit their switch however, I am having trouble finding it again. I was wondering if others can share details of how they titrated and at what point they hit their switch. I am a 185pd male (soakin' wet) and would consider my AL condition severe. I found a doc in my area that is willing to cooperate with the modality of high-dose bac but she made it clear that she won't go higher than 300mg/day. I know that everyone is different and that the switch dose depends on many different factors (eg. wieght, gender, body comp., severity of AL condition etc.- if anyone knows more, much appreciated). This has been my schedule so far:

30mg/day days 1-5
60mg/day days 6-10
90mg/day days 11-15
120mg/day days 16,17,18,19- I'm on day 19 and my doc wants me on 120mg for two weeks eventhough I can tolerate faster increases but whatever.

I seem to be responding to the bac well. It relaxes me, helps with the anxiety and I sleep like a baby with vivid dreams (cravings easier to deal with). I do get the sides everytime I bump up the dose such as light-headedness when I stand up suddenly, a bit of nausea, a slight feeling of vertigo and what seems like bright flashing lights; oh, and somnolence.

If anyone could give some more info on this and what dosing sched they used, I would greatly appreciate it.

Also, I do not have the will power to go AF but I do take Naltrexone 25-50mg's before I drink and it helps with number of units/session. I started doing that a month before I started the bac regimen. If anyone has any thoughts on this as well again, much appreciated. I have read Dr. Ameisen and Dr. Eskapa's books and understand how both modalities make sense but, I'm not necessarily sure if it's a good idea to use the two combined as a comprehensive approach. Again, any and all feedback, much appreciated.

Lo0p, if your out there, I would love to hear your thoughts...

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Consolidated Baclofen Information Thread

bump from page 4!