AF On Baclofen, Is drinking over holidays a bad idea?

[ThirdMan]

Hey all! Just wanted to know what some of you might have experienced yourselves... I started taking Baclofen over two months ago and almost immediately quit drinking altogether. I only have to take around 60 - 80 mgs to stave off the desire more or less completely, even though my intention was never really to go AF altogether in the first place. I've just been happy to not have the anxiety and getting more done has been great. I always intended to drink some when I went home for the holidays, but since I haven't tried drinking at all with it I'm not sure what to expect. Before the Bac I had been modding okay but not great with Naltrexone, of which I still have some left and was planning to take an hour before as well. Has anyone else had good or bad experiences drinking after having been AF on Baclofen? Have you suddenly fallen completely off the wagon in spite of taking the medication? Or did Bac continue to keep the cravings at bay just the same? Did it effect your normal dosage afterward? And did you take more or less Baclofen the night you decided to drink?

Ideally I would like to be 98% AF, with the ability to pop a Naltrexone now and then for very special occasions. Like three or four times a year or so. Thanks!

[Guitarista]

AF On Baclofen, Is drinking over holidays a bad idea?

Hi 3rd man,
Med's can only do so much, for so long. We have to change our thinking, our relationship to alcohol. You will soon find out the truth for you, if you haven't already. Just be careful, drink plenty of water, and try not to go too hard during your experiments. For me, af is the way to go. It is my truth, and after a while, the focus on drinking really falls away.

Best wishes on your journey.

[ThirdMan]

AF On Baclofen, Is drinking over holidays a bad idea?

Thanks so much for your response Guitarista! I understand where you're coming from and appreciate your advice. Without making this too much about my situation as opposed to other people's experience I'll explain what I'm up against. My dad has alzheimer's and does nothing but sit around drinking beer and smoking cigarettes. A few years ago I had quit drinking cold turkey and he made that pretty miserable by offering me a beer every five minutes because he forgot that I wasn't drinking. More the issue is that I want to have some fun with him as I only see him once a year as it is. I made it through Thanksgiving here fine and have socialized fine without alcohol, so I feel its less about learning new coping skills, i.e. "I can't go where people are drinking," or something like that. He is particularly no fun to hang out with for an extended period of time, anyone who isn't deranged could use a drink. I really wish I had considered going AF when I started taking Baclofen, because maybe I just would have started after the holidays because I fear two months into it I might be setting myself up for failure with this trip home. Ugh, stupid holidays. Bah humbug.

Anyway, does anyone have any personal stories where they were in a similar situation, did drink, and that was the end of their progress. Specifically with Baclofen? Or has anyone made the occasional exception with little to no harm? Just your experience, I won't hold anyone responsible for whatever I decide of course!

[UrbanFool]

AF On Baclofen, Is drinking over holidays a bad idea?

My grandmother had Alzheimer's, and she loved it when I made cocoa from scratch and served it in her favorite tea cups. She'd stand over me the entire time I was making it making little cooing noises, and then talk about her childhood for hours.

If I were you, I wouldn't drink. It kind of sounds lame to drink when A) you don't particularly want to, and B) It'll make your dad happy. You can carry a beer can around and stave off the offers for beer.

And I'm sorry your dad is like that. My grandma was a lot more... wholesome through her Alzheimer's. I didn't even drink at that time in my life.

I'd just enjoy being AF. There's not a thing in the world that alcohol will do FOR you (except get you in lots of trouble.)

[ThirdMan]

AF On Baclofen, Is drinking over holidays a bad idea?

Yikes, I had a feeling this is what you'd all say. I guess all I can do is bring some Naltrexone as a backup in case of complete meltdown, and otherwise hope for the best. Talk about some seventh ring of hell Christmas though. I'd still like to hear anyone's personal anecdotes if you got em. Thanks!

[UrbanFool]

AF On Baclofen, Is drinking over holidays a bad idea?

Well, picture yourself with Alzheimer's. Do you want everyone's last memories of you to be sitting around smoking and drinking beer --and offering everyone else a beer?

[ThirdMan]

AF On Baclofen, Is drinking over holidays a bad idea?

True that... I guess when he's doing it by himself it just looks like a sad old man trying to kill himself. But with someone else drinking with him it becomes a party, right?! Ha! Ugh...

[JackieClaire]

AF On Baclofen, Is drinking over holidays a bad idea?

Hi Thirdman,
Don't know if this helps,but here goes.

5 years ago my mother was was diagnosed with alzeimers , but had been a very heavy drinker for much of her life. At the time I'd been sober over 5 months and managed without AL very well over that Christmas.

She may not have known what day it was, where she was but she sure as hell knew where the wine bottle was!

Having a look at her behaviour it came to us that she was actually suffering from Kosakoff's Syndrome. (well worth googling). A brain disorder brought on by years of heavy drinking.

She died just 3 weeks later aged 71.

I know absolutely nothing about meds. but I know that after that dreadful Christmas I will not risk my sobriety for any one or anything. I know very very selfish, but we have to look after ourselves before we can look after others.

J x

[beatle]

AF On Baclofen, Is drinking over holidays a bad idea?

Well, you wanted personal stories in relation to your dilemma, so here's mine. But this is not meant as advice -- absolutely not.

I have drunk on many occasions since I started baclofen. Drinking on bac does not give me much. It never makes me crave more after one or two glasses. Nonetheless, it scares me to go on drinking and my goal is to become AF (with the possibility for a toast on New Year's Eve).

Each time I have approached an occasion where I knew there would be drinking, I have said to myself -- you really should not drink. Try not to drink. You don't need it. But I have never said to myself YOU MUST NOT -- CAN NOT drink. If I had, I'm afraid it would have become too much of a struggle, and it would result in being counter-productive (that's just how I am -- I can't stand being told what to do, even by my myself).

On Thanksgiving, surrounded by wine-drinkers, although I left the option open to drink, I said no thank you, I'm not drinking tonight, and that was that. I never thought about it again. For me, this works. That is, not ruling out the option, but reminding myself that I don't want to, and most importantly for me, don't NEED to drink.

However, if you have been AF for so long, it doesn't sound like you have a good reason to break the momentum now. If I were you, I would savour my sobriety and think hard about the consequences if you do drink, even if they may not be severe-- I guess I'm thinking about how you will feel.

[beatle]

AF On Baclofen, Is drinking over holidays a bad idea?

Also, before I went to visit my grandmother, who lives in another country and has Alzheimers, I forced myself to sober up -- it took a week of terrible withdrawal, but I have never been so grateful for being sober as during that visit. I was "there" the whole time, instead of somewhere else. Trying as it was, I felt exhilarated.

[ThirdMan]

AF On Baclofen, Is drinking over holidays a bad idea?

Thanks so much for sharing your experience. I feel caught in a catch-22 where I don't want to lose out on the "momentum" but at the same time I'm trying to take into consideration that this will be exceptional for a number of reasons, setting off all sorts of triggers. Alzheimers, Christmas, family, friends, etc. My biggest fear is that if I fall off momentarily I will either A) be "successful" with a couple drinks and tell myself that I can do that all the time from now on which could eventually snowball or B) be so hell bent that I MUST stay sober that I fall off and consider myself and sobriety a complete failure. So I think I am going to go in with it as you recommend. Aiming to be sober, preparing myself with Naltrexone in case it doesn't work out and try not to beat myself up over it, pledging to pick up where I left off again if I have to. I guess that's all anyone can do really. Thanks so much everyone for the advice.

[brightlite]

AF On Baclofen, Is drinking over holidays a bad idea?

Ok, I'm seeing a pattern here. Does one of the side effects of alcoholism turn into Alzheimers? Anyone have thoughts on this matter? I think there may be a relation, but I have never done any research in that area. Anyone...want to chime in?

[JackieClaire]

AF On Baclofen, Is drinking over holidays a bad idea?

Brightlife,

I hope I didn't frighten you with my post.

It takes many years to develop Korsakoff's Syndrome which displays symptoms much the same as alzeimers. It was just some independent research me,my brother and cousin (who's a senior nurse) did.

There's also a train of thought that alcohol can actually help prevent alzeimers.

Maybes worth a word with her/his doctor.

J x

[beatle]

AF On Baclofen, Is drinking over holidays a bad idea?

my grandmother never drank anything with alcohol in it. I have never heard of a connection between the two. But I have not done any research, either. And, in general, alcohol can cause about anything bad in your body, and definitely can exacerbate anything that originates from another source.

[ThirdMan]

AF On Baclofen, Is drinking over holidays a bad idea?

In my case my dad drank a lot when he was younger, but more frat-boy style and golfing-buddies style. He didn't really go full on drunk until he had alzheimers and was kinda forced into retirement. His older brother died of it a few years ago, and he lived a pretty healthy lifestyle. Even more bizzarely, my dad's TWIN brother does NOT have it! And I would say that in life he did drink less. My best guess is that it's mostly genetic, but the things that a person could do to weaken the blow of it or stave it off can't be done if you're drinking. Exercising your memory in any capacity seems to be way hindered for me from years of drinking, making me think this could only do harm to a bad situation. That's a common sensical guess though. Also, the brains of alcoholics and alzheimers patients looks very similar, if that means anything.