Is anyone taking baclofen in numerous daily doses?

[Greg]

Hi everyone, sorry I haven't posted for a while and sorry also if my question has already been covered in other threads. If so, please just direct me to the appropriate thread/s.

As I mentioned a while back, I can't take large amounts of baclofen close to bedtime due to insomnia problems with it. I am therefore trying to spread the baclofen out as much as possible by taking it numerous times each day, so the doses approaching night are less. I am also not taking any after 8 PM or so. Sometimes I get to sleep OK doing this but sometimes not. When I can't sleep I'm not hyperactive and the baclofen doesn't feel like a stimulant, it just seems to keep my mind ticking over and unable to drift into sleep mode.

If anyone else is still having problems like this, could you tell me the latest time at night (or in the afternoon) that you take baclofen and still get to sleep OK? What dose do you take as your final dose and how do you space the baclofen out during the day? I really want it to work for me and I know this means taking very high daily doses, but I'd also like to be able to get to sleep!! I'm thinking of adding something like Lyrica (pregabalin) or Neurontin (gabapentin) to it at night for sleep if I can't resolve the problem. I'm not drinking, for your info, and not taking anything else (considering Lexapro or citalopram for depression but not taking it yet).

Any info or advice would be greatly appreciated.

[tiptronic_ct]

Is anyone taking baclofen in numerous daily doses?

Hey, Greg

I am becoming very well-acquainted with insomnia. Although it is constantly slowly evolving, my schedule at the moment is:

10mg (06.00)
30mg (12.00)
40mg (15.00)

To that, I added an old-style antihistamine (Phenergan) 30 mins before sleep for about two months. Stopped working effectively after a while.

Currently, I'm taking Remeron before bed. It is an anti-depressant which assists sleep. Just watch out: I'm eating like a pig as a result of it It gives me about 2 extra hours a night, which takes my average to 5 hours. WTF is up with that???

For obvious reasons, my psychiatrist doesn't want to prescribe sleeping tabs, but the day I find proper rest, I'll shout the solution(s) from the closest rooftop!

[eight days a week]

Is anyone taking baclofen in numerous daily doses?

I'm lucky in that Bac makes me sleep like a baby, but I've suffered with sleep problems all my life.

I've also tried anti-depressants, and found they made things worse before they got better (and even then the side effects were too much to bear for me and I had to stop, but I am very sensitive to meds).

Some natural things to look into (maybe on the Holistic Healing forum, or anywhere else on Google) for sleep aid:

- melatonin

- Valerian

- L-theanine

- Tryptophan/5-HTP (warm milk does indeed boost this)

- Passion Flower

Just some thoughts, hope you all sleep well tonight, with sweet dreams

[beatle]

Is anyone taking baclofen in numerous daily doses?

When I read your post, Greg, I was full of responses, but tip and eight did most of the work.

However, regarding the dosing: I am also very sensitive to the bac at night when at higher doses (at lower doses it was a miracle for my insomnia). So, I have shifted the doses to be higher in the earlier part of the day. I try not to take bac 4 hours before I go to sleep (which varies from day) to day. I load up on the late afternoon doses, but since I can't take more than 20mg at a time, and at least 2 hours apart, it takes some planning.

I'm doing 20mg early, depending on when I wake up (6.00-8.00), 20mg mid morning (10.00/11.00), 20mg mid afternoon (14.00 /15.00), 20-30mg late evening (19.00-20.00)-- something like that. I have such an irregular schedule that I can't keep a routine. But I do keep track of every dose take, and I tend to keep a few stashed in between meals. It is working well now.

[beatle]

Is anyone taking baclofen in numerous daily doses?

p.s. lithium orotate is a wonder for sleep. Nothing like lithium. OTC, no side effects.

[craving]

Is anyone taking baclofen in numerous daily doses?

maybe your sleep problems are a cross interaction with another drug?
i was like having a chili up my a&% - but that was most likely Baclofen+Pseudoephedrine

i used to take 5 dose a day, had to change that into 4 as i would not wake up for the 5th one anymore.
yesterday 175mg, today 160mg, taking equal doses - one directly BEFORE going to bed!!

[Greg]

Is anyone taking baclofen in numerous daily doses?

I have also taken sedating antihistamines to help deal with insomnia. Both Phenergan/promethazine and doxylamine (Dozile, Restavit) have been helpful. I have also found that antihistamines lose their effectiveness as sleep aids if taken every night, so now I will have a break from them regularly so they may still work when I do take them. During the break I am hoping that something else may help with sleep, so I can rotate the two medications and not build up a huge tolerance to either. I'm still trying to work out what the second one can be. The natural ones mentioned by 8 are definitely worth trying, and lithium orotate mentioned by beatle...I'll post my results with them. I have just tried the anticonvulsant drug Lyrica/pregabalin as a sleep aid and found that it works but that rapidly escalating doses are required (by me) if taken every night. 75 mg initially helped for a night or two, but then 150 mg was needed, then another step up to 225 mg. This medication would also only be a useful sleep aid, for me, if taken for a few nights then given a break. I will try rotating it with an antihistamine. By the way, Lyrica is supposed to be taken twice daily to keep blood levels up, and I have found that taking a large dose only at night can produce odd withdrawal-like effects the next day. It is not supposed to be suddenly stopped after you have been taking it regularly, either. I am not recommending this drug to anyone else, just stating my own experience with it.

From what I've read, Remeron/mirtazapine also has very strong antihistamine properties, and these must contribute to its sedative effect, at least partly. I have avoided this medication so far because I didn't want it to make me constantly immune to the sedative effects of antihistamines. However I do also suffer from fairly deep depression, and if Remeron's beneficial effects on sleep aren't just antihistamine effects then I would be very interested in asking my doctor about it. I hope it does have a lasting sleep effect, since this would mean it's not just the antihistamine property doing the work. I also read that Remeron increases appetite, particularly for sweets, and sometimes to an extreme extent...tiptronic, I hope these issues aren't too much of a hassle for you with the Remeron.

If I find any other answers to the insomnia problem I'll be sure to post them. In times of desperation I have considered Xanax and the "Z-drugs" for sleep but would rather avoid these if I can...I have previously had a problem with benzos.

Thanks for the advice regarding baclofen doses and times. I will perservere. Craving, I can understand why pseudoephedrine would cause problems, since it is a stimulant. Thanks for the advice, but I wasn't taking anything else when baclofen caused me severe insomnia. I'm glad you can take it right before bed and get a good sleep...many others here are also able to benefit from its sedative effects.

[craving]

Is anyone taking baclofen in numerous daily doses?

I was using Pseudoephedrine mainly for my nose - as without it I was not able to breath. Only alternative would have been putting into my nose drops that will cause the nose to be addicted to it - and it won't open up at all without the drops then.

I simply dosed it like needed, if I noticed my nose is about to close I took one ... since it is a prolonged formular this turned out to be overdosing. Bad luck!

I am not taking any sleeping medicine anymore. When I was feeling sick, I woke up at 2-3am - what I did is just go back to bed. It was a bit difficult the first times, but then it would work more or less automatic.

When I took sleeping medicine what I noticed could have good effect is to take the pill just when you wake up. i.e. you go to bed just as normally - then when you wake up with light flashes in your eyes at 2-4am you take one of this anti histamines and go back to bed.

In ER they told me that antihistamines (like Doxylamine) can cause renal retention - so they told me do not take them again. I think what happened is the combination of several drugs that have this type of side effect. Still was a very unpleasant experience with the catheter!!.

[Greg]

Is anyone taking baclofen in numerous daily doses?

I've also taken pseudoephedrine for nasal congestion and colds, or even just a runny nose sometimes. It's not so easy to get here in Australia these days. I first learned that it had stimulant properties after taking two tablets for a bad cold. I was driving back home one day and noticed it had interesting effects. I'm sensitive to its insomniac effect even if it is taken a fair while before bed, so I don't take it much anymore.

I'm not looking to take sleep meds long-term but at least until my sleep pattern stabilises a bit. Taking an antihistamine only when waking up at a bad time is a good idea, one I hadn't even thought of.

Yikes I hope I don't get that side effect you mentioned with antihistamines.

[christyacc]

Is anyone taking baclofen in numerous daily doses?

If I have sleep issues, I take Gravol.

[Guest]

Is anyone taking baclofen in numerous daily doses?

Hey guys,
Currently I am doing 20mg morning 20mg late afternoon and 20mg late evening. I sleep like a baby! Is it only because my dose is "small" I dont really crave AL anymore, should I just maintain at this dose?

[craving]

Is anyone taking baclofen in numerous daily doses?

Hoping for the best;814307 wrote: Hey guys,
Currently I am doing 20mg morning 20mg late afternoon and 20mg late evening. I sleep like a baby! Is it only because my dose is "small" I dont really crave AL anymore, should I just maintain at this dose?

if your craving is gone, and you are not drinking anymore, then stay at the dose.
There have been cases of people that got their switch at very low levels. I had to go quite high

[Guest]

Is anyone taking baclofen in numerous daily doses?

Craving,
Your dose may have been high but the main thing is that you hit the switch! and look at your stats - Awesome. Are you planning to remain AF for good?

[craving]

Is anyone taking baclofen in numerous daily doses?

hope,
i never want to drink again. it is also not compatible to the medicine I take

whats your plan? abstinence for life or moderate drinker?

i always wanted to be a moderate drinker - it made "click" with bac and i am abstinent ....

[PhoenixRising]

Is anyone taking baclofen in numerous daily doses?

When I was at 180mg I dosed every 2 hours when awake, and kept some at my bedside so I could take a dose in the middle of the night. My 4:00 dose was the largest of the day because after work drinking was my problem.