Is anyone taking baclofen in numerous daily doses?

[hoping4better]

Is anyone taking baclofen in numerous daily doses?

My dr prescribed trazadone for me about a year ago when I wanted to get away from Ambien (memory loss). Trazadine is an older anti-depressant but is often used to treat insomnia. Before bac, I was taking 100mg of traz (she prescribed up to 200mg), but now I only need 50mg (bac makes me a little drowsy, at least at my low dose). I love the stuff. No ugly side effects like Ambien and it really works. I, too, have suffered from insomnia since I was in about 6th grade. Thankfully, none of my kids seemed to have inherited my unfortunate sleep habits.

[Greg]

Is anyone taking baclofen in numerous daily doses?

I've read of trazodone quite a bit, especially its ability to help people sleep. Many people forget that it started out as an antidepressant, and unfortunately it's no longer available here in Australia. I'm hoping to start on another sedating antidepressant mirtazapine (Remeron, Avanza) when I see a specialist in a couple of weeks.

[meson81]

Is anyone taking baclofen in numerous daily doses?

I would take phenergan for allergies. I also would take phenergan on rare occasions to encourage sleep. I am taking Baclofen for alcohol dependence. I am presently taking 150mg daily (50mg x 3) Mixing it with phenergan however, I would say, is seriously not advised.

I am a research scientist, and I have read most of the academic papers on Baclofen. I have never read that it is contra-indicated with phenergan. However, on the night when I took phenergan, I ended up in hospital, my Mum thought I was having a psychotic episode and it was not at all pleasant. Fortunately, Baclofen wears off after 4 hours...

Dr Stuart Bain

[craving]

Is anyone taking baclofen in numerous daily doses?

I am not taking Baclofen for a year and i am still off alcohol. It has helped me so much. but it was not a pleasant time. When I take nowadays Baclofen even in small dosis it turns me seriously manic, I get up at 3am and can't sleep anymore.
Baclofen also caused me psychotic issues, either in combination with other meds, or from the manic symptoms it causes on me. The anxiolitic effect wore off after some time and I went into a constant withdrawel (extended fear/anxiety) though I did not lower the dose.

I am not saying that Baclofen is bad. Without it I would most likely not managed to get off alcohol. At the same time I would only take it at desperate times and in combination with a very strong anti-manic med.

Baclofen changed my life to the best. Don't misunderstand me - take it to get off alcohol !!! its absolutely worth it. The symptoms I suffered may be strongly related to myself and Baclofen only increased what I already had.

PS Baclofen in combination with Bupropion may not be compatible.

[spacebebe01]

Is anyone taking baclofen in numerous daily doses?

Thanks for the update craving, its great that it has worked for you even tho you had problems with it you still managed to use it to stop drinking, and you have stayed stopped. I do wonder if baclofen is harder for people with certain brain chemistries, ie bipolar but that is just my own thoughts.

Well done amazing

[Dosage0]

Is anyone taking baclofen in numerous daily doses?

Greg -

I take melatonin 5mg and a 5-HTP at the same time every night and I sleep ok

[spacebebe01]

Is anyone taking baclofen in numerous daily doses?

I took Mirtazipine a few years ago and really put on a lot of weight, I think its quite common with it as well. That was the only reason at the time I changed it. It gave me more weight gain than any other med Ive ever taken.

[RedThread12]

Is anyone taking baclofen in numerous daily doses?

WOW! Meson81. Welcome to MWO!

Sorry to read of your less than pleasant episode. Maybe that is what has prompted the resurrection of this thread?

Craving . . . thanks so much for popping in. Long time no hear, and invaluable to have your synopsis. Truly. And I'm also relieved to know that you, and others who no longer post regularly are still watching and contributing when it's important.

Just THIS - fairly short - thread identifies MWO members whose baclofen stories, along with other serious and intelligent contributions to MWO, ALL should be required reading for anyone considering the baclofen path.

I clicked on the link to respond to the OP's question, not realizing that it was from early 2010. This issue keeps arising. Desperate people keep finding this forum, and don't give themselves the benefit of the amazing knowledge and experience stored herein.

IMO (going to shout here for a moment - if you're sensitive, stuff your ears with cotton), ANYONE TAKING BACLOFEN MUST BE TAKING IT IN MULTIPLE DOSES THROUGHOUT THE DAY!!!

Unless you're LoOp, and have access to dimensions unknown to mere mortals. :H And if you're considering baclofen, and HAVE NOT read back to LoOp's contributions, including "Consolidated Baclofen Information" in which LoOp organized the available research and others contributed invaluable information, as a minimum, you are seriously minimizing your potential for positive results with baclofen. (Obviously, not talking to you, Meson. Just using your thread for my soapbox.)

Meson, I have read almost everything posted about baclofen on this board since the summer of 2009. The knowledge that I have gained from members who seriously follow research, and members who post their experiences with baclofen, has been the cornerstone of my foundation with on-going success with baclofen. I knew NOT to go to the emergency room when I seriously over-dosed; I've seen how the bac-challenge is increased, but is in no way compromised, by continuing to drink through the process; I understand, now, that my "poster girl" bac story is NOT the norm. But I honestly contribute a huge amount of my ease with baclofen to the foundation of knowledge I garnered from MWO.

How much phenergan did you take on that crazy night, and what was your bac dosage. Is there anything else at all that could have been interacting with the bac? Or any dramatic increase or decrease of your dosage during the few days before? This information is actually NEW to me, and has an immediate application for someone that I know who is titrating down on bac (at 60 mg today), and taking benadryl (don't know how much) to sleep at night. So far, he has had no issues. If he's reading the forum today, he's totally mg.

This is another demonstration of how incredibly helpful everyone's posts regarding their baclofen use is, for everyone. AND, that it's a very tight rope to walk. What works for one definitely may not work for any other. I, personally, used low doses of quetiapine fumarate for sleep before I started taking baclofen; and continue to use it. I've never had "insomnia" from bac, nor "somnolence" during the day. But quetiapine fumarate doesn't work for everyone . . . I know that for sure. But if you're still looking around for a sleep-assist, you might look into it.

Thanks SO MUCH for "hitting the boards." KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!!!

[COSGringo]

Is anyone taking baclofen in numerous daily doses?

Let's see. Might be easier to say what I don't take. Here we go-
Benadryl Doxy Nitrazepam Ambien Tryptophan Valerian Melatonin clonazepam seroquel trazodone(well not really in a long time) xanax valium
I'm sure I missed something.
About the only things I have not tried are versed and temazepam but I am sure I will one of these days.

Sometimes nothing. Baclofen makes me tired all day so if I can make it and the caffeine wears off I can probably sleep but I just don't usually stay asleep. Those times I will slap a small dose of xanax or valium if it's not after 2:30 am. That came suggested from Dr. L. and does seem to work.

So if you need feedback, I am a walking pin cushion of insomnia meds tests.
Just not a big deal right now as gout keeps me from walking for a week now and a wildfire is 15 miles from my house. Good times.

[RedThread12]

Is anyone taking baclofen in numerous daily doses?

Thanks, COS. It's helpful to see your list of things that you've taken with baclofen and NOT had a psychotic episode - or at least one that we could identify . And so sorry to hear of your current challenges. Excruciating pain, encroaching fires and insomnia do not sound fun. Hope you are hanging in with the bac, get some relief, and stay safe.

I was actually asking Meson how much benadryl and baclofen he was taking when he had his "episode." Could be useful information down the road.

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Is anyone taking baclofen in numerous daily doses?

(I am just gonna whisper this:
I think the post you're referring to was a spammer. I reported it, because it had a link to some thing that was selling something or other. Sorry I can't remember...
Sometimes they quote another post and then what they're selling is a link somewhere.
sooooo... Not that the discussion hasn't become interesting! )

COS!!! oy. Take good care.

[COSGringo]

Is anyone taking baclofen in numerous daily doses?

Thanks Red. I am sure I will sleep like a baby tonite if I am not helping friends move. Sleep deprivation is a funny thing. Actually it was just last night that was bad. Fire is getting worse.
Friends are stuck out there as they closed the only road in and out of the mtns for a very long distance.
Drama.

[StuckinLA]

Is anyone taking baclofen in numerous daily doses?

Oy. How are the winds out there, COS? Are you staying put or do you think you'll have to evacuate?

Hope you're OK.

[COSGringo]

Is anyone taking baclofen in numerous daily doses?

Winds just shifted to east wind which means it's pushing it away right now from the Springs. Not so good for the other towns I know folks in. Staying put for now. I think we will be ok. It looked really bad earlier today. It was on the outskirts of town by 250' and then shifted.