Difference between Baclofen and Campral?

[nykat]

Does any one know the difference between Baclofen and Campral, as far as reducing alcohol cravings? I've been taking Campral for a year and am still drinking. Not sure if I've built up a tolerance to it or if I should ask the dr. to switch the precscription to baclofen?


Any advice is greatly appreciated!

[Guest]

Difference between Baclofen and Campral?

nykat,
Not sure about Campral but this is my Bac status
3 days 5mg 5mg 5mg
4 days 10mg 10mg 10mg
10 days 20mg 20mg 20mg

Total days on bac - 26
total days AF 22
If you would like more details, let me know.

[hangingon]

Difference between Baclofen and Campral?

is it best to get the 20mg tablet and jsut break it in quarters to start? I want this to work so bad for me. What happens if you do drink on the Bac?

[Guest]

Difference between Baclofen and Campral?

Did you get my PM?

[eight days a week]

Difference between Baclofen and Campral?

They work on the brain in quite different ways, hopefully someone will come in and post who can put it well in simple terms, I can't I'm afraid, but Wikipedia seems to have it straight (my underlining):

'Acamprosate is thought to stabilize the chemical balance in the brain that would otherwise be disrupted by alcoholism, possibly by blocking glutamatergic N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors, while gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) type A receptors are activated.[2] Reports indicate that acamprosate only works with a combination of attending support groups and abstinence from alcohol.'

This is what my former alcohol specialist (very experienced with Campral) told me too. He said I could try it before detox and then abstinence, but there was little point, and that it probably wouldn't work.

'(Baclofen) is an agonist specific to mammalian but not fruit fly (Drosophila) GABAB receptors.
...
Baclofen has also been shown to be as effective as diazepam in uncomplicated alcohol withdrawal syndrome.[5] An Italian study showed that it was effective in promoting alcohol abstinence in patients with severe liver cirrhosis.'

My present alcohol specialist has prescribed me Baclofen while still drinking, even though he thinks that it's more successful after detoxing/beginning abstinence. But it seems to be helping me cut down, and I'm still at quite a low dose (60mg daily), and he's quite happy for me to try to increase my Baclofen while cutting down on the booze (i.e. - again - while drinking).

hangingon;815057 wrote: is it best to get the 20mg tablet and jsut break it in quarters to start? I want this to work so bad for me. What happens if you do drink on the Bac?

My tablets are 10mg, which is really handy as I can split them into 2.5mg for extra fine-tuning of an increase in dose to minimise side effects. The packet insert here in the UK says to start on 5mg x 3 daily, then after 3 days go to 10mg x 3 daily, but I'd say listen to your body and take it at your own pace.

In my experience if you drink on the Bac while you're still adjusting to a higher dose they amplify each other slightly (sleepiness, drowsiness) but once you're used to the dose it doesn't make much difference, but again I think everyone's different.

[hangingon]

Difference between Baclofen and Campral?

hoping I got your pm and responded.

[hangingon]

Difference between Baclofen and Campral?

that is what the PDR her stated start at 5mg 3x a day. I think I will try 2.5 tonight and see how it affects me. I am excited and hopeful. Something just has to work.
hanging

[Lo0p]

Difference between Baclofen and Campral?

Night and day.

[nykat]

Difference between Baclofen and Campral?

Lo0p;815145 wrote: Night and day.

which is better? I can't tell if I built up a tolerance toCampral or if it never worked. Is it worth asking for a prescription for Baclofen?

For those that are taing Baclofen, do you still crave alcohol? Thanks!

[Lo0p]

Difference between Baclofen and Campral?

I don't have any personal experience with campral but in the studies I've seen done with it it helps marginally at best.

I used to drink an average of 100 drinks a week. I've been doing The Sinclair Method for a while now and added baclofen a few months back. I now drink once every week or two and when I do it's because I feel like it. I no longer crave alcohol at all.

I drink about the same in one month now as I did in one bad day last summer.

[nykat]

Difference between Baclofen and Campral?

Lo0p;815359 wrote: I don't have any personal experience with campral but in the studies I've seen done with it it helps marginally at best.

I used to drink an average of 100 drinks a week. I've been doing The Sinclair Method for a while now and added baclofen a few months back. I now drink once every week or two and when I do it's because I feel like it. I no longer crave alcohol at all.

I drink about the same in one month now as I did in one bad day last summer.

Thanks for answering all my questions.......I really appreciate it! So baclofen helps control the addiction???? do you take it everyday or just when you crave alcohol?

[Guest]

Difference between Baclofen and Campral?

nykat;815342 wrote: which is better? I can't tell if I built up a tolerance toCampral or if it never worked. Is it worth asking for a prescription for Baclofen?

For those that are taing Baclofen, do you still crave alcohol? Thanks!

Nykat,
I am taking bac - almost 4weeks. No cravings anymore. You take bac everyday, wether you drink or not. hope this helps

[nykat]

Difference between Baclofen and Campral?

Hoping for the best;815553 wrote: Nykat,
I am taking bac - almost 4weeks. No cravings anymore. You take bac everyday, wether you drink or not. hope this helps

It does help......I really appreciate all the help. :thanks: Didyou stop drinking as soon as you started taking bac? How much bac do you take? I just received a prescription from my doc for 10 mg.(?) 3 x day. I already dropped it off at the pharmacy,that's why I'm not sure about the dosage.

[Guest]

Difference between Baclofen and Campral?

Nykat,
I am glad you got a perscription! It is so hard for others. I started at 5mg x 3 times a day for 3 days and then went to 10mg x 3 times a day for 5 days, then 20mg x 3 times a day. I kept drinking when I started and then I realized that I was taking them to quit drinking so I decided that day four of taking them was the last day for AL and it was. I have been on them for 27 days - 23 AF. One thing to note - if you drink on them, it will hit you a lot harder than you are used to. When I stopped, I wasnt indifferent to AL but found the bac took the edge off and made it very easy to say no. Now I dont even crave or obsess and have no desire to ever drink again - which is what alcoholics need to do - cut it out altogether.

[nykat]

Difference between Baclofen and Campral?

Now I dont even crave or obsess and have no desire to ever drink again - which is what alcoholics need to do - cut it out altogether.
Seriously???? Never, ever, not even at a party or out with friends???? I can't even imagine that......but I'm sure looking forward to trying! Thanks for the answers and support!:l