Announcement

**corkit** · April 27, 2010, 12:08 PM

just starting out on baclofen today-urgent questions

susanna, did Dr. Levin prescribe the BAC for your brother or did he just tell him how to take the medication? Someone may have a different answer than me but I think the answer to all your questions are everyone is different when they take BAC. What dose is good for one may not be good for another, hitting 60mg may decrease the cravings for AL for some and could be 150mg for others. I think you know what I'm saying. The very questions you're asking are the very ones we're asking all the time too.

Hoping all the best to you and your brother. It sounds like you're a very caring sister and he's blessed to have you.

**tom4now** · April 27, 2010, 12:29 PM

just starting out on baclofen today-urgent questions

Have a look at this video....clip of a HBO documentry called "addiction"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byain0Vo5mo&feature=related[/video]]YouTube - Baclofen dramatically reduces cocaine craving

it acctually starts for many people to reduce cravings right at the start...thats been my expereice personally too...my carving from alcohol reduced from the start...your brothers expereince and others may be diferent...my expereince and research in its results!

your brother is on the right track...just make sure he with draws from this binge safely...baclofen did help me in my personal expereice to detox but I found it uncomfortable and we have to remember Doctor Ameisen did use Benzo's quite often to detox...good luck!!

**cowgal** · April 27, 2010, 12:47 PM

just starting out on baclofen today-urgent questions

good luck

Baclofen has done wonders for me until I went down a dark path and tried to off myself, between that in my system and al, and all the other things, I almost did it, thank GOD for this med tho, as it has gotten me back off al and on the right track just have your brother be care for withdrawals, they are dangerous, benzos will help................

love and good luck, :l :h :h

MA

**birdy02** · April 27, 2010, 01:15 PM

just starting out on baclofen today-urgent questions

Hi Susanna! That is so great that your brother has you to help him out. I know that has to be hard on you to see him go through this but I think his chances of success are much improved with you by his side.

I was a heavy, long-term, night time drinker and thus I never had a true detox so I'm afraid I can't help with question #2.

I just recently hit my baclofen switch at 270mg. I have been happily sober for a little over 2 weeks. It is truly miraculous and totally real. I hope like crazy that your brother will get there quickly and with no major complications.

I don't know if he has a doctor helping or not but the counselor (Advanced Practice Nurse - ability to prescribe medicine) that I saw has plenty of experience with Baclofen up to 80mg (beyond that I was on my own) for treating pain patients and she had me take 15mg the first day (5mg three times a day) or then go right up to 30mg (10mg three times a day) then stay at 30mg for awhile. I had no problem with that but apparently others have. I'm not going to advise you do that because I am not a doctor and I am not personally familiar with the detox procedure/symptoms but that worked for me.

Remember, you can take baclofen while drinking. I did and many others have as well. I drank the whole way up to the switch and I believe Dr. Levin has confirmed that it is okay to drink while dosing up on Baclofen. So, if he is not able to stay alcohol free, don't stop the baclofen treatments. Again, this is just my personal belief based on my experience and second hand information. It is NOT medical advice.

Question 1: I felt a light relief in cravings from the very beginning of Baclofen but it was not enough to make me quit drinking. In fact, I was not able to quit drinking for any length of time throughout my dosing up. I had a couple AF days here and there and I managed a 5 day streak of AF at one point but it was very difficult and it didn't last. Many people here have reported a substantial reduction in cravings early on but others like me have had to drink basically the entire time.

The switch is obvious and immediate and he will know when he gets there. You can't miss it - you simply have NO craving whatsoever for alcohol. It is a glorious feeling and I wish it for everyone who has an alcohol dependence.

How soon you get to the switch depends on how fast you are able to dose up and how high your switch is. It can happen anywhere from a few weeks to several months. Mine took 5 months because I stayed at 30mg for a month before deciding to go for it and then I had a few setbacks and uncertainties that slowed me down and my switch point was so high.

Question #2: I can't help with this one. No knowledge or experience to share.

Question #3: I am not familiar with Zopiclone. I have taken Zolpidem (ambien) alot before starting baclofen. I have not needed it since but when I first started baclofen I asked my counselor if I could take it with baclofen and she said yes (but of course she was talking about 30mg of baclofen). I would think it would be okay, especially at such low levels of bac, but I'm not familiar with that medication. You can check drug interaction by googling or you may be able to call a pharmacist and ask them??

I am so excited when I hear about people starting to use baclofen. It has been a real life-saver for me. I'm not sure I could ever have quit without something to remove those awful cravings. Good luck to your brother and you!! I pray for the medical establishment to take note and put an end to alcoholism and I pray for everybody who is forging ahead with and without a doctor to find their freedom from alcohol.

Kelly

**CoventGarden** · April 27, 2010, 01:30 PM

just starting out on baclofen today-urgent questions

Susanna, our experience was that my wife was started on 30Mg per day and felt immediate relief from cravings. This lasted for a couple of weeks before she again felt "edgy"

She increased to 40Mg after 2 weeks, then to 50Mg after 3 weeks. By 6 weeks she was already on 60 Mg and was told to go to 70Mg if she felt the need. She hopes to reach 80Mg at 9 weeks.

She has had no noticeable side effects.

She has not reached the switch but feels a lot better and manages more AF days than not.

Bear in mind that this dosage is planned to take into account her weight (150 lbs)- so your brother would need to allow for that.

By the way - she has been told she can and should use Antabuse along with Baclofen when she feels the need.

Good luck

**susanna** · April 27, 2010, 01:55 PM

just starting out on baclofen today-urgent questions

you are wonderful people

I was so excited to return here and see responses from all of you it made me weepy. Everyone here, and those who have not found baclofen yet, deserve to be cared for while going through a relapse. Someday in our lifetimes society will look at how people with addictions were treated and shudder to think society was so inhumane and ignorant. Would your family not care for you if you were suffering from any other medical condition? Or even just a really bad flu?

I am sitting beside my brother who is lying in bed in agony. He is in an out of being awake and moaning and crying. I am giving him back rubs, food, beer, love and now ...baclofen. He had 5 mgs 4.5 hours ago. I am thinking he should take more now. He was so upset that he had a relapse because he was doing so well and really thought he had figured it out and was not going to the dark side again. He was so sad and frightened about it this week.

I will answer each of your comments now - I just wanted to say this to all of you - I want to send out a group hug. When this is under control for Paul I am going to work on getting the word out in Canada too, which is where we live (in Toronto).

Group hug (Grug),
Susanna

**susanna** · April 27, 2010, 01:59 PM

just starting out on baclofen today-urgent questions

corkit;844290 wrote: susanna, did Dr. Levin prescribe the BAC for your brother or did he just tell him how to take the medication? Someone may have a different answer than me but I think the answer to all your questions are everyone is different when they take BAC. What dose is good for one may not be good for another, hitting 60mg may decrease the cravings for AL for some and could be 150mg for others. I think you know what I'm saying. The very questions you're asking are the very ones we're asking all the time too.

Hoping all the best to you and your brother. It sounds like you're a very caring sister and he's blessed to have you.

Hi - Yes Dr. Levin did prescribe it - yesterday over the phone. I then found a pharmacy in Blaine Washington, on the other side of the continent, to have him call it in. Then my sister and dad, who live in Vancouver, drove to Blaine, brought it back over the border, and overnight UPS shipped it to Toronto. Talk about a continental team play!

We haven't spoken to Dr. L again since yesterday but he did say Paul was not to take any other meds without checking with him - but Paul had taken the sleeper before letting me know he was doing it.

**susanna** · April 27, 2010, 02:12 PM

just starting out on baclofen today-urgent questions

CoventGarden;844353 wrote: Susanna, our experience was that my wife was started on 30Mg per day and felt immediate relief from cravings. This lasted for a couple of weeks before she again felt "edgy"

She increased to 40Mg after 2 weeks, then to 50Mg after 3 weeks. By 6 weeks she was already on 60 Mg and was told to go to 70Mg if she felt the need. She hopes to reach 80Mg at 9 weeks.

She has had no noticeable side effects.

She has not reached the switch but feels a lot better and manages more AF days than not.

Bear in mind that this dosage is planned to take into account her weight (150 lbs)- so your brother would need to allow for that.

By the way - she has been told she can and should use Antabuse along with Baclofen when she feels the need.

Good luck

Thank you for this comment - it's making me think that Paul should take more than 15 mgs in the first day since he is suffering so badly. He is about 172 and strong built so I would think he could handle it and possibly get some relief sooner.

Dr. L prescribed only 5 mgs for the first three days, then 10 mgs for the next 4 days, then 30 mgs week 2, 50 mgs week 3 and then continuing to add 20 mgs each week. This is such a slow titration for someone who is in such a critical state.

I will keep you all posted - as I think there is a need for a thread that really focuses in on the first days - that's when peeps are really green and in a heightened state of anxiousness about it all.

**susanna** · April 27, 2010, 02:15 PM

just starting out on baclofen today-urgent questions

wow - right from the start!?

tom4now;844309 wrote: Have a look at this video....clip of a HBO documentry called "addiction"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byain0Vo5mo&feature=related[/video]]YouTube - Baclofen dramatically reduces cocaine craving

it acctually starts for many people to reduce cravings right at the start...thats been my expereice personally too...my carving from alcohol reduced from the start...your brothers expereince and others may be diferent...my expereince and research in its results!

your brother is on the right track...just make sure he with draws from this binge safely...baclofen did help me in my personal expereice to detox but I found it uncomfortable and we have to remember Doctor Ameisen did use Benzo's quite often to detox...good luck!!

Hello - thanks for your reply. Do you recall what dose you took right at the start?
I am definitely watching him on the withdrawals - he really hates the feeling of being on benzos though so wants to use beer instead. I hope the bac helps with the symptoms of withdrawal and will observe and share that too.

**susanna** · April 27, 2010, 02:17 PM

just starting out on baclofen today-urgent questions

cowgal;844326 wrote: Baclofen has done wonders for me until I went down a dark path and tried to off myself, between that in my system and al, and all the other things, I almost did it, thank GOD for this med tho, as it has gotten me back off al and on the right track just have your brother be care for withdrawals, they are dangerous, benzos will help................
love and good luck, :l :h :h

MA

Thanks for your kind support. Watching Paul for past 4 days on WD's - but i have to go to work on Wednesday which is a worry.

**susanna** · April 27, 2010, 02:30 PM

just starting out on baclofen today-urgent questions

birdy02;844340 wrote: Hi Birdy - I am looking forward to sharing your post and all the other ones here with Paul, as soon as he is well enough to read and absorb what you are all saying.
I am so excited when I hear about people starting to use baclofen. It has been a real life-saver for me. I'm not sure I could ever have quit without something to remove those awful cravings. Good luck to your brother and you!! I pray for the medical establishment to take note and put an end to alcoholism and I pray for everybody who is forging ahead with and without a doctor to find their freedom from alcohol.

Kelly

Hi Kelly:

The medical establishment is going to have to catch up - or the patients are going to leave them in the dust.

I have to wonder what all those private rehab facilities will do. Paul tried one for 3 months in an isolated god-forsaken place in the middle of Northern Quebec - with lousy food, poor facilities and substandard so called 'councillors'. What happens to these businesses if people can just get a generic drug and then deal with the therapy issues with someone in their home town ....who is affordable. Most people with addictions only need more therapy than the average person because of the trauma of what they went through in addiction, and the way they are treated by people on the way through. I suspect there will be much dragging of heals over baclofen.

We have run into so many snake oil salesmen in this treatment industry (which is what it is) - it's caused us to distrust all of them. I know many have good intentions - but really what do they know? Especially if they have not had addictions themself??!!

**Guest** · April 27, 2010, 02:52 PM

just starting out on baclofen today-urgent questions

Hey,
good luck and I am sure your brother will be fine. I too am on bac, I started with the 5-5-5 does for the first 3 days. This dosage and the slow titeration is more to reduce the risks of Side effects more than anything. Dont be in too much of a hurry or he may get discouraged by the side effects. Please continue to post and let us know what he is experiencing. Try not to give up on Bac because of the side effects. Others that have had bad side effects just backed down and went back up slowly and the side effects were not as bad.
Fingers crossed for you! I am in Canada too.

**Henrietta** · April 27, 2010, 03:17 PM

just starting out on baclofen today-urgent questions

Susanna

I completely agree with Hoping for the Best, above. Titrating very slowly will give your brother the best chance for handling the SE of Baclofen --some of which can be strong. I know it must be hard to be on the sidelines. You obviously care deeply about your brother and want to make sure he's as comfortable as possible. He's a lucky man. Remember though, it's probably taken him a fairly long time to get to this point, he'll be OK! There's nothing to be gained by rushing the doses. Starting at 15 mg, then titrating up by 10 mg every 4 or 5 days is a good rule of thumb, and then a willingness to back off the dosage if the side effects get too bad. My other "weapon" against the SE was information. When you understand what you are going through is in the normal range of experience with Baclofen, it takes a lot of the fear away. I now know what 'forewarned is forearmed' really means! My thought are with both of you.
BTW, I am coming up on celebrating my 3 month anniversary of being AF on Baclofen after hitting my switch at 130 mg. This really works.

**corkit** · April 27, 2010, 03:25 PM

just starting out on baclofen today-urgent questions

susanna, please call Dr. Levin tonight if he's that bad and see what he has to say and please follow how the doctor told him to take the bac.

Good luck, he'll be ok and how are you doing? Do you have someone to take care of you?

corkit

Welcome Guest to My Way Out Forums.

Announcement

just starting out on baclofen today-urgent questions

just starting out on baclofen today-urgent questions

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment