Tapering off baclofen

[Sunnyvalenting]

I am considering tapering off baclofen. I have been abstinent for 7+ months now. I now only take about 30 mg/d in divided doses. Has anyone on this forum any advice or experience in stopping the med entirely? Any suggestions, warnings, advice? My doc says I can stay on it if I want. I will restart if I feel cravings but I would like to think or hope that my brain has sufficiently "rewired" for me to be able to do without the bac. Thanks in advance for any feedback.
Sunny

[Lo0p]

Tapering off baclofen

I just spoke w/ Dr. Levin about this and he said based on his last conversation with Ameisen that after about 1-1/2 years I should be able to reduce the amount of baclofen I take, but not too soon.

[Sunnyvalenting]

Tapering off baclofen

Thanks, that helps.

[Cinders]

Tapering off baclofen

Sunny,

I would just walk backwards through the titration schedule.

Go down by x mgs/day for x numbers of day. (Is it 15 mgs/day for 3 days?)

I am very curious how getting of the Baclofen works for you and your cravings.

Please keep us up-to-date.

This kind of information is critical.

Thanks!!
Cindi

[tiptronic_ct]

Tapering off baclofen

Mmmmmm.

I'm in a similar situation, Sunny

Having been AF for over a year now, I really want to see where I stand. I don't mind taking it indefinitely if that is what it will take to remain AF without a struggle. I just really need to know if something fundamental has "shifted".

I have started a further taper. I'm on 75mg and supposed to go to 70 tomorrow. Only tapering by 5mg every 3 days. I agree with Lo0p that it takes a couple of days for a dosage change to make itself felt, so I'm going to take it very slowly and cautiously.

Just to recap: I hit the switch at 270, tapered down too fast from there, titrated back up to about 240 again and then tapered slowly to 80mg, where I have been for the past 8 months or so.

Sunny: would you mind if I used this thread to record my progress?

[mama bear]

Tapering off baclofen

I got to 80 And my blood pressure went through the roof and I was horribly dizzy...so i cut my dose in half every day and now I am off of it and i fell SOOOOOOO much better
but my dose was not as high as yours and I had not been on it as long.....
good luck to you sunny

[craving]

Tapering off baclofen

try tampering off slowly. Stick with the same pill size, same brand as you have been before. Don't mix with other pill sizes (i.e. 10mg) of the same brand. 2.5x Lioresal 10mg proofed to me to be less effective than Lioresal 25mg

Ideally reduce the dose by one quarter of a pill every week. Stop reducing the dose if you do not feel good - and wait until you feel better. Usually I noticed a reduction after 2-4 days.

I have hit my switch around 270-300mg/d and have reduced my dose to 37.5mg. No craving, but lots of anxiety and fear, so I increased my dose back to 75mg ... now I am at 62.5mg ... looking to further reduce once I feel comfortable with my current dose.

see below my stats.

[craving]

Tapering off baclofen

typical side effects of tapering off Baclofen for me are :

-neck pain
-muscle pain
-anxiety/fear
-panic
-general overflood of feelings, leaves me sometimes a bit paralyzed

best to tapering it off real slow. The body needs to have enough time to compensate the reduced GABA activity by starting its own activity again (thats the theory).

Keep us updated of your process. We are both in the same shoes.
I was going down before too fast and I will never make this mistake again. No rally to win.

[moglor]

Tapering off baclofen

I've noticed the neck/muscle pain when tapering down too, but so far haven't experienced the other symptoms.

[Sunnyvalenting]

Tapering off baclofen

Thanks to all
Started bac on jan 18th/ 2010. I don't know when I reached my "switch" because bac seemed to work from the get go even at a low dose. This may have been because I was already committed to abstinence and had been so for 5 days before starting the drug. It may also be because I am female and older and maybe needed less. Will never know.
I went up from 30 to about 90 over a few months. I stayed in the 80-100 range (depending on ANY thoughts of alcohol use) for about 2 months. I have been tapering slowly and the past few weeks had been mostly at 30-40 range. Last few days just 30 and yesterday down to 20/day in the evening to help me sleep as much as anything
I don't yet experience any withdrawal pangs. None of the symptoms described by Cravings. I have found it actually easier to taper down than up for some reason.
Nice side benefit is that I had noticed that I wasn't able to meditate as deeply while on the bac. This seems to be getting better as I adjust downward.
I think I will stay on 20/d for a week or so and then cut by 5 mg/week. If I have any cravings or anxiety I will take an extra 5 or 10 mg.
I think this would be a good thread for all of us who are tapering to share our experiences and ideas.
I am thrilled to know I am no longer a captive in this cell of addiction
Sunny
That is good advice not to switch mfg or pill dose. I want to be sure and consistent. I have plenty of the liorsil 10 mg and can easily get more as it is on a prescription which says I can take 12/day!

[FallonsMom]

Tapering off baclofen

gosh I really wished i could have stayed on bac

[Sunnyvalenting]

Tapering off baclofen

FM, why did you need to stop the bac?

[tiptronic_ct]

Tapering off baclofen

So far so good on 70mg.

As of tomorrow, I'll lower to 65 and see how it goes.

[Sunnyvalenting]

Tapering off baclofen

Still doing well on 20/day
There are those in my life who don't want me to stop it yet.
I want to see what the lowest effective dose is and weather I still need it after almost 8 months.
good going Trip.
Sunny

[craving]

Tapering off baclofen

I have been on 62.5mg for 2 weeks and finally I am used to it!

Quite interesting to see that my body needs 2 weeks to adjust! Its the 2nd time this happens. I feel not too good on the lower dose, and after 2 weeks it makes sort of 'click' and I feel good again!