Tapering off baclofen

[craving]

Tapering off baclofen

tip,

thanks for the report. I am now at 56.25 and I have to desire to get "high" - no matter if through alcohol or other things. My anxiety levels are for the moment okay.

I want to wait a few more days, but considering also to stop the tapering off and to return to 62.5-75mg

There is no negative effect of taking Baclofen, and that ppl always try to reduce the dose is the best sign that Baclofen does not cause addiction. I have more and more the thinking that the body wants us to go off Baclofen so we can do our addiction thing again!

[PhoenixRising]

Tapering off baclofen

tiptronic_ct;958766 wrote: I have made another attempt at tapering down further.

Reminder: hit the switch at 270mg in August 2009, have been at 80mg for (more or less) 9 months now after titrating down. When going below 60, I remain indifferent to alcohol (I have deliberately made an effort to test that by browsing wine shelves in shops etc. BUT: I do feel somewhat anxious at that level.

I am now going to stay on 80 indefinitely. I have absolutely no SEs, and it works for me.

Thanks for the update, Tip. I was wondering how it was going for you.

I am at 135 (down from 245) and no cravings. I have chosen for now to moderate and have had a drink or two on occasion, so, good for now. Total abstinence, for me, triggers anxiety and drinking urges. The whole "never again" thing just screws with my head. So, I tell myself I can drink whenever I want to, and with the Bac, I just don't want to. I don't know how low I will go. I am going to make an appt with my doc and see if I can get an Rx for it.

[Sunnyvalenting]

Tapering off baclofen

Last night I took just 10 mg of the baclofen. I took it as much to help me sleep as following a specific schedule. I am thinking of getting off it entirely and seeing if any cravings arise. Has anyone on this thread gone entirely off it? If so any tips?
Sunny

[craving]

Tapering off baclofen

Sunnyvalenting;959215 wrote: Last night I took just 10 mg of the baclofen. I took it as much to help me sleep as following a specific schedule. I am thinking of getting off it entirely and seeing if any cravings arise. Has anyone on this thread gone entirely off it? If so any tips?
Sunny

sunny, although I was never down that much, I would guess that there is no significant difference between taking 10mg of Baclofen or not. Your receptors are already used to freaking low 10mg! Its safe to stop taking it from that level.

[Lo0p]

Tapering off baclofen

PhoenixRising;958994 wrote: I am at 135 (down from 245) and no cravings. I have chosen for now to moderate and have had a drink or two on occasion, so, good for now. Total abstinence, for me, triggers anxiety and drinking urges. The whole "never again" thing just screws with my head. So, I tell myself I can drink whenever I want to, and with the Bac, I just don't want to. I don't know how low I will go. I am going to make an appt with my doc and see if I can get an Rx for it.

When you do go, tell them you are abstinent!

[PhoenixRising]

Tapering off baclofen

Lo0p;960043 wrote: When you do go, tell them you are abstinent!

How come, Lo0p?

[Proper med user]

Do I need baclofen taper

I've been taking 10 milligrams of Baclofen for close to a month now once per day I need to know if I should taper off of it or if I can just stop taking it without experiencing withdrawal. The dr. That prescribe that to me I can't ask this because this doctor told me that you could not become physically dependent on it so she doesn't really know her medicine as well or at least not this one. I also plan to call the pharmacist but figured someone who has taken. It would also be knowledgeable about withdrawing from this medicine or if only taking it this time frame I shouldn't worry about it. I know what acts similar to a benzo and also take clonazepam. I was able to skip my evening dose of clonazepam when I took the baclofen cuz it did help with my anxiety also. But it also seems to have made my muscle spasm problem worse which I read is a rare side effect. So I want to get off at ASAP to see if that's the case. Thanks for any advice I appreciate it

[Baclofenman]

Is Baclofen and Clonazepam all you are taking?

They effect different areas you know, Baclofen the GABAb receptors and Clonazepam the GABAb

Taking 10mg QD is hardly likely to have become "physically dependent" in this, short period of intake and as you say it did help you with you anxiety

What "muscle spasm" 's are you having? - I assume you are taking Baclofen for AUD assistance?

In my experience Baclofen is not addictive, in that it is not addictive but you can become addicted to the effects of not drinking can give you.....

Tapering down needs to be carried out very slowly from what I have heard, if I was in your position, I would take 10mg every QAD (every other day) for two weeks then every three days for a week, then every four days for the final week - But then again, with the lack of dependence this might be a little over cautious - As we are all different, I guess only you can tell

On the basis you are taking this medication to stop drinking:

Are you still drinking? - If so, why do you want to stop? (Baclofen) - As Baclofen aleviated the need for Clonazepam, have you not considered dumping this and using Baclofen as it is recomended in the French Titration schedule? - What is Clonazepam doing for *you*

Regards


Bacman

[Proper med user]

I was prescribed Baclofen for muscle spasms from arthritis in my neck. I take the clonazepam for anxiety. I have been for a long time unfortunately. I have tried working with a psychiatrist using multiple different antidepressants over the past couple years with little success. I have also been taking hydrocodone for the past 15 months for chronic pain issues. And I've tried tapering off them several times recently without success to do my high anxiety. In years past I've had to take them for up to seven months and was able to taper off back then without a problem but that was before I was suffering from such high anxiety and depression. From a pain standpoint now I think I can tolerate it and need to get off of them ASAP as my psychiatrist will not prescribe any more clonazepam until I'm off the old people eat anyway. He states there is a new black box warning that makes it practically it legal to prescribe benzodiazepines to somebody who's taking narcotics. So I started on a small amount of subtex take for a little while to try to help taper off the Norcos. There is a strict warning about taking out there system antidepressants like Baclofen and clonazepam with the subtext even though I'm taking a very small dose I still need to be very careful and take as little clonazepam as possible and need to eliminate the baclofen completely . I also got fired from my job 3 months ago and am still being treated for a back injury on-the-job only collecting workman's comp pay and I'm not sure if I'm going to be back to work very soon at all. So I'm battling multiple issues and problems right now

[Proper med user]

I counted the pills that I have left and I've actually taken 60 10 milligram pills in the past 3 months. I took about 15 or so on and off when I first got them about three months ago. And the rest are pretty much taken a little longer than I thought probably about a month-and-a-half. One 10 milligram pill per night

[Baclofenman]

I counted the pills that I have left and I've actually taken 60 10 milligram pills in the past 3 months. I took about 15 or so on and off when I first got them about three months ago. And the rest are pretty much taken a little longer than I thought probably about a month-and-a-half. One 10 milligram pill per night

Although I am not a doctor, I doubt you have any dependency whatsoever - At your small dose, medicine interaction aside, The Committee on Safety of Medicines recommends tapering the dose over 1-2 weeks, or more slowly if symptoms occur - As you are such an infrequent user 10 QW (weekly) for two weeks and 5 QW for two weeks would seem the way I would go - Obviously as CSM suggests should you experience any "issues" you can always seek the advice of the prescribing physician

I know that MS sufferers are staggered by the amount of Baclofen some alcoholics take as they generally take between 10 and 30mg of Baclofen QD

HTH


Bacman

[Proper med user]

Right now I'm taking other medicines that I need to make sure that I'm not taking any other system depressants. Also think the Baclofen is causing problems. So what I have done the past two nights is just taking one quarter of a pill. I'm actually cutting down on benzodiazepines because I am taking other medication that can interact. But don't want to end up with an issue with any withdrawals from the Baclofen. I'm actually tapering down on opioids so it'll be difficult to figure out what symptoms are from what.

[Baclofenman]

Right now I'm taking other medicines that I need to make sure that I'm not taking any other system depressants. Also think the Baclofen is causing problems. So what I have done the past two nights is just taking one quarter of a pill. I'm actually cutting down on benzodiazepines because I am taking other medication that can interact. But don't want to end up with an issue with any withdrawals from the Baclofen. I'm actually tapering down on opioids so it'll be difficult to figure out what symptoms are from what.

On the basis you are very nondescript on what else you are taking I will pass for the time being......

Regards


Bacman