Baclofen Doctors

[Publius]

Hi this is my first post but I've been perusing this forum for some time. You all do a wonderful thing here and the information you have compiled on the high dose baclofen treatment is astounding. I'm really in need of finding a doctor to prescribe it to me. I tried to convince my psychiatrist to no avail (he looked into it, asked a substance abuse expert, who told him he wasn't sold on it as a treatment, no surprise as bac might put him out of a job.) I live in tri-state area and was hoping someone might know a name anywhere in the area of a doctor who prescribes bac for this. I'd much prefer to do this under a doctor's care, though if it is necessary I will definitely get it online, as without it I'm not sure how much longer I'll last before it finally gets me. Thank you.

[tiptronic_ct]

Baclofen Doctors

Hi, Publius

:welcome: to MWO!!!

I can't answer your question, since I'm on a different continent altogether - just wanted to wish you luck and encourage you to participate and keep us up to date on your progress.

I believe Dr. Levin (who has helped many members here) prescribes telephonically? I'm sure some of the others will be along shortly to give you some advice.

[Seethepony]

Baclofen Doctors

It's quite breathtaking that doctors are so unhelpful in this area. It's like architects insisting that houses don't need roofs.

My feeling is, my advice is don't waste time looking for Dr Enlightened. Read as much as you can on the topic -- masses of stuff on this forum to read -- and order it from whichever online pharmacy you can find on your continent. Start on tame amounts and increase dosage gently. There will be some strange sensations, but nothing too scary - and before you know it, your attitude to alcohol with have shifted. Try to drink as little as possible when you're taking it (I know, if that were so easy you wouldn't be here - but it works a lot quicker if you give yourself a few days off the booze.)

Don't wait a minute longer. Just get that Baclofen "by any means necessary" and while it's winging its way towards your abode, figure out a game plan and strict schedule for your treatment. I think 5mg (half a 10mg tablet) 3 times a day is the standard place to start.

Good luck and carpe diem!

[Publius]

Baclofen Doctors

Thanks a ton. I'm gonna try Dr. Levin, but if not I'm ready to take the plunge come hell or high water, I can't do this anymore, so internet it will be.

[ignominous]

Baclofen Doctors

Go for it

[Publius]

Baclofen Doctors

I just spoke to the doc. What a wonderful guy. I'll start the bac asap. BTW there is a new system and regimen. Titration is a process (2-3 mos.) and there is no maintenence dose, you stay at the dose where you hit the switch. This comes from Dr. Ameisen through Dr. LeVin. Super psyched to start

[ignominous]

Baclofen Doctors

What?!
You stay at the switch dose indefinitely? I really don't want to be popping 30 pills (can only get 10mg here) a day for the rest of my life, though I would do it if required.
Maybe Dr Levin or OA could grace us with your presence once again.
Plus its going to cost me a small fortune.

[PhoenixRising]

Baclofen Doctors

I don't know anyone who has stayed at the switch dose indefinitely. Most people land around 30-120 as a maintenance dose.

[Publius]

Baclofen Doctors

I was surprised too. I've been reading about this treatment for almost two years now and I've never heard of this philosophy, including with the self-administration technique of OA. When I spoke to Dr. LeVin, and he told me to stay at that dose when I hit the switch, I stopped him and asked about going down to a maintenance dose, he told me verbatim, "we're not doing that anymore." I was surprised and didn't push him on the subject, as I was anxious to begin with and grateful for all his help, but he did intimate that this was the new philosophy in administration of high dose baclofen. This isn't totally surprising as such a new treatment must require early fine tuning and experiment. Take that for what it's worth, I'm only relaying what I was told. I will post my full regimen when I start, and hopefully the newly refined technique will work for me, and if it does, for others as well.

[Wonka]

Baclofen Doctors

Hi Publius,

I also spoke to Dr. Levin and he is totally going to help me too!!--My only problem is that I live in Canada and am worried about getting bac over the border through the mail.

I am in the process of trying to find a local doctor who will help me. Other doctors seem willing to listen once I told them that my local GP perscribed my bac. and that I am a patient of a a doctor in Chicago who is going to work with me and give me a perscription for bac.

Any way it goes...I will find a way to get bac.---I just don't want to drink any more.

Good luck,

Wonka

[Sunnyvalenting]

Baclofen Doctors

The clinic which started me on the baclofen say I can stay on it as long as I wish. I am currently on 1-20 at bedtime only. This is probably just a symbolic gesture on my part but I really don't want to risk another problem. I will consider discontinuing it after AF for a year. I am currently at 8 1/2 months AF.
I don't know that anyone really knows what the best and least risky doses are. It may be a case by case situation based on genetics, epigenetics, environment, history, personality or other factors.
Sunny

[Publius]

Baclofen Doctors

Hey Wonka. I've read a couple of your posts about finding baclofen in Canada. I truly hope that you can find a way to make your dreams a reality. The only help I can be to you is that Dr. LeVin told me in our conversation that if I need any help convincing my GP that I need to be on the high doses of Bac that I will be on with his help, that the GP should call him directly and he will talk with him in an effort to convince, as stopping Bac or running out suddenly could prove hazardous. Dr. L said that if doctors speak with him any reservations they may have are usually subsided by the knowledge that he is on faculty at North Western University. This pedigree may sway a doc in Canada to prescribe it in the first place, leading to a legit script for you there. This is merely speculation, however, and you would need to speak to Dr. L to see if he might speak to your current GP in Canada and possibly convince them that this is the appropriate treatment for you. I hope this helps.

Love,

Publius

[Publius]

Baclofen Doctors

removed

[Sunnyvalenting]

Baclofen Doctors

There is an excellent book called "Rethinking Substance Abuse" which covers much of the current known science of addiction, dependence and recovery. It was published fairly recently. It contains chapters written by many of the cutting edge researchers and clinicians in the field. I have found it to be very helpful in the understanding of this disease. There seem to be some who are vulnerable to multiple addictions and some more vulnerable to alcohol. All of them seem to include alteration in the reward pathway such that the person vulnerable to addiction begins, slowly or quickly, to use more of the substance more often and spirals into dependency.
Turns out that genetics is only part of the answer and even at that there are more than one gene capable of making one vulnerable to the disorder.
I don't believe I had significant clinical anxiety until AFTER I started drinking and trying to quit but I could be wrong. It is not always possible to compare my insides to someone else's!
At any rate I am glad I am a "responder" to baclofen. Only regret is not having found out about it sooner. But I am moving on as they say and have every confidence that this works perfectly for me. I believe I am cured.
Sunny

[ignominous]

Baclofen Doctors

Firstly.

In response to your last post Pubius, I can tell you that heroin was my drug of choice once I had found it. I was on it for 2 years and and the only reason I stopped it was because the undesirable consequences became glaringly apparent and undeniably unavoidable. (a lot of un's!)

Cocaine or speed were entertaining but why anyone want to live full time at that level was a mystery to me.

Its not the rush of nicotine (3 packs/day) and of alcohol that I desire. However I do enjoy tha morning cigarette and the first sip. But , I think, its the numbing qualities that I'm after. Drinking to oblivion.

Secondly

Has everybody missed the statement that no one should titrate down. I find this rather disconcerting as it flies in the face of the accepted cumulative wisdom of the forum. In fact it emphasises the main flaw of these discussions in that the threads are too subjective. Bump this, Zen or Tips!