I thought I would start this thread because I think there may be a misconception about Baclofen dosage.
From my discussions with a doctor who is using this medication and a community nurse who is visiting people who are using Baclofen, I understand that the key to Baclofen is to keep the right level in the system so as not to crave AL so that it is more important to take regular doses of a smaller amount than to concentrate on getting up to a target amount by taking a lot at a time. The doses should be up to 30 mg spaced evenly through the day with an extra dose before bed and one in the night if you wake up and one first thing. If you have a craving top up an additional 15 mg. Some people are taking 30 mg an hour with a top up of .5 mg if they crave. You can increase at whatever level you feel comfortable with. The guidelines of 10 mg are for neurological patients who can take longer. If you are still drinking, increase the frequency of doses before increasing the individual dose then increase the overall dose at 10 mg a day, or more if you feel comfortable.
Ameisen's study suggested that people have different trigger levels and it seems this is not dependent strictly on weight but on metabolism.
The important thing seems to be to keep the level of Baclofen at the right amount so the cravings do not come back and to avoid swings in level of Baclofen in the system. It also does not seem to be terribly important, other than managing side effects, how fast or slow you achieve your correct dosage level. The level of your dosage is what is correct for you. If you come off it then you should go back on at the same level, not try to titrate up slowly from a low amount. The important thing is getting back to your correct dosage as soon as possible.
From my discussions with a doctor who is using this medication and a community nurse who is visiting people who are using Baclofen, I understand that the key to Baclofen is to keep the right level in the system so as not to crave AL so that it is more important to take regular doses of a smaller amount than to concentrate on getting up to a target amount by taking a lot at a time. The doses should be up to 30 mg spaced evenly through the day with an extra dose before bed and one in the night if you wake up and one first thing. If you have a craving top up an additional 15 mg. Some people are taking 30 mg an hour with a top up of .5 mg if they crave. You can increase at whatever level you feel comfortable with. The guidelines of 10 mg are for neurological patients who can take longer. If you are still drinking, increase the frequency of doses before increasing the individual dose then increase the overall dose at 10 mg a day, or more if you feel comfortable.
Ameisen's study suggested that people have different trigger levels and it seems this is not dependent strictly on weight but on metabolism.
The important thing seems to be to keep the level of Baclofen at the right amount so the cravings do not come back and to avoid swings in level of Baclofen in the system. It also does not seem to be terribly important, other than managing side effects, how fast or slow you achieve your correct dosage level. The level of your dosage is what is correct for you. If you come off it then you should go back on at the same level, not try to titrate up slowly from a low amount. The important thing is getting back to your correct dosage as soon as possible.
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