Positive Effect of Baclofen on Body Weight Reduction in Obese Subjects: A Pilot Study

[guardian]

I don't doubt another one of you journal scouring, gym nuts has proffered this little gym already. I found it very interesting as it validates many of my own results thus far on baclofen.

I have lost 7 lbs. after 9 days on baclofen. I, as many have reported, am also getting stronger in the gym. This would indicate that most of the weight loss is attributable to lipolysis. Aside from the first few terrible hangover days, I have not been under eating. The study indicates that baclofen has no effect on lipid or glucose metabolism. So that leaves leptin as the likely culprit for this particularly welcome side-effect. Enjoy.

INTERNALMEDICINE : Vol. 49 (2010) , No. 19 pp.2043-2047

Positive Effect of Baclofen on Body Weight Reduction in Obese Subjects: A Pilot Study
Hiroshi Arima1) and Yutaka Oiso1)
1) Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Field of Internal Medicine, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine
(Received for publication May 7, 2010)
(Accepted for publication July 2, 2010)
Abstract
Background and objective We previously reported that baclofen, a GABAB agonist, reduces body weight in obese mice. In this clinical study, we examined the possibility that baclofen might serve as an effective therapeutic agent for obesity in humans.
Methods Seven women and three men ranging from 25-51 years of age and 31.3-41.0 kg/m2 body mass index were included in the study. Baclofen, which was started at a dose of 15 mg/day and increased to 30 mg/day in 10 days, was administered for 12 weeks.
Results Administration of baclofen for 12 weeks significantly decreased both body weight (baseline: 93.30 ? 9.80 kg, 12 weeks: 91.70 ? 10.30 kg) and waist circumference (baseline: 107.9 ? 9.0 cm, 12 weeks: 105.6 ? 10.0 cm). Serum leptin levels, which possibly reflect the amount of adipose stores, were also decreased significantly by the treatment. On the other hand, there were no significant changes in the blood pressure or metabolism of glucose and lipid. No adverse effects were observed.
Conclusion Although the anti-obesity effects of baclofen in the present study were mild, this pilot study suggests the possibility that baclofen might serve as a new anti-obesity drug in humans.

[muchthought]

Positive Effect of Baclofen on Body Weight Reduction in Obese Subjects: A Pilot Study

How come I have to be the one that GAINS weight on baclofen. You'd think 750 calories less a day (by not drinking wine) would make me LOSE weight.

Thank you for the link to the study, guardian. Very interesting.

much

[Seethepony]

Positive Effect of Baclofen on Body Weight Reduction in Obese Subjects: A Pilot Study

Lol, muchthought!

Very interesting article, guardian. Above all "No adverse effects were observed" is reassuring!

[guardian]

Positive Effect of Baclofen on Body Weight Reduction in Obese Subjects: A Pilot Study

muchthought,

I am sorry to hear that you have been having trouble with that. I have a few observations though. I haven't looked into it much, and I may start to think myself in circles here, but hear me out because I think it may be the root of some peoples problems in the weight gain department.

The first few days I began taking baclofen I woke up with the much-hated droopy face. I thought, due having read much of the speculation on mwo, that because baclofen is a muscle relaxant, that I was doomed to look like a shar-pei. Well I looked into it, and as it turns out sleep deprivation or lack of quality sleep is associated with water retention in the face, abdomen and upper back. This is caused by increased cortisol secretion. Also from altmedicine:

"Other symptoms of Cushing's Syndrome include muscle wasting and weakness, thin skin, poor wound healing, easy bruising, purple "stretch marks" on the abdomen, menstrual irregularities, high blood pressure, glucose intolerance and hair loss in women."[1]

So the take-home message is that elevated cortisol, due to sleep deprivation can cause a great deal of water retention, effectively masking any true lipolysis. This is especially true if you happen to be a woman. More on that.

From the excerpt from altmed above, you may have caught the part about menstrual irregularities. This, even if so slight as to not be noticeable, can cause unbelievable swings in water balance in a woman's body. My fiance gains 10 lbs. every time she is premenstrual. In men and women, this is exacerbated by other stresses such as caloric deprivation.

I'd say keep doing what you are doing with the dieting. Some sudden weight loss may sneak up on you out of nowhere. If you are game to some experimentation, this is what I have found works for me when I am dieting hard and experience a halt in weight loss: I significantly overeat for a period of 1-3 days. Weight comes off quick. This makes no sense on it's face, but trust me, there's a lot of science to back it up.

At the end of the day 750 less Kcals from alcohol is the true miracle, muchthought. For when my switch came, I less concerned with the number on the scale, as I am with my liberation and triumph.

Having cast this evil demon down into the deep, I am standing on the highest mountain top with the sun on my shoulders, arms stretched overhead in conquest and I am belting out the pinnacle of nessun dorma:

"I will win! I will win!

-Ian




[1]http://altmedicine.about.com/cs/treatments/a/WeightGain.htm

[guardian]

Positive Effect of Baclofen on Body Weight Reduction in Obese Subjects: A Pilot Study

Seethepony;985311 wrote: Lol, muchthought!

Very interesting article, guardian. Above all "No adverse effects were observed" is reassuring!

Thank you, STP.

There is much, much more in the PDF at the bottom of the abstract. It is short and worth reading.

[help4me]

Positive Effect of Baclofen on Body Weight Reduction in Obese Subjects: A Pilot Study

Thanks, Ian for your insight to muchthought. I, too, seem to be having the gaining effects that much is having. I've been on the BAC for almost 2 weeks and have gained like 8 pounds. eeek! i was thinking the muscle relaxant was just making me more flabby. glad to read your insight. AND in spite of this, i'm not worried. I just want to hit that switch, then deal with the gain. I'd rather be fat for a while than drunk for the rest of my life. period.

[guardian]

Positive Effect of Baclofen on Body Weight Reduction in Obese Subjects: A Pilot Study

help4me,

I have hit the switch. I don't know if you can ever remember having a healthy mind and living without shame, but I cannot. I was destined to mask my pain with something. That's all peeled away now. I can now truly appreciate those that I love, and reciprocate their love. There are no words to describe the hope for the future that I hold now. I would happily die at 60 of diabetes or heart disease if I could only appreciate everything to the degree I do now. My second thirty years on this earth would be enough for me to die a jolly, fat bastard. I have been reborn. Melodramatic, I know, but I have NEVER felt this way. I wish you all the best.

-Ian

[Seethepony]

Positive Effect of Baclofen on Body Weight Reduction in Obese Subjects: A Pilot Study

Fantastic news, guardian. I'm also experiencing the shock and joy and of life without a constant hangover.
If someone had told me they could give me a pill that could stop me drinking almost overnight, I'd have thought "nut-case" or "con-man". But it's true. Baclofen is a life saver and it is a scandal that so few doctors are even aware of it.

You sound happy! Hoorah!

[help4me]

Positive Effect of Baclofen on Body Weight Reduction in Obese Subjects: A Pilot Study

Ian, would you share with us when you hit your switch and at what dose you were at? did you only start the BAC 9 days ago? Your posts are very inspiring! :thanks:

[muchthought]

Positive Effect of Baclofen on Body Weight Reduction in Obese Subjects: A Pilot Study

Ian - That is wonderful news! And help4me I'm glad to know we feel the same way. I can handle the weight, I've been fighting that fight all my life.

I am still at the curious place of not knowing how to spend my time in the evenings without drinking. Exercise sounds abominable, reading and computer hobbies are out because I nod off, I don't even chat as well with my teen kids and husband because I can't get my thoughts out as well without alcohol to loosen my tongue. I'm a musician and I don't feel as creative, though my fingers move better. All negative, I know, and I'm not defending alcohol, I just am searching. So that is one side effect: boredom.

Ian - singing nessan dorma is appropriate for the study if one is not sleeping - doesn't it mean "none shall sleep?" One of my favorites of all time, and worthy of a pinnacle!

[Topsy-Turvy-Tracy]

Positive Effect of Baclofen on Body Weight Reduction in Obese Subjects: A Pilot Study

Guardian, seven pounds in nine days is not "mild" weight loss. Do you think quitting alcohol or some other element caused that effect?

[guardian]

Positive Effect of Baclofen on Body Weight Reduction in Obese Subjects: A Pilot Study

Seethepony,

Happy isn't the word. I'm George Bailey on Christmas morning. I've had plenty of days without hangovers, but I have never been truly at ease with myself, truly happy. There is something else at work here, for me at least. It's like with the addiction lifted, that my real personality has an opening. I'm hoping it isn't just euphoria from the bac. I've taken pretty hefty doses of oxycontin before and it never had this effect on my anxiety and general well-being.

help4me,

I think I hit it on the 4th day. The first few are very fuzzy, but I know I took 150 and drank a few beers. I think the fourth day I is when I really turned the corner. I drank heavily and can remember taking 150, although I know I took more than that later, just not how much. I don't think it was anything crazy, probably 50 or 75. The next day I was very ill; this is the only day I didn't eat, and I had only slept 2 hours despite polishing off a case of beer. I've been coasting at 150 and not a bit of a craving. Triggers yes, but it just doesn't make any sense for me to mar myself with alcohol anymore. I had a taste of my fiances margarita the other night; enjoyed the taste, but had no desire to have more because I don't want to feel drugged. Furthermore, it would do nothing to calm me or 'grease the social wheels' like I used to need it for. I am utterly at peace. Just fine as I am, thank you.

So, to put it short:

Switch: 200-225
Since then: 150
Gender: M
Weight: 155 lbs
Drinking History: near-everyday drunk for most of the last 7 years. 60-140 units (US)

I think that this may be my 11th day. I know that's a pretty short period. Trust me, this is coming as a shock to me as well. I'm sort of waiting for the other shoe to drop, but there's no sense casting doubt upon an otherwise very good thing.

muchthough,

I haven't actually been exercising that much. Every third day or so, which is much less than usual.

I can assure you this: when you do get over the hill, finding interest in everything around you will be an absolute. I have fun organizing junk drawers now. I'd just consider boredom a side-effect you'll need to deal with; It may get better, it may get worse. If your experience is anything like mine, every single positive thing in your life will become that much more precious and valuable to you. Even the negatives seem less threatening to me. I can evaluate them objectively and decide course of action without thinking: "I'm totally getting drunk after this is over with".

Ahh yes, opera. My new favorite. My mp3 player was full of angry crap so I scrapped the whole thing. I hated opera until I hit my switch. I'm so glad I did because I have never had music evoke such positive emotion in me. Yes, it means "none shall sleep". I laughed at that. I'm surprised the irony hadn't occurred to me. Pavarotti's is on my mP3 player. It is my anthem. I just wonder if people will think it weird when they see me weeping tears of joy at the gym?

Also, my typing is getting better. So, if that is any indication, your string work may as well.

T-T-T,

I have done it many times without baclofen on Lyle McDonald's Rapid Fat Loss Diet. The difference is that I wasn't trying to lose weight. Since hitting the switch, I have no craving for unhealthy foods. I know that they are bad for me so I don't eat them, simple as that. The PDF of the study describes something similar in the test subjects. I don't know much about leptin, but I assume that because the researchers pointed in out in the abstract that it is very significant. I guess because craving alcohol, sweets and fats all act similarly in the brain, a reduction in desire and consumption in the former may lead to concurrent reductions in the later. They also noted reduced nicotine cravings. I have as well. I've cut my chewing tobacco in half.


Everyone, thank you for taking an active interest in my progress. I consider this site to be instrumental to my success. in the first few days when the side-effects were miserable, reading the many other success stories is what kept me from throwing in the towel. Is it too soon to say I love you all? Eh, I don't care.

Thank you all so very much,

Ian

[ignominous]

Positive Effect of Baclofen on Body Weight Reduction in Obese Subjects: A Pilot Study

I'd like to add my felicitations. Great news, that's the sort of sobriety I'm looking for.

[Topsy-Turvy-Tracy]

Positive Effect of Baclofen on Body Weight Reduction in Obese Subjects: A Pilot Study

Thanks, Ian. I've noticed a reduction in nicotine use too and eating low-carb (I think McDonald's is low carb?) causes a decrease in carb cravings. Interesting how it works.

[Isolde]

Positive Effect of Baclofen on Body Weight Reduction in Obese Subjects: A Pilot Study

Wow Ian, that is so great to hear!! Huge congrats to you on your success with bac! I hope to be as thrilled as you some day soon. Even without having hit the switch yet, bac definitely does something good to my brain. Less depression, more energy, happier... just all around more positive. It is such a relief!
Sooo, opera, huh? That's a very interesting "side effect"! But as long as it makes ya happy, more power to ya. I've also found that bac seems to intensify the enjoyment of music for me. It just seems so much more rich. Yesterday when I was driving home from work, I wished my drive was longer so I could just keep going and enjoy the feeling. Had the windows down and was listening to a great playlist on my iPod and just didn't want to stop!

I still can't really fathom the idea of just not wanting to drink though. I was just talking to a friend of mine about this new place that opened up that has a huge beer selection and I got excited about going to check it out. Being able to go out and have a couple of drinks socially still really appeals to me, and I wonder how I would respond to the situation if I just did not have any desire to drink at all anymore. I guess I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

Tracy, LOVE the new avatar, so cute! Very fitting also. :H

Ian, thanks for sharing your great energy with us, we love you too. :l