My progress with Baclofen

[Bruunhilde]

My progress with Baclofen

LOL, I knew I was behind on your thread, but didn't realize just how far. And not being all bac'd up, you're seeing my natural idiocy, I have no excuse. :goodjob:

[Isolde]

My progress with Baclofen

While I haven't been posting much lately (there's just been so much to keep up with around here lately and I've been pretty busy), I do try and peruse the most recent goings-on. Things with me have been pretty steady bac-wise, so I haven't had much to say as far as my own story is concerned. I've played around with my dose a bit recently, titrating up by 50mgs and then back down, just for the heck of it, really. And for some reason, I happen to like the way titrating down makes me feel. So over the course of 2 weeks recently, I went up to 130mgs and then back down to 80mgs, where I'll be hanging out at for awhile again.

AL's been few and far between for me. I absolutely found that I had been kind of isolating myself from situations where AL would be involved. This past weekend was my brother's birthday, and there was a big gathering for him at my family's favorite Irish pub. I went with the intention of having maybe 2-3 beers and calling it an early night. I found myself having a really good time though, connecting with old friends, etc. So when the party moved from the pub to the Hard Rock Casino, I decided to go along as well.

Over the course of the entire evening (7pm-2am), I had 3 pints of beer, one half pint of cider (those half pint glasses are so darn cute), a celebratory Irish car bomb, and one cocktail. Kind of sounds like a lot, at least to me, and especially considering that the last time I drank, a glass and a half of wine had me feeling quite drunk. But the difference was that I never felt I had to hurry up and drink what I had in hand in order to order another. The drinks were really just an afterthought, and my attention was much more engaged with the people that I was hanging out with. For the most part, it took me a really long time to finish my drinks. I just felt good, not at all drunk and not sloppy. I even forgot my last baclofen dose. I wasn't planning on being out so late, so I ended up having only 60mgs that day.

I woke up the next day (yesterday) feeling absolutely fine. I just picked back up with my 80mgs baclofen dose as usual. I had a great time and don't feel at all guilty that I ended up having a bit more than I'd planned on. I don't feel any desire to have a drink again anytime soon, or to increase my dose for a time to fend off any possible cravings, because there just aren't any. In short, and I know that this has been said many times before, I felt like I was drinking like a normal person. There was a complete lack of compulsion. Granted, I don't plan on going out and drinking like that with any degree of consistency, but it's beyond refreshing to know that a night like that won't cause a relapse. Besides, it feels too damn good being healthy for me to want to do that again anytime soon.

I know the majority here are not shooting for moderation, but who knows, maybe this account will be somewhat useful to someone. In any case, it was beyond time that I updated my thread!

I was able to refill the initial prescription that my doctor had written me for bac without any issues, which was a relief. So I'm now well stocked for the next several months, with plenty of leeway to play with my dose if I so desire. I hope the xanax refill will to as smoothly! :H

[bleep]

My progress with Baclofen

Cool update Is, thanks! That's exactly what I'm aiming for, and for the most part, pretty much succeeding.

Opens up a whole new world...

[Ne/Neva Eva]

My progress with Baclofen

Nice.
Excellent.
Thanks.

Ne

[Murphyx]

My progress with Baclofen

When there's nothing extraordinary happening, no descent into drunkenness, no bizarre side effects, no sudden connection with a new god, there doesn't seem much point in updating our threads. But I'm really glad you did Is. Because those who have achieved that which they were looking for with baclofen, a rewiring of the brain to become normal again, tend not to update very often. This leaves noobs with the mistaken impression that baclofen is a dangerous and difficult medicine.

Hey noobs, Baclofen works!

It works and it needn't be too difficult. It doesn't matter what your gender, your age, how much you previously drank or for how long. It doesn't matter whether you have a relationship with a deity. It doesn't matter if you have 20 years of AA under your belt and all the fucking 'tools' in the world. Baclofen does what it says on the tin; baclofen works!

For everyone who is looking into baclofen, wondering whether they should try it. Whether this is the thing that will save them from a life of alcoholism; the thing that will save their lives...read Isolde's last post. This shit is the real deal.

Just because this forum is stuffed full of people's stories about how hard they are finding baclofen, how they are suffering from new, extraordinary side effects every week, it doesn't mean that's what you should expect. Most people take baclofen, get cured and move on. They don't keep posting on this forum. Why should they? They've got what they want and they move on. But because most threads here are full of people asking for help with their problems, it gives a lopsided view of baclofen.

Most people don't suffer the freaky side effects. Full stop!

So Is, thanks for your post and thanks for reminding everyone that baclofen is THE cure. And one more time:
Hey noobs, Baclofen works!

[Isolde]

My progress with Baclofen

Thanks Murph. :l

You're right, people out there absolutely do need to hear that there are people who are doing great on baclofen and have gotten exactly what they wanted from it. You know what's funny? I hadn't even realized that I'm side effect free! I hadn't thought about them in so long now. No tinnitus (actually had to check it just now by forcing myself to yawn, and there's no ear ringing at all), no somnolence, no sleep disruptions, etc. Just... normal (as far as that means anything!).

[LadyLush]

My progress with Baclofen

Isolde,

I was just thinking about you and Serenity today and where you were. I want to get to the point that you are at but I am still at all or none :-)

And Murph needs to behave, some threads are getting out of hand without you guys :l

So good to hear you are doing well. I miss you and your input:l

Lady

[Isolde]

My progress with Baclofen

LONG overdue update!!

Alright Bruun, though I do like to tease, I won't leave you hanging! :H
As I mentioned in my last update, my baclofen dose fluctuates. I'm always trying to capitalize on the good SEs! I was in a titrating up phase and as always happens, once I got to a certain dose (which is always different!) I started having trouble sleeping well during the night. Xanax doesn't work for me more than one night in a row, unless I increase the dose. And I obviously didn't want to start taking more and more xanax. I'd taken klonopin on occasion in the past, because my brother has a prescription, and it had always worked really well for me, so I asked my doctor for an Rx.
I found the same thing to be true with klonopin though - the same dose on subsequent nights didn't have the same effect. My brother told me that it has to build up in your system, so I decided just to keep taking it. In fact, I kept taking it even while I titrated down and most likely could have slept just fine without it.
I was prescribed .5 mgs, but I was cutting them in half. Taking .5 mgs had me feeling groggy for a few hours in the morning. So I would take .25 mgs during the week, and then .5 mgs on Friday and Saturday, when I could sleep in the next day. It was just another pill that I took and I pretty much stopped thinking about it.
Over the course of about 2 months, I found that I started drinking more often. It got to the point that I was at least having 1 every night again, but sometimes 2 (and on occasion, 3 or 4). Not a lot, but after being indifferent for so long, I could feel the drinking habit beginning to form again and it made me really uncomfortable. My food issues also began resurfacing. I began craving crappy processed sweets, which had been disgusting to me for so long. Though I was still hitting the gym really hard and having good workouts, progressively increasing my weight, I just couldn't seem to stay as lean as I had been before.
I also noticed that no matter what I did with my baclofen dose, the AL and food cravings didn't budge. And I was no longer experiencing the good SEs either. It was incredibly frustrating! It all came to a head when I had surgery last month. I was out of work for about a week and a half, so I took .5 mgs of klonopin every night in order to help me sleep. When I came back to work, I was very well rested, but I also felt like I had NO spark left. I felt blah and numb and unmotivated. I was also experiencing anxiety, which to me makes NO sense. I mean, here I was taking not only baclofen, but also an anti-anxiety medication. I was waking up with anxiety and dealing with it throughout the day. So much so that I started taking small amounts of xanax on occasion to combat it.
It hit me like a ton of bricks one day (seems so obvious now that I'm typing it all out) - it was the friggin klonopin that was making me feel like crap! I decided instantly that I had to get off of it. I had planned to titrate down a bit, because I know it can cause withdrawals, but I ended up just stopping it abruptly anyway. I didn't experience any withdrawals, and about 3 days after stopping it, the fog lifted. My energy and positive outlook were back! I actually felt GOOD again!
Everything resolved after that (this was last week, btw!). I don't care about AL at ALL anymore again. I only want to eat clean healthy foods, and only when I'm hungry. And I stop when I'm full. I'm back to being as lean as I was. I'm motivated to get things done. It is SUCH a relief!

Now this is a very individual situation, but there is a take away message that can apply to anyone - LISTEN TO YOUR BODY! Every once in awhile, mine will send me a very clear message (like with the klonopin). And when I listen, it always works out. Sometimes it tells me to increase or decrease my baclofen dose. Or that I'm ready to get back in the gym after surgery. I'm so happy to be back in the land of indifference. I'm currently on 100mgs of baclofen and doing great. I was doing REALLY well on 120 for awhile, but lately that amount causes me to toss and turn during the night. I might even drop down to 80 again soon and hang out there for awhile.

I've been on baclofen for about a year now! I can't believe what a difference it's made.

I have to confess - I've been cheating on you guys. I've been frequenting the Burning Man forums a lot. Someone talked me into going. Ok, that's not really true, I decided on my own that it was something I have to experience. So I'm heading out to CA a week from today, and will drive into Black Rock City a few days after that. I'm beyond excited, and also REALLY glad that I got the whole klonopin issue sorted out before going! :yay:

I'll try to check in here more often again, I just had a lot of other things going on for awhile! But I've missed you guys! :l

[LadyLush]

My progress with Baclofen

Isolde,

BURNING MAN!!!! How awesome. It sold out in a matter of hours this year.
Tell us all about it when you return. Beautiful Nevada!

A little tidbit I read:
"The event is clothing-optional and public nudity is common, though not practiced by the majority."
How cool, like going back to the free-spirit 70's!
I know you are young but this whole Burning Man thing has intrigued the heck out of me.

I got the sweet and "see" food going on right now too. It has to be in the supplements that I need to reassess.
Glad you are doing well.

Take care of yourself,
LL:l

[RudyB]

My progress with Baclofen

heya isolde!

you stopped posting often right when i joined in (in april). but recently i took a peek at my first posts on my thread and you featured immediately and significantly, so thank you. (were you the one who remarked on my lack of capitals, i wonder? someone said something about how that made them wonder about my intelligence, but decided i was carrying a full load. funny the things we remember.)

anywhoot, it's great to have an update from you. i am envious that you've had such success on such a low dose. i am at 180 - 200, and wondering if i should go up, as sometimes ale cries with its siren voice. i'll figure it out.

i hope you have a downright ball at burning man! golly, i've GOT to go out and hear some music and take in some art! so much fun stuff to do in our world!

hope you'll check back in and let us know how goes it.

xo rudy b

[Bruunhilde]

My progress with Baclofen

Thanks Is! Listening to my body has been very difficult through my life. There are so many things its saying, usually I can't sort out any messages in particular.

Usually because I do like Murph, and start a bunch of new therapies at once (supplements, new work out, etc.). And also because of booze. Of course, I got INTO booze because my body and mind were so unhappy in the first place, so I'm interested in hearing what my body has to say now that I'm mature enough to listen and hopefully sort it out.

Take a ton of sunscreen, hats, at least two pairs of sunglasses in case you lose one, scarves (desert sand storms) and walking shoes. Have a blast at BM!

[Bruunhilde]

My progress with Baclofen

Thanks Is! Listening to my body has been very difficult through my life. There are so many things its saying, usually I can't sort out any messages in particular.

Usually because I do like Murph, and start a bunch of new therapies at once (supplements, new work out, etc.). And also because of booze. Of course, I got INTO booze because my body and mind were so unhappy in the first place, so I'm interested in hearing what my body has to say now that I'm mature enough to listen and hopefully sort it out.

Take a ton of sunscreen, hats, at least two pairs of sunglasses in case you lose one, scarves (desert sand storms) and walking shoes. Have a blast at BM!

[Isolde]

My progress with Baclofen

Bruunhilde;1165365 wrote:
Take a ton of sunscreen, hats, at least two pairs of sunglasses in case you lose one, scarves (desert sand storms) and walking shoes. Have a blast at BM!

Oh, I've been shopping my butt off!! I got an SPF wide brim hat (with a chin strap!), an SPF umbrella that supposedly keeps you 10? cooler (I've got sensitive skin), scarves, sarongs, goggles, few different pairs of shoes (big bad ass steel toed black boots, comfy fuzzy boots, sneakers, and flip flops). I've got a really good physical sunblock for my face, and I'll pick up another big bottle for the rest of my skin. Got some fun costumes too.
And I'm going with a BM veteran, so I'm sure I'll be fine!

[RudyB]

My progress with Baclofen

...and make sure you find a clean place to make a bm while you're there...