New here and starting baclofen on Tuesday!

[redhead77]

Hi everyone,

I am grateful I found this site, and really appreciate the effort many of you have put in to bring baclofen info to people who find this site. I have an appt at Dr L's office on Monday evening. I am beyond excited to begin this journey to feedom. Can't say much more because my PC Internet is down and I'm writing this from my phone. Just wanted to say hello! and greetings!

[redhead77]

New here and starting baclofen on Tuesday!

Oops, meant hello and greetings!

[Ne/Neva Eva]

New here and starting baclofen on Tuesday!

:welcome:

I'm so glad, Redhead. (I'm one too, ftr, though mine is um, by choice!)
The good doctor has helped me so much, has a great sense of humor and is wise beyond his (considerable) years.
I can't wait to hear more!

[redhead77]

New here and starting baclofen on Tuesday!

Unfortunately, Dr L called me and my appt is postponed. I'm on an antidepressant I need to wean off first. I'm to call him weekly and update him. He thinks I should go slow like over 3-5 weeks. That's before I can even begin bac. I'm bummed. I thought I would have my script today. I know he's being cautious and I appreciate that but I feel like I can't wait that long.

[bleep69]

New here and starting baclofen on Tuesday!

That is a downer, I know I couldn't wait when I discovered it. Still, it's been a few years of boozing at least, another month won't hurt. This stuff will work its miracle on you.

Good luck for when journey starts!

[bleep69]

New here and starting baclofen on Tuesday!

Maybe in the meantime post a few details about your drinking. If anything, it will help pass the time, and will be helpful for those of us who are collating information on this.

[CharlieBigPotatoes]

New here and starting baclofen on Tuesday!

Aye aye redhead, keep calm and follow the good doctors advice and hopefully everything will work out fine...

[Lo0p]

New here and starting baclofen on Tuesday!

redhead77;1047733 wrote: I'm on an antidepressant I need to wean off first.

Which one?

[redhead77]

New here and starting baclofen on Tuesday!

I'm on Wellbutrin XR. The two together can cause seizures. Of course, in high risk individuals, wellbutrin can cause seizures anyway. Baclofen can also cause seizures in some. I guess the combo could be dangerous. I tried to convince him to allow me to start on the bac anyway, since only certain people would seize on either of these drugs. It was a no go. He felt that he couldn't potentially jeopordize my safety. I do like the antidepressant effects I have on wellbutrin and I hope that the depression doesn't return. He said if it does, we can experiment with other safe antidepressants until we work it out. He thinks baclofen may be enough since it has antidepressant qualities.

Here's what's really crazy. I have a pharmacist friend who I told all about this baclofen business, and he gave me a few 20 mg tabs that I started cutting in quarters on Thursday. I started with 5mg once. Then I had 5 and 5. I then took 5mg 3 times a day. Anyway, I won't take anymore (luckily I haven't taken enough that I need to worry about withdrawal). I will tell you that I have noticed an immediate difference in my level of anxiety and yesterday I didn't even finish ONE glass of wine.

I know everyones thinking "placebo effect". It probably is but either way-I LIKE IT! I'm sad to have to wait to feel better. I have been on a number of meds for depression and anxiety and nothing helps my anxiety much. I have a theory that this drug is particularily effective in alcohol abusers with anxiety like myself. Dr L says so too

I only took one 5mg dose early this am and I can already feel it's worn off. The wine is calling my name. I would take another bac and eat a snack if I didn't have to quit. There's a good chance I would make it through the evening witching hour without drinking. Of the 4 days I took bac 2 days were AF, one I didn't even drink a whole glass of wine, and one I drank entirely too much (Saturday). Anyway, I guess I will just have to grin and bear it. How long is 3 weeks anyway? Plus, he said maybe he would start me on it when I was on a really low dose of wellbutrin.

Anyway, off to make dinner. I will post on my drinking patterns and more about me later. It is good to meet some of you. I have been reading your threads and feel like I know a little bit about some of you. Oh, and loop, thank you for all the information on bac that you have put together. You are what made me decide to do this.

[Isolde]

New here and starting baclofen on Tuesday!

I didn't know that about the bac and wellbutrin. I know that Moglor takes both, started with the bac and then added in the wellbutrin and is doing very well on both. I can't remember if he got his bac through his doctor though, maybe he will be able to chime in here. I was also looking into the possibility of trying out wellbutrin, but wanted to wait and see how I felt when I got down to my maintenance dose (whenever and whatever that will be!).

[Lo0p]

New here and starting baclofen on Tuesday!

I took bupropion (generic Wellbutrin) for a couple of months last year while on baclofen in an attempt to quit smoking. I survived. That doesn't mean anything though. :besafe:

redhead77;1047837 wrote: Oh, and loop, thank you for all the information on bac that you have put together. You are what made me decide to do this.

:blush: Glad I could help.

[redhead77]

New here and starting baclofen on Tuesday!

I truly feel in my heart that I would be fine. The cautions are anecdotal. Both could cause seizures and not enough is known. Also, he's prescribing baclofen "off label", which means he has to be careful. Heaven forbid something happened to me and it's his butt. It could become many peoples issue. If he got in trouble with the AMA and had to stop prescribing- that would devastate many. I do wonder though, I have had quite a response at very low doses of baclofen. Does wellbutrin play a role? It is well known that wellbutrin works well as an antidepessant for alcoholics. He told me verbatim that it works on some of the same brain chemistry, which makes it potentially dangerous. I don't know, just a thought.

[Sunnyvalenting]

New here and starting baclofen on Tuesday!

It is not placebo effect, most likely. There is a wide range of theraputic doses. In one study as low as 15/day was effective for some.
Welcome and good luck

[bleep69]

New here and starting baclofen on Tuesday!

I don't know about the litigious American society, only that it's famous. Can you not sign a waiver, if you feel it's safe?

[redhead77]

New here and starting baclofen on Tuesday!

Yes, litigious it is! I am not going to try to push him. He was pretty firm. I think he may be keeping track of numbers for the future. Although, he should be telling us so. It doesn't matter. I will wean down to a low dose. Whether I quit entirely is my choice. I will not make him or any research on baclofen liable.