Questions about starting baclofen

[Bill Gorton]

Hi, new user, first post (not my real name, by the way.) I ordered some baclofen the weekend before last, and I'm hoping to receive it this week. I've been drinking more than usual lately because I'm going through some tough personal issues, and I was wondering if I need to cut back or quit before I start taking it. I know a lot of people continue to drink when first starting it, but I didn't know what kind of problems that might cause me.

I ordered 25 mg pills, and I plan to start with half a pill in the evening for a few days and then go up to 1 pill a day. At that point, should I take the whole dose in the evening, or should I divide it into two doses?

I'm doing this without a doctor's supervision, because I don't feel like I have a choice (no docs in my area will prescribe high-dose bac.) Has anyone in the States had a shipment from goldpharma siezed by customs?

[bleep69]

Questions about starting baclofen

Hi Bill,

Congratulations on the best decision you have made.

It matters not whether you drink, although I think you may reach your switch earlier if you don't. Either way.

I would divide it into 2 doses, so that your system always has baclofen in it, although some have achieved results either way. I would actually divide it into 4. Small difference, as soon you will be taking whole pills. As you can see, there is no hard and fast data here.

Good luck with your journey.

[Grommet]

Questions about starting baclofen

Hi Bill,

Welcome to the forum and thanks for posting. For me keeping a level amount of Bac in my system works better than just taking it later in the day. Also, I live in the States and have ordered from Goldpharma and 4RX. No problem receiving the shipment from either. 4RX I had to sign for at the Post Office and Goldpharma just arrived in my mailbox in a non descript envelope.

:welcome:

[Sunnyvalenting]

Questions about starting baclofen

My opinion: use all the tools you have, including will power and intentions. Don't rely on the medicine to make you abstinent. It HELPS with cravings but will not stop you drinking if you so choose. Only you can do that for yourself. On the other question the half life of bac is only about 2 hours so spreading the dose out makes the most sense and reduces the magnitude of the side effects, if any. I have been abstinent for over a year now. It works but you do need to do your part.
S

[Guest]

Questions about starting baclofen

I agree with Sunny V, you can continue to drink but drinking exaccerbates the side effects. You are also more likely to hit your switch earlier if you go AF.

[seeking_serenity]

Questions about starting baclofen

Bill Gorton;1047924 wrote: Hi, new user, first post (not my real name, by the way.) I ordered some baclofen the weekend before last, and I'm hoping to receive it this week. I've been drinking more than usual lately because I'm going through some tough personal issues, and I was wondering if I need to cut back or quit before I start taking it. I know a lot of people continue to drink when first starting it, but I didn't know what kind of problems that might cause me.

I ordered 25 mg pills, and I plan to start with half a pill in the evening for a few days and then go up to 1 pill a day. At that point, should I take the whole dose in the evening, or should I divide it into two doses?

I'm doing this without a doctor's supervision, because I don't feel like I have a choice (no docs in my area will prescribe high-dose bac.) Has anyone in the States had a shipment from goldpharma siezed by customs?

:welcome: I'd take it in 2 doses, equally spaced out. Once you get up to higher doses, I'd split it into 3 doses/day, also equally spaced out. You'll have far less SE's if you always have the same amounts of bac in your system.

I've ordered from Goldpharm in the past, & never had a problem. Bac isn't a drug that's likely to cause suspicions from anyone.

[Bill Gorton]

Questions about starting baclofen

Thanks for all the helpful replies. I didn't realize that baclofen had such a short half life. I would like to go AF as soon as possible. I actually got in a few days with 0.5 - 2 drinks per day a couple of weeks ago, but I couldn't sustain it. Eight days and still no bac in the mail. I'm feeling rather impatient.

[bleep]

Questions about starting baclofen

As was I Bill, as were we all! Even 1 day COMPLETELY AF with baclofen makes a profound impact for some reason.

Make sure you order enough, especially when your dose gets high. Some people suggest having a full month supply in a safe deposit box. Withdrawal effects from baclofen are nasty, you do not want to go there! I would put your second order in now. Remember, it's not unknown for a shipment to get stuck at the border / lost.

[Sunnyvalenting]

Questions about starting baclofen

Bill, You are on the right track. Do what you can for now and hang in there. It will all be worth it.
S

[Bill Gorton]

Questions about starting baclofen

Has anyone by chance taken baclofen while on a beta blocker? I take a low dose of metoprolol for hypertension. I have a home blood pressure checker, which I plan to use regularly to check for hypotension. I just thought I'd ask in case anyone had had a bad reaction.

Still no bac today. Tomorrow will be 12 days. Hearing about all these people who got theirs in 4-8 days got my hopes up. I was really hoping it would get here before the weekend. I'm REALLY not looking forward to another Friday night alone. I'm sure I'll end up inviting my friend Al over.

[taw]

Questions about starting baclofen

I order from Gold pharma all the time...takes anywhere from 9-30 days....It will show up!!!

[Booktree]

Questions about starting baclofen

Hi Bill, et al.,

I am new here (recently introduced myself in the "Tell Us Your Story" section), and just ordered Baclofen last week. I also ordered from GoldPharma, and received the package yesterday. I was very pleasantly surprised at how fast it came (7 days).

I ordered it because I was assuming my psychiatrist wouldn't prescribe it for me after our first couple of discussions about it, OA's book, etc., but -- again to my shock and surprise, he agreed to write me a script Wednesday. He doesn't want me going over 80mg a day though, which he said was the FDA-approved limit.

My frustration is that it doesn't seem to be doing anything at all for me. I guess I'm somewhat impatient and wanted to see something immediate, like a relaxation effect. I took 15mg yesterday, and today I upped it to 30mg, but still feel nothing at all. Except I am starving and ate like 5 times today, which is odd because I usually only eat like 2 meals a day. Now I'm afraid I'm just going to gain more weight (I've already gained a bit due to having been in rehab for about 7 months in the past year).

Also, last night and tonight, my cravings have been way worse than they've been in quite a while. I mean -- intense! I hadn't really even been wanting to drink much -- now I've started the Bac and I want to drink like crazy. So, that's weird.

Or maybe not?

[Grommet]

Questions about starting baclofen

Bill, hang in there. You're order should arrive very soon.

Book, its good you posted on this forum. There is a ton of collective knowledge about Bac here. For me Bac took some time to take hold. If I had it do to over I would have gone slower out of the gate but titrated up faster once I had my legs under me. I did somewhat the opposite but it is still working out great.

:welcome:

[bleep]

Questions about starting baclofen

Book, welcome. What Grommet said. I got to about 200 in a week and didn't feel a thing. I would recommend a little more caution than that, when the SE's kicked in, there was a delayed reaction of sorts, and I got the whole weeks worth in a night. Not fun.

Things will happen, your impatience is understandable, but unnecessary in this case!

There is a theory that now you are doing something about your problem, you are subconsciously giving it free rein, which explains your increased consumption.

I just read your introduction, and you bring a new definition to "high functioning alcoholic". You story is similar to many here, and will no doubt follow a similar pattern - A struggle, the discovery of a solution, another, smaller struggle, a solution.

I would suggest you start a thread, to enable people here to better follow your progress, and give advice. It really helps.

Good luck Book.

[Guest]

Questions about starting baclofen

Bill whilst Bac didn't increase my cravings, I did actually drink more for longer whilst on it. I found the relaxing effect made me just not 'care'. That and the lack of the horrendous hangovers I usually get, meant I just drank on through the bac haze.

Regards stopping the drug, withdrawls tend to only become a problem after month(s) of using it. I was scared to come straight off after 3 weeks but it was the right thing for me and as Loop reassured me I was safe in doing so. If you do take it long-term then you will need a back up supply somewhere, or at least be able to notify medical staff should you have to be taken into hospital for any reason.