Misinformation about baclofen

[37degrees]

Misinformation about baclofen

@Murph: We were shooting the breeze, and wern't talking about BAC specifically. But the usual medical treatment is to start at 5mg 3x/day and go up every few days.

@UKB: I actually emailed the chief investigator, and they haven't recruited study subjects yet. He said he expected to start this summer.

[Guest]

Misinformation about baclofen

Ok it was just that the anouncement stated the study would start in January. Guess they meant they'd start proceedings then.

[Greg]

Misinformation about baclofen

I've always thought that baclofen doesn't create psychological dependence, and that people who take it don't experience cravings for more baclofen or want to get high from it. I've never heard of baclofen being sought out by street drug users, or of people needing rehab or counselling treatment to get off it, although a few thrill seekers and drug forum members may try to see what it can do.

As for withdrawals from suddenly stopping it, here is what the rxlist drug site (not a site written by drug users) says:

Abrupt Drug Withdrawal: Hallucinations and seizures have occurred on abrupt withdrawal of baclofen. Therefore, except for serious adverse reactions, the dose should be reduced slowly when the drug is discontinued.

The doses they are talking about are up to 80 mg per day only, in other words the usually-quoted "maximum" daily oral dose.

I would still suggest high-dose baclofen treatment to a couple of my friends who are seriously ill alcoholics and who haven't found relief using any other treatments, including other medications, AA, and inpatient rehab, although of course they have to want to try it.

[Nico]

Misinformation about baclofen

Regarding the ulcers and eradicating them: 5 years ago I used to sell a PPI (heartburn drug) and we used to laugh with the gastros about how ulcers were such a big deal back in the day before Dr. Marshall. The drug I sold, in combination with an antibiotic had like a 97% success rate for ulcers. Ulcers went from being a $25,000+ surgery to a $150/month once a day pill. I'm sure hoping Baclofen treatment can replace the multi-billion dollar 12 step rehab monopoly.

I just ordered dr. a's book and can't wait to see if this will be my cure too.
:new:

[beatle]

Misinformation about baclofen

Great story to start with, Nico. You are most welcome here. :welcome:

[Sebsta]

Misinformation about baclofen

It's my first post here, so forgive the form and excessive questioning.

I have been vigorously reading all the posts and few thoughts come to my mind or more speculative questions.

Does anyone know the ratio of Bac intake (meaning dosage) in proportion of alcohol intake?

In simple words, what level of alcoholism (daily heavy drinker, moderate daily drinker or weekly binge drinker, ie i 2-3 days non stop and then breaking for couple of days, like me, or other ways of 'alcoholising' oneself) warrants what dosage should one take to consider their cravings to cease or be quiet down enough that they can be managed and hopefully one day stopped.

Is it safe for me to consider Bac ion low doses, comparing it possibly to a Nicotine patch, where you crave nicotine but significantly less. The answer to that question may tell a lot to people willing to start treatment ( like me, waiting for my first batch) and having concerns of the addictive nature mentioned above. (Albeit I prefer Bac addiction to Alc, as it ruins my life)

Say, would 2X10mg at 12pm and sometime in late afternoon (where most psychological cravings predominantly start) be enough to manage the anxious desire to drink?

[Seethepony]

Misinformation about baclofen

"Does anyone know the ratio of Bac intake (meaning dosage) in proportion of alcohol intake?"

I don't think there is one. I was drinking every day of the week anything from 3 to 6 liters strongish beer - 4.9% alc - blacking out more than 300 times a year for the last 12 years (there's a scary way of looking at it...)

I keyed myself up for a long baclofen struggle and to my delight found myself pretty much "cured" at 75 mg/day, within 2 weeks of starting. That's an astonishingly low dose, though I have read of people getting success even lower. I bumble along on 50mg most days and i've drank (& got drunk) maybe 5 times in the last 2 months (as opposed to 50 times. Jesus!) That's including a stressy Christmas during which my baclofen supply ran out (and some stacks of beer ran in.)

Dr Ameisen speculated about a connection to body mass - I don't think he's right about that, either. How quickly one reacts to baclofen appears (to me) to be more or less a lucky dip.

[bleep]

Misinformation about baclofen

Hi Sebsta, welcome.

There is evidence to show that bac has a calming effect at low doses. Whether enough in your specific case is hard to say, you would have to try it and see.

Having said that, the goal of most of the people here is to hit the switch, at which point all alcohol related concerns become mostly irrelevant.

I'm not sure of the relationship between boozing patterns and baclofen intake, but I believe there is one. Someone who has spoken to Dr L may be able to fill you in in more detail.