Keep in mind that I had an extensive list of questions and did not have time to get to them all. Also, the conversation takes on a life (and direction) of its own. (More about Trazadone in a later post.)
– As AL consumption goes down, less SEs. And improvement happens faster with reduced drinking (I didn’t get to ask him if the switch point might also be lower if you are AF.)
But “I don’t want to get you crazy about it” (mentioned something about stress and increased adrenalin levels being detrimental to treatment). “My job is to make sure that you cut down, not your job. My job is to turn the chemistry off.”
– Works closely with Dr. A, and if he had any questions, he would consult Dr. A immediately.
– Regarding brands of baclofen:
Doesn’t know anything about brands. Didn’t even know what brands are being dispensed for his prescriptions.*
Just believes the U.S.-filled prescriptions are safer because they go through a pharmacy (which would apply elsewhere, i.e. Europe). He said the pharmacies are “strict on quality”, not “fly-by-night”.
(Didn’t even know the brand name Lioresal. Had to ask me to spell it and looked it up. Didn’t know Novartis, either. He is only concerned about the overseas internet-dispatched products because they are not controlled).
– After you stop drinking, it takes about 1 -1.5 years for your brain to “normalize” and then it will “continue to improve”. He also used the word “maximize”. I’m a little confused on this point – but I think he meant your brain will start recovering from the time you stop drinking, but it will take 1-1.5 years before this process (of improvement and rebuilding the brain) is “maximized”.
– Most people respond to baclofen at 210 to 275 mg (later in my notes I wrote “250-260 => Golden level”)… weight has nothing to do with it. It’s all “chemistry and genetics.” I didn’t get to ask him what “respond” means – but I think he meant reach indifference. I also didn’t get to ask him what “most people” means—90%, 70%? (Also didn’t get to ask him if the length of time and how much you have been drinking play a role.)
– SEs:
He said “I don’t want there to be any SEs. I don’t want it to be different than water.”
When I asked him about hallucinations, he said he had never heard of hallucinations as an SE of baclofen. “(You are) a genetic anomaly” (is this true? I thought a lot of other people had reported this.. maybe not.)
– From my notes:
“BDFN kicks with the GABA reception… first connection… bac undoes this connection…
“Like you never had any alcohol in your life. Just like magic. It stops. It turns itself off. And it will stay there for the rest of your life.”
*I did not mean this in a denegrading way, although it sounds like it. In fact, his lack of knowledge about the different brands only proves, and attests to, his complete separation from the various baclofen producers. I probably should have written: "To his credit, he doesn't know anything..."
– As AL consumption goes down, less SEs. And improvement happens faster with reduced drinking (I didn’t get to ask him if the switch point might also be lower if you are AF.)
But “I don’t want to get you crazy about it” (mentioned something about stress and increased adrenalin levels being detrimental to treatment). “My job is to make sure that you cut down, not your job. My job is to turn the chemistry off.”
– Works closely with Dr. A, and if he had any questions, he would consult Dr. A immediately.
– Regarding brands of baclofen:
Doesn’t know anything about brands. Didn’t even know what brands are being dispensed for his prescriptions.*
Just believes the U.S.-filled prescriptions are safer because they go through a pharmacy (which would apply elsewhere, i.e. Europe). He said the pharmacies are “strict on quality”, not “fly-by-night”.
(Didn’t even know the brand name Lioresal. Had to ask me to spell it and looked it up. Didn’t know Novartis, either. He is only concerned about the overseas internet-dispatched products because they are not controlled).
– After you stop drinking, it takes about 1 -1.5 years for your brain to “normalize” and then it will “continue to improve”. He also used the word “maximize”. I’m a little confused on this point – but I think he meant your brain will start recovering from the time you stop drinking, but it will take 1-1.5 years before this process (of improvement and rebuilding the brain) is “maximized”.
– Most people respond to baclofen at 210 to 275 mg (later in my notes I wrote “250-260 => Golden level”)… weight has nothing to do with it. It’s all “chemistry and genetics.” I didn’t get to ask him what “respond” means – but I think he meant reach indifference. I also didn’t get to ask him what “most people” means—90%, 70%? (Also didn’t get to ask him if the length of time and how much you have been drinking play a role.)
– SEs:
He said “I don’t want there to be any SEs. I don’t want it to be different than water.”
When I asked him about hallucinations, he said he had never heard of hallucinations as an SE of baclofen. “(You are) a genetic anomaly” (is this true? I thought a lot of other people had reported this.. maybe not.)
– From my notes:
“BDFN kicks with the GABA reception… first connection… bac undoes this connection…
“Like you never had any alcohol in your life. Just like magic. It stops. It turns itself off. And it will stay there for the rest of your life.”
*I did not mean this in a denegrading way, although it sounds like it. In fact, his lack of knowledge about the different brands only proves, and attests to, his complete separation from the various baclofen producers. I probably should have written: "To his credit, he doesn't know anything..."
)
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