Questions about baclofen -- for Dr. L. and beyond

[ignominious]

Questions about baclofen -- for Dr. L. and beyond

Interesting that OA needed to increase his dose to exceed his 'switch' level. Thanks for that info Loop.

Also interesting that Dr Levin confirmed what others have already deduced that you can up the dose back into AF territory if you relapse when tapering down.

Bleep, thanks for the pointer to sulpiride, I will google it now.

[redhead77]

Questions about baclofen -- for Dr. L. and beyond

I'm going to post the titration schedule but unfortunatley it won't be nearly as awesome as the way he had me set it up in my notebook. He write the week and put all these lines for the days and the exact dosage of the day and total for the week. I will do my best to make it easy to follow. The most important thing to take out of this is that every week you only increase by 20mg.

Week 1:

20mg for the first 4 days broken up into 4 doses. 5, 5, 5, 5mg. The last three days would be 30mg taken as 5, 5, 10 and 10mg.

Week 2:

10mg tid (three times daily)
10, 10, and 10mg.

Week 3:

50mg daily
20, 10, and 20mg

Week 4:

70mg daily
25, 20, 25mg.

Week 5:

90 mg daily
20, 30, 20, 20mg daily,

Week 6:

110mg daily
Here's where we stopped with him giving me the exact breakdown. Most people even in the above dosages will adjust it to suit them. They adjust it so they can function at work or to sleep at night. It is not about when you take that dose or what dose it is. Just that it is broken up into 3-4 doses daily so it is spread out (less risk of side effects). The drug is also constantly in the blood stream.

Week 7:

130mg daily

Week 8:

150mg daily

And onward until the switch is hit. Only going up by 20mg a week. To titrate down on bac if you want to come off or just come down in dose he recommends coming down 20mg weekly as well.

[Grommet]

Questions about baclofen -- for Dr. L. and beyond

Thanks Red for all of the info you've posted. This all makes perfect sense. Just wish I had followed the schedule for my first 3 weeks. From then on I was pretty much at what the Good Doc recommends and all was right with the world. You're in good hands and good luck!

(btw, your avatar is HOT. But that may be the Bac talking... :H)

[gratitude]

Questions about baclofen -- for Dr. L. and beyond

thanks red for going to all the trouble.:thanks:

[bleep]

Questions about baclofen -- for Dr. L. and beyond

Red, thanks again for doing this, some very helpful info.

Beatle, thanks so much for starting this thread and sharing your stuff, it's proving to a gold mine of information.

[LadyLush]

Questions about baclofen -- for Dr. L. and beyond

Thanks Red,

Good info I needed. My journey begins today with Bac. I have read and read and read and decided that I am going to do this.
I am going to keep a diary and will let everyone knows how my journey goes.

Thanks for all your GREAT posts regarding Baclofen!

[bleep]

Questions about baclofen -- for Dr. L. and beyond

Lady, that's just great. Keep us informed please!

[LadyLush]

Questions about baclofen -- for Dr. L. and beyond

Bleep,
Thanks and I will. I have stumbled too many times and I have made this decision and am hopeful I am on my way!

Thanks Everyone

[LadyLush]

Questions about baclofen -- for Dr. L. and beyond

Hi all,

Made it through my first day AF on 20 mgs...yee-haw! My question is has anyone had any allergy reactions? Nose eyes watering etc? I saw that allergies can be a side effect but have not heard anyone mention anything. The dreams...WOW? Is that common after only one day? WOW! a couple were ones where I couldn't move and screamed to wake up and a couple more where I wanted to go back to sleep to see the outcome. Hope I didn't bust this thread but it was the last one I was on and needed some trusted answers.

Thanks for any advice and help.

Lady

[Rusty]

Questions about baclofen -- for Dr. L. and beyond

Ladylush,

I have had sinus problems when on 90 mg. of Bac. My doctor told me my nasal passages were really inflammed. I have some congestion and it dries out my throat so I tend to cough a few minutes of taking it.

[LadyLush]

Questions about baclofen -- for Dr. L. and beyond

Thanks Rusty,

It just came on suddenly after taking my second one yesterday. I hope it is temporary, I am in this for the long haul no matter what.

Thanks again,
Lady

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Questions about baclofen -- for Dr. L. and beyond

lady,
Nasal drip is a known SE of baclofen under usual dosages (

[bleep]

Questions about baclofen -- for Dr. L. and beyond

The weird dreams are also a known SE - can be both pleasant and not. I've had dreams that span more than one sleep, which is amazing! Like watching part II and III of the series...

[LadyLush]

Questions about baclofen -- for Dr. L. and beyond

Bleep,

Cool maybe? I have not had dreams so vivid in years! I was surprised I had them so soon.
The ones where you can't move and want to scream, it has been a long time.
Do you think the side effects are different in the brands? I have Pacifen and I will get through this sinus stuff but my eyes are driving me crazy too! I just wonder if some brands work better on the se's than others.


Thanks again
Lady

[Isolde]

Questions about baclofen -- for Dr. L. and beyond

I don't think there is much difference in the SEs of different brands. Among all of us here, I think we've taken every brand of baclofen there is, and for a lot of the SEs that are reported, there are almost always a few other people who experience the same thing.

I'd forgotten about not being able to move or wake up. I had that sometimes at lower levels too. Once I thought someone had walked into the bedroom, and I was trying to wake up, to turn over, anything in order to see who it was, but I couldn't wake up. When I finally did later on, of course there was nothing unusual, just part of a dream. That happened a few times but luckily stopped completely as I titrated up. I know I have lots of interesting dreams now still, but the problem is that I can no longer remember them! I just get a little snippet here or there and wish I could remember more.
I'm tempted to start waking up a little earlier in the mornings so that I can start jotting them down. The more often you do this, the more you start to remember every day. I know that after a few days, I would have pages and pages of what I remembered dreaming about from the night before.
Heck, I'm already waking up early and am not able to fall back asleep, may as well get up and do something productive! :H