Baclofen Ladies!

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Baclofen Ladies!

I went v. slowly at times, too. It was *so* much worse for me even compared to when when I bumped up too quickly. This is and will always be my favorite thread. I longed for it sooo much in the beginning.
I kept wondering where the chicks like me were. Here we are!
Representing! The good/bad/indifferent and ugly. Hope we can keep it going.

Sorry about the bac SEs, Fickle. Glad you're still trying. I love Sunnyvalenting's comment to her son about the fact that she was going to keep trying to get a handle on the disease until it killed her. Amen, sister. The message was heard loud and clear over here. Just. Keep. Trying. (don't let the disease win. She's a bitch, but I'm even more... fill in the blank! :H)

:l
Ne

[help4me]

Baclofen Ladies!

Hi All. Great thread! I am a 44 y/o woman who has no problem downing up to 2 bottles of wine (or one big one) a night. I have done this 3 or 4 nights a week for what seems like a million years.

I started BAC back in Sept and by Dec was up to 150 with horrible SE's (feeling like I was in a cloud, weight gain --15 pounds, so much flem I would choke myself, nausea). Anyway, I stopped in Dec. However... my drinking got worse.

In Jan. I stared again and have been dosing up more regularly and steady. The SE's are still there, but not as bad this time. I'm trudging through it and am up to 200 right now. I most definately notice a difference and can easily choose not to drink, however, I have had a couple nights where I have chosen to drink for whatever reasons.... I am going up to 250 this week AND pulling out my 'toolbox'. I am determined to get to my switch and not giving up until it happens. Will keep you posted.

Thankful for this thread.

Ally

[Isolde]

Baclofen Ladies!

Here's my bac synopsis:
Initially hit the switch at 155mgs, dropped down slowly and steadily, but started thinking more about alcohol around 110mgs. I wouldn't call it craving, but it was more than I was comfortable with; I felt I had come too far to possibly relapse! So I started titrating back up again, to 180mgs and re-switched! I experienced an increase in both good and bad SEs. I'm really glad I went back up in dose though, I experienced some good things there. Slowly working my way back down now, after staying at 180 for a week.

My experience with bac weight-wise has been positive from the beginning. I've always had a love/hate relationship with food, and have been wildly at both ends of the spectrum - binge eating (compulsive over eating) and severe restriction (have done many fasts and cleanses plus a stint with raw food). Bac took the compulsion out of both sides of the equation for me. I was pretty much immediately able to eat only when hungry and stop just when full. The decreased AL intake helped a lot at first too, and continued to help as I drank less and less.
I can really taste the artificiality in a lot of processed foods now, so I try to eat as fresh as possible. I lost my sweet tooth a few years ago, and luckily that hasn't changed w/bac. Sweets actually really repulsed me for a little while on bac.

I'm 32 and currently about 116lbs. (I'm just over 5'3"). I was 124lbs. before bac, and that would not budge no matter what I did, because I was still drinking. That's actually on the high side for me, especially as I've lost a LOT of muscle mass since I started working at my desk job over 6 years ago. So even though my weight didn't increase a lot, all of the muslce I used to have has been replaced w/the jiggly stuff.

Currently I'm dealing with some wild mood swings as a bac SE. Was crazy euphoric for most of last week, and then mania and despair set in for a few days. Yesterday when I woke up, I felt like there was a little ray of light again, that the fog had lifted. Turns out it was because I was getting my period (oddly enough, on the day that I get my period, or the day just before, I tend to feel innately happy and content. Weird, I know.). Today I'm a bit more blah again, but nothing near as bad as the almost panic attack feelings I was having before, which was a new feeling for me. The whole world was feeling very dark and scary and I didn't know how to deal with it. Yucky stuff.
I'm hoping that this will even out as I slowly drop the dose down.

[Booktree]

Baclofen Ladies!

Hello Bac Ladies,

Great thread--

I wasn't sure if the OP wanted to hear from those of us who haven't "hit the switch" yet or not, but thought I'd go ahead and add my little narrative here.

I've only been on Bac for a couple of weeks so far. I am 41. Weigh more than I should (sorry, too shy to give details). 5'7". I had been drinking alcoholically for about 15 years. Then descended into abuse of other substances about 5 years ago (mainly cocaine and amphetamines).

I'm taking 30-40mg a day of Baclofen. I am noticing profound changes in my anxiety levels, leading me to be much more open, tolerant, and patient around others. Also, other than the first few days of taking it, I have had no cravings for AL (or other substances) to speak of, though I have been abstinent (except for one slip) for 9 months previous to this. I am hoping the Bac will help me not only continue on the path of abstinence but also perhaps ditch the nicotine addiction :yukko: I have as well. Perhaps that's asking too much, but I'm hoping...

The main troublesome SE I've had is a ginormous appetite. I've always struggled with low blood sugar (and had already gained weight due to 7 months of being in a treatment facility), so I really wasn't prepared to pack on more poundage at this point...! Thanks to RT and Beetle on another thread, I found out that if you take L-Glutamine plus some other amino acids, this can help control appetite and regulate blood sugar. I have only been taking the L-Glut + amino acids for two days now, and amazingly, it seems my appetite has been brought under control again.

I, too, feel very positive and hopeful about the Bac.

[seeking_serenity]

Baclofen Ladies!

Booktree;1057125 wrote: Hello Bac Ladies,

Great thread--

I wasn't sure if the OP wanted to hear from those of us who haven't "hit the switch" yet or not, but thought I'd go ahead and add my little narrative here.

I've only been on Bac for a couple of weeks so far. I am 41. Weigh more than I should (sorry, too shy to give details). 5'7". I had been drinking alcoholically for about 15 years. Then descended into abuse of other substances about 5 years ago (mainly cocaine and amphetamines).

I'm taking 30-40mg a day of Baclofen. I am noticing profound changes in my anxiety levels, leading me to be much more open, tolerant, and patient around others. Also, other than the first few days of taking it, I have had no cravings for AL (or other substances) to speak of, though I have been abstinent (except for one slip) for 9 months previous to this. I am hoping the Bac will help me not only continue on the path of abstinence but also perhaps ditch the nicotine addiction :yukko: I have as well. Perhaps that's asking too much, but I'm hoping...

The main troublesome SE I've had is a ginormous appetite. I've always struggled with low blood sugar (and had already gained weight due to 7 months of being in a treatment facility), so I really wasn't prepared to pack on more poundage at this point...! Thanks to RT and Beetle on another thread, I found out that if you take L-Glutamine plus some other amino acids, this can help control appetite and regulate blood sugar. I have only been taking the L-Glut + amino acids for two days now, and amazingly, it seems my appetite has been brought under control again.

I, too, feel very positive and hopeful about the Bac.

Booktree--I apologize profusely, I assumed you were a guy! I hope you don't hate me.

I was having problems with low blood sugar early on in my Bac experiment. And I'd gained a few pounds (Christmas + Thanksgiving weight). A couple of weeks after starting Bac, I also started a low-carb dealy-bob as an experiment (and gave up 18 years of vegetarianism as a result). It has really helped. I immediately lost those 5 pounds, and if I really get back on the bandwagon (haven't focused on the low-carb thing much lately), I will continue to lose a few, I'm pretty convinced. It sounds CRAZY to start a weird dietary change just after starting Bac, but I found that having something else to focus on really helped me.

Glad to hear that you're finding such profound changes from starting Bac! I noticed very similar changes myself. I think that chronic anxiety really propels us towards addiction. I've COMPLETELY lost my chronic anxiety. It is an absolute miracle. And yet, it's really true. :h :l

[Booktree]

Baclofen Ladies!

Hi Seeking,

No worries at all about the gender thing!

That's funny because a few weeks ago, I also was intensely interested in Dr. Mercola's writings about health and diet and the whole gluten-free, sugar-free thing. I think there's a lot to be said for making those changes in one's diet. I did try to adopt his method, but, alas, found that gluten-free, 100% organic stuff is fairly expensive, plus his whole plan requires a bit more time in the kitchen than I'm willing to commit right now... but I am still staying away from sugar, and eat pretty low-carb all around. Processed food (or "Frankenfood") simply can't be good for a person, regardless, right?

That's cool that the bac has helped with your anxiety as well. I hope it continues on that way!!

[Isolde]

Baclofen Ladies!

Book, I have to admit, until your post here, I thought you were a guy as well. I think it's the avatar that led us that assumption.
Granted, my avatar is a guy too, but I think my screen name clears that up.

I am a big fan of Dr. Mercola. I don't get on board with everything that he writes, but I suck it all up like a sponge. I read up a lot on health-related topics and pick and choose what works for me or speaks to me.
Unfortunately organic IS very expensive. I tend to forego it (even for the produce items that are high on the danger list) and try not to overthink it. I figure even pesticide laden fruit and veggies have to be better than some funky processed stuff?
I would love to only eat free range organic meat as well, but it's so prohibitively expensive! I use stevia instead of sugar and in general try to eat as much "whole foods" as possible. Very rarely drink soda (drank it mostly in mixed drinks before, which I'm not having anymore!).
Anyway, my brain no longer wants to cooperate with me (this is normal, considering it's late afternoon), so I'll leave it at that. Lots of great information on dietary and health stuff in the Holistic Healing forum as well.

[fickle]

Baclofen Ladies!

Isolde;1056863 wrote:
Currently I'm dealing with some wild mood swings as a bac SE. Was crazy euphoric for most of last week, and then mania and despair set in for a few days. Yesterday when I woke up, I felt like there was a little ray of light again, that the fog had lifted. Turns out it was because I was getting my period (oddly enough, on the day that I get my period, or the day just before, I tend to feel innately happy and content. Weird, I know.). Today I'm a bit more blah again, but nothing near as bad as the almost panic attack feelings I was having before, which was a new feeling for me. The whole world was feeling very dark and scary and I didn't know how to deal with it. Yucky stuff.
I'm hoping that this will even out as I slowly drop the dose down.

Hello Isolde,

The one supp I buy religiously from MWO is the Amino complete. From day one (long time ago) it had a massive effect on lightening my mood and has brought me out of massive depression over time. I can share the names of other female members that agree about this. Even the friends that have moved on and been AF for years have noticed from time to time if they are feeling low that these are a genuine pickmeup. I love them.

At first, if extreme, take 4, 3 x per day with juice before food. But even now, I still take one dose of 4, each morning with OJ first thing. I never ever want to return to that unhappy place. Am still not AF all the time but it's an important to keep the aminos up as i get run down if i don't.

[Bruunhilde]

Baclofen Ladies!

Thanks Fickle, is that a replacement for the All-In-One powder Roberta recommends in her protocol? If I recall, she and her husband would spin up some V8 with the All-in-one and that was it! I have that powder, sitting in my cabinet along with Glut, lecithin, and other stuff I have neglected (forgot why the lecitin even though I just reread why I need it).

[fickle]

Baclofen Ladies!

Hi Bruunhilde,
the All-One is a full on multivitamin with aminos. I take other vitamins so the amino complete is good for me (plus the postage for all-one is expensive all the way over here) so is best value alternative for me.

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Baclofen Ladies!

Very interesting stuff in this article about gender and alcoholism. Unrelated to baclofen.

Introduction to the Special Issue of Alcohol and Alcoholism on Sex/Gender Differences in Responses to Alcohol ?€” Alcohol Alcohol

"There is evidence for differences in pharmacokinetics of alcohol absorption and distribution between males and females, as well as differences in the sensitivity of key brain neurotransmitter systems and interactions between ovarian steroids and alcohol in the brain."

"In summary, the data provided in these articles support the multifaceted nature of alcohol problems and show that sex/gender can interact with genetics, brain sexual dimorphism, the hormonal milieu, the environment and/or social influences to moderate outcomes. These new findings build on an increasing body of literature suggesting that optimal approaches to treatment of alcohol problems or alcoholism should consider gender. "

Sadly, the link is not the synopsis, sorry. If anyone else finds it fascinating (?) they can maybe link it up, or I'll do it tomorrow morning. My spray-painting MWO time is over for the day!
xo, sisters!

K/Ne

[redhead77]

Baclofen Ladies!

Good stuff. Thanks for posting that Ne.

[Guest]

Baclofen Ladies!

I already knew of the idea that alcohol affects females differently, and usually far worse than males. So would be interesting to see the conclusions. I had also heard it starts with the way in which alcohol is broken down in the female stomach.

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Baclofen Ladies!

I'd like to revive this, because I think we have a different experience than men do when taking bac to treat alcoholism. I am specifically interested in this aspect: Bac/women/alcoholism.

I, personally, would like to know how to manage bac now that I've reached indifference. I wonder, too, if we could use some of the research both on bac and on the amygdala to find clues as to how to best manage bac treatment for women.
Sadly I don't have much time to do this. I'll let this be the last if noone else has interest!
Peace out!
Ne

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Baclofen Ladies!

In preparation for an upcoming appointment with a psychdoc I was looking over some of the research I've collected to winnow down what I'd like to give him re. bac and alcohol. I came across this study that is found on the consolidated thread:

http://www.urbanfool.us/MWO/interaction.pdf

On page 26 there is a synopsis of the differences between men and women in the study.
[INDENT]Sex Differences
In addition to women having lower breath alcohol levels
than men, there were several other interactions with sex. For
systolic blood pressure, there was an overall effect of sex
(F[1,16) = 4.99, p < 0.05], with men having higher systolic
blood pressure than women (mean of 126 and 117 bpm,
respectively) and baclofen produced greater increases in
systolic blood pressure in men than in women [Baclofen ?
Sex interaction (F[2,32] = 3.57, p < 0.05)]. On the BAES,
women had lower Stimulation scores than men when baclofen
was combined with alcohol [Baclofen ? Alcohol ?
Sex interaction (F[2,32] = 3.58, p < 0.04)]. For BAES
Sedation scores, women reported significantly higher levels
of sedation than men during the sessions [Sex ? Time interaction
(F[8,128] = 3.12, p < 0.02)] and women tended
to report higher levels of sedation than men following baclofen
[Baclofen ? Sex interaction (F[2,32] = 3.17, p < 0.06)].
Correspondingly, there was a trend for women to have
higher BAES Summary scores than men [Sex ? Time interaction
(F[8,128] = 2.22, p < 0.08)]. On BVAS ratings, the
only significant interaction with sex was that women
reported higher ratings of Dizzy following alcohol than men
[Alcohol ? Sex interaction (F[1,16] = 5.05, p < 0.04)],
although ratings of Dizzy overall were quite low. There were
several interactions with Sex on the VAS clusters. ‘‘Personality
Traits’’ cluster scores were higher after alcohol in women
compared to men [Alcohol ? Time ? Sex interaction
(F[4,128] = 3.27, p < 0.03)], ‘‘Bad Effects’’ cluster scores
were higher after baclofen in women compared to men
[Baclofen ? Time ? Sex interaction (F[8,128] = 3.06,
p