This Redhead's Baclofen Thread

[SassyLassy]

This Redhead's Baclofen Thread

WOW!!

Red, I am SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!:l
You give me new hope...we started at the same time, we have abused Al for relatively shorter periods of time, and while I'm older and heavier than you, I just feel a kinship. Even though I didn't win the "race", you give me hope that the switch is near. I'm at 190 now, will move to 210 on Thursday. PLEASE GOD LET THIS HAPPEN SOON!

Your story is SO INSPIRING to me. THANK YOU FOR SHARING, and for persevering. The story about your mom, and your kids, wow...take care of yourself, and good luck with the job search/new job thing. In my experience, being at a new job is exhausting, so much new to learn, but I keep changing industries, so maybe it's not the same for you.

I want to say THANK YOU , GREAT JOB!! I have to stop now because I'm starting to cry at work....

:l:thanks::goodjob:

[redhead77]

This Redhead's Baclofen Thread

Sassy,

I hope it happens for you soon. Please keep us updated. I always work in the same industry, but there are many different jobs in my industry. A new job still is exhausting. Where's that trust fund when you need it? :H

[SassyLassy]

This Redhead's Baclofen Thread

bump-I want this one on top

[redhead77]

This Redhead's Baclofen Thread

Sassy, :l:l:l: and :h:h.

[redhead77]

This Redhead's Baclofen Thread

I drank last night. I didn't drink to the point of black out or not remembering, but I wouldn't consider it moderate either (the better part of a bottle of wine). I conversed with Dr L about it. I asked him, do you think I've still hit the switch? He feels that the switch can be rather fluid at first. I wouldn't be the first to drink after reaching it.

He thinks I should stay the course for another 2 weeks at least, and see if it works itself out. I've been very successful so far, except for this one mishap. I'm still feeling shitty about it. I also woke up with a something I had already forgotten, a hangover.

In my mind, there's not much that justifies this. I will tell you I have been feeling despondent and dark the last few days. Dare I say it? I feel that I'm becoming depressed. A feeling I haven't had in months. The last time I felt this way is when I titrated off my Wellbutrin to start baclofen.

I don't believe baclofen is causing my depression. I didn't have the symptoms until I quit the sauce. In the back of my mind yesterday, I wanted to know if I drank, would it go away? I can't say I feel depressed today, but I do feel the usual self loathing that occurs after I drink too much.

I'm going to have to figure it out. I hope this depression is temporary. I'm not sure that I can live this way. I can't go on my AD that works, because it is contraindicated with bac. I have ordered some aminos and L glut powder to see if it helps. I haven't taken aminos, because I heard most aren't well absorbed. It's worth a try at this point.

Sorry to be a buzz kill. I feel that I have not only let myself down, but I'm letting others down too. :upset:

Redhead

[coalfire]

This Redhead's Baclofen Thread

Red this study might interest you.Alcohol study links quitting drinking with depression | The Red and Black

This seems to be as common as the cold post drinking.

This explains it well I think Depression After Quitting - Drug Rehab and Alcohol Treatment chapter 3 of the video in this link is well worth a look. I found it really helpful to understand exactly what was going on in my brain post drinking. The science in this video got me through a lot of those early bad days.

Its a documentary. (dont click on the highlighted sentence "HBO did a documentary on addiction"-go down another paragraph and there is another sentence "documentary states" highlighted. This lays the video out in 3 easy chapters.)

[moglor]

This Redhead's Baclofen Thread

Red, it was pretty hard for me to come back here and admit that I'd fallen off the wagon. I also felt like I was letting people down, but ultimately I decided that it's just as important for people know the bad as well as the good on this journey. As you've seen in my posts, I suffer from severe depression, and it is, and probably always will be, my single biggest trigger.

Wellbutrin works reasonably well for me, and doesn't have any significant side effects with bac that I've noticed or found in research. It might be an option if your depression continues.

-Moglor

[Ne/Neva Eva]

This Redhead's Baclofen Thread

redhead77;1103523 wrote: I drank last night. ... the switch can be rather fluid at first. I wouldn't be the first to drink after reaching it. ...

Ah. RedH. I relate so well to almost all that you've written.

Why did I want to drink? Why did I drink? What does it all mean? What if? HUH???

And then what feels like a confession of a sin, right here on MWO. ugh. I'll pm what happened in the wake of the first time I drank again. (It's funny now. Not so much in the moment.)

That is exactly why I can't say I had a switch. I just realized I didn't NEED it anymore. And now?

:H It's not even a choice anymore. I don't have to think about it. It's...indescribable because it just doesn't really matter. Which is pretty damn cool.

That is not to say that I could say it won't happen again, that I drink, and crawl bac here to tell the truth. Which is all that matters, here, right? TRUTH.

I'm very wary of The Depression... It seems to me that it's a common theme, post-indifference. That and some sort of wtf do I do now??? lol
Arm yourself. Reach out. We're here. And bide your time. It's still a process. Ongoing. Life long, I'd imagine. Not a struggle, just a process. ya know? RedT and DG are very grounding for me right now. (Thanks.) And others too, of course.

Time, the great equalizer. (credit Ig. thanks again, for that reminder then and now.)
Love you, RH.
Ne

[ignominious]

This Redhead's Baclofen Thread

Hi Red

Wouldn't be overly concerned about the one night drinking - maybe it just goes to reaffirming why you wanted to stop in the first place.

I think PAWS and depression are part of the process but maybe that's due to me seeing the glass half full!

Hope you can work things out.

[bleep]

This Redhead's Baclofen Thread

Hi Red,

The drinking wouldn't concern me at all. I did it (do it), others have done it. For me, it was almost a test - could I get pissed, was it still fun, that sort of thing... Well, I found I could get pissed, and it was fun, sort of. It wasn't the raging blast that it used to be. It was an effort. I can still drink like I used to, but the motivation, the thirst, the need, has gone. Do you find the same?

I also had a "depression." I'm not making light of yours in any way, but mine was a temporary thing. It was almost a displacement, rather than a depression. What was I to do now? My means of solace was gone. I'm still searching for a solution, but now I'm happy to be there. I don't want this post to be about me, but I'm hoping you'll see yourself here. If that's the case, know that it moves on.

I hope you find your way, it was really good to read your post about indifference. The rest will sort itself out given some time, I'm sure.

[Murphyx]

This Redhead's Baclofen Thread

Hi Red, bummer. I know Wellbutrin is contraindicated for baclofen, but then so are most things, drinking included. I still use Wellbutrin and as you said to me a couple of months ago maybe it's a case of risk v benefit.

Bupropion is contraindicated, as are the SSRIs, but I seem to recall there's another group of ADs that can be used with bac. If you've previously tried them and they didn't work for you then maybe Wellbutrin is worth the risk.

Sorry to hear you're down.

[moglor]

This Redhead's Baclofen Thread

Murphyx;1103723 wrote: Hi Red, bummer. I know Wellbutrin is contraindicated for baclofen

Where did you hear that Wellbutrin was contraindicated for use with baclofen? It -is- contraindicated for use with alcohol, as it can cause seizures. I have found no articles in any of the journals or any research that suggests it doesn't get along with baclofen. I have been using both wellbutrin and baclofen heavily (and abusing alcohol in the process ) without any issues, but I'm interested to know if there's new research on bupropion and baclofen.

[Murphyx]

This Redhead's Baclofen Thread

From Red and elsewhere, but I'm buggered if I remember where. I think it may have been one of those sites where you input all the meds you're on and it flags up the bad combos.

[Ne/Neva Eva]

This Redhead's Baclofen Thread

Morning.
I think that I found the Wellbutrin contraindication on Pubmed's list. It's around here somewhere...

Depression:

terryk;1102233 wrote: Mechanism of action of baclofen

The majority of patients experienced a feeling of wellbeing by baclofen, many have spoken of serenity, some showed obvious symptoms of mild euphoria (Or hypomania). In this context of mood disorders, It should also be noted that some patients experienced depressive symptoms (which is difficult to say whether they are attributable to baclofen or other elements from these Patients often have a long history of depression). What emerges from these clinical data rather mixed, is that the effects of baclofen are very different from one topic to another in terms of anxiety and mood. In But what has always been constant is the setting establishment of an indifference vis-?-vis alcohol (even if interindividual differences were observed, as described earlier in this article).

hmmm.

xxoo
Ne

[missyabby1]

This Redhead's Baclofen Thread

Hi Bleep,
Not being smart or anything, which is usually being me in my drunken state, and usually way out of line , which the next morning brings more feelings of shame then being "drunk and disorderly" in real life has ever brought me. (Mostly ..maybe) Truly I can be an abomination when I have been drinking!

Like everyone here, I guess we all arrive to try and get some help to get sober. I have long been wanting the truth about complete cessation of drinking using baclofen. I don't think I would ever take it because of the fear of long term side effects, short term side effects, but, mostly, the absolute questionable proof of long term benefits.(As much as we can say??)

I noticed in your last post, you mentioned that you do still have a drink? I had almost 3 months of (mostly) total indifference to alcohol on Campral. Total magic from the first time I took it. I am now slipping back . I honestly think it is because of my life situation, I live with an alcoholic, but I honestly feel, also, that the affect of the medication is wearing off?? Do you feel at all the same? Do you also have other tools you use to refuse to drink?

Thanks,

A tipsy, but non aggresive Missy.......(for a pleasant change)