Baclofen, Titration Problem, Finally Success

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Baclofen, Titration Problem, Finally Success

ringo2006;1075077 wrote: (Neva Eva, this is for you. Sorry I didn't quote you.) I went with that idea of dosing in preparation for the witching hour. IT NEVER WORKED. In fact, it added to my defeat. IMO, it is a totally worthless strategy.

If you've taken 100 mg (at one time) before, start with that, or 80. Then work up with 10 or 20 mg increases. But don't do any spacing. The concept here is to achieve a good "punch" in the stomach. And apparently, you can even do it in your sleep. Though let me clarify that.

It takes 6 hours for me to start buzzing on my Baclofen. So I actually take it at 6 PM. I go to sleep between 10 and 12. By that time, I'm peaking - and I'm sleeping. When my witching hour comes the next day, which is between 2 and 4 PM, I have zero temptation. My abstinence is a totally effortless ordeal.

I understand your antipathy towards the possibility of drinking again. I've been through it. But it's only temporary. You should find your switch this way, if you haven't with spacing. Be patient. But be faithful.

Lastly, I found it's very, very important to titrate slowly. Not doing so can add to defeat. Patience is a critical ingredient here. Remember, I lost my way for a whole year. And now I don't drink at all.

okay. I'm reevaluating.
I was going to post it all here, but this is a work in progress for me. And this is your thread, my new friend. (I hope!)
I'll continue the thought process on my own thread, in due time. I'd like to get your thoughts and will pm you and a few others who have used the same approach, if you don't have time to check in on me there. I hope you won't mind the intrusion.
Thanks again.

[JohnR]

Baclofen, Titration Problem, Finally Success

To me, it sounds good in theory however I do not feel I could never do it this way because when I have taken a larger dose at night, I awake in the AM completely incapacitated, unable to go to work and unable to drive.

[libmit]

Baclofen, Titration Problem, Finally Success

Ringo and Sober,
I've been taking 80 mg spread over the whole day, for about 3-4 days. The idea of sleeping through the se's and also not having to take a pill every 1-2 hours, and getting the "punch" is very appealing to me. BTW, not much reduction in craving so far, and I foolishly tried to get off Celexa due to a post I read somewhere here, and I did it way too fast and I feel awful. I'm abandoning getting off the celexa right now. Anyway, do I start taking bigger doses farther apart (say 20 mg every 3 hours), then after a few days 40mg twice a day, then 80 all at once, or can I just pop 80 tonite?
Libby

[Isolde]

Baclofen, Titration Problem, Finally Success

ringo2006;1075077 wrote:
I went with that idea of dosing in preparation for the witching hour. IT NEVER WORKED. In fact, it added to my defeat. IMO, it is a totally worthless strategy.

I couldn't agree more with this. I initially started taking my doses unevenly, with more towards my witching hour. After I eventually began evenly spacing out my bac, SEs improved and indifference was on a much more even keel. Well, I was on a much more even keel in every regard!

Very interesting stuff here. I agree that no dosing schedule will work for every person. 80mgs evenly spaced out in 4 doses works a treat for me, but if it didn't, I would absolutely try this method. Thanks so much for sharing ringo, I think this is going to spark a lot of good dialogue at the least, but has the possibility to really help a lot of people who are struggling.

[I-want-to-be-sober]

Baclofen, Titration Problem, Finally Success

It's still theory in the end and we don't give medical advice. If you have been on 80mg since years, you might get withdrawal symptoms or reduced help with alcohol avoidance during the day if you take all at once. We simply don't know.

You might need a higher dose to achieve craving reduction / elimination. Never get off an antidepressant without asking your doctor first. As you know SSRI have to be tapered down slowly. If you find it very difficult your doctor could give give a an equivalent dose of Prozac instead. With it's extremely long half-life it's much easier to get off because it's "self-tapering".

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Baclofen, Titration Problem, Finally Success

Ringo, forgive the intrusiveness of this question.
Is your life different now than it was?

[ringo2006]

Baclofen, Titration Problem, Finally Success

Unfortunately, I am not going to be able to instruct people how to take Baclofen. But I have tried to help people by posting about my experience, and I hope I have done that. What I did was to titrate down completely off my spacing plan. Then I started at a minimal amount and titrated up to my switch, but on a one dose plan. You always have to titrate, whether you're going up or down, to avoid withdrawal and to avoid overdose.

[Guest]

Baclofen, Titration Problem, Finally Success

JohnR;1075142 wrote: To me, it sounds good in theory however I do not feel I could never do it this way because when I have taken a larger dose at night, I awake in the AM completely incapacitated, unable to go to work and unable to drive.

I am the same JohnR, but I think the method is to titrate down completely, the go back up using the single dosing method. That way you get used to that single, larger dose - just as you got used to spacing it out. I however had such a bad time titrating up the first time, that I don't think I could risk going through all of that again. I was seriously thinking of ending it all the SEs were so bad.

[ringo2006]

Baclofen, Titration Problem, Finally Success

Ne/Neva Eva;1075177 wrote: Ringo, forgive the intrusiveness of this question.
Is your life different now than it was?

Yes, most defiinitely different. It's more stable. And I'm more hopeful about other things. I've started weight reduction. I've also started exercising. And I'm about to try to quit smoking. But the most dramatic difference is having this monkley off my back. I no longer have to worry about how I'm going to stop drinking. And that's a relief.

[ringo2006]

Baclofen, Titration Problem, Finally Success

Ukblonde;1075193 wrote: I am the same JohnR, but I think the method is to titrate down completely, the go back up using the single dosing method. That way you get used to that single, larger dose - just as you got used to spacing it out. I however had such a bad time titrating up the first time, that I don't think I could risk going through all of that again. I was seriously thinking of ending it all the SEs were so bad.

No one should start a different plan if they've stopped drinking. Obviously, that doesn't make any sense. And no one should think about going on the one-dose plan simply because it's more convenient, in my opinion.

So, John. That's great you've stopped drinking. Have you begun titrating down?

[TracyA]

Baclofen, Titration Problem, Finally Success

Ukblonde;1075193 wrote: I was seriously thinking of ending it all the SEs were so bad.

UK, me too, the first time around. If you don't mind me asking, what brand of baclofen are you on?

[TracyA]

Baclofen, Titration Problem, Finally Success

Just to add a bit, I did not believe that the bac could be wearing off that fast because by the end of the day, I'm still not feeling well, not terribly ill like I felt before, but just unwell. The half-life in the blood thing makes sense to me given my experience. I was not replacing what was wearing off, it was building up as the day wore on. Thanks again everyone who is contributing their experience here.

[Guest]

Baclofen, Titration Problem, Finally Success

Tracy

I'm using mostly AWD but have had some Lioresal, and Genpharma. The latter are blister strips that I take with me if out for the evening.

[JohnR]

Baclofen, Titration Problem, Finally Success

ringo2006;1075204 wrote: No one should start a different plan if they've stopped drinking. Obviously, that doesn't make any sense. And no one should think about going on the one-dose plan simply because it's more convenient, in my opinion.

So, John. That's great you've stopped drinking. Have you begun titrating down?

I haven't stopped but rather dramatically reduced my AL intake however, I am only at 30mg (after four weeks) and due to the SE's, I don't see how I can go any higher. I have experienced a great result so far but at the expense of all the SE's. Is it better than drinking like before? Absolutely and that is why I continue. I just get a little frustrated when I think about how I will, if ever reach my switch. Maybe I won't but I certainly wish I could.

[Augman]

Baclofen, Titration Problem, Finally Success

I am in the same boat John. Went up to 200 and hit a brick wall. Now I am titrating down, what will I do in the future? how bad do I want to quit? I am going to try again-have to.