Baclofen, Titration Problem, Finally Success

[ringo2006]

I hope this gets read most importantly by those trying to find their switch.

I started on Baclofen a year ago, and it worked, right away. I am 6'3" and I weigh 280 lbs. I found my switch at 120 mg. But I did not have a prescribing physician. When money ran out, so did my meds. And I started drinking again. Then I got some money, got my shipment from 4rx (never a complaint with them), and got sober. Then everything went awry. Listening to an advising doc on some forum, I took his advice to adjust my regimen (e.g., don't take your pills all at once; space them out). When I started on baclofen, I took my pills all at once. He suggested I might be less tired if I spaced them out. Very, very bad idea! Eventually, despite taking my meds religiously, I started drinking again. For a whole year, I lost my way. Drank to inebriation (though not every day), but still took my meds. Even found a doc willing to write a script (but just for the safe max of 80 mg). Still, situation became increasingly hopeless. Then I started to hate the med, the tiredness, the fogginess, the lazy eyes, etc. But I kept taking it. Finally, I thought, well, if I hate it so much, why don't I go back to my one dose regimen and take it at night when I go to sleep. Damn, if that didn't work. I have no temptations whatsoever. Been sober now two months, but I know it's forever. You know - when you know. And I know. And thank you, God, or whoever's responsible. And you know what else, I don't even need the previous working dosage of 120 mg. I'm good with just 80 mg. And I'm 6'3", 280! Imagine that. So here's the lesson: if you don't give up, you will find your switch. The dosage that works for you probably won't work for someone else. You've got to find your own regimen. Keep the faith. Baclofen works. And once it works for you, you're free, my friend. So keep the faith!

And one more thing, please don't think, oh, he went back to drinking on Baclofen because he really didn't want to stop yet. Not so. I drank because I was compelled. I hated every moment I spent raising that glass to my lips. Baclofen killed the compulsion. That's precisely what it does. Read what the French doctor said about Baclofen reducing his compulsion to shop as well, not just drink. Baclofen kills the compulsion. I finally stopped when I finally found my regimen, which is unique to each of us. God bless each of you. And take care! I hope this testament helps somebody.

Sorry, one more edit. When I was spacing my meds, I even went to 280 mg. I had hallucinations. They're not that bad. I saw shades of green, that's all. But I knew i was hallucinating. Even at an extraordinary dosage of 280 mg, I was still drinking - because the med was being spaced out. Baclofen works ONLY if it has a punch. That's what I think. For me, taking a single large dosage of 80 mg "punches" my compulsion to drink right in the gut, EVEN THOUGH I'm asleep when it's happening. And that disables the compulsion. Some people say they space their meds and take a larger dosage in preparation for their witching hour, when the compulsion to drink kicks in. It's been my experience that a good "punch in the stomach" just once in 24 hours, regardless of how many hours it happens before the witching hour, is all that's needed. I hope you understand what I'm trying to convey. Good luck.

[I-want-to-be-sober]

Baclofen, Titration Problem, Finally Success

Normally baclofen should be taken several times a day, but if you have success with a one-day regimen then of course you have to go for it. Grats for your success. :goodjob:

[ignominious]

Baclofen, Titration Problem, Finally Success

Interesting post Ringo. Thanks for sharing.

I also think there is something to be said for bump starting the brain.

[bleep]

Baclofen, Titration Problem, Finally Success

Very interesting post, thanks! Glad you found success.

It goes against my thinking on the subject, but it's clearly working, so I'm not questioning it. I suppose any SE's are hidden under your sleep.

I do agree with you on this:

ringo2006;1074829 wrote: ...

So here's the lesson: if you don't give up, you will find your switch. The dosage that works for you probably won't work for someone else. You've got to find your own regimen. Keep the faith. Baclofen works. And once it works for you, you're free, my friend. So keep the faith!

...

[TracyA]

Baclofen, Titration Problem, Finally Success

Hi Ringo.:welcome:

I had wondered about that too since Doc L. recommends taking it only three times per day. I increased to 4 times a day and am on 140 mg per day. I think I'll stretch it 3 times and take 50 per dose. I have an appt. with L on Wednesday and will ask him why he recommends three times.

I'd also wondered because the point of the smaller doses seems to be mimic a intrathecal pump, and keeping a tickle of baclofen going at all times. But those pumps are not used to reduce cravings, which is what we do here. They are used to reduce muscle hyperactivity - a completely different condition. With the pumps the baclofen is delivered directly into the spinal fluid, bypassing all the digestive organs. Again - that's not what we do here. For MS patients, the baclofen doesn't have to circulate throughout the body, so they only need small doses. Again, not what we're doing here. In MS patients, small doses are desirable because the side effects of baclofen can be debilitating - which is, of course, THE problem we face taking it orally. But these two treatment protocols, one for MS and one for AL, have nothing in common!

I've also wondered if the "constant trickle" does not make one more apt to suffer sudden withdrawal because the body is not accustomed to a fluctuating dose. A few of the cases of really nasty things happening to people here involved popping the baclofen every hour.

So, thanks so much for letting us in on what worked for you. The more we share, the better off we all are.

Please stick around and share some more of journey with us. We need all the help we can get! :thanks:

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Baclofen, Titration Problem, Finally Success

EDIT: I don't know what I was thinking! I stuck to my normal dosing schedule and continued to progress quite well. I definitely would not suggest dosing once a day as a positive protocol. Despite what I wrote here.

Excellent, excellent post. Thank you so much for sharing this Ringo.

ringo2006;1074829 wrote: Baclofen works ONLY if it has a punch.

It's heresy, I know, but I agree. Completely. Without reservation or hesitation.

I'll elucidate if people are interested, but suffice it to say I am going to change my dosing schedule starting today. (with forethought and a plan, of course. bac is not to be trifled with.)

beatle, I hope you're reading. We should talk about this immediately.

God, , thank you Ringo. Well timed.

[Seethepony]

Baclofen, Titration Problem, Finally Success

"Read what the French doctor said about Baclofen reducing his compulsion to shop as well"

I feel a sexist wife joke coming on, but it'll pass. (No, but seriously - Would she notice if I grated some on her cornflakes..?)

Great post Ringo. Your "one punch" principal needs further investigation. At the moment we've got a lot of people peppering the baclofen throughout the day, resulting in huge daily doses - maybe they should consider your approach? Anyway, congratulations on finding your own cure.

[bleep]

Baclofen, Titration Problem, Finally Success

Ne/Neva Eva;1074995 wrote: ...

I'll elucidate if people are interested, but suffice it to say I am going to change my dosing schedule starting today.

...

Please do!

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Baclofen, Titration Problem, Finally Success

thanks pony boy!

And yes, it has completely derailed my shopping habit. don't miss it one bit.

[Seethepony]

Baclofen, Titration Problem, Finally Success

Hey Neva, your avatar set fire to itself. (Is it Barbara Hepworth?)

[TracyA]

Baclofen, Titration Problem, Finally Success

bleep;1074999 wrote: Please do!

What the pony said!

[ringo2006]

Baclofen, Titration Problem, Finally Success

To Charlieboy, in private post: I would continue with your current plan. And that's how I did it originally as well. Slowly titrated up - BUT I was taking them all at once; I wasn't spacing them. Like, 20 mg, then 30 mg 3 days later, then finally up to 80 or 100 a couple weeks later. But, again, all at once. not over the space of a whole day. And if you go too high, and you'll know it, it's only by 20 mg that you've gone over, and you go back down. Please tell your friend who gave up. Baclofen does kill alcoholism. It definitely works. You just have to find your idiosyncratic regimen. IMO, starting with the traditional (spacing) plan is better. But if it doesn't work, please remember what I told you. I'm going to post this response in the forum as well, for others to benefit from it.

And to everyone else, I'm glad this post has helped. But please don't suddenly switch over from a spacing plan to a one-two punch plan. Instead, titrate down normally, then titrate back up without spacing. Like, 20 mg on day one, then 30 mg three days later for 3 days, etc, until you get to your switch - BUT ALL AT ONCE, no spacing. Again, this worked for me. I am totally alcohol free, and I have 0 temptation. This is effortless cessation. And at a low dosage like mine, I have no withdrawal symptoms between the 24-hour dosage. It's effin great to be clean. The most common thing I hear is, "You look so healthy. What did you do?" Oh, and one last thing: to those who experience breathlessness, YOU HAVE REFLUX. Ask your doctor to treat it and the breathlessness will go away.

[TracyA]

Baclofen, Titration Problem, Finally Success

Ringo, there is a connection between acid reflux disease and the breathlessness we experience on bac?

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Baclofen, Titration Problem, Finally Success

I responded in my own thread, so as not to digress from Ringo's experience.

Ringo, thanks for the last post. I am actually going to change my dosing schedule this very day, but with forethought and planning. And some common sense thrown in!
Your post just gives me the courage to do it and to talk about it, because I've long thought that might be the case. There are others around here that have used the same protocol but hesitate to share it in case someone follows their lead and hurts themselves. I've been taking this long enough and played with it enough to feel relatively comfortable with the experiment.
I did not, ftr, change my dosing schedule. Thankfully. I can't think, now, of anyone who used this dosing protocol to reach indifference.

Have you ever taken that dose at a time other than at bedtime? Do you experience any severe side effects when you take that much? On the order of hallucinations/delusions/blood pressure/CNS implications?

:H to the reflux. I never thought to think of that.

[ringo2006]

Baclofen, Titration Problem, Finally Success

TracyA;1075039 wrote: Ringo, there is a connection between acid reflux disease and the breathlessness we experience on bac?

Yes, I put this into its own thread. But again, it's reflux that's causing your breathlessness. Just treat the reflux. Pop an antacid for immediate relief but also start on Prilosec for longterm relief.