dr. denied baclofen

[username1]

I'm new here, yesterday somebody recommended baclofen to me on here. I've been doing some research on here since then and seems to be what I seem could be the most effective for me. So, I went to my Dr. today and he said he didn't feel comfortable prescribing baclofen to me, was saying it's a muscle relaxer even though I printed out the baclofen page on wikipedia which states it's also used for alcohol cravings/withdrawl.

Instead he prescribed Antabuse and ambien for my insomnia and reason to start drinking in the first place. I don't want to take antabuse, and I don't think that will help with my cravings which is the reason I want to try baclofen.

Should I just try another clinic or dr. ? has anybody else here had difficulty getting baclofen prescribed? any other info or links that anybody can provide that I can print out and bring to the next dr. ?

I didn't think I would be denied, it's not something like pain killers that people go to clinics and make up stories to get prescribed, correct? I wonder if I can call in advance and will they tell me if they can prescribe baclofen for alcohol withdrawl or not? I don't want to have the same thing happen again and waste money on the dr. visit if they won't prescribe it.

[Greg]

dr. denied baclofen

Hi, I'd honestly recommend a doctor who spends time specifically helping addicted patients rather than being only a general practicioner. Even the best GPs may not have enough time to know about newer unconventional drug treatments or become comfortable with them. That's been my experience anyway, I did not find anyone willing to try bac for alcoholism until I consulted an addiction specialist. I didn't end up using bac as my way out but the fact remains that the specialist was willing to prescribe it, although only up to 100 mg per day (but maybe more if I had started the treatment in earnest).

Do you mind me asking why you don't want to take Antabuse? It should not have any bad effects unless alcohol is taken afterwards. I did not want to use it for many years either but found it really helpful once I started, as it stopped me from being able to run arguments through my mind about whether I should give in to alcohol or not each evening....once Antabuse had been taken there was no point having the silly little debate with myself because I knew I simply couldn't have a drink, and the fear of not having alcohol largely went away once I knew that. I was taking one or two other medications to help with the cravings and my insomnia aswell however, since Antabuse by itself does not chemically remove the cravings. Some people also drink over the top of Antabuse due to becoming obsessed with wanting a drink, which can be dangerous (very unpleasant at a minimum).

Ambien could help the insomnia but just keep in mind that many addicted people can also run into dependence problems with this sort of drug. I ended up having a problem getting off Xanax after using it as a sleep aid, although my problem only developed due to using it every single night for months. All I can say is that if you do use it, try to give it a break fairly often.

Regarding another doctor, it could be hard to know if they will prescribe bac or not unless they practice from an addiction clinic, in which case you could maybe ask the clinic about their policies. If you want a hard copy of Dr Ameisen's case report of using bac to stop drinking I recently posted a link to a PDF copy of this here (probably a few threads down by now) but I'm not sure how easy/hard it will be to print it out. Yes baclofen isn't like pain killers, where people go to doctors with stories just to get it, but doctors are still wary because it's use in alcoholism is usually off label (not officially approved yet) and the doses needed are way above normal limits (which are 80-100 mg per day).

Good luck with it, and maybe ask others here if you read their stories, since most members of this forum have a lot of practical experience with baclofen treatment and trying to get it prescribed by doctors.

[Cinders]

dr. denied baclofen

Username1,

The problem for doctors prescribing Baclofen for alcohol abuse is that it is off label. Off label prescriptions can get doctors in trouble if something happens to the patient.

I would try a psychiatrist next. They are used to prescribing drugs for things like alcoholism and most are a little more lenient on the off label scripts.

You never know.

Also, where do you live? I know there is a psychiatrist in Chicago, Dr. Levin, who can help. He will also take evening phone calls at night, but it is difficult to get into him.

I think there is a Dr in Atlanta, GA.

Are you in the US? If not, I think there are a couple of doctors in the UK.

Cindi

[Lo0p]

dr. denied baclofen

Look through some of this stuff. Maybe mail some to your doctor or email it.


Baclofen



Dr Olivier Ameisen’s website:
• Olivier Ameisen, MD

His books:
• Macmillan: End of My Addiction: Books: Olivier Ameisen, M.D.
• 'Heal Thyself: A Doctor at the Peak of His Medical Career, Destroyed by Alcohol--and the Personal Miracle That Brought Him Back' by Olivier Ameisen (Dec 2009)

Wikipedia entry:
• Baclofen - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

An interview with Dr. Ameisen, the first doctor in this news clip, Dr James Garbutt, is a researcher that did a study with alcoholic patients and low dose baclofen (3x10mg/day). He found that it was effective, but not completely successful. Dr. Ameisen lost all craving for alcohol when he reached a dose of 270mg/day, nine times the dose used In the study. He continues to take 50mg/day now, five years later:
• A Cure for Alcoholism? - ABC News

YouTube video of PET scan showing reduced cocaine craving in the brain. Baclofen works for alcohol craving via the same mechanism:
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byain0Vo5mo[/video]]YouTube - Baclofen dramatically reduces cocaine craving

• Suppression de la dependance a l’alcool et de la consommation
d’alcool par le baclofene a haute dose : un essai en ouvert
Annales Medico-Psychologiques 168 (2010) 159–162
(PDF)(French)(Look at me being all linguocentric:sigh

• CASE REPORT
COMPLETE AND PROLONGED SUPPRESSION OF SYMPTOMS AND CONSEQUENCES OF ALCOHOL-DEPENDENCE USING HIGH-DOSE BACLOFEN: A SELF-CASE REPORT OF A PHYSICIAN
OLIVIER AMEISEN
Alcohol & Alcoholism Vol. 40, No. 2, pp. 147–150, 2005
(PDF)

• BACLOFEN EFFICACY IN REDUCING ALCOHOL CRAVING AND INTAKE: A PRELIMINARY DOUBLE-BLIND RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED STUDY
Alcohol and Alcoholism Vol. 37, No. 5, pp. 504-508, 2002

• CASE REPORT: SUPPRESSION OF SYMPTOMS OF ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE AND CRAVING USING HIGH-DOSE BACLOFEN
WILLIAM BUCKNAM
Alcohol and Alcoholism 2007 42(2):158-160

• Baclofen: a new drug for the treatment of alcohol dependence
Int J Clin Pract, August 2006, 60, 8, 1003–1008
(PDF)

• Baclofen in the Treatment of Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome: A Comparative Study vs Diazepam
The American Journal of Medicine
Volume 119, Issue 3, March 2006, Pages 276.e13-276.e18
(PDF)

• Baclofen suppresses motivation to consume alcohol in rats
Psychopharmacology (2003) 167:221–224
(PDF)

• Effectiveness and safety of baclofen for maintenance of alcohol abstinence in alcohol-dependent patients with liver cirrhosis: randomised, double-blind controlled study.
Lancet. 2007 Dec 8;370(9603):1915-22.
(PDF)

• Acute interaction of baclofen in combination with alcohol in heavy social drinkers.
Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2009 Jan;33(1):19-30.
(PDF)

• Dr. Phillip Thomas' website:
www.baclofen4alcoholism.com

• Informative and educational threads on this forum complete with factual information, titration schedules and personal experiences:
https://www.mywayout.org/community/f2...ion-34919.html
https://www.mywayout.org/community/f2...ead-35166.html
https://www.mywayout.org/community/f2...ead-35995.html
https://www.mywayout.org/community/f2...fen-35375.html

[username1]

dr. denied baclofen

Thanks for the replies. I'm in the U.S. - Dallas, TX.

As for not wanting to take Antabuse is since I didn't think it would help for the cravings. About Ambien, I'm aware it can be addictive, I have abused xanax and kolonpins recreationally a lot in the past. I always end up building a tolerance quickly so it was easy to quit but, when I would take them with heavy drinking, I started having really bad nightmares so I stopped taking those. I'm not in a rush to try Ambien, I haven't even gone to the pharmacy, just came home after the dr. visit.

I don't know what else to do about the insomnia, it was the main reason for me to start drinking. I've tried all the otc methods, melatonin, and valerian root tea, taking tons of it each night but, I can only seem to sleep every 48 hrs. without alcohol.

I figured if I was on baclofen then if I had to drink, maybe a beer to get to sleep then maybe from the effects of baclofen I will not want to drink heavily (currently I'm down to about 8 beers a night, don't drink in the day anymore, used to drink night/day 1/4 liter of vodka a day, i've just about completely quit hard liquor except for the occasional shot or two once a blue moon). If I can reduce my drinking to a beer or two a day I think I would be ok with that, maybe even a few days in the week of abstinece would be preferred.

I think the reason i really don't want Antabuse is since I wouldn't be able to drink at all but, instead want to minimize it so I can drink moderately. I know a lot of people say this and not everybody can do it but, I figure if I'm able to get as far as drinking from a 1/4 liter of vodka a day for 2 years day/night no mater where I was at work or wherever, to 6-8 beers at nights only for sleep, maybe baclofen is what I need to maybe even cut it down to half that or just give me a few days of abstinence a week, I would probably be satisfied with that. Or maybe I could 'switch' to baclofen completely, I would prefer that due to the health risk of alcohol, I'm concerned about my liver and digestive system after all the drinking I've done.

[PbarE]

dr. denied baclofen

username1;1099078 wrote: Thanks for the replies. I'm in the U.S. - Dallas, TX.

I got you covered. Check your PM

[username1]

dr. denied baclofen

PbarE;1099118 wrote: I got you covered. Check your PM

Thanks a lot, really appreciate it.

[username1]

dr. denied baclofen

PbarE;1099118 wrote: I got you covered. Check your PM

Does Texas have the law that if you go and speak to a doctor and tell them you're trying to withdraw from alcohol that they are legally required to send you to a hospital or detox for 72 hrs?

It says on this site, How To Taper Off Alcohol
"In some states such as Minnesota the doctor is required by law to commit anyone suffering from alcohol withdrawal to an inpatient detox facility for at least 72 hours. "

So, I was concerned if the same is applied in Texas. Since I'd rather try it on my own, I don't want to go through an inpatient detox.

[Cinders]

dr. denied baclofen

Unsername1,

You can definitely try to taper off by yourself but it is a difficult task. One thing us alkies all have in common is that one drink tends to lead to 10 or more. (In my case, drink until passed out.)

If, however, you have a helpmate, it is much easier. They can actually administer the alcohol to you in lessening amounts until you are down to nothing. It has to be someone you trust and someone who won't let you get away with eff it.

I don't know about the laws in Texas. You could just call the hospital and ask them. They will tell you, I think.

You can always try a doctor. I have had doctors give me Librium, just 5 days worth, to get over detox. Again, you have to be careful with that. Librium and alcohol are not a good mix.

Good luck!! You CAN do it. Whatever way you choose.

Cindi

[username1]

dr. denied baclofen

Cinders;1099143 wrote: Unsername1,

You can definitely try to taper off by yourself but it is a difficult task. One thing us alkies all have in common is that one drink tends to lead to 10 or more. (In my case, drink until passed out.)

If, however, you have a helpmate, it is much easier. They can actually administer the alcohol to you in lessening amounts until you are down to nothing. It has to be someone you trust and someone who won't let you get away with eff it.

I don't know about the laws in Texas. You could just call the hospital and ask them. They will tell you, I think.

You can always try a doctor. I have had doctors give me Librium, just 5 days worth, to get over detox. Again, you have to be careful with that. Librium and alcohol are not a good mix.

Good luck!! You CAN do it. Whatever way you choose.

Cindi

Well, I tapered off once before. When I was drinking a 1/4 liter of vodka day and night, even in the middle of the night when I woke up, at work, driving, etc.. I was drinking like this from 2005-2007 when I found out about DT's, somebody posted on a forum about how withdrawing from alcohol can kill you. It really hit me, so I started tapering off a little day by day, like one less drink a day, took about a week but, since then I have not drank as much or in the day.

As, I said before I'm pretty much over liquor except for the occasional blue moon, a shot or two but, if I drink too much it makes me feel so exhausted the next day that I can see it now it's not how I want to feel ever, it's really tiring and I have no energy. So, now I'm at 6-8 beers a night since 2007 and since then except for one day when I was traveling overseas in 2010 I got mugged and scraped up pretty bad that I drank for the next two days day/night but, that's it after I was healed and over the pain, I'm back to not drinking in days and at the 6-8 beers a night.

I'm just looking for some days of abstinence I guess, I don't think I want to quit completely, unless I have something else that will replace it, that's not as harmful physically.

[LittleLessBoozin']

dr. denied baclofen

username1;1099152 wrote: Well, I tapered off once before. When I was drinking a 1/4 liter of vodka day and night, even in the middle of the night when I woke up, at work, driving, etc.. I was drinking like this from 2005-2007 when I found out about DT's, somebody posted on a forum about how withdrawing from alcohol can kill you. It really hit me, so I started tapering off a little day by day, like one less drink a day, took about a week but, since then I have not drank as much or in the day.

As, I said before I'm pretty much over liquor except for the occasional blue moon, a shot or two but, if I drink too much it makes me feel so exhausted the next day that I can see it now it's not how I want to feel ever, it's really tiring and I have no energy. So, now I'm at 6-8 beers a night since 2007 and since then except for one day when I was traveling overseas in 2010 I got mugged and scraped up pretty bad that I drank for the next two days day/night but, that's it after I was healed and over the pain, I'm back to not drinking in days and at the 6-8 beers a night.

I'm just looking for some days of abstinence I guess, I don't think I want to quit completely, unless I have something else that will replace it, that's not as harmful physically.

You are HAPPY with 6-8 beers a night (but the occasional night off)? Doesn't sound good to me.

I'm a non-baclified SOB, so don't get me wrong, that is a dramatic amount less than I currently drink every day, but personally, I fantasize about being able to drink one beer, or 2 beers, or no beers most nights. 6-8 beers per night would be a big improvement for me, but FFS I would not consider myself in any way a normal drinker at that point.

I'm seriously not judging you (how can I?), but I hope I reach a point where 8 beers is a massive bender with friends rather than a maintenance dose of booze!

Paul.

[username1]

dr. denied baclofen

LittleLessBoozin';1099164 wrote: You are HAPPY with 6-8 beers a night (but the occasional night off)? Doesn't sound good to me.

I'm a non-baclified SOB, so don't get me wrong, that is a dramatic amount less than I currently drink every day, but personally, I fantasize about being able to drink one beer, or 2 beers, or no beers most nights. 6-8 beers per night would be a big improvement for me, but FFS I would not consider myself in any way a normal drinker at that point.

I'm seriously not judging you (how can I?), but I hope I reach a point where 8 beers is a massive bender with friends rather than a maintenance dose of booze!

Paul.

(so far, 12 beers, 1 bottle wine, and a sneaky couple of miniatures just waiting to help diphenhydramine to put me to sleep)

I'm not happy with 6-8 beers a night, this is where I am now from drinking 1/4 liter of vodka a day. I'm trying to look for baclofen to help me cut that down or help to give me some days of abstinence. As currently I'm at 6-8 beers a night regularly, so if I can get that cut down to half a night + a few days of abstinence I think would be on a better path than where I am now.

This is what I said in my previous post before that one:

"I think the reason i really don't want Antabuse is since I wouldn't be able to drink at all but, instead want to minimize it so I can drink moderately. I know a lot of people say this and not everybody can do it but, I figure if I'm able to get as far as drinking from a 1/4 liter of vodka a day for 2 years day/night no mater where I was at work or wherever, to 6-8 beers at nights only for sleep, maybe baclofen is what I need to maybe even cut it down to half that or just give me a few days of abstinence a week, I would probably be satisfied with that. Or maybe I could 'switch' to baclofen completely, I would prefer that due to the health risk of alcohol, I'm concerned about my liver and digestive system after all the drinking I've done."

[username1]

dr. denied baclofen

Even if I can get a few days of abstinence at my current rate is a start, I mean I can't expect a miracle overnight, it will take time for me to adjust I suppose. Obviously, no alcohol at all is the goal, to be perfectly happy with life and content without alcohol is what I would wish but, who knows if that would happen for me, I can only go step-by-step. If I am able to go a couple or few days without alcohol in a week but, still drinking 6-8 a day, I guess it's better than drinking 6-8 all 7 days a week. Baby, steps, I guess.

[Guest]

dr. denied baclofen

1/4 litre of Vodka isn't that much units wise - about 10 units. How big or small are these beers?6 x 250mls @ 3% strength is 4.5 units, whereas 8 x 250 @ 5% is still 10 units.

Might be a reduction, or might not.

[username1]

dr. denied baclofen

Ukblonde;1099205 wrote: 1/4 litre of Vodka isn't that much units wise - about 10 units. How big or small are these beers?6 x 250mls @ 3% strength is 4.5 units, whereas 8 x 250 @ 5% is still 10 units.

Might be a reduction, or might not.

1/4 liter of vodka is about 15 drinks here last time I checked. Now, I'm drinking on average 4 x 24 oz. (709 ml) cans a night. Anyway, you might not be able to realize it from what I'm saying but, I know for sure I've reduced drastically. Not drinking when I'm at work, or driving, not having to pass out during the day, etc.. etc..

vodka was 80 proof and the cans i drink now are 'bud ice' and 'ice house' = 5.5% strength