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[GettingSerious]

Getting this party started, folks.

Day #2 of Baclofen.

Took two 5 mg doses yesterday (Day #1), owing to fact that first dose was at 2:00p when the package came in the mail. Just swallowed dose #3 for today to complete 2 days out of my 5 x 3 starter dose. Had 4 drinks yesterday, a little less than usual, but I can't credit the bac for that. I had work to do. Funny, drunk that I am, I always put my work first. I heard the term "high bottom" somewhere and thought, what an interesting way to put it.

Haven't noticed anything from the 5 mg, but then, I wouldn't. No one has, from what I can tell.

I'm a 30 y/o female, 5'2", between 110 and 120 lbs and looking to stay that way. I read somewhere that people were putting on weight from bac, which gives me the horrors. I will just have to put my vanity aside, I suppose, but hopefully it will not come to that. I am seriously resisting the impulse to go up more quickly. From what I've seen, there's been a lot of talk lately about doing it SLOWER and hoping it helps avoid side effects.

Finally, I'm concerned about one thing: co-administration of Lexapro and Wellbutrin. I'm just putting it out there in case it helps someone out, or someone finds themselves in a similar situation. I don't need any lectures. I've done some reading and consider myself informed and willing to accept the risks. I was started on Wellbutrin in November. Two weeks ago, I was started on Lexapro.

These two drugs do have the potential to interact, lowering the seizure threshold (I assume The Shrinker knows that). Baclofen could lower it further (The Shrinker doesn't know about the bac). I know that I saw Redhead had to be titrated off WB before Dr. L would agree to prescribe her baclofen. So, I'm probably taking a risk. But, I don't drive at the moment, so I'm not worried about having a seizure and killing anyone. I'm not a surgeon, or a carnival worker, or a heavy machinery operator, so I hold no one's life in my hands on a day-to-day basis.

[ignominious]

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Hi GS

I've seen you around a lot but can't remember if you've tried bac before?

Many people have found that they are able to taper off their ADs as the anxiolytic efects of bac kick in. I'm tapering of bac and have gone from 250 to 90 where I feel much of my old dysphoria has come back but still have little regard for alcohol. I'm actually considering starting Wellbutrin for that and for its anti-smoking properties.

You're right the tortoise seems to be winning the race at the moment but there may yet come a time when you need to use your resolve to increase the dose.

Great to see another person take a step towards freedom.

[GettingSerious]

Let's get it on

Thanks!

No, I have never tried bac before. As for you restarting the WB, I really like it. In addition to whatever it does to my psyche, it amped up my libido and decreased my appetite so I lost a bit of weight. I joke around that it's my hot and h*rny pill. (Sorry, I don't know whether I should bleep that word out??)

Anyway, thanks for the support! Come to think of it, maybe I should start carrying a wooden spoon around.

[ignominious]

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Today I'm going to see if Wellbutrin is available otc here. No need to bleep anything out! Might be just what I'm now looking for having found sobriety!

Forget the wooden spoon for the moment, the real race is just beginning.

[bleep]

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Hi Serious,

Wow, that took a long time in the post, if my memory is correct?! I put on weight, but only because I was awake longer, so I started eating an extra meal. Took me ages to work it out for some reason.

There's still absolutely no consensus as to which titration method (it seems titrate is indeed the correct word for this! Thanks Ig) works best, so pick one and see. Personally, I'd go quickly, but that just me, and isn't based on anything other than what worked for me. People have found success using a variety of methods.

Best of luck!

[ignominious]

Let's get it on

Well, I had a good look round for Wellbitrin today and it looks like it hasn't made its debut in this country yet. There's a psychiatrist coming to my local clinic tomorrow so I might go and ask him. I asked and they told me; he's over 70 yrs old so probably not up to date opn yhis new fangled stuff.

Anybody seen the film "Francis". That was sad.

How you doing GS?

[terryk]

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GettingSerious;1105921 wrote:

Finally, I'm concerned about one thing: co-administration of Lexapro and Wellbutrin. I'm just putting it out there in case it helps someone out, or someone finds themselves in a similar situation. I don't need any lectures. I've done some reading and consider myself informed and willing to accept the risks. I was started on Wellbutrin in November. Two weeks ago, I was started on Lexapro.

Hi GS, here's a thread that describes one poster's experience with baclofen and Celexa (Lexapro is refined Celexa in a manner of speaking):

https://www.mywayout.org/community/f2...sal-43035.html

Cutting to the chase: JHWIII believes that his AD (celexa) negated the anti-alcohol craving effects of baclofen until he discontinued it. I believe that this sentiment has been shared by a few others on the forum, and I have a general sense that Wellbutrin has not been an issue. I'd be happy to talk more about how Celexa and Lexapro are related. I was on Celexa for about a month long before I tried baclofen......

-tk

[redhead77]

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Hi GS,

My first trial run of baclofen I took 15 mg a day for 5 days. I then went up to 20 mg for a week. I started slow too. Starting slow is better than not starting at all. So I'm glad you're finally in the game with us.

Regarding WB and baclofen. I did have to titrate off per my doctor, before he would prescribe. I titrated off it faster than I should have, because I needed this (baclofen that is). I then was very depressed, because I wasn't on either. I started taking 100 mg of WB a day. I had no choice, I was in a dark place. I stayed on it for some weeks, while on the low doses of baclofen. I figured low doses of bac and WB, couldn't be that dangerous. As the bac doses got higher, I noticed the depression starting to lift and I decided to stop the WB. I knew I was going to be getting up there with my bac titration. Maybe it's not something you need to worry about right now.

You're a petite woman. There's a chance you won't need to get very high for indifference. Dr L told me this can be the case for some women. I know that hasn't been the case for all the females around here, many of them are petite as well (not me, I'm taller). Some have had to get in the 300 mg range. I'm still hopeful for you. The glass half full thing. I know with every increase in titration I did, I was hopeful that would be the one. It got me through the rough times with the SEs.

WB does increase libido in many of us. It also helps with weight loss and smoking for me too. Just to give you a heads up, baclofen increases libido too. At least for me. At my switch dose. If I have to stay on this dose long term, um that SE won't be a bad one. Come to think of it, I do think I need to avoid WB for now, the two combined could throw me over the edge. I will be searching CL for strangers like crazy! :H:H:H

Good luck GS. :l

[GettingSerious]

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I am SO GLAD I posted about my Lexapro! I don't know how to post links here, but just google "alcohol cravings" and "lexapro" and check it out!! Apparently even members of the The Upright and Sober club have experienced severe and unprecedented cravings for alcohol on Lex. This is not reported as a side effect!

I also note, if you google wellbutrin and "alcohol cravings" you do NOT get the same number of hits, which means (to me, v. unscientifically) that it's not random and doesn't just happen to any number of people starting on an AD.

I don't know, maybe this is just retrospect bias talking, but I think my cravings for ETOH were a bit more severe the last three nights. I even remember wondering whether I was subconsciously rationalizing the increased intake because I had started Baclofen.

Anyway, last night me and Malbec partied with my Ipod and my 90's mix to the tune of 7 glasses and didn't go to bed until late and I felt all ugggggghhhhh today. Tonight, I'm not quite as bad as last night, but I couldn't stop thinking about the vino when I came home, even though I was doing work. Usually, when doing work, I don't think about drinking at all, but tonight, I was watching the clock until I felt I could put my stuff away and pop the cork.

Huh. I've only been on Lexapro 2 weeks and was only taking 5 mg. I don't think you can titrate down from that. The pills are 10mg and I have to break them in half just to start. I guess I'll just stop taking it and see what happens. I think the guinea pig lifestyle suits me!

[GettingSerious]

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I do have to add, though, that I am bummed. Five days after starting to take the Lexapro, my critical inner voices stopped. I can't remember the last time I felt so peaceful (sober). Life gives with one hand and takes with the other, doesn't it? D**ckhead.

[ignominious]

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It does seem to do that GS but I'm counting that the gift of sobriety will be a solid foundation for whatever else I want to get!

[bleep]

Let's get it on

I can't speak to the AD, having no experience with them, but I definitely drank more in the beginning of baclofen. The dying gasps, so to speak. I just went with it and drank more, going with the flow being my general way of getting through life, so it didn't bother me. It goes away, entirely.

[ignominious]

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Oh yeah! I nearly forgot we're talking about baclofen and alcohol. Thanks for the reminder bleep.

I too wouldn't be overly concerned about wanting to have a drink at this stage, that's what alkies do.

[Ne/Neva Eva]

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GettingSerious;1106397 wrote: ... my critical inner voices stopped. I can't remember the last time I felt so peaceful (sober). ...

Hiya, GS.

I was amazed at the fact that those critical inner voices stopped completely for me on bac.

Granted, I've found bac to be a pretty well-rounded medication for what ails me, not just the AL bit, but also the mind and soul numbing aspects of chronic AL abuse... and maybe even some of the underlying issues. I really only noticed them on their return when I went down too low, too quickly.

I am not a proponent (as others will tell you and I have mentioned repeatedly) of using other medications when taking bac, simply because I wanted to be clear about what the bac was doing vs what other brain-chemical-medications were doing. I figured that a lot of what I was dealing with was directly related to the AL abuse. Once that was removed, I could deal with what was remaining.
In addition to that I was (and am) wary of mixing and matching medications when I got over the 100mg/day level with bac. I'd guess that the FDA recommendations for daily bac (80mg/day) use were based on something, (research) and anything much higher than that is a bit of uncharted territory. Who is to say what interactions might happen at 200mg/day that wouldn't be an issue at say 50mg/day. There are quite a few people around here that are or have taken WB though...

I don't mean to be alarmist. In fact, I'm not at all, much, anymore. Just practical, I hope. Bac has a profound affect on everyone that takes it over an extended period of time. (regularly and with forethought) It's a pretty amazing medication, even if you don't find it to be the panacea that I have!

As to the AL? :H That's the point, right? Like Ig, I got distracted. Drink, don't drink... Chances are remarkably good that if you take the pills you'll find indifference. I found that I sometimes drank more, sometimes less... I don't remember anymore what was related to bac and what was related to stubborness or the disease itself. I will warn, with a wink, that the hangovers can really, really suuuuuuuuuuuck if you over-indulge while taking bac. (Not for all of us, for sure. But ouch, they did for me.)

The libido thing? lol Bac. Bac. Bac.
I'd think it was just me, but there are plenty of others to testify. And my husband is taking it now... And I can testify to that, too! You won't need WB!
The weight gain? I know that others have experienced it. I had a hard time getting exercise at some levels (the lower ones for me, I felt like hell.) But then, WOW! I started to really enjoy exercising in a way that I've never done before.
Now? On my maintenance dose, I can't seem to stay away from foods that have been taboo for a loooong time. (processed junk, mostly.) I expect to see the waistbands grow tighter any day now. Of course, I'll blame it on the dryer shrinking my clothes!

Looking forward to hearing the rest of the story. (nod to Paul Harvey there. the old coot)

Ne

[GettingSerious]

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All right. Got bored and impatient and took an extra 10mg last night, for a total of 25mg on day 3. This morning, i was lying in bed and realized that my arm felt disconnected from the rest of my body. That was....odd. Got up and things feel a little weird, disjointed. Like not all of my limbs are syncing together perfectly. Mentally, i seem ok, which is good because in two hours i have to depose an ER physician and try to prove he doesnt know what he's talking about. UGH. After that i'm free and clear, though, and can focus for the next five days on getting my dose up. I admit, i probably wont be going as slow as i initially planned. I'm antsy. Instant gratification, poor impulse control and little self restraint.....thats what got me into this mess in the first place, isnt it??