Hello All,
I posted my Baclofen chronicles at the 1 year sobriety mark. As an early Baclofen adopter, Ne sent me a PM asking me for an update. This is my response (with a few changes as more stuff popped into my head). I thought it might benefit all.
Hello Neva,
I'm somewhere around 1 year, 8 months and doing well. I started taking Baclofen about 2 years ago. After doing my research I decided on the quick titration schedule as recommended by one of the members. This turned out to be a big mistake, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. Many people flame out on side effects (which I did), and some quit altogether as a result. The gradual method was much better. I stabilized at 150 and have stayed there since Nov., 2009, sober all the way.
You seem like a pretty open minded person from your postings so, as an early adopter, I'll go ahead and give you my opinions on Baclofen and the forum. Feel free to completely disregard whatever elements that don't resonate.
To me, "complete indifference" implies that one rarely thinks about something, and when they do, it is only a passing thought without any emotional impact. I doubt I will ever be "completely indifferent" to alcohol. That doesn't mean I want to drink, I don't. But I'm sure I think about alcohol more often than someone with complete indifference, and I probably always will. That's ok though because it keeps me vigilant. There is a willpower component to all this, which is why I think the whole idea of the mythical "switch" is counterproductive. Keep drinking heavily, do nothing else, take pills, and "voila", be perfectly normal. Typical "quick fix" alcoholic thinking. Even with Baclofen you need a plan along with the discipline to execute it, especially in the beginning. The good news is it gets a lot easier as time passes.
I have a science background so I was pretty skeptical about Dr Ameisen's claims. Sounded a bit like Cold Fusion. I honestly never believed that I would one day wake up a non alcoholic. In retrospect, I think my doubts helped me because I took additional steps to secure my success. I still shutter every time I read the comments of raging alcoholics who want to take Baclofen so they can become moderate drinkers. I firmly believe these folks haven't come to grips with their disease. I wanted no part of moderation. I wanted to quit. Twenty+ years of 8-12 drinks per night was quite enough, so I immediately began taking Antabuse (and still do). Without it, I wouldn't have made it this long. There is no doubt that Baclofen significantly mitigates the cravings, but it does not completely eliminate them, at least at my dosage, and I am not capable of taking the extreme dosages some of the folks on the forum can seemingly tolerate. Plus, drinking while taking Baclofen is very unpleasant. Taking Antabuse everyday prevents this. My morning 125mg of Antabuse is affirmation that I will not drink, and that I am still committed to a life of sobriety.
I suffer from GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder), as many alcoholics do. I find 10mg of Celexa helps. I would strongly recommend against taking Xanax. I used it daily, gradually moving up to about .75mg per day. Not much when compared to some, but enough to result in a brutal withdrawal. If you are taking Xanax, please understand that over time, more will be required to maintain the required efficacy, and the withdrawal could be the most excruciating thing you've ever experienced.
I also exercise religiously. This makes me feel better physically, relieves stress, and helps fill the "void". Ah yes, the "void". Something I hadn't considered when I started this whole process, and something that should get a lot more press. What to do with all the new sober time. At first, I felt empty, like "What now?" I realized quickly that I would need to get going. Working out, reading, photography, golfing, traveling, etc., anything to fill the void. It was weird at first but is now amazing.
Another thing I've learned: the importance of the passage of time. Each day you can stay sober is your friend. That's why I wince when people on this forum have a glass of wine, or a couple of beers, and think it's ok. It's not if your goal is to become AF for life. Drinking occasionally keeps the connection alive, like calling an ex once in awhile when you know you should move on. As time passes, alcohol gradually withdraws from your psyche. There is a singular component to time that cannot be replaced by Baclofen or anything else. Please, take my word for it, the more time you stay sober the more your perspective will change. If Baclofen gets you to a point of indifference, you can "take it" or "leave it" without care, so leave it.
So, after 1 year and 8 months sober, I recommend these things:
Accept that some willpower/discipline will be required.
Find a comfortable Baclofen dosage. You may not find the mythical switch, but take enough to get you over the hump.
Take 125mg of antabuse everyday.
Try a small amount of Celexa (or something similar if you suffer from anxiety).
Fill the void (exercise, golf, etc.)
Get time under your belt (Don't drink casually)
And there you go. Remember, I drank an average of 10 drinks per night for 20 years, and I've been sober for almost 2 years now. As each sober day passes, I feel my mind slowly changing, and the idea of drinking floats farther and farther away. If I can do it, you all can certainly do it too.
Photoman
"There'll be two dates on your tombstone
And all your friends will read 'em
But all that's gonna matter is that little dash between 'em..."
I posted my Baclofen chronicles at the 1 year sobriety mark. As an early Baclofen adopter, Ne sent me a PM asking me for an update. This is my response (with a few changes as more stuff popped into my head). I thought it might benefit all.
Hello Neva,
I'm somewhere around 1 year, 8 months and doing well. I started taking Baclofen about 2 years ago. After doing my research I decided on the quick titration schedule as recommended by one of the members. This turned out to be a big mistake, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. Many people flame out on side effects (which I did), and some quit altogether as a result. The gradual method was much better. I stabilized at 150 and have stayed there since Nov., 2009, sober all the way.
You seem like a pretty open minded person from your postings so, as an early adopter, I'll go ahead and give you my opinions on Baclofen and the forum. Feel free to completely disregard whatever elements that don't resonate.
To me, "complete indifference" implies that one rarely thinks about something, and when they do, it is only a passing thought without any emotional impact. I doubt I will ever be "completely indifferent" to alcohol. That doesn't mean I want to drink, I don't. But I'm sure I think about alcohol more often than someone with complete indifference, and I probably always will. That's ok though because it keeps me vigilant. There is a willpower component to all this, which is why I think the whole idea of the mythical "switch" is counterproductive. Keep drinking heavily, do nothing else, take pills, and "voila", be perfectly normal. Typical "quick fix" alcoholic thinking. Even with Baclofen you need a plan along with the discipline to execute it, especially in the beginning. The good news is it gets a lot easier as time passes.
I have a science background so I was pretty skeptical about Dr Ameisen's claims. Sounded a bit like Cold Fusion. I honestly never believed that I would one day wake up a non alcoholic. In retrospect, I think my doubts helped me because I took additional steps to secure my success. I still shutter every time I read the comments of raging alcoholics who want to take Baclofen so they can become moderate drinkers. I firmly believe these folks haven't come to grips with their disease. I wanted no part of moderation. I wanted to quit. Twenty+ years of 8-12 drinks per night was quite enough, so I immediately began taking Antabuse (and still do). Without it, I wouldn't have made it this long. There is no doubt that Baclofen significantly mitigates the cravings, but it does not completely eliminate them, at least at my dosage, and I am not capable of taking the extreme dosages some of the folks on the forum can seemingly tolerate. Plus, drinking while taking Baclofen is very unpleasant. Taking Antabuse everyday prevents this. My morning 125mg of Antabuse is affirmation that I will not drink, and that I am still committed to a life of sobriety.
I suffer from GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder), as many alcoholics do. I find 10mg of Celexa helps. I would strongly recommend against taking Xanax. I used it daily, gradually moving up to about .75mg per day. Not much when compared to some, but enough to result in a brutal withdrawal. If you are taking Xanax, please understand that over time, more will be required to maintain the required efficacy, and the withdrawal could be the most excruciating thing you've ever experienced.
I also exercise religiously. This makes me feel better physically, relieves stress, and helps fill the "void". Ah yes, the "void". Something I hadn't considered when I started this whole process, and something that should get a lot more press. What to do with all the new sober time. At first, I felt empty, like "What now?" I realized quickly that I would need to get going. Working out, reading, photography, golfing, traveling, etc., anything to fill the void. It was weird at first but is now amazing.
Another thing I've learned: the importance of the passage of time. Each day you can stay sober is your friend. That's why I wince when people on this forum have a glass of wine, or a couple of beers, and think it's ok. It's not if your goal is to become AF for life. Drinking occasionally keeps the connection alive, like calling an ex once in awhile when you know you should move on. As time passes, alcohol gradually withdraws from your psyche. There is a singular component to time that cannot be replaced by Baclofen or anything else. Please, take my word for it, the more time you stay sober the more your perspective will change. If Baclofen gets you to a point of indifference, you can "take it" or "leave it" without care, so leave it.
So, after 1 year and 8 months sober, I recommend these things:
Accept that some willpower/discipline will be required.
Find a comfortable Baclofen dosage. You may not find the mythical switch, but take enough to get you over the hump.
Take 125mg of antabuse everyday.
Try a small amount of Celexa (or something similar if you suffer from anxiety).
Fill the void (exercise, golf, etc.)
Get time under your belt (Don't drink casually)
And there you go. Remember, I drank an average of 10 drinks per night for 20 years, and I've been sober for almost 2 years now. As each sober day passes, I feel my mind slowly changing, and the idea of drinking floats farther and farther away. If I can do it, you all can certainly do it too.
Photoman
"There'll be two dates on your tombstone
And all your friends will read 'em
But all that's gonna matter is that little dash between 'em..."
thanks for the read. I see what you mean about Antabuse, it's what I was looking for information on when I stumbled upon this forum. Taking it just mitigates the option to drink completely. I guess the reason I wanted to start Baclofen instead of Antabuse was because I wasn't 100% sure and certain about never drinking at all (even though I do want to be AF). It's a nerve-racking decision to make!
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