Baclofen vs Topamax?

[stellarstar]

Hello,

I have been on 300mg of Topamax for the past year now and it worked quite well for a long time, however, I have been going through alot of stress for the past few months and it has caused me to drink more than ususal. Now I feel like I am stuck and can't stop drinking the same amount each day (like a bottle of wine per day..sometimes more).

I have been reading about baclofen and peoples experiences with it and wonder if I should switch to that and if anyone thinks it would help? I feel like the topamax is sortof wearing off and was wanting to go off of it anyway. Does anyone have any suggestions please? I feel desperate and hopeless and don't want this addiction to win.

Thanks

[Bruunhilde]

Baclofen vs Topamax?

Hi Stella,

I think I can speak to this partially. I usually refrain from answering questions in relation to baclofen because I didn't succeed on it. However, I did try both Topa and Bac so maybe I can contrast them; Topa worked for me but my hair fell out and it was a deal breaker. I tried bac a couple of years later (this year) and found it challenging, and had to abort due to blood pressure bolting up. However, it was good for relieving an undercurrent of anxiety I lived with for my entire life.

What are you looking for, a daily drug to help? I've had the most success with gabapentin by far for instant "feel better" and much easier alcohol avoidance. I am not pushing one therapy over another, just saying what worked for me.

I can relate to being stuck, I was stuck in that bottle/night for a decade and can tell you you're doing the right thing by coming here for help. That bottle a night will just grow to two bottles a night if you don't cap that habit and addiction.

There are lots of people here with lots of baclofen background who will chime in, but for topa you might want to look for the "just started on topa" thread, I think it's got stars to help you find it but think it's on page two or so right now.

Keep posting!

[stellarstar]

Baclofen vs Topamax?

thanks for your info brunhilde!

[havefaith]

Baclofen vs Topamax?

I agree with Bruunhilde,
Topomax worked for me as well(but the SE were horrible- my thought process was horrible & my hair shed something fierce) I just recently started Bac, and I'm not all that impressed with that either!
I guess I need to quit cold turkey.
PS- I think I'm going to start taking GABA for my anxiety.

[bleep]

Baclofen vs Topamax?

Hi Stellar.

I can't contrast the two treatments, since I've only ever taken baclofen, but I couldn't ask for more from it. It really does what it should say on the box. There are side effects though (SE's), and some people find them difficult to cope with. Personally, I found them rather fun, but that is an anomaly.. I won't go into them here, they are well documented in the threads, have a read. As I say, I can't recommend it highly enough.

Faith, baclofen only works if you keep at it. You've only just started - give it some time, and get to a high enough dose, and then assess its performance.