Dear all
I want to reiterate what I said two years ago when I set up another site for Baclofen for the UK where there is comprehensive state medical care. I came here to find out about Baclofen for my wife's use. I have always been of the view, and continue to be, that this is a highly significant development in the field of alcoholism and addiction treatment. My point in starting the site was that this is a brain medication which will have a profound effect on whoever takes it particularly at such high levels and cries out for medical involvement.
We have devleloped such a tolerance of taking drugs, legal and otherwise that it perhaps escapes notice that we are playing around with our brains with a medication,the long term effects of which are not known and largely without medical advice. What advice is being dispensed is often over the phone and not based on a thorough review of prevoius medical histories which might disclose some reason not to prescribe a particular medication.
All in all, this is dangerous territory and I have discovered that to my cost. I do not shy away from that. Alcoholism is so horrendous an affliction that it drives many people to do desperate things.
I feel that a lot of what has been posted here about experiences with high dose baclofen confirms my view that public authorites must get involved in this immediately. Baclofen for many is providing a very effective treatment for alcoholism and other addictions. For others it is causing many problems with side effects. For both reasons this is, IMHO, fast becoming a serious public health issue which demands government intervention.
The use of a powerful brain medication with only the advice of lay people, however knowledgeable and well meaning, has to end at some point. No other medication, particularly with such serious side effects has been left to be dealt with in this way. It is rapidly becoming, not just a public health issue, but a public health scandal.
I have come in for a lot of criticism here and I accept much of it. This should be a support forum. It helps innumerable people and it has helped me. I regret having become a voice which people don't want to hear. I don't want to have to come here myself but do so because I do need help myself. Baclofen is not the only way out of alcoholism. It should be the last resort, not the first method used. It is not candy but a very serious neurological teatment.
I am not an apologist for Baclofen despite what people may think of me. I am well aware of its down side and I question my own involvement in this and know that to a large extent I have operated on faith in the science of Baclofen as I understand it and the histories of those who have persevered with it.
I wish, with all my heart, that government and the medical profession would involve themselves in this issue now. I know others feel the same frustration over lack of public knowlege about the treatment and lack of medical advice.
Maybe some of the crazy and disturbing posts here will help hasten the involvement of professionals in this treatment. I hope so. Maybe someone out there is reading this and can do something. I know there are doctors who read these posts. Please contact your professional bodies and licencing authorities and urge them to do something about this.
I want to reiterate what I said two years ago when I set up another site for Baclofen for the UK where there is comprehensive state medical care. I came here to find out about Baclofen for my wife's use. I have always been of the view, and continue to be, that this is a highly significant development in the field of alcoholism and addiction treatment. My point in starting the site was that this is a brain medication which will have a profound effect on whoever takes it particularly at such high levels and cries out for medical involvement.
We have devleloped such a tolerance of taking drugs, legal and otherwise that it perhaps escapes notice that we are playing around with our brains with a medication,the long term effects of which are not known and largely without medical advice. What advice is being dispensed is often over the phone and not based on a thorough review of prevoius medical histories which might disclose some reason not to prescribe a particular medication.
All in all, this is dangerous territory and I have discovered that to my cost. I do not shy away from that. Alcoholism is so horrendous an affliction that it drives many people to do desperate things.
I feel that a lot of what has been posted here about experiences with high dose baclofen confirms my view that public authorites must get involved in this immediately. Baclofen for many is providing a very effective treatment for alcoholism and other addictions. For others it is causing many problems with side effects. For both reasons this is, IMHO, fast becoming a serious public health issue which demands government intervention.
The use of a powerful brain medication with only the advice of lay people, however knowledgeable and well meaning, has to end at some point. No other medication, particularly with such serious side effects has been left to be dealt with in this way. It is rapidly becoming, not just a public health issue, but a public health scandal.
I have come in for a lot of criticism here and I accept much of it. This should be a support forum. It helps innumerable people and it has helped me. I regret having become a voice which people don't want to hear. I don't want to have to come here myself but do so because I do need help myself. Baclofen is not the only way out of alcoholism. It should be the last resort, not the first method used. It is not candy but a very serious neurological teatment.
I am not an apologist for Baclofen despite what people may think of me. I am well aware of its down side and I question my own involvement in this and know that to a large extent I have operated on faith in the science of Baclofen as I understand it and the histories of those who have persevered with it.
I wish, with all my heart, that government and the medical profession would involve themselves in this issue now. I know others feel the same frustration over lack of public knowlege about the treatment and lack of medical advice.
Maybe some of the crazy and disturbing posts here will help hasten the involvement of professionals in this treatment. I hope so. Maybe someone out there is reading this and can do something. I know there are doctors who read these posts. Please contact your professional bodies and licencing authorities and urge them to do something about this.
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