Stop Drinking, drugs that can help

[stella123]

I am in UK does anyone know where I can purchase Baclofen or something else that can help me stop drinking??

[LibraryGirl]

Stop Drinking, drugs that can help

Stella there are threads dedicated to this subject in the meds section of MWO. Hope you get some answers.

[spacebebe01]

Stop Drinking, drugs that can help

Hi Stalla Im also in the UK, since you dont seem to know which meds you think might help you I think yo should first read round a lot, and then some more. The more research you do first will really pay off later rather than jumping in feet first without knowing all the pros and cons .

I notice that you have managed to get some time sober before, well done, and even more, well done for coming back and asking for help.

The meds you might want to look into are naltrexone, campral, antabuse, these are prescribed in UK so you could ask your doc about them, then theres baclofen and topamax.

It also depends on your personal and finacial situation, whether you can tell your doctor, if you can afford to see a private doctor there is one in the UK who scripts baclofen.

[MusiciansMallet]

Stop Drinking, drugs that can help

I'll help with information on drugs used, that's basically my self-proclaimed expertise. As spacebebe mentioned, there are some drugs that can help but have different functions....

Acamprosate (Campral)- This is used mostly to mediate excitotoxicity (i.e., brain damage from over-"excited" neurotransmitter levels) from alcohol withdrawal/abstinence after long-term use and/or dependency. It also helps (theoretically) with cravings to a slight degree... since it is a minor GABA-a agonist drug and thought to block glutamate (alcohol acts in these same areas- & these same areas of the brain is exactly what is responsible for intoxication, sedation, and anxiolytic effect- err, reducing anxiety, etc)

Naltrexone- This drug actually "blocks" opiates & will block natural endorphins that actually plug into opiate-receptors (its similar to the drug "Narcon" which is given to opiate or heroin addicts who're overdosing). Naltrexone has no GABA-effects, its only real efficacy is in reducing craving; albeit, the mechanism as to HOW this occurs isn't known. But naltrexone's efficacy in practice has been widely observed (which personally leads me to be believe alcohol acts on the brain's opioid receptors; or has at least some interaction with them; or at least the natural endorphins that PLUG INTO opioid receptors in our brains).

Baclofen- a GABA-b agonist, which has no cross tolerance with GABA-a agonists like alcohol, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, or campral. Its mechanism of action in mediating addiction/dependency is simply unknown. Although, GABA-b agonist drugs do cause sedation, reduction of anxiety, etc etc; this may help in "replacing" (to an extent) the effects of alcohol, but theoretically it wont resolve any physical withdrawal symptoms if, say, you were to immediately stop high doses of alcohol (assuming you were dependent on it) and replace it with baclofen. Although the whole mechanism of hitting your "switch" is really not known. Unfortunately, no big bucks are to be made on a drug that is out of patent, so no money is being pumped into it by profit-hungry pharmaceutical industries.. Aside from a few courageous doctors (Dr. A) who obviously don't look at health care like a f*cking BUSINESS (like here in the US), but as a survival NEED! Anyway, I usually go on this rant quite often... soo, I digress... :bang

Disulfiram (Antabuse)- This is really for maintaining sobriety after you've achieved abstinence. Disulfiram's sole purpose is by making alcohol virtually un-consumable by acting on liver-enzymes in such a way that will make you sick, vomit, etc (it will give you all the nastier side effects of alcohol use you usually experience at the end of the night & have had a few too many; except disulfiram gives you these effects after only a couple of drinks)..

Benzodiazepines- Short term solution. They can cause addition in their own right. They act on GABA-a receptors very effectively (as I said, where alcohol acts on), it will resolve physical withdrawal symptoms. Benzodiazepines are and can be used as maintenance drugs (here in the US, at least) for long term alcoholics & in patients who don't respond to first line medications like acamprosate (Campral, name brand). These types of drugs are also used in detox to minimize physical withdrawal.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
In case you're not familiar with benzodiazepines, commonly prescribed ones here in the US include: xanax, valium, librium, ativan, & klonopin- I believe Temazepam (brand names Restoril/Normison and Nitrazepam (sorry, don't know the brand name) are more common in Europe & the UK... but that is JUST speculation & from what I've heard!

Barbiturates- Phenobarbital is most commonly used. This drug is sometimes, albeit rarely, used for maintenance; but is used in severe cases of detox. It also commonly used (again, here in the US) for outpatient use after detox in place of benzodiazepines (because its harder to abuse). Although, most other barbiturates have been replaced by benzodiazepines b/c barbiturates are more prone to abuse (most of them, at least; excluding ultra-long acting barbiturates like phenobarbital).

Topiramate (Topamax)- I have to run; so i'll be brief; this drug is an atypical mood-stabilizer, it is "hypothesized" to act on GABA-a receptors (like alcohol) and also glutamate (like alcohol)... much like Campral, but to a much minor degree. Although, there is value its mood-stabilizing effects.



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There's others too: like gabapentin and pregabalin.. both of which are mood stabilizers, & also (which is older anticonvulsants that were used around the time of barbiturate us, 40s-70s like depakote (which is NOT controlled/scheduled here in the US; pretty sure its the same in the UK; so probably more easily prescribed and/or obtainable via online pharmacies! You guys have it made in the UK w/ online pharmacies in the UK, frankly.. A LOT more drugs are offered compared to here in the US via online pharmacies which issue prescriptions w/o a previous Rx from your doctor!) The only on's that will really help with acute alcohol withdrawal symptoms are benzodiazepines & barbiturates, possibly topiramate & acamprosate (but i'd assume at very high doses). The only drugs I can really think of that would assist you in reducing your alcohol intake (or your "need" to have alcohol) would be baclofen... and to a lesser degree topiramate (topamax), acamprosate (campral), & naltrexone. Baclofen is untested in the area of treating/resolving acute alcohol withdrawal, perhaps anyone w/ any experience on this may want to chime in? I know for me it will assist in the first 24 hours of acute barbiturate withdrawal (butalbital, which is my medication i'm trying to withdraw using baclofen)--which, barbiturates by the way, all act as a GABA-a agonists & by blocking glutamate much like alcohol does--but baclofen wont stop withdrawal for me. It provides only symptomatic relief: stops the start-of/onset of delirium & psychosis, reduces mental confusion & over-stimulation from excitotoxicity, tremor, & *somewhat* helps with anxiety... & it definitely wards of delirium tremens, well.. at least for the first 24 hours (i thankfully haven't had to experience barbiturate withdrawal for longer than this lately, & i do not wish to- its more dangerous than alcohol withdrawal; & clinically speaking, it is almost identical to alcohol withdrawal too! Barbiturates are less selective--or at act on more areas in the brain, like glutamate--than newer GABA-a drugs do like benzodiazepines).


...sorry if i come across too complicated!
Good luck!

[jaddyday]

Stop Drinking, drugs that can help

Hi Stella,

Welcome to MWO, my names Justin and I'm based in the UK too, in Southampton. I've been struggling with alcoholism since my mid-teens (I'm 29 now) and have been seeking recovery for the past five years. I've done all the AA, theropy, rehab stuff but nothing provided a long term solution. I did manage a two year period of abstinence but that became unbearable due to the severity and persistence of my cravings. I came to a point where I knew I couldn't carry on drinking (and using cocaine) the way I had been but I also knew that enforced abstinence was equally unpleasant.

That's when I decided to try Baclofen and the results have been amazing, even after only eight weeks! I did a lot of reading on the subject on these forums and read Dr Amesein's book and Dr Thomas' Baclofen guide. I devised a titration schedule starting at 30mg/day adding 30mg every fifth day and am I now on 240mg/day. From day one I experienced a noticeable reduction in cravings and at 120mg/day they had all but disappeared. In terms of side effects I experience nighttime insomnia and daytime tiredness along with persistent hay fever-like symptoms (from 150mg/day upwards). They are a slight annoyance but far better than the cravings they prevent.

In that short time, I have gone from drinking two or three bottles of wine a night to having one evening out every few weeks and I haven't even hit the switch yet! My evenings out don't turn into three/four day binges and I simply don't think about alcohol the rest of the time! I am able to live a productive life whilst retaining my social life. As you can probably tell, I'm pretty bloody impressed with Baclofen!

There are several people on here with loads more experience than I and I'm sure they'll chip in at some point. In my opinion Baclofen is most definitely worth a try! I buy mine from inhousepharmacy.biz and pay ?100 for 800 10mg pills. Delivery is usually within a couple of weeks. The first package will probably get through without any problems but subsequent packages may well be investigated by customs in which case they will be delayed buy about a week and you will have to pay VAT (the bastards always get you even when you're saving the NHS a fortune!).

Good luck and keep us posted.

Justin

[MusiciansMallet]

Stop Drinking, drugs that can help

jaddyday;1349234 wrote: That's when I decided to try Baclofen and the results have been amazing, even after only eight weeks!

I agree, entirely. After only 30 days, i have seen quite unique/mind blowing reduction of butalbital intake (a barbiturate I am prescribed, at obscene doses; its a GABA-a agonist & blocks glutamate, just like alcohol--producing near identical effects aside from less adverse effects, nausea, hangover, etc). And I am only on 30-40 mg a day! Although the side effects become intolerable by night- I am slurring my speech, falling asleep in the middle of a conversation, etc etc; although, there could be some more synergy there between butalbital & baclofen than there is w/ alcohol & baclofen... especially since butalbital more thoroughly and effectively "plugs-into" GABA-a receptors, causing its intoxicating effects.

With that said, to the original poster Stella- I highly recommend reviewing the information on these drugs before you purchase them (& spend your hard earned cash, unless this isn't an issue for you? in which case, may I bum a couple bucks? :H). I tried to put in a lot of information for you; but, use the drugs mentioned.. use wikipedia.. start there & branch out. But, the from what I have read from others & from my own experience (although not with alcohol dependency, but a drug that acts in the exact same area of the brain, both on GABA & glutamate), the best drug is Baclofen. Unfortunately, I am only aware of US based pharmacies! So, I apologize; I am not aware of any international pharmacy aside from River pharmacy, which is advertised on this site. Although, the UK is renown for providing many medications via online vendors/pharmacies (at least here in the US); you guys are very lucky. A google search & then a review of that pharmacy's legitimacy will do you good! (you can google the following: X pharmacy, reviews ..for example. But MAKE SURE the "reviews" aren't from the actual pharmacy website itself (just check the URL), as this is very common.. at least for the first 1-4 results!

(And by the way, I do not mean to sound condescending to anyone- but, i've posted on my own thread & many others since I've joined; & given my background w/ pharmacology--which is what i usually post on--I have been told that I am hard to understand at times.. so that is why I am being overly explanatory)