PTSD

[flamengo]

Hi All!!!

I came across this thread while doing research on bac for PTSD. The amount of info provided here is incredible! I'm currently trying everything I can to rid myself of PTSD and have gone as far as having a stellate ganglion block. A good friend of mine told me that bac is now being used for PTSD because it allows the prefrontal cortex to make decisions before the body is flooded with stress chemicals. Has anyone here had any level of PTSD and had success with BAC ? None of my doctors want to prescribe it so I may order it online and take it on my own. I'm currently on remeron and propranolol. I want to get rid of both and use only one medication.


Thanks to all of you for taking the steps to show that when you want it bad enough you can pull through the hardest times. My Father drank because of his anxiety. Started in his 20s and drank until 2 years before he died at the age of 79. I developed PTSD after he died. I had a lot of anxiety before but alcohol kept most of it at bay. When I quit all these issues surfaced and when he died it took me into a whole new level.


Again. Thanks!

[StuckinLA]

PTSD

I hadn't heard about bac for PTSD, so no clue if it helps. A few shrinks have decided that I have PTSD by definition, though, since I was a paramedic and apparently they all have but don't think they do.

I'm sure someone will have a more thoughtful response, but wanted to say Welcome.

[flamengo]

PTSD

Thank you StuckinLA! BTW _ I love LA and travel there as often as I can. (I'm from nothern cali!) Lots of great places to eat and lots to do for fun!


I'm trying to find a good online place to purchase baclofen. The generic seems expensive.

Again thanks! I feel like I can go down two roads right now... 1) start drinking like my Dad or 2) try to cure this.

My Dad's kitchen cabinets at home were all filled with jack daniels! He was still a great father and a very successful man. He was self medicating all these years.

My doctors believe I have his same nervous system, same mental composition, everything to the T is like my Dads. He ended up passing away as a result of getting hammered and passing out in a sauna. The people threw him cold swimming pool. He developed an infection and being stubborn he didnt go see a doctor. The infection traveled to his heart....the rest is history.

Again thank you!

[rangiatea]

PTSD

I think bacs may help PTSD in lower doses gradually tritrated up.I however do NOT reccomend sudden high dose baclofen for this as it can be hallucinagenic and may produce unwanted intustive memories.Start slow and low.U need to taper off propanalol and remeron as well.Good luck on this.Stay safe and avoid alcohol.

[StuckinLA]

PTSD

I would also recommend checking out the thread for "bac as lifelong anxiety treatment"

I'd link to it but I'm typing from my phone & don't k ow how. Some good thoughts there about not jumping into bac unless absolutely necessary. In other words, serious messing with the brain chemistry... So give it a lot of thought and think about all the options before embarking on what really is a journey.

Best of luck regardless!

[flamengo]

PTSD

I checked out that thread. It seems like people here have had a lot of success with bac for anxiety. The reason I even found out about it was an organization devoted to PTSD said its the newest drug they are having success with. Their original cocktail of drug was Geondon (sp), propranolol and a benedryl like drug. After interacting with them, I was told that the latest discovery is that bac was very very helpful. I think largely because of its affects on the amyglada. Which we know plays a huge hole in PTSD. As a side note, I was planning on weaning off remeron and staying on propranolol while on bac. I have seen a few folks use this combo.

I was told that the safe dosage for PTSD is 20MG every 4 hours. I read about another poster who had success with this drug on here for PTSD. But she only had 2 posts and I PMed her. Hoping to hear back.

Again, thanks!

[Ne/Neva Eva]

PTSD

Hey flamengo and welcome. There is research about bac and PTSD in veterans. More from me in the morning tho.

Also the dosage you referred to? WAY too much. Please don't do that.

[Cinders]

PTSD

Flamengo,

:welcome:

Rather than ordering online, you might consider trying Dr. Levin, who prescribes Baclofen for several people here. Ne or one of the others who take Baclofen can probably point you to the thread with his contact information.

At least insurance might cover it and if you need medical attention for anything, you can say you take Baclofen and it is prescribed.

I wanted to ask, though, do you have an alcohol problem concurrent with PTSD? Just curious.

In any case, I hope you find Baclofen helps with PTSD. As an army brat and then later an army wife, I have had many friends over the years with PTSD. It is no fun.

Good luck!!
Cindi

[flamengo]

PTSD

Thank you for the reply Cinders!

Like I mentioned above, I have always had an underlying alcohol issue. (I have learned this in the past 6 months) After my Dad got sick, I stopped drinking. I used to drink like crazy, weekends were filled with shot after shot of vodka. I later found out that alcohol acts like benzos, which is why it kept me somewhat calm. After I stopped drinking and changed my lifestyle. Eating healthy, running, doing everything the right way I noticed a change and when my father passed away it all blew up. OCD, body dysphormic disorder, anxiety...this all came out. On top of all this my adrenals are burned out.

I have done more research on the subject then I care to admit. Doctors made things worse, they put me on medications that IMO only made the problem worse. Example: I was put on Lexapro. My doctor who also gave me Prilosec didn't bother to check drug interaction. It turns out that Prilosec will increase the strenght of Lexapro. For a person who is sensitive to medication like myself, it was poison and I had serotonin syndrome. For 24 hours I thought i was having a heart attack. I was put on Xanax after that, but once again I wasn't told about the intradose withdrawals and tolerances. Then came Klonopin...I've been benzo free for almost 4 weeks but it was really hard. Doctors thought "its all in your head". I swear, they just don't understand. Anyways, my shrink has me on remeron which I know isn't the right drug for me. I need less of the fight or flight chemicals not more. The propranolol I had to ask for. I have done a lot of research and believe that bac can be the drug to help me get my life back. My goal is to eventually be drug free. The only way to accomplish this is to stay trigger free for 21 days. I think balc can help me do this.

I will look for Dr. Levin's contact info. This forum seems to have the most info available out of all places on balc. I read the thread on anxiety and there seems to be a lot of success. My amyglada has been hijacked and I need to take it back!

Again, thank you!

[StuckinLA]

PTSD

Yeah 2 things:

DON'T go to the dosage you mentioned. I will repeat that. DO NOT do 20 mg every 4 hours.

Bac is not a way to go drug free. Even eventually. Once you're in it, you've gotta be in it to win it... Or something, but it's not like a band-aid that you can take off after you heal.

[Ne/Neva Eva]

PTSD

Morning, Flamengo.

There IS something about veterans, bac and PTSD. I can't for the life of me remember where or when I read it. And without stepping into territory about which I know very little, I would add that there is some really interesting, and very new, research about the chemical changes in the brain from PTSD and how similar they are to the changes from/that lead to addiction. They're having a hard time separating the two, because they are often inextricably linked. Anyway, if you can't get into the scientific research, hopefully a physician or therapist would. And while I understand your reluctance, more than you will ever know, it's probably a good idea to get one! Take the bac anyway, but get a therapist or pdoc that can help with the other stuff, too, if you can.

Generally one titrates up on baclofen. This is true even for those that use it for it's intended purpose--namely anti-spasticity. If you read around here enough you will see that those that don't titrate with a slow and steady approach (for the most part) don't find relief, much less wellness.

A starting dosage of 5mg/day for 3 days is a good idea. Adding ~10mg every 3 days, or 20mg/week is also pretty common. There aren't very many exceptions to the slow and steady rule so I hope you'll use caution.

You can call Dr. Levin. He's in Chicago. He is the pdoc many of us use for valid, legal prescriptions. Let me know if you'd like his information.

Good luck and keep in touch, Flamengo!

[flamengo]

PTSD

Ne! Thank you!

Here is a great video on Bac. This is what believe will help PTSD and addiction. It quiets the brain down and allows for better decision making. So when we are presented with the trigger or cravings, we are able to make a 'logical decision' before the brain reacts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byain0Vo5mo[/video]]Baclofen dramatically reduces cocaine craving - YouTube

[flamengo]

PTSD

This is an old study but impressive numbers.

The Annals of Pharmacotherapy: Vol. 37, No. 9, pp. 1177–1181.

Baclofen Treatment for Chronic Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Roger G Drake , Lori L Davis , Marshall E Cates , Michele E Jewell , Sandra M Ambrose and Joette S Lowe


Published Online, 2 Jul 2003

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have shown the efficacy of gamma-aminobutyric acid B (GABAB) receptor agonists in treating anxiety in patients with panic disorder and in treating depression and anxiety in alcoholic patients. We hypothesized that baclofen, a GABAB agonist, would be an effective treatment in the symptomatic management of veterans with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

METHODS: Fourteen male veterans with chronic, combat-related PTSD were enrolled in an open-label, 8-week, monotherapy trial of baclofen titrated to a maximum of 80 mg/d in 3 divided doses. The primary outcome measure was the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS), and secondary outcome measures included the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety, the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale, and the Clinical Global Impressions.

RESULTS: In the 11 patients who completed the 8-week trial, the mean total CAPS score decreased significantly from baseline (from 82.9 ? 16.1 to 63.5 ? 21.2). The avoidance and hyperarousal subscales showed significant decreases (from 36.2 ? 6.2 to 26.5 ? 9.6 and from 31.9 ? 6.5 to 22.1 ? 7.1, respectively), whereas the re-experiencing subscale remained unchanged. Significant improvements were also noted on all secondary outcome measures. Treatment response was noted within the first 4 weeks of treatment and was maintained throughout the trial. Baclofen therapy was well tolerated, as only 1 patient dropped out due to adverse effects.

CONCLUSIONS: Baclofen therapy was effective in treating both the PTSD symptoms and accompanying depression and anxiety in patients with chronic PTSD due to combat. Larger, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies are needed to confirm the efficacy of baclofen in the treatment of PTSD.

[Ne/Neva Eva]

PTSD

Yep. But I think there was one in a VA in Texas? Is that this one?

There's a something in the midwest somewhere, Ohio I think, that might be relevant too. It was prisoners with substance abuse and PTSD, maybe? Or something like that. The original info is in MWO somewhere, too. Maybe the older consolidated baclofen information thread?