SWB - Long Live Sobriety and BAC!

[soberwannabe]

Hi Everyone

:new:

As recommended, I am creating my own post for my experiences with BAC.
I just started my treatment with BAC and have the wonderful knowledge of those before me as guidance. I have the prescribing guide, and the recommended reading sites mostly memorized. I am entering this treatment protocol with my eyes wide open and with honesty. I wish I would have done more things this way in my life!

I'm trying to follow the prescribing guide.
Although, I have the need (seems to be a common problem) to move faster, I did up my dosage by (2.5 mg) this morning. so I am 7.5mg, 5mg and 5mg today. I realize I will have to add in a 4th dose in there in the next days as the 1/2 life is about 5 hours. So far I have no noticeable effects with 3 doses. (edited, because I forgot where decimals go!)

I feel more composed overall (calm).. I suppose, what it would have felt like if I sipped a 1/2 of a beer, instead of guzzling, and stopped.. However, that never happened.. so I am only surmising this feeling!

I have and can stop drinking for 1,2 weeks, sometimes 1 month. I stopped drinking when I was expecting my children and did not drink at all during those times. However, I am a binge drinker, exclusively. I don't drink everyday, but when I do drink, I drink at least 8 beers. (usually within a 3-4 hour time frame) My last time I blacked out.
I am hopeful that I can find my switch even though my triggers may be farther out in terms of feeling them daily. However, I know they exist.

Thank you EVERYONE for your honesty and openness on your experiences.
As an AA dropout/failure, I feel renewed and hopeful as I work to achieve long term sobriety.

[Alcoholic]

SWB - Long Live Sobriety and BAC!

Good luck, sober: keep us posted!

(I'm about to quit my bac only because I feel in control w other stuff already but in case I ever need help again, I'd love to hear your experience.)

[RedThread12]

SWB - Long Live Sobriety and BAC!

Congratulations, SWB!! And thanks for putting up your thread. I have read pretty much everything that has been posted since I started taking bac in the first week of Oct. '09. It is a body of information and experience that saved my life; and I'm in debt to you and all the "threaders."

Your post suggests that you have prepared yourself well for you bac-path. I am a HUGE fan of doing exactly what you've done - read everything you can get your eyes on. Actually, I say I've read everything, but I don't know what the "official" protocol guide is now, or where you found it. I'd love to know. Here's my position: you will only know the correct titration schedule by observing your own body's responses. The doses you list are quite low, compared to what Dr. Ameisen was suggesting in 2009 (10/10/10), but I have seen plenty of instances here on MWO that have made me understand how rare it was for me to take that much from Day 1, quit drinking alcohlically on that same day, and suffer almost no side effects, ever.

You're initial ease, at these low doses, is a very good sign, IMO. This is your bac-path, and it seems to vary in different and important ways for each of us. Which is why the on-going report type threads are so helpful. Good luck on your bac-path. Freedom is so worth it!!

[soberwannabe]

SWB - Long Live Sobriety and BAC!

Hi Alcoholic, What 'other' stuff makes you feel in better control?

Just curious.. I have read about a few other protocols.. and there are several new of choices out there.. but I have not tried anything.. BAC is my first journey outside of AA.

[soberwannabe]

SWB - Long Live Sobriety and BAC!

Thank you Otter, as I pulled this off your post: (6/26/2012 - Baclofen Prescribing Guide for Doctors-English Version)

The English translation of the Prescribing Guide including titration schedule and informed consent form can be found at:

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/59463672/Prescribing-Guide-for-Baclofen-in-the-Treatment-of-Alcoholism-Don.pdf

[MaryGoRound]

SWB - Long Live Sobriety and BAC!

Best of Luck and I am with You

I started my Bac prescription 10 days ago. I am trying to keep within the parameters but I admit to go a bit fast. I am at (I am at 40 to 45) when I should be at 30.

I had a horrible nausea/vomiting attack two nights ago but I remember some saying on a post "this is chemo for alcoholics" and I felt I could continue.

I am looking forward to your progress. I wish you all the best.

[TexasAg]

SWB - Long Live Sobriety and BAC!

Congrats and welcome!

I used the format Dr L gave me, 5mg first three days, 10mg last 4days of initial week then up total 20mg weekly. I went up to 160mg and stayed there for a few weeks. I probably hit my switch at 120-140mg. I've now titrated down to 100mg and still no bingeing!

But definitely listen to Red and listen to your body. One thing I tried to refrain from drinking along with taking Bac. Of course this was easier said than done and I still binged a few times after starting Bac but what I've read on other threads this helps reach the indifference point.

Another thing I noticed is SE's for me would increase if I wasn't regular on taking bac at the same time every day, especially as I got up in dosage. So I set my cell phone alarm to ring to make sure I took my Bac on time. I also tried to break up the doses as much as possible so by the time I got to 160 (8-20mg pills) my alarm was ringing every 2hrs so I could take my dosage starting at 6am and ending at 8pm. It was a bit of a pain, but it was definitely worth it for me! Someone else wrote that it helped to try and take your last dose at least three hours before your bedtime and that was true for me also. I also kept an excel spreadsheet on my dosage by hour and totals by day and also how much I drank that day. Yes I'm a nerd!

A lot of info.....but I hope this helps. Again listen to your body and definitely listen to the veterans like Red, Ne, Stuck, Lovelife, and many others!

God Bless!

Cheers!

Day 125 on Bac – 100mg
Binge Free - 97 days

[soberwannabe]

SWB - Long Live Sobriety and BAC!

Thanks Texas! I might try your format. If it's too much, I'll taper back as discussed.

So if I am reading correctly.. drinking a bit (or a lot) while titrating up helps find indifference?

While I was hoping to avoid this element, my best efforts and will power have not proved capable of managing my 'wild hairs'. So it might be unavoidable. I believe my triggers become stronger the longer I go without a binge, until I'm at my wits end.. so if I can go 2 weeks and then 1 month, without too much angst, I might be in the right direction.

[Alcoholic]

SWB - Long Live Sobriety and BAC!

Hi, sober: thank you for the dr. Prescribing guide info. I just use kudzu and l glutamine recommended by some people here at mwo

[lostsole]

SWB - Long Live Sobriety and BAC!

I highly suggest when you get to higher dosages to consider 4x day.

It has helped me with the "swings" you can get with the med.

Also, at the higher dosages perhaps consider 10mg per week titration if you are getting a lot of SE's.

If you go down in dosage and start drinking again, consider going back up. It happened to me. I ended up going higher to the point where I had been a bit ill at before but it's working well.

I think supplements can help but they have not been amazing for me. The baclofen seems to do the most. I still take all my fishy oils, multis, b's, L glut, inositol, and even campral.

I figure it can't hurt.

Oh and I set reminders using MS Outlook which ties to my cell phone via Google calendar and to my work notebook and home computers.

[TexasAg]

SWB - Long Live Sobriety and BAC!

Sorry I wasn't clear, not drinking (or at least trying not to drink) helped me reach indifference. Again, it was very dificult at first and I remember my last binge being very UGLY! But this forum and Bac veterans reminded me that it's a race and most definitely not a sprint. Or as Ifulovelife put it, "You're an alcoholic, what do you expect!"

Everyone has different reactions and SE's and even some no SE's at all. Seriously, it's important to be nice to yourself and remember, JKTTDP! (Just keep taking the damn pills)

Cheers!

[soberwannabe]

SWB - Long Live Sobriety and BAC!

Thanks TexasAg and Alc,

Great Advice. My phone now has 4 alarms set and I'm monitoring/tracking my dose and feelings in google calendar.

Today is day 5 AF. My dosage today will be 10mg 5mg 5mg and 10mg. I like to keep my afternoon and evening doses lighter due to travel in the early afternoon and then children activity commitments after 5pm. No side effects, except for first hour drowsiness which resolves without difficulties.

Maybe I am a strange one.. I don't feel a strong need to titrate up fast now.. after reading some posts from YingYang and others; titrating up too fast could result in 'passing up the switch' .. or at least that was my interpretation.

Again, thank you everyone and extreme gratitude for ALL of you who have shared your experiences.
My life feels good today.

SWB

[soberwannabe]

SWB - Long Live Sobriety and BAC!

Ok, I'm not sure if this will be a trigger.. but today I was getting ready for my daughter's Thanksgiving luncheon and I shaved off half of my eyebrow! F**k! - I never did this .. ever.. even when drunk!

Word to the wise.. do not f with your eyebrow on the way to the luncheon or you will remove all of the cover up and it will still look like you shaved off your eyebrow! F!

I took 5mg on the way into the luncheon. I am back now.. I took another 5mg just now..
I feel stressed although not crazed yet.

[soberwannabe]

SWB - Long Live Sobriety and BAC!

Kinda boring thread...

Day 8 AF -

I feel composed, strangely so. I think I read somewhere here that BAC made them feel 'verbally liberated'... I don't mean verbally abusive.

A strange SE (to me) is the ability to say what I mean. I feel BAC allows me to say things that are on my mind, that need to be said. As well, I seem to be capable of 'not saying anything either', if not appropriate or necessary... (I tend to be on the impulsive side) It's a strange and beautiful SE.

10mg 4x per day. I'm comfortable with this dose, although by 9/10 pm I'm either asleep or close to it. My sleep is good although strange, bizarre dreams.

I find I have more energy in the morning and am very productive. I'm up at 6 am now. This is a new regimen for me too. I have cleaned, arranged, organized more this past week than in months! And not in a obsessive, crazy way like before.

[TexasAg]

SWB - Long Live Sobriety and BAC!

8 days AF that's great to hear! I think there's a combination of Bac effect and also just a HOPE effect that comes into play. I'm with you that the energy level goes way up. It helped with me that I wasn't hungover and recovering every 4-5days. Recoveries for me at the end were taking 2days.

I also had some freaky and vivid dreams! I unfortunately never had a problem saying things when I was bingeing. But I do understand having the ability now of NOT having to say things. It's calming just sitting back and listening. It's also a bit unnerving thinking of all the stupid things I must have said.

Cheers!