Cover story for taking Baclofen

[caro]

Hello,

Firstly I would like to say how very grateful I am to everybody who posts their experiences on this site. I have been a 'lurker' since September 2012. This was more by accident than design as when I did try and log on (I have never used a internet forum before) I stuffed it up. Anyway I have read avidly since then, and your posts finally gave me the courage to give Baclofen a go.

I am a 51 year old female in the UK. Drank from the age of 14 to blot out my childhood. It was the only thing that seemed to quell my anxiety.

I have been taking Baclofen in slowly increasing doses since October last year. Currently i am taking 120mg spread out x4 times a day. It seems to be doing the trick and my drinking has reduced drastically. Perhaps I am not completly indifferent yet but I prefer taking it slowly.

By reading the posts I realise that I have been exceptionally lucky in not having any side effects.

I got my stash of Baclofen from Inhouse pharmacy and although I have nothing to compare it to I think the service they provide has been fantastic.

I did not go to my GP as I do not want my medical records recording I have an alcohol problem. I work in the health field (not a Dr) and I know for sure that it not only can cause problems with insurance etc, it could also potentially effect my job and how I am treated in future as a patient.

So after much dithering (and by reading the wonderful posts here and the combined wealth of experience generously shared) I decided to self- treat myself. So far so good.

The point of this ramble is to ask can anybody suggest what I could say to a Dr if i ever have to declare what medication I am on please? I have no problem staying on this medication, what is 100% certain to me is taking Baclofen is much healthier than a bottle of wine a night.

I am thinking of situations such as me needing surgery or other medical interventions.
I realise that in an emergency I would just have to fess up. Or should I just accept that there is no believable explanation?

Any suggestions gratefully received.

[ifulovelife2]

Cover story for taking Baclofen

Hi Caro

Two important issues you raise: 1) having 'alcoholic' on our medical records and 2) whether or not to tell a medical professional and if so, how to explain it.

For a long time I wouldn't see a doctor about my drinking for the very same reasons as you: it could cause future problems with insurance and employment. And for the same reasons I wouldn't see anyone about depression. I chose to treat both by myself...to varying degrees of success. Eventually, when baclofen worked for me, I thought "f**k it, this treatment is so good, for a condition which I am not responsible for and everyone needs to know about it, so I'm going to 'fess up". Not just to the quack by the way, but to just about everyone I met afterwards. The world needs to know about baclofen and also the other pharmaceutical treatments for this disease.

As far as what to tell a doctor, should you need to, well any doctor you go see in the UK will have access to your medical record and so will know if you have been prescribed baclofen and if so what for. So there really isn't a story you can come up with. Apart from alcoholism, it can be used to treat spacisity, hiccups and restless leg syndrome. If you had any of those conditions there is absolutely no reason why you would be self-medicating rather than going through official channels, so it would be on your record. Therefore your options are to either tell all, or just say "I am on 120mg/day of baclofen. Why? What the fuck's it to you?"

A year or two ago I went to the optician's for an eye test. I had to fill out a form stating what drugs I was on. Thinking I ought to let them know the truth, I included baclofen on the list. What I didn't expect was for the optician to then sit in front of me, go through the form, and then ask me what condition I had that required baclofen. I was caught off-guard, I didn't have a story ready and rattled I just blurted out "I'M A SPASTIC!". She looked at me for a few moments, obviously trying to decide whether or not I did have Cerebral Palsy, and just went onto the next question with her eyebrow raised. Basically, it doesn't matter. Just tell the medical professional, if you think it's best they know, otherwise don't.

[spacebebe01]

Cover story for taking Baclofen

Hi Caro, I am not on any unprescribed meds right now but have taken baclofen and topamax in the past which I have self-medicated by buying online. I did also think about what I should do if I was ever in the situation of having an emergency operation and think you would have to tell them the truth. I cant see any other way around it, they would have to know so they can treat you and it is your health at stake in such a situation. Obviously they will have your medical records. Besides, you can get life insurance here in the UK without a medical so unless you have private health insurance it wouldnt affect insurance. I do feel that I am treted differently by some doctors because I have both previous alcohol and drug dependence on my medical records and have done for years, but I have also seen a few specialists as well as my own gp and been treated fine by them, I just tell them Im ok now and sorted it all out and dont have a problem with drink anymore.

[Otter]

Cover story for taking Baclofen

You could say it is for restless leg syndrome or any other anxiety/twitch sort of complaint. I told my GP I had RLS and got it without any problem. Ameisen, I think, had this condition.

[YouKayBee]

Cover story for taking Baclofen

Otter;1447359 wrote: You could say it is for restless leg syndrome or any other anxiety/twitch sort of complaint. I told my GP I had RLS and got it without any problem. Ameisen, I think, had this condition.

Do you take high dose baclofen Otter and is it for alcoholism?

[caro]

Cover story for taking Baclofen

Dear All,

Thank you for your replies.

I will just have to deal with the situation (admitting I take Baclofen) as and when an occasion arises. As regards to an emergency I was thinking of getting a medical alert braclet made in case I am not able to communicate.

As is probably very evident from my posts anxiety is still an issue for me. However, like Dr Ameisen I am hoping that by staying off the sauce I can start addressing my anxiety by using tools such as CBT and meditation. I have lots of vitamins, exercising etc.

When I read Olivier Ameisen's account of his alcoholism, what gave me hope (of finding my way out) was his descriptions of his anxiety leading to the craving of alcohol just to feel some degree of calmness.

It was so encouraging to realise that beating booze is not all a matter of insight and will, there is a biological basis to alcoholism. I have spent so long hating myself for not been able to drink like a 'normal drinker' whatever one of those are.

So thanks again for the replies.

[Otter]

Cover story for taking Baclofen

Ukblonde;1447434 wrote: Do you take high dose baclofen Otter and is it for alcoholism?

I took it for an anxiety which I suffered from when I was drinking. I weaned myself off drink but was left with the anxiety. I got up to 150 a day and then reduced and stopped about six months ago after taking it for about 2 years. I feel pretty good now. The doctor gave me 60mg a day so I only went up high for a shortish period. I though it was making me lazy and lacking in motivation but when I stopped I realized that I was actually lazy and lacking motivation. lol

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Cover story for taking Baclofen

Otter;1447694 wrote: ... but when I stopped I realized that I was actually lazy and lacking motivation. lol

:H:H:H

[kronkcarr]

Cover story for taking Baclofen

Caro,
I realize that I'm late to this thread but I've just joined this site. My experience with my dr was surprisingly good. I read Dr A's book and knew it was time for me to address my drinking and my behavior. I didn't have a dr so a friend pointed me to Dr Y. I went and told him the truth and I guess I was so desperate that I didn't give a thought that I could maybe lose my medical license. He prescribed baclofen specifically for spasticity.

I do carry my prescription in my glovebox in case I'm pulled over. I also have thought of a medical bracelet, but it remains to be seen how long my dr will continue to prescribe.

I hope it's going well for you,

kronkcarr

[caro]

Cover story for taking Baclofen

Dear Kronkcarr,

Sorry it has taken me so long to respond to your post. Thank you for your interest.

Things are going well at the moment. I had a big binge a couple of weeks ago which really shocked me as I thought i had hit the 'switch' at 130mg daily.

But obviously not. So I have increased my dose to 140mg and may go to 150mg tomorrow. I am doing this by myself with no medical support as i do not want alcoholism on my medical records if I can avoid it. I cannot lie, I do get nervous about self prescribing and I really was hoping I would not have to keep increasing the dose. However, it is what it is, and I feel sucess is close so I will plod on.

I hope all is going well with you too.

Best wishes

Caro

[anxiouscat]

Cover story for taking Baclofen

I guess I am lucky in this regard because I was prescribed it by a neurologist to help with migraines (it's used off-label for trigeminal neuralgia, and my headaches stemmed from damage to that nerve during dental work). In fact, I would have never known about this forum if I hadn't searched the internet to find more info about the medications they had me on (baclofen and topamax). I am looking for a new doctor since I moved, and I'm hoping that they will renew the baclofen prescription.

[TexasAg]

Cover story for taking Baclofen

Caro,

I had a binge after my switch. I'm still not sure if it was a binge or just habits kicking in. (it was my first trip abroad after switch and I fell into the whole expat drinking routine.) This was in November and I went up about 20mg just to make sure. It's been 3 months since then and no craving. I've since gone back down.

I think you have the right idea, titrate up slowly and deliberately. Ne told me after my Nov binge that Baclofen keeps us from craving but not from being stupid.

Cheers!

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Cover story for taking Baclofen

TexasAg;1466308 wrote: Ne told me after my Nov binge that Baclofen keeps us from craving but not from being stupid.

Pretty sure that's not exactly what I said.

Every month for the first 3 months after my "switch" I got drunk. (Not coincidentally, it was about every four weeks. Go figure.) (And by getting drunk I mean that I actually got drunk, but from half of what I used to drink every day. I still cannot believe how much I used to drink every single day.)

But the point is actually that yep, it happens. It doesn't mean it "didn't work". It just takes time for everything to sort of work together. Doesn't that make sense?

I was also terrified of doing this on my own. Less because of the medical records thing (it's already all over my medical history) but because I was scared of taking medication that no one knew around here knew anything about. Fortunately that isn't really the case anymore. I'm glad that you're going to plod along, Caro. Hang in there.

[RedThread12]

Cover story for taking Baclofen

Off Topic Warning: Ne, your post reminds me of the time I growled to my ex-husband, "I can't believe it! Every month, just around my period, you get SO aggravating!!" I actually heard these words come out of my mouth. We started laughing so hard we had to pull the car over. :H:H:H

Actually, there is a topical link. I'm certain that peri-menopausal symptoms - especially not sleeping much or well - contributed hugely to my wine demise.

[TexasAg]

Cover story for taking Baclofen

Ne/Neva Eva;1466324 wrote: Pretty sure that's not exactly what I said.

Pretty sure that was it...just kidding :H.
I'm definitely sure that's how I felt about myself!

Cheers!