Are there people who just can't tolerate baclofen?

[cookinghappy]

I have been on baclofen for 5 months now and have been up to 170 mg per day. As you can see, I've taken it very slowly. However, I can no longer stand the side effects. I am dizzy, exhausted, forgetful, not 'switched on'. I sleep half the day, and am terrified of commiting to any activities as I can't find a pattern on this pill that I can follow so I never know when I'll feel sleepy, unable to drive etc. I am still capable of drinking a full bottle of wine in a night, though I have in general reduced to about 3/4 of a bottle.

I have reduced the Baclofen by 12.5 (so, half of a 25 mg pill) and am feeling more human, but of course have now pulled myself further from my desired switch, and am still having side effects. I am seriouly considering stopping. This is not the first time I've felt like this, and the side effects just don't lessen.

I can't find anything online about this, but is it possible that perhaps my body just doesn't cope with the side effects and never will?

[Cinders]

Are there people who just can't tolerate baclofen?

Cooking,

I had to quit Baclofen due to kidney issues. However, I was up pretty high, close to 200 mgs/day.

Now that I am AF, I am considering giving Baclofen another try and seeing if it helps the mental aspect of being AF at a lower dose than when I was drinking.

So, yes, some people can't tolerate HDB. Kidney failure was not a good option but I only had that issue at HDB.

I know of a few people who suffered from high blood pressure from it and had to quit.

If you can in anyway handle the SEs long enough to hit your switch, that would be amazing for you.

The best of luck to you.

Cindi

[Colin]

Are there people who just can't tolerate baclofen?

I have had a lot of trouble increasing the dose.

I started baclofen at the end of May last year and increased fairly slowly to 100 mg.
I started keeping notes on 1 August 2012 when my daily dose was 112.5.
From then until 26 October I increased very slowly to 150 mg which I maintained until 30 November. This very slow increase was dictated by the somnolence during the day.

Now things improved and with hindsight I could have profited earlier from the following steps.

I reduced to 125 mg and stayed there until 4 January. During this period I experienced much better SEs. My note on 25 December was "Seems as if 125 is almost acceptable".

From 4 January I have been able to increase by 12.5 per day every 4/5 days until I am now at 187.5. This latest increase has been accompanied by much less of a problem with SEs. Unacceptable for the long term but no problem at all if I don't need to be sharp.

In retrospect I should have dropped the dose when it first became difficult at 80/90 mg. and have saved a lot of time.

If there is no urgent need to get up as quickly as possible then my advice to myself and anybody in a similar position is

Keep taking the fucking pills but slow down when necessary. Stopping the increase works wonders and a slight drop is even better. It isn't a sprint. Getting there is what this game is all about. In the longer time scale a break on the way doesn't just provide a welcome rest from the SEs but also helps to reduce the total time to arrival.

Good luck.

[Hippyman]

Are there people who just can't tolerate baclofen?

Cinders;1448945 wrote: Cooking,

I had to quit Baclofen due to kidney issues. However, I was up pretty high, close to 200 mgs/day.

Now that I am AF, I am considering giving Baclofen another try and seeing if it helps the mental aspect of being AF at a lower dose than when I was drinking.

So, yes, some people can't tolerate HDB. Kidney failure was not a good option but I only had that issue at HDB.

I know of a few people who suffered from high blood pressure from it and had to quit.

If you can in anyway handle the SEs long enough to hit your switch, that would be amazing for you.

The best of luck to you.

Cindi

I could drink with baclofen but it was foolish of me to do so. The best part of being on Bac and being AF is that it gives me that ...(I could care less about alcohol feeling) that nothing else has done. I now have to power to say NO to any passing thoughts of drinking. I also think that I have had other good effects from baclofen. I feel carefree and relaxed. My highest dose has only been 50mgs and the liquid is so much better less expensive and with no negative side effects for me.

[YouKayBee]

Are there people who just can't tolerate baclofen?

Yes.

I couldn't tolerate it and as well as the SEs you describe it also triggered a very 'wierd' state of mind, I was depressed beyond anything I'd experienced before and was having extremely wierd thoughts about death and aliens. I also had extremely lank, greasy hair and skin at the same time.

All faded away when I tapered off to 20mg a day.

Luckily I found my answer elsewhere as a result of the experience.

[COSGringo]

Are there people who just can't tolerate baclofen?

I agree with Colin. I think you really have to pace your self. It took me like 8 months to get to 240 mg and even that was too fast.

I think no more than 10 mg/week for most of us. Level off for a while if it gets tough. I have definitely seen people that could not tolerate the SE's.

Also, I realize you are supposed to be able to drink while on bac but the drink makes the SE's much worse. It did for me.

[cookinghappy]

Are there people who just can't tolerate baclofen?

Thank you all for your thoughts. Am still confused about what to do. Will keep you posted! Am worried if my already high dose isn't giving me the switch, that i might have to go really high. Given that I'm still drinking, i am worrying what this double whammy is doing to my body. Have read some terrifying articles about people struggling to get off it. Can i take a lower dose during the day (say 2x 37.5) and then a really high one (say 50mg or more) before my witching hour? And then another 37.5 before bed?
Thanks

[Colin]

Are there people who just can't tolerate baclofen?

cookinghappy;1449533 wrote: Can i take a lower dose during the day (say 2x 37.5) and then a really high one (say 50mg or more) before my witching hour? And then another 37.5 before bed?
Thanks

Certainly. Try it but bear in mind COSGringo's advice about limiting the changes. In your case that would be no more than 12.5 mg (1/2 a pill) either way every 7 days. You need at least that amount of time to judge whether you are experiencing the desired effect. This way you are on much firmer ground with the mext step.

I have got away recently with increasing by 12.5 every 4/5 days but have just today delayed the next increase from 187.5 -> 200 due to somnolence and insomnia. If they persist I will certainly drop 12.5 and try again later.

[Lo0p]

Are there people who just can't tolerate baclofen?

Yes you can, absolutely. That's very common. Dr. Levin recommends your highest dose be the second to last.

If I might ask, what brand are you taking? I'm know it differs from person to person, but I swear to this day some brands are laced with poison. I'll show you my list later, I've taken most of the brands in the world I think.

However, somnolence may or may not be the one SE you can't escape until you hit your switch and your body adjusts to it. Going way out on a ledge here because it's an individual thing but indulge me please.

[MaryGoRound]

Are there people who just can't tolerate baclofen?

Maybe you could split your doses more throughout the day to help with the SEs. For instance, instead of 3x per day take 6x per day. I limit my doses to no more than 30mgs per dose. It can be a pain, especially as you go higher in doses, but it is a potential option.

Not to be too confusing, but I also tend to take more just before my traditional weak point in the day and less when I am less vulnerable.

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Are there people who just can't tolerate baclofen?

Cooking,
It can be a very difficult road to take. The outcome, from my perspective, is absolutely and completely worth it. Simply because I had no hope for absolute and complete indifference before. In fact, I didn't believe it would or could happen. But it did and it does.

The choice, of course, is yours. There have been some people who have found a comfortable place by going down and then staying there.

The other thing is, the booze is the problem. In more ways than one. It makes everything worse, including SEs. If you really want freedom, give up the booze before giving up on the recovery. There's a new study out...You might find some enlightening info in that.

Good luck. Hang in and I hope you don't give up looking for a way out.

[cookinghappy]

Are there people who just can't tolerate baclofen?

Thanks. All of you.
Ne - what's the report called?

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Are there people who just can't tolerate baclofen?

Frontiers | Suppression of Alcohol Dependence Using Baclofen: A 2-Year Observational Study of 100 Patients | Frontiers in Addictive Disorders & Behavioral Dyscontrol

[cookinghappy]

Are there people who just can't tolerate baclofen?

Thank you. Have spent time re-reading this report, and wonder as I am on Sipralexa (Cipralex) for depression and Stilnoct (zolpidem tartrate) for sleeping, whether I come under the following point in the above report's observations;
However, there was a significant relationship between the use of psychotropic drugs, particularly benzodiazepines, and a worse outcome. Further work is needed to determine whether the effect of baclofen could be dampened by a concomitant treatment with certain psychotropic drugs, particularly benzodiazepines.
I definitely come under the comments that were made about those lacking motivation and feeling unable to break the habit. I think I thought if I took the pills, indifference would just happen to me. I have now decreased my dose in order to reduce the side effects, but of course am back to feeling fed up that the baclofen's not doing any good. This week i've been back on a bottle of wine a night, and am hungry all the time. This is bad for me as I'm already overweight.
Another quote that unsettles me:
In terms of efficacy, all patients except eight reported that baclofen reduced or completely stopped their motivation to drink. The analysis of the eight cases of patients who reported no effects of baclofen on craving shows that four of them were very uncomfortable with baclofen-induced side-effects, and probably did not reach sufficient doses. For the four remaining patients (two of them reached doses above 280 mg), the question of an insensitivity to baclofen must be raised. Alternative explanations could be a denial of the effects of baclofen or a poor compliance with treatment. Further work is necessary to determine whether certain individuals are really insensitive to the anti-craving effects of baclofen.
Could this be me?
As I told you, I have a supportive gp (insofar as it was she who suggested the baclofen), but she has NO idea about dosage and how to help me.
I just don't know whether to give up, keep going... does anyone know of a doctor in Europe who would be willing to give me some time over the phone or by email to help me sort myself out?
Thank you.

[Colin]

Are there people who just can't tolerate baclofen?

cookinghappy;1454170 wrote:
Could this be me?

I believe it could and I am in the same flottila. I don't drink, I don't have cravings, I have a lot of trouble increasing my dose and I haven't a fucking clue whether I am wasting my time.

EDIT: Forgot to mention that I am also being treated for depression - 40 mg per day citalopram.