baclofen switch

[kflmjs]

I AM CURRENTLY AT 330 mgs./day OF BACLOFEN.

i'M THINKING OF STARTING TO DE-ESCALATE. HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HIT YOUR SWITCH LEVEL AND HOW FAST CAN I DE-ESCALATE FROM BACLOFEN

[RedThread12]

baclofen switch

What's your AL consumption? If side effects are debilitating and you can't hang, you've still gotta' tot rate down slowly. Look around for what different folks suggest . . . my switch dose was low and finding a maintenance dose was not a big deal. AND quite a few folks have "switched" on the way DOWN instead of up. You'll find great info to guide you. Good luck!

[kflmjs]

baclofen switch

de-escalation from baclofen

I'm currently at 330 mg/day of baclofen.

How will I know if I have reached my "switch"(thresh hold) and how fast can I step down?

I was thinking of trying to decrease 30 mg after every 3rd day if tolerated.

PLEASE HELP !!!

I am not drinking at all since end of August, 2012

[Ne/Neva Eva]

baclofen switch

Hi, K.
Welcome to the forum.

Why are you taking 330mg? How long have you been taking that much?

I'm confused about why you would stay at such a high dose if you don't drink and don't want to drink.

Going down 30mg at a time is a lot more than what I've seen as recommended. I have done it, though.

How are you?

[kflmjs]

baclofen switch

hi NE (Reply)

Hi Neva

thanks for your post.

I'm not sure how to use the forum so i'm not sure if i am doing this right

I have been taking baclofen for some time. I convinced my GP to prescribe 80mg/day but that is as high as she will go so I've had to buy the extra on-line.

I haven't been drinking, but I feel it has been strictly by abstinence(willpower). I started to take baclofen aug. 1st-2012. I want to become "indifferent" to alcohol as Dr. ameisen described in his book. People in these forums call it their "switch"

As i said, I started aug. 1st and progressed incrementally over some time.

I am now at 330 mg/day and I am not sure how I will know if I reached my "switch" or not?

Is it like a ketharsis, or can I be there and not know it?

[Ne/Neva Eva]

baclofen switch

Hi again, K!

It's difficult to answer that question.

Do you want to drink?
Do you crave a drink?

I think it can be both ways. You might be indifferent, and you might not know it. The reason is that thinking about drinking is something that is habit. It can be difficult to not think about it. But if you don't crave a drink, thinking about it does not lead to wanting a drink.

Does that make sense?

[kflmjs]

baclofen switch

HI NE
I WOULDN'T CALL IT A CRAVING AT THIS POINT, BUT WHEN TIMES ARE IMPOSSIBLE, I HAVE WANTED ONE BUT DID NOT.

IT'S JUST THAT FROM WHAT I READ HERE, THEY SEEM TO KNOW WHEN THEY REACHED THEIR SWITCH, LIKE IT WAS OBVIOUS OR SOMETHING.

i DON'T WANT TO KEEP ESCALATING NEEDLESSLY, NOR DO I WANT DE-ESCALATE TOO SOON AND WASTE EVERYTHING I HAVE DONE AND PUT MYSELF THROUGH.

i JUST DON'T KNOW---SHOULD I GO INTO A BAR AND SIT THERE AND WATCH THEM DRINK AND SEE IF I WANT ONE? AND EVEN IF I DO DOES THAT MEAN I'M NOT INDIFFERENT?

i'M SO CONFUSED

THANKS FOR CARING

[Ne/Neva Eva]

baclofen switch

Most of us are still drinking when we start taking baclofen, so it's easy to tell when we don't want to drink anymore.

It's great that you haven't. Congratulations on your sober time! I should have said that before.

I think Colin has been sober the whole time he's been taking baclofen. Maybe he has some insight to offer. You could ask him on his thread. Or maybe he'll see this when he gets up.

I can't say whether you should go up or down! I certainly don't want to encourage you to sit in a bar and think about whether or not you want to drink. First of all, that sounds dreadful. Second of all, that's the point of bars!

Plus, the idea is not whether or not you want to drink. The idea is whether or not you have to drink. If you have a choice, you're indifferent.

I've got to go, and I won't be able to check back in until later in the day tomorrow. I'm sure others will swing by and offer their thoughts, too. It might help to know if you've been sober before, and for how long.

Glad you've joined us!

[kflmjs]

baclofen switch

Reply to Ne

I keep trying to reply to you on the forum thread with more info but when i go to post it I must have timed out as it says i have not signed in.

I signed in again and retyped it numerous times with the same result.

I will try to send you a PM later

THANK YOU again for you replies and PM's

YOUR FRIEND

Kevin

[Hippyman]

baclofen switch

kflmjs;1462435 wrote: HI NE
I WOULDN'T CALL IT A CRAVING AT THIS POINT, BUT WHEN TIMES ARE IMPOSSIBLE, I HAVE WANTED ONE BUT DID NOT.

IT'S JUST THAT FROM WHAT I READ HERE, THEY SEEM TO KNOW WHEN THEY REACHED THEIR SWITCH, LIKE IT WAS OBVIOUS OR SOMETHING.

i DON'T WANT TO KEEP ESCALATING NEEDLESSLY, NOR DO I WANT DE-ESCALATE TOO SOON AND WASTE EVERYTHING I HAVE DONE AND PUT MYSELF THROUGH.

i JUST DON'T KNOW---SHOULD I GO INTO A BAR AND SIT THERE AND WATCH THEM DRINK AND SEE IF I WANT ONE? AND EVEN IF I DO DOES THAT MEAN I'M NOT INDIFFERENT?

i'M SO CONFUSED

THANKS FOR CARING

I would never dare to test alcohol. It almost killed me and with baclofen I have enough power to say no to the compulsion to drink. I am comfortably indifferent most of the time. I have had a few thoughts "A DRINK WOULD BE GOOD" but with baclofen I have to power to say NO. I also have Antabuse so if the compulsion to drink ever becomes unmanageable I will take one of those so I CAN NOT drink.

[kflmjs]

baclofen switch

I'll Try This Again

Hi Ne and Hippyman

THanks for your responses and PM's

I was sober before

I was in the hospital for alcohol and related damage. When I got home, I began abstinance and I was abstinant for over 2 years.

I was "white knuckling" it and my life was a LIVING HELL

I attended MANY AA meetings(Too many to count).

It was during this time I started my research.

I discovered baclofen and Dr. Ameisen.

I started drinking again.

I was familiar with numerous BENZO's first hand(During my hospital stay and through my GP)

I convinced my GP to prescribe 80 mgs of baclofen (That's as high as she would go), and I would get the rest on-line(Which I did through RiverPharmacy in Canada)

I never increased my doseage by more than 20 mgs per time. I stayed at these levels for at least 3 days and sometimes much longer.

That brings me to now

I increased my dose 20 mgs on Wed. 2-13-13(Today {Fri.} will be day #3.

This brings me to 350 mgs/day.

I'm still contemplating going to a bar(That's how Dr. Ameisen realized his indifference in
"The End Of My Addiction" Pages 168-170).

But I'm not sure that would prove anything.

I do not want to de-escalate too soon and waste all that I have done and put myself through NOR do I want to increase needlessly as it is expensive and money is very tight.

I just DON"T KNOW.

THANKS you guys for your posts and PM"s

I'm glad to know people care and want to help.

THANK YOU AGAIN

Kev

[kflmjs]

baclofen switch

I'll Try This Again

I.m still trying.

[kflmjs]

baclofen switch

Hi Ne and Hippyman

THANKS so much for your replies and PM's

Per Ne's question I, was sober before.

I was in the hospital in '09 for alcohol and related damage. When I got home in Sept. '09, I began abstinance and I was abstinant for over 2 years.

I was "white knuckling" it and my life was a LIVING HELL.

I was familiar with numerous BENZOID's first hand(During my hospital stay and recovery and my GP)


I had also attended many AA meetings (Too many to count).

It was during this time I started my research.

I discovered baclofen and Dr. Ameisen

I gave in and started drinking again as I was going nuts.

I'll Try sending this part and see if it works.

[kflmjs]

baclofen switch

Try Again the whole thing

here we go

[kflmjs]

baclofen switch

Complete Post

Hi Ne and Hippyman

THANKS so much for your replies and PM's

Per Ne's question in a PM, I was sober before.

I was in the hospital in '09 for alcohol and related damage. When I got home in Sept. '09, I began abstinance and I was abstinant for over 2 years.

I was "white knuckling" it and my life was a LIVING HELL.

I was familiar with numerous BENZOID's first hand(During my hospital stay and recovery and my GP)


I had also attended many AA meetings (Too many to count).

It was during this time I started my research.

I discovered baclofen and Dr. Ameisen

I gave in and started drinking again as I was going nuts.

I'll Try sending this part and see if it works.

Looks like it did---I'll continue.

I convinced my GP to prescribe 80 mgs of baclofen(That's as high as she would go) and I would get the rest on-line(Which I did through RiverPharmacy in Canada)

I never escalated more than 20 mgs per step up and stayed at each level at least 3 days and sometimes much longer.

That brings me to now.

I increased my dose 20 mgs on Wed. 2-13-13(Today {FRI} will be day #3).

this brings me to 350 mgs baclofen /day

I'm still contemplating going to a bar/restaraunt (That's how Dr. Ameisen realized his "indifference" from his book "The End Of My Addiction" Pages 168-170).

But I'm not sure that would prove anything even if I wanted to or did have a beer.

I do not want to keep escalating needlessly NOR do I want to de-escalate too soon.
It is getting expensive and money is very tight, but I don't want to waste all that I have done and put myself through.

Ne, I have not checked the '09 threads yet, but it looks cumbersome as i can only select 1 month at a time.

Is there an easier way? Or could you let me know which months to look at?

THANK YOU AGAIN for yor replies and PM's and CARING.

Sincerely

Kev