Baclofen questions

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Baclofen questions

Hey peeps!

Spigot you might want to check and see if you really need/want to talk to L weekly. Most of us move on rather quickly as phone therapy w a psychiatrist is not always terribly rewarding. I think it's also a good idea to mention to him that you have concerns about money. Seems as tho he's always been rather fluid w cost and what he charges.
Sorry for your hangover! They all suck but on bac can be particularly unpleasant. Congrats on drinking less! And thank goodness for that!

Mary-I agree that it's lousy to have to hide. I've never worried about it but for the first time I have a bit of risk associated w being "found out". Still not ashamed and not going to hide the truth but I definitely made sure it wasn't on anything I had to turn in when I submitted health related paperwork for the program I'm in.

As far as bac is concerned the probability that someone would associate that w alcohol is almost nil. I would be beyond shocked! The two times I've been asked when I wasn't willing to share I said muscle spasms. Migraines could be another random reason. (It's not used for that normally but it could be!)

And as for privacy, L would have to disclose why if asked by an insurance company but only if you wanted them to pay for it. Even then he could just...say something more general. Thats what my main doctor does. Otherwise HIPAA protects anyone from asking or finding out anything. And those laws are actually even more stringent under the new policies. (I just had to study the new stuff and memorize the HIPAA laws so I feel rather encyclopedic about it all. :H)
Nice to see you btw!
Sorry for typos I'm on my phone. Good night!

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Baclofen questions

Glad you got the pharmacy straightened out spigot!

[StuckinLA]

Baclofen questions

Dr. L sent me a $130 bill every time I spoke with him, even though I reiterated that I'm pretty much impoverished. He also won't bill your insurance directly, but instead suggests you send his bill to the insurance company, which is weird and I never bothered with.

Glad you sorted everything out with the pharmacy. My big issue was having the pharmacy accept, and fill, a prescription that simply read "Take As Directed." They didn't want to do that at all, but finally there was a blowup between me and the pharmacy, and somehow Dr. L got in the middle of it, and he asked me for their direct phone number and then hung up on me. After that I didn't have a problem with the pharmacy--but I haven't talked to Dr. L since, either.

What I've found works really well is the Walgreens website. Not sure if you're using a chain pharmacy, but I can order refills and have them shipped directly to my door, and insurance is billed automatically. Super convenient until the refills run out...

[spigot]

Baclofen questions

Well, had an AF night last night with no effort.. even with my drunken roommate offering me beers every 15 minutes (was I that goddamn annoying when I was hammered?). Bumped my dose to 20mg x3 today, and I'm feeling great. Had some pretty bad insomnia last night, but somehow I feel fine and alert today. Going for another AF night tonight, insomnia or not.

[kronkcarr]

Baclofen questions

spigot,
Yay! I'm happy for you. I'm guessing I was pretty annoying at times before bac. I'm sure my ex would say so!!
Have a great night!
kronkcarr

[spigot]

Baclofen questions

Had my first AF Friday since age 16 last night. Saturday mornings without a hangover are amazing!

[spigot]

Baclofen questions

Still holding strong on 20mg x 3 daily. I've had a whopping three beers since Friday with almost no effort. At 6AM today, my boss offered my some Baileys for my coffee to 'calm the nerves' before a meeting with a client. I turned it down without even thinking about it, when normally my coffee would've turned into a cup of Baileys with a splash of coffee. :H TMI warning: Only side effect I've had so far is an (almost excessive) increase in libido. Fine with me, but my poor boyfriend finally said "dude, we both have to wake up in five hours" at midnight last night. :H Going to continue increasing my dose by 20mg a week, but I can't believe how unappealing booze has become at just 60mg a day.

[UBTeacher]

Baclofen questions

Very inspiring

Hi Spigot,
I am very intrigued and inspired by your experience. Please keep us updated as it is very meaningful for newbies here (me).

UB

[spigot]

Baclofen questions

Thanks UB. Currently up to 90mg a day. The random daytime sleepiness is a bitch, but energy drinks are still a lot cheaper than vodka. I had two drinks this weekend, but other than that I've been AF with minimal effort. Going to hold at 90mg a day until side effects decrease, but baclofen side effects are nothing compared to going through life in a drunken-hungover daze.

I guess the most depressing 'side effect' so far is realizing almost my entire social network is comprised of drug abusers or alcoholics. I can't stand most of my 'friends' anymore. They seem to view me drinking moderately as a threat, and get extremely offended if we're at the bar and I stop after one drink. Seems like everyone in Utah my age is either Mormon, or drinks/parties like there's no tomorrow. Trying to pick up some sober people interests in hopes of developing some quality relationships that aren't based on a substance. This really has me down right now, but I know as long as I continue to focus on self-improvement the right people will come along.

[spigot]

Baclofen questions

Update! Up to 140mg daily, and I think I've had a total of four beers in the last two weeks. Didn't even realize it until I decided to check out the MWO forums. Just got another prescription from Dr. L for 300 20mg pills a month (with refills finally!), so I should have quite the stockpile. No more side effects for me, other than massively reduced anxiety and a feeling a well-being and clarity no antidepressant has ever given me. Still haven't hit indifference, but I'd have to really work at it to drink more than three drinks in one sitting. On another positive note, I've managed to get down to .5mg Klonopin daily with zero withdrawal effects. Going to taper the last .5mg veeery slowly over the next year and hopefully get that monkey off my back as well.

[Colin]

Baclofen questions

Four beers in two weeks is a long way from the compulsive drinking that we all want to avoid. You seem to have booze well under control. With no side-effects you might want to see if the anxiety is further improved with more baclofen. What does the good doctor L say about your attitude to alcohol?

[bleep]

Baclofen questions

Wow spigot, I just read your thread, and the difference from start to finish is amazing. A perfect example of someone who was crying out for baclofen. I'm glad it has worked for you.

Be aware that indifference is not necessarily a tipping point. I say this because it sounds to me like you may actually be indifferent, you just haven't realised it yet. It sometimes takes a shift in how you perceive things to make the final adjustment.

Just a thought...

[spigot]

Baclofen questions

Onward and upward. Up to Dr. L's max dose of 230mg daily, and I can finally say I've hit complete indifference. I let my friends drink all my alcohol about a week ago, and haven't even considered purchasing more. $30 for a bottle of Kettel One sounds like the worst investment ever... and to think I used to spend that daily! :H

Colin;1486713 wrote: What does the good doctor L say about your attitude to alcohol?

I honestly only use Dr. L for prescription refills. I've tried to discuss baclofen in detail with him, but I swear he was stoned last time I called and couldn't tell me anything other than "Good luck with your journey!"

A big thank you to everyone that helped along the way. For the first time in forever I feel a sense of inner peace, hope, and direction in my life that was clouded by alcohol for way too long. :l

[bleep]

Baclofen questions

Magic to hear spigot.

Congratulations.

[omahawagon]

Baclofen questions

Congratulations!!!