I finally broke down and sought a doctor's help to kick this habit. He would not prescribe baclofen because he has no experience treating alcoholism with it and instead put me on Campral. If anyone is currently on, or has been on Campral, I'd be interested in hearing your experience with that drug. My doc has taking six tabs a day, which works out to almost 2000mg daily.
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In the middle of my life's journey, I found myself in a dark wood, as I had lost the straight path. It is a difficult thing to speak about, how wild, harsh and impenetrable that wood is. Just thinking about it recreates the fear. It is scarcely less bitter than death, but in order to tell of the good that I found there, I must tell of the other things I saw there. --Dante, paraphrased -
New here and just started Campral
Hi there
I tried Campral a couple of times, it's supposed to be used with abstenance. I didn't notice much if any difference. I believe dosage is based on bodyweight, I was between two levels so tried the lower then the higher. I didn't do anything for me. One side effect to watch for is gastrointestinal disturbances, and I found avoiding grapefruit really helped(I used to have it every day but was reliably told it interacts with a lot of meds, Campral being one).I used the Sinclair Method to beat my alcoholic drinking.
Drank within safe limits for almost 2 years
AF date 22/07/13 -
New here and just started Campral
Hi Alky,
I've no direct experience with Campral, and not a lot of people here use it that I know of. I just wanted to welcome you, and wish you the best of luck.Comment
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New here and just started Campral
New here and just started Campral
I drank last night and started Campral today. I had taken it last year for three or four months and it worked great. Then, like a true alcoholic, I thought I was cured and drank. It's been up and down for months now and I'm so tired of the battle. This time, I'm doing what my doctor said and will stay on Campral for a year. The medicine works to help repair the frontal lobe of our brain therefore making our decisions more rational and accurate. Good luck to you - stay strong and remember you're not alone!Comment
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New here and just started Campral
I took Campral for 18 months and I don't know if it had any effect on me wanting to drink (I had already decided that drinking was not an option for me), but it is supposed to reconnect things in our brains that alcohol disconnects. My Dr. told me that 12 months of it would get things back to normal in the brain. I stopped after 18 months because I had a rare side affect of incredible joint pain and muscle aches.
I recommend it though because I don't believe in the 12 step type of program and I stopped drinking over 4 years ago with no bad cravings-so it must have done something.Comment
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New here and just started Campral
The doc warned that it's not the "magic fix" baclofen is sometimes characterized to be, and only works with abstinence. I started while I was still detoxing (I'm probably still detoxing) and although it doesn't provide any relief from withdrawal symptoms, it calms me when I get the joneses. The only possible side effect I've experienced so far is something like what I would imagine a hot flash to feel like, but that could be ongoing withdrawal symptoms.In the middle of my life's journey, I found myself in a dark wood, as I had lost the straight path. It is a difficult thing to speak about, how wild, harsh and impenetrable that wood is. Just thinking about it recreates the fear. It is scarcely less bitter than death, but in order to tell of the good that I found there, I must tell of the other things I saw there. --Dante, paraphrasedComment
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New here and just started Campral
It seems strange that your doctor is aware of baclofen's potential, but unwilling to try it. You are not dealing with a pioneer here!
Why don't you give him Dr Levin's number? He is a doctor that regularly prescribes baclofen to alcoholics, and perhaps he can talk him through the treatment. If you are in the UK, he can talk to Dr Chick, in Edinburgh. I unfortunately don't their numbers, but Google should throw them up.Comment
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New here and just started Campral
He actually didn't say no outright - he just wants to study Ameisen's methodology some more. He is concerned about the high dosages involved since the standard maximum dose of baclofen in the United States is 80mg. I don't think the Dr. Levin thing will work here in Florida, where prescription drug fraud is a major industry. All prescriptions are printed on anti-fraud paper. He'd probably need to mail me an actual prescription.In the middle of my life's journey, I found myself in a dark wood, as I had lost the straight path. It is a difficult thing to speak about, how wild, harsh and impenetrable that wood is. Just thinking about it recreates the fear. It is scarcely less bitter than death, but in order to tell of the good that I found there, I must tell of the other things I saw there. --Dante, paraphrasedComment
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New here and just started Campral
He prescribes to people all over the world, from what I'm told, but that's not what I meant. From what I understand he just phones the pharmacy. What I meant was, get your doctor to talk to Levin, who can then discuss with him his experiences. It might make him feel more comfortable.Comment
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New here and just started Campral
My wife was given Campral and it was completely useless.
Your doctor should get in touch with Dr. Chick in Edinburgh or even speak to Levin or even Dr. Phill at baclofen 4 alcoholism. They will all say that baclofen is useful and should be prescribed.
You can go into a doctor and say you have a muscle twitch and get baclofen. So why can't he start you on a dose that help your involuntary addiction? Is he afraid that 30 mg a day or so, up to the 80g a day limit which he could give you for hiccups is going to be worse in terms of the side effects than continued drinking?
As far as his reluctance to deal with the dosage of baclofen, that would be like getting an engineer to design a bridge to support a train and having him tell you he was going make it out of copper since he had no experience working with iron.
I think you should ask your doctor to refer you to someone who is able to help you.BACLOFENISTA
baclofenuk.com
http://www.theendofmyaddiction.org
Olivier Ameisen
In addiction, suppression of symptoms should suppress the disease altogether since addiction is, as he observed, a "symptom-driven disease". Of all "anticraving medications used in animals, only one - baclofen - has the unique property of suppressing the motivation to consume cocaine, heroin, alcohol, nicotine and d-amphetamine"Comment
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New here and just started Campral
Can someone send me a personal message with Dr. Levin's contact information so I can direct my own shrink to him - that is an excellent idea. Also, I can't blame American doctors for being so cautious. Baseball and medical malpractice lawsuits are the great American pastimes. Thanks in advance.In the middle of my life's journey, I found myself in a dark wood, as I had lost the straight path. It is a difficult thing to speak about, how wild, harsh and impenetrable that wood is. Just thinking about it recreates the fear. It is scarcely less bitter than death, but in order to tell of the good that I found there, I must tell of the other things I saw there. --Dante, paraphrasedComment
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New here and just started Campral
Not prescribing is also negligent. So is failing to keep up to date with medical treatment.Alky;1497984 wrote: Can someone send me a personal message with Dr. Levin's contact information so I can direct my own shrink to him - that is an excellent idea. Also, I can't blame American doctors for being so cautious. Baseball and medical malpractice lawsuits are the great American pastimes. Thanks in advance.
Here is Dr.Levin's contact number. Best wishes
In the United States Dr. Fred Levin prescribes Baclofen for alcoholism. His contact details are below..
Dr. Fred Levin
Associate Professor, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, US
Home Skype 312-642-5803
He can be reached between 7 and 9pm (gmt -6) at his home number, which is his preference.BACLOFENISTA
baclofenuk.com
http://www.theendofmyaddiction.org
Olivier Ameisen
In addiction, suppression of symptoms should suppress the disease altogether since addiction is, as he observed, a "symptom-driven disease". Of all "anticraving medications used in animals, only one - baclofen - has the unique property of suppressing the motivation to consume cocaine, heroin, alcohol, nicotine and d-amphetamine"Comment
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New here and just started Campral
I am on Campral, and I agree it works best with abstinence (and I haven't been abstaining). Without abstaining, I have noticed it has a *little* effect. Once you go AF however, (I'm doing it with Antabuse, starting today) ((in about an hour or less!))
It seems to work really well (I had been on this combo before). For me, I "just stopped thinking about it". My alcohol abuse is 90% psychological—that is, I never have any withdrawal symptoms (aside from being a little anxious or bitchy), so perhaps it does work on that part of the brain to squelch such chatter. Just my 2?!
"The Pessimist complains about the wind; the Optimist expects it to change; the Realist adjusts the sails."
—William A. WardComment
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New here and just started Campral
Otter, thank you. I am going to refer my psychiatrist to Dr. Levin for a consult.In the middle of my life's journey, I found myself in a dark wood, as I had lost the straight path. It is a difficult thing to speak about, how wild, harsh and impenetrable that wood is. Just thinking about it recreates the fear. It is scarcely less bitter than death, but in order to tell of the good that I found there, I must tell of the other things I saw there. --Dante, paraphrasedComment
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New here and just started Campral
Thanks for the contact information! My HMO doctor will only prescribe Camparal. Like the previous poster said, I understand, but it still sucks. I'll call Dr L tomorrow and maybe I can get some help.:thanks:Otter;1497989 wrote: Not prescribing is also negligent. So is failing to keep up to date with medical treatment.
Here is Dr.Levin's contact number. Best wishes
In the United States Dr. Fred Levin prescribes Baclofen for alcoholism. His contact details are below..
Dr. Fred Levin
Associate Professor, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, US
Home Skype 312-642-5803
He can be reached between 7 and 9pm (gmt -6) at his home number, which is his preference.My Sobriety Date 7/1/2013
Total years sober non consecutive: 10
Recovery is a process, an imperfect one. Don't let shame from a relapse stop you from getting back up and aiming for well being again. Back from a relapse is always better than dead from a relapse.Comment
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