Newbie

[john doe]

Just thought I'd pop in and say hello. Was gonna wait until my meds arrives (soon touch wood) but I'm sitting here with a beer and have a bit of time to kill.

Mine's is the usual story.

37, drinking since about 15 along with various drugs (harder as the years went on). Steadily gotten worst over the years. Realise it was becoming a problem about 6 years ago when most of friends had calmed down but I was still striving to keep the party going. I'm a beer drinker all the way. The smell of spirits alone has me gagging. I think this has been my saving grace tbh. Even my doctor said the same. God knows what state I'd be in otherwise.

My drinking has really steadied over the last 2-3 years. (not so much in a good way) I no longer really go out drinking, just at home alone, so its easy to keep tabs on my intake. I used to go out on a Thursday and come home the following Tuesday but I'm glad that's all over. I drink most nights usually between 6-10 beer (5% 500ml).

I find it harder and harder to have AF days. Try to have 1-2 AF days a week. As said, its getting harder.

I had some success last year with TSM with my units dropping quite a bit for a while but the whole time I just wanted to get drunk. After a few months I think I just broke through. Looking back it was a good spell for my health but tbh I don't think I was ever really going to succeed.

Bac was shipped on Tuesday so I'm hoping on start as soon as. Really excited. I had some convictions about being on meds for the foreseeable future (hence trying TSM first) but I was just kidding myself as I can't really see myself stopping of my on free will which scares me a bit.

Good luck to you all

[StuckinLA]

Newbie

What's up, JD? Welcome. Or, rather, :welcome:

You're in good company. Hopefully you'll take this "free" time to read around here as much as you can, so you know what to expect and how to go about this whole enterprise. I'll be happy to point you to some of the really good threads if you like. But just keep asking questions and writing everything out--it helps.

Me, I'm just hanging out in bed at 11:25 AM and almost out of booze. So that's going to be a problem soon.

[caro]

Newbie

Hi John Doe,

I just wanted to say hello and wish you luck. I have been on baclofen since October last year. It has transformed my life. I never thought in a million years I would be able to stop drinking, but with baclofen the horrible craving for alcohol has gone.

You have come to the right place for support.

Best wishes

Caro

[buddabelly]

Newbie

Welcome

hi JD :welcome:

I have just started on Bac about 3 days ago. I'm only on a very low dose. I had a bottle of wine last night. I did not want to drink this am. Very strange this pm I felt so calm I could not belive it. I have suffered severe anxiety for the last seven months. There is no way that this is placebo effect. NOTHING would calm my anxiety. I've got a glass of wine in front of me. it's been there an hour. A first, and I'm not even bothred if I have another one. This is very strange.
Whether this will alst remaains to be seen. I wondered if this is what non alcoholics feel like ?

Look forward to getting to know you and follow our Bac journey together

Lea

[StuckinLA]

Newbie

Hey, BB. Just want to chime in here and say that Redthread12 found relief from her severe, desperate alcoholism from the very first time that she took 30mg of bac, so it does happen sometimes. I think she's found a comfortable maintenance does around 120mg/day or so, as it's not all about AL cravings... anyway, she's around occasionally, but you could PM her and she'd respond, I'm sure. If you want.

[TexasAg]

Newbie

:welcome: JD,

Definitely keep us posted. Baclofen has changed my life and I hope it works for you. Definitely read, read, read these thread have great experience and knowledge.

Cheers!

[kronkcarr]

Newbie

Hi, john doe,

Welcome! Bac has worked for me like it has for caro and TexasAg. I started in mid December and I felt relief the second day. My anxiety cleared (It has reared up a few times since.). Like RedThread12 I also didn't over drink once I started. I do moderate and have a glass or two of wine every two or three weeks. If I have three I go to sleep and do the loud bac snoring. I hit the switch at 80 mgs, dropped to 40 mgs and anxiety returned so I'm maintaining at 70 mgs for now.

Like you've been told read, read, read and post your story and your questions. There's a wealth of information here.

[buddabelly]

Newbie

Thanks Stuck. Will do.

[john doe]

Newbie

Thanks for the kind word everyone.

Regarding doses, I hope I can find my way out at a lower dose but I have a feeling I'm gonna have to go a bit higher. I don't know, I have a fairly high tolerance to drugs (from past experience) but maybe Baclofen will be different?

[learningtolovewinter]

Newbie

that is what i used to do, stay home and drink alone.
have to, otherwise you wreck the car! not a healthy lifestyle, take it slow now even before you have your meds. it takes awhile to get your head around this, but worth the effort! and it is an effort i find.

[john doe]

Newbie

Got my Med's yesterday. I'm at the tail end of a weekend bender sitting here with a beer.

I took 50mg around 1pm to test the waters. No SEs to report. I had terrible anxiety this morning before hitting the beer and the Bac might have had an effect on that but it could be a placebo.

I'll get down properly tomorrow. Gonna try to push up as fast as I can withstanding SEs. I'm browned off with the booze lately. I know its not the proper protocol but I've read a few having success pushing up. I'm ready to take my chances.

[bleep]

Newbie

Cool John, welcome to the forums, and to baclofen.

I'm all for a rapid titration if you are able to stand it. If you took 50, and didn't feel anything, I would perhaps start at 100, and go up in 50's until you find the level that SE's start appearing. Once you are there, I would slow down a bit though. Don't be daft and suddenly decide that 300 is doable, there's no need to put yourself through hell.

Best of luck.

[buddabelly]

Newbie

Jeezus John

Hi John,

IMHO John that's a powerful dose to start on.

If you find you have any SE's you might be wiser to slow down a bit and read some of the posts in titrating.

I've had results in the first few days with very low doses.

Don't be fooled, this is a very powerful drug.

Good Luck.

Lea

[john doe]

Newbie

Thanks for the replies guys. Quick update...

Woke up this morning with the mother of all hang overs. Now.. Could have been the Bac or that I'd been drinking straight for nearly a week but it was wicked. Terrible nausea when standing and constant anxiety. I'm gonna start fresh tomorrow. Not boozing tonight so I'll know if it was the Bac or not.

I'll hang tight at 50mg for a few days anyhow to let my body get used to it.

[StuckinLA]

Newbie

Bac hangovers are the worst! It's not the AL or the bac, but the combination of the two. It makes for a doozy of a hangover, and one that doesn't quite feel like what you know a hangover should feel like. And it being different from what you're used to makes everything worse, of course, and the brain starts to panic because something feels "wrong." And then, at least I, go straight to "OMG I'm dying."

Best of luck, my friend.