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    #1

    A strange thing....

    As some of you may know Last month I decided to quit the Baclofen route.
    The se's were unbearable, and I felt I couldn't function at all.
    So I started my taper down (I was up to 200 mgs) and decided to give Naltrexone a try instead.
    I swapped my Bac for some Nal, and started my new journey...

    I've taken 12.5 mgs nal for over a week, but again felt rotten so decided to take a few nights off. A sort of personal re-group if you like. That was four nights ago. The night before I took a break I had an almighty drinking blow out.

    So, four nights off the Nal and maintaining 25 (daily) mgs Baclofen.

    Well lo and behold, these last four nights I have had very little interest in drinking. Don't get me wrong I'm still putting it away, but just loose interest after a certain amount.

    I tested this again tonight, and had fully planned to cane 19 uk units. One bottle of wine and loads of cider. I got through the cider with a struggle...it took me 7 hours! then just half an hour ago I went to open the wine. I knew immediately I would not manage the whole bottle and agreed with myself to have half. I have only managed two sips and the rest of the glass has gone down the sink. i am actually more interested in going to bed and reading my book!

    So having planned 19 units, i have only managed 11.

    Could it be the Baclofen? Can it be at all possible that low dose bac works better for me than high dose? 11 units are still too much, but for me this is really significant. i am here alone, no-one to answer to except myself...usually a huge trigger/excuse for an out and out blow-out. but i just can't stomach any more.

    Anyone got any thoughts on this strange development.

    Laurie
    Tags: None
    #2
    A strange thing....

    A lot of people have found indifference on the way down. Also, baclofen seems to have a honeymoon period after you stop taking it, where the effect lingers.

    Either way, it is worth experimenting more Laurie. Sounds good.

    Comment

      #3
      A strange thing....

      Could it be that you have yourself a bit of a break? Relief from both the SEs AND from the stress of telling yourself you should've hit a switch?

      I know you didn't ask, and perhaps don't know me well enough for me to suggest this, but were I in that position I would start titrating up. Very slowly. Without stress. Without SEs. Just me. Just sayin.

      Really glad you got some relief Laurie. Long may it last!!

      Comment

        #4
        A strange thing....

        Me Too

        Hi Laurie.

        I just started Bac about 4-5 dasys ays ago. I'm now at 10 mg - 10 mg -20 mg. The third day I had no desire to drink at all. Weird

        Last night I drank a bottle of wine, but had no desire to drink this am. Which is just as wierd.

        I;ve drank this pm, but left the 2nd bottle barely touched. I never ever do this. I ALWAYS drink till it's all gone or drink through the night. Ugh !

        I know my switch level is not far away so I'm just going to keep going slowly. I just pray to God I stay like this. To be able to leave drink and not want it first thing is truly amazing for me.
        My anxiety levels have dropped to non-existent right now. My brain is quiet and I am able to function. This is nothing short of miraculous. Two weeks ago I could not get out the door, I was panic stricken. All I can do is enjoy this while it lasts.

        I posted a thread about it the other day.

        Lea
        Today, I will live one day at a time and do one thing at a time

        It was obvious from a very early age that my mind and I were not going to get on. Kay Redfield Jameson

        Comment

          #5
          A strange thing....

          Thank you Bleep and Ne and Budda,
          All replies are really helpful.
          Tonight/today I repeated the process...absolutely adamant to drink my quota, but just felt disgusted.
          I dare not go back up on Bac, besides, I swapped most of it for Nal.
          I think my motto must be 'easy does it'
          I am open to going up on Bac again. Will feel a fool if I need to post a swap request again...D'oh!
          I really fancy trying a natural way out now tho. Meds really scare me.
          Thank you all, and good luck Budda...keep us posted
          Laurie
          xxx

          Comment

            #6
            A strange thing....

            I just totally contradicted myself!

            Comment

              #7
              A strange thing....

              Totally understandable Laurie, the prospect of sudden sobriety can be awfully scary.
              "My fault, my failure, is not in the passions I have, but in my lack of control of them." Jack Kerouac

              Comment

                #8
                A strange thing....

                The prospect of sobriety leaves me petrified. The beast fights on, but I do feel different.
                Sort of empty.
                Wonder what will occupy my mind when i'm not counting units or baclofen doses?
                Feel a little afraid to be left with just me x

                Comment

                  #9
                  A strange thing....

                  Don't be scared Laurie, be excited.

                  What a journey of discovery your about to make !

                  I was sober for 8 yrs and I really liked who I was. I could respect myself and live in my own head. My drinking takes all that away from me.

                  I'm a bit confused, are you stopping the Bac. If so why ?

                  Lea
                  Today, I will live one day at a time and do one thing at a time

                  It was obvious from a very early age that my mind and I were not going to get on. Kay Redfield Jameson

                  Comment

                    #10
                    A strange thing....

                    Thinking that you might suddenly not want what you've always wanted since you first found it is terrifying. And in some ways scarier than gritting your teeth and fighting with everything in you to stay sober. Because you think about AL, all the time, and it's part of you. But if that's suddenly gone, then you just have this real emptiness. I've been there. But don't worry too much about it. There are other things out there to hold onto and make life worth living. Like TV.

                    Comment

                      #11
                      A strange thing....

                      Hey, laurie65,

                      It's amazing and interesting how it's going for you right now. AND you're not alone in being terrified about who and how it'll be when we're sober. I'd have been more afraid if I didn't have a kid and a business.

                      If you can start figuring out things you like to do. You'll probably have a lot more spare time now!

                      I'm wishing you the best.

                      Comment

                        #12
                        A strange thing....

                        Thank you again for all the wonderful replies and support.
                        I really feel I can say anything on here and not get rejected. I might get a reality check (good), but I won't get turned away. That is a great comfort.
                        In response to Budda, yes I have tapered slowly down from 200 mgs baclofen. i found really from the start that the se's were more than I could bear. In the beginning there was an elation, very talkative almost on a high, then my sex drive was thru the roof...all very positive. Then things took a very dark turn. I felt in utter despair, not drive, no motivation...bordering on suicidal. i was very scared.
                        Of course I blamed the Bac for all my ails. The same month I started bac I came of HRT, honestly I'm still a mess hormonally, and all my life I have drank on pms. There must be studies somewhere dedicated to womens hormones and drinking.
                        So I decided to be safe and taper down. I now take 25mgs a day, and feel more comfortable. i traded shit loads of Bac for shit loads of Nal, took the Nal four times and felt like I was dying. So dropped that from the recommended 50mgs one hour before drinking to 12.5 one hour before drinking. Still felt lousy, so decided to take a break from the lot, ber my 25mgs bac...too scared of withdrawal.

                        it therefore came as a surprise to find myself 'off' drinking the last few days. i dare not try any meds for the time being and am seriously thinking of going down the 'natural supplements' route.

                        I am very tempted to try SAMe and Lithium O, have read good stuff in terms of depression management. I Don't know if you can take both at same time and then of course 25 mgs Bac. Or if in dire danger can I take the aforementioned supplements with Nal....anyone know?

                        I hate meds, but I also hate being trapped in this dark hole I dug for myself 25 years ago.

                        Hey Budda, I used to live in Hampshire. a little village called East Meon, and Petersfield! I'm now much further north.
                        Thank you all
                        Laurie x

                        Comment

                          #13
                          A strange thing....

                          It frees you up to have a life. Take up meditation, surf the net.

                          I think you can do this on lower doses. If you reduce your drinking to a point where your brain can recover you can get there. I see it as a battle, just keep hammering away at it until you get it right for you. Baclofen is a weapon in the battle, it dampens the cravings so it gives you control, ultimately, when your brain is getting back to normal, but it is like trying to walk on a broken leg and taking off the cast before you are completely healed...it might hurt and you will have to put it back on.

                          After watching someone take bac for 4 years now I can say it works but it is a fecker of a trip.
                          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

                            #14
                            A strange thing....

                            Not to jump into the TMI waters here, but drinking and cravings seem to be pretty common depending on your cycle. Even after reaching indifference. I hope I'm not over-sharing here, but she's said this publicly in other places, Ne, who's been indifferent for I think two years now, has since that time gotten drunk a few times, and each time she's realized it's been when she's had PMS. And she doesn't even usually think about AL at all otherwise. So just something to be aware of.

                            Comment

                              #15
                              A strange thing....

                              I'm glad you've got somewhere with this:goodjob:
                              I used the Sinclair Method to beat my alcoholic drinking.

                              Drank within safe limits for almost 2 years

                              AF date 22/07/13

                              Comment

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