Need help starting (baclofen)

[Colin]

Need help starting (baclofen)

bleep;1508793 wrote:

Weight seems to be completely irrelevant with baclofen. What is relevant hasn't been worked out yet. The general approach is just keep going up until it works.

Here is a quote from Suppression of Alcohol Dependence Using Baclofen: A 2-Year Observational Study of 100 Patients

No element (BMI, sex, social, family, and professional features), with the exception of the amount of alcohol consumed before treatment, had a predictive value regarding the dose of baclofen needed, even though the inter-individual variability was very important.

[Sticky]

Need help starting (baclofen)

Welcome JD

I do lots of lurking on here but rarely post. I'm still hopeful bac is going to work for me, but it hasn't been easy.

I had 2 years sobriety only once. Was in and out of AA for 17 years. Can't go now b/c I'm taking bac, but we have a Community Alcohol and Drug Service in NZ where I have counselling and attend a group. I can be honest there about bac. Also have a doctor prescribing it to me, so I'm lucky.

All the best for your bac journey.

Cheers
Sticky :welcome:

[kronkcarr]

Need help starting (baclofen)

JDizzle,

You may want to read Dr Ameisen's book--hardcover is The End of My Addiction, softcover is Heal Thyself. They're the same book just different titles.

You're not going to find any long, long time bac people. Dr Ameisen's book was published in 2009.

Gotta dash!

[StuckinLA]

Need help starting (baclofen)

I think it might actually be pretty low for coke--can't remember any clinical trials with mice or anything, but the story that originally turned Dr A on to bac was about a paraplegic on bac for muscle spasms, who also happened to be a coke addict. He (addict) was noticing a difference at a "standard" 80mg/day.

2 or 3 years indifference is all you're really going to find. RedT, Ne/Neva, I think TerryK and a couple others who don't really post anymore. Those who stop taking it do so for SEs or hubris, ya' know? But who doesn't want to test the waters every now and again? And a lot of people who've come through the MWO doors in my time are looking to "moderate." (Myself included, some days.) Bac can seem like a safety net--like all the fun and none of the alkie-consequences. And if you're not committed to indifference and some kind of normal-ish sobriety ('cause I'm starting to get the feeling that most "normal" people are actually sober most of the time! WTF!?), then even with bac it's still a dark road...

And hey, don't say "sicker than others" re: the coke. You seen the Denzel Washington movie Flight? I wish I could roll like that.

[john doe]

Need help starting (baclofen)

StuckinLA;1508995 wrote:

And hey, don't say "sicker than others" re: the coke. You seen the Denzel Washington movie Flight? I wish I could roll like that.

I rolled like that for over 10 years. Minus the flying planes. And the women weren't as beautiful Apart from that. Yeah I was a raging cocaine fiend.

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Need help starting (baclofen)

JDizzle;1508629 wrote: I am in Alcoholics Obvious at the bar every week so I stopped giving a damn about being Anonymous a long time ago.

:H:H
Totally using that, JDizzle. Good stuff.

Had to stop there...But want to say hi and welcome, too.

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Need help starting (baclofen)

JDizzle;1508774 wrote: Ok one major question....does anyone quit/moderate and stay that way? I know it's only been going on a few years. AA doesn't work for some people but there r many that have stayed the course for 20 years. I get it, it's different but being a 20 year AAer, it's hard for me to listen to a lot of posts when people r like I haven't drank in 20 days, this totally works. Yeah whatever I can do that on bad bender fear. I am absolutely not talking about u btw...honestly I'm not. U know what I mean though? It's nice to have those damn old timers around. I just really haven't read anyone with real long term effectiveness. In AA at least I know it can work...it did for me for 2 yrs twice. I just really want to exhaust this avenue before I go back to meetings. At least then I can tell them...don't try it, it doesn't work. In fairness, I will call them bragging like a mofo if it does work. I hope I am not coming off as negative, but hell we're doing something the medical community doesn't accept. I want to believe...I do. Well I'm gonna try it. I hope my skepticism is unfounded. Hey why does everyone's story include it was working but then I quit taking them? If it works why stop? I'm not talking about the folks that quit because of bad side effects.

OH! I'm so glad I read a little bit more.

We're here. We're not huge in number (though it's pretty damn remarkable considering how many of us are actually here and still sober, in comparison to...everything else.)
"Moderating" is kind of irrelevant if you don't care about drinking booze anymore, you know? But for the official record I was absolutely committed to absolute abstinence for the rest of my life (having been in and out of the rooms for about 15 years will do that to you). I drink when and how and why I want now. Not bragging. Just sayin'. It isn't much and it isn't often but it's absolutely my choice. Now.

I've got 2 years and ...3 months. My husband is coming up on 2 years. There are several others that are around and don't post regularly, and some that do. Redthread12, Lo0p, Terryk, Tiptronic_t are some of the oldest. (In years indifferent, not age. I think of them as the classes of 2009/10.) Bleep. Ifulovelife (or something?) _Serenity_. (2011) TimberTim. roadtorecovery. Many more. But I really gotta go.

[JDizzle]

Need help starting (baclofen)

Wow!!! U care...u really care!!! Haha. I was so excited to see responses today. It's really cool and really means a lot. It really feels good to have people to talk to about this. The AAers (with exception of my sponsor) don't want to here about this at all...especially because of the term "muscle relaxer". The sober people people ofc have no freakin clue what I am going through. Man there are a thousand things I want to quote from all of you. I think thank you is my best response. I didn't expect to hear from some old timers today . That is VERY encouraging. So I have no shame in ratting myself out... I drank and did my other deal last night...BUT!! I went out with my dad for dinner and we had a couple beers. I noticed at the table that I wasn't like obsessed on the whole ritual. I have a VERY specific dinner drinking ritual that 100% of the time ends in me not eating and making my company uncomfortable. I ate and only had 2 beers. The other part is 100% of the time I am panicked the whole effing time... when will I get cut off, how much beer should I have left in my glass before I order another to ensure he gets back before I finish but not too much left where it is obvious I have a problem, am I going to get down enough before the meal comes... Dude, none of that this time. I enjoyed dinner with my dad. Getting home is when I go the other way. Unfortunately, I owed some scratch so when that guy came over to get it.... well honestly I didn't want to get anything, but almost felt like I had to. I barely did any (well for me it was barely... only enough to kill a pony, not an elephant ). Then I drank 4 beers to come down and was in bed well before sun up (unusual). I also came down quick and slept easy. Look guys, I'm not calling this a victory at all. In my mind I still messed up. But, I could tell if he wasn't already coming over, I would have not drank or done anything else when I got home. Who knows... I definitely do not want to test that often. I think more than anything, there was a MAJOR difference in my mindset the whole night. Now this weekend, I am going night fishing with a few guys from work. I know I am going to drink and prob a lot. We'll see how that plays out. What is funny is at dinner I got a little uncomfortable when I noticed I wasnt freaking out. It was like...SOMETHING IS WRONG HERE. You all saying "keeping taking them" over and over helped a lot. Last night when I was done, I still hadnt taken my 3rd round and I didnt want to take them because I had been drinking. Im glad I took them. I woke up today without a hangover for the first time in forever. Anyways, I'm rambling (that's one of my SEs). I am going to stay at 120 for a while. I think it is working.

Does your body ever get used to it so you are not looped all day? It makes work a little difficult.

[RedThread12]

Need help starting (baclofen)

Yes. :wow:

It's awesome. Just keep taking the damn baclofen!!!

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Need help starting (baclofen)

JDizzle;1509299 wrote: Wow!!! U care...u really care!!!Yep.

JDizzle;1509299 wrote: I think more than anything, there was a MAJOR difference in my mindset the whole night.
That's what matters.

JDizzle;1509299 wrote: What is funny is at dinner I got a little uncomfortable when I noticed I wasnt freaking out. It was like...SOMETHING IS WRONG HERE.

:H It might be helpful to figure out what to do with that feeling, btw. It's likely to come and go for a while, you know?

JDizzle;1509299 wrote: Anyways, I'm rambling (that's one of my SEs). I am going to stay at 120 for a while. I think it is working.

Ramble away. It works. Really.

JDizzle;1509299 wrote: Does your body ever get used to it so you are not looped all day?

Yes.

Hope it's a good day!

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Need help starting (baclofen)

Oh. And this:

RedThread12;1509324 wrote:

It's awesome. Just keep taking the damn baclofen!!!

[Sticky]

Need help starting (baclofen)

Hi JDizzle

Re your night out - that's awesome!

Good luck for the weekend.

Cheers
Sticky

[kronkcarr]

Need help starting (baclofen)

JDizzle,

I so used to identify with you and how you used to drink. I always wanted as much as I could get without drawing attention to that fact! I drank before I went (but, of course!) and most times I drank the most.

What I see in your adventure the other night is an opportunity for you to see indifference (with your dad at dinner) and habit ( at home with your friend). I think it's really cool and I congratulate you.

kronk

[JDizzle]

Need help starting (baclofen)

Well I can see why you all stress KEEP TAKING THEM!! I also don't see why anyone would say baclofen is trading one addiction for the other. That is soooo not true. You can not get addicted to this shit. It is absolutely the grossest freaking high on the planet. I would rather take mini thins everyday (cmon, there has to be other high school screw ups in here like me). The breathing thing is horrible. I don't think I am really having trouble breathing. I think I am just panicking about it and it makes me think I am not breathing good. I wake up to go smoke at night and I can barely walk and also fall asleep for 30 second intervals while I am smoking... that part's kind of funny. I wake up everyday late as hell and don't know where I am or what day it is. I am starting to get really sick of this.

I know this is a difficult thing to answer but is there a rough time frame for the looped feeling to go away?

I am absolutely an alcoholic that would hit himself in the head with a hammer every morning to not be an alcoholic anymore. So I am not totally concerned about stopping over this, but it is getting rough.

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Need help starting (baclofen)

JDizzle;1509751 wrote:
I know this is a difficult thing to answer but is there a rough time frame for the looped feeling to go away?

That depends a bit on you, actually. There are ways to manage it, and to be perfectly honest, you'll have to do that in order to keep taking the damn pills. It's just not possible to go without sleep for extended periods of time without things going awry. Ditto breathing.

So the real question is, not when, but how. Right? 'cause the sooner the better.