Drunk by Choice?

[kronkcarr]

Drunk by Choice?

Cass,

Thank you. For me your post is spot on. After 2 or so months on bac I haven't thought of alcohol much at all. That's the point, for me, of taking bac. When I reflect back on my drinking days I realize the relief I feel now that I'm not thinking of buying alcohol or having enough alcohol on hand. It's a bigger relief than I can express in words.

Colin, I like the response you received. Thanks for the post.

[JDizzle]

Drunk by Choice?

Cass, I guess the point is (as in AA) you only really go to meetings for the newcomer. I want to give back (and brag a little). This is a forum about alcoholism so that is what we talk about... that would be my guess. I really enjoy kayaking. If I wanted to post about kayaking, I would probably join a kayaking forum. Bac apparently has numerous effects on numerous people. The effect it has had on me is relieving me from alcoholism ... whether I drink or not. So I am here to say it works and, in my case, I can safely drink on it.

I always liked the saying... I only think about drinking when I come to these damn meetings.

I agree though I thought about meetings way too much. I am so relieved to not ever have to go to those again.

[Xadrian]

Drunk by Choice?

Pretty JDazzling, the effects of Baclofen, huh?
I noticed your mood icon still says: Drunk.

Unless you consumed so much alcohol before baclofen that the effects still linger and you probably never will get sober ;-p your mood icon could use an update.

[JDizzle]

Drunk by Choice?

Yeah I thought the drunk icon was funny. If I get drunk now I bet it would be funny and not humiliating. Yes, Bac is freaking amazing. I'll change my icon... I talk enough about drinking. If I talk about drinking and have a drunk icon I may get outted

[ignominious]

Drunk by Choice?

Colin;1518840 wrote: Renaud de Beaurepaire is the author of Suppression of Alcohol Dependence Using Baclofen: A 2-Year Observational Study of 100 Patients

I recently had the following emain exchange with him:-

BEGIN ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you for your mail. You certainely reached your controlling dose, no need of testing. But baclofen does not prevent you from drinking a glass or two.
I do not mean exactly that comorbid depression makes you less amenable to baclofen treatment, Just think that depressed people often do not really want to be freed from alcohol. And do not take their medication properly.
RB




Le 21 mars 13 ? 18:53, Colin X a ?crit :

Dear Dr. de Beaurepaire,
My congratulations and thanks for your paper "Suppression of Alcohol Dependence Using Baclofen".
I am a 66 year old alcoholic with comorbid chronic depression for which I have been prescribed 40 mg per day citalopram. This had a very successful effect on the depression. April 2012 I was admitted to a Dutch clinic for a seven week alcohol treatment. Towards the end of this period I began taking baclofen and since then I have slowly titrated up to 150 mg per day, while having been teetotal, with no cravings and only marginal interest in alcohol. Sooner or later I will be testing the efficacy of baclofen by some limited drinking since I have no other way of knowing whether I have reached my "controlling dose".
In your paper you noted that alcoholics with comorbid depression were less amenable to baclofen treatment. I would appreciate any further imformation.

Yours Sincerely,
Colin X

END ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Let's raise a glass to Olivier Ameisen, Renaud de Beaurepaire and JDizzle's parade.

Nice post Colin. Though not really that surprising.

This possibly sums up my ongoing frustrations. Drink or not, life of focused serene drudgery or roller coaster in technicolor.

I am not out of control drinking but I sometimes just need a break! From my experience, moderate drinking (or should I say, binges in moderation) doesn't bade well for the future. My underlying depression disease still needs to be addressed and this is better done without a hangover.

Thanks for the post. I'm one step closer to taking something for the depression.

[Cassander]

Drunk by Choice?

JDizzle;1518860 wrote: Cass, I guess the point is (as in AA) you only really go to meetings for the newcomer. I want to give back (and brag a little). This is a forum about alcoholism so that is what we talk about... that would be my guess. ...

Hey Dizz

No problem with giving back. Whatsoever.

No problem with bragging. Mostly.

My point was...is..that on your way down (into alcohol hell), all you thought about was alcohol.

If you choose AA as your solution (and I have no problem with that...it has worked for many...even if, perhaps, it doesn't work for most) and you go to a meeting every day or several times a week, alcohol (or its absence) is still the compass around which your life revolves.

If you choose baclofen, and it works for you, and you achieve indifference, you might well be able to find yourself in a place where alcohol is not the central focus of your day (as in active addiction, aka hell) or the compass around which your day or week revolves (AA) but just another element of life that you think about a little...or more than a little... or not at all, but not as the central organizing principle of your life.

Why would you want to walk into a room a few times a week...FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE...as many oldtimers do...and announce that here you are, "Hi, I'm Dizz, I'm an alcoholic." If, in fact, you are no longer.

I know I am challenging the received wisdom. Once an alcoholic always an alcoholic. I don't think this is necessarily the right way to look at it.

Maybe, as you might say, I am just quibbling with words...

Constructively,

Cassander

[MaryGoRound]

Drunk by Choice?

The one important point to know is that there are people who have been there, done it, and are better. AA does provide a structure accessible to many people for this purpose. I will not defend AA as the most optimized program (it clearly needs updating). What is helpful for people who start (or are thinking of starting) on the journey out of alcoholic hell is for people who have experienced severe alcohol problems to share their stories. Some people in AA are truly concerned that if they do not come to the meetings they will "fall" but many others are there for the primary purpose of helping newcomers.

I think some of the old timers on this site offer their own stories and support as related to baclofen. Their efforts truly give comfort to those just starting out. Cass, I put you in that category.

I love the name of this site "My Way Out." It is empowering to know that you can chart your own path! The point is empowerment. We should not disparage others who have chosen a different path. What is important is to provide positive examples of success with baclofen while not sugar coating some of the problems. It just does not work for everyone but it has worked for many.

[JDizzle]

Drunk by Choice?

Cassander;1519143 wrote:
Constructively,

Cassander
I got a kick out of that. Good stuff. I think neither of us really gets what the other is saying. I would say we can agree to disagree, but I think we may be agreeing already. I don't know... I'm lost. I have to accept my own limitations here. I'm not in AA anymore and have no desire to go back. I just think it really helped me cleaning up my past so now after AA I take baclofen and I'm not all doom and gloom. Life is awesome now. I'm free from the bondage of self (part from bac and part from past AA).

Anyways I really agree with ur earlier quote...

Cassander;1519143 wrote:
JDizzle is the coolest person ever ever.

:thanks: hahahaha.

[Cassander]

Drunk by Choice?

JDizzle;1519304 wrote: And that Cassander guy rocks!

Urs 2 Dizman!

Cass