Baclofen and depression?

[Dr.Dre]

Hi all,

:new: and I have some questions regarding Baclofen and depression/anxiety.
I'm living in the Netherlands, but on the Dutch forums they couldn't help me and the clinic which prescribes the Bac also can't help me because they only use it to get people of alcohol. (Other related problems as anxiety disorder or depression isn't something they deal with) So I'm really hoping you could give me some advise!

I'm using Baclofen since 24 April and I stopped drinking alcohol on 9 June.
But I'm also taking Baclofen to lessen my depression/disphoria. (As also described by Dr. Ameisen.) Since I have started taking it I have had fantastic days, but also really terrible days. Every time I change my dose (certainly when I increase) I'm unstable for a few days till weeks. This get's worse when the doses becomes higher. They highest dose I've took is 120 milligrams a day. I was feeling really low and depressed for at least three weeks when taking 120 milligrams (3x40), then it became bearable.

I'm suffering from seasonal depressions (winterdepression) for years, but the last few years it lasts longer, even throughout the whole year now. As Dr. Ameisen and Dr. Phillip Thomas both are saying that Baclofen also helps with anxiety disorders, I was hoping it would also help with my depression/disphoria.

Are there people here that have suffered the same? What have you done to stabilise your mood/lessen your anxiety/depression? Which dose are you taking?

I've read both Dr. Ameisen book and Dr. Thomas' Handbook and one of the things they are saying is that Baclofen can help with this problems, but also that the way it works on low doses can be totally the opposite of how it works on high doses.

I've changed my doses a few times (after at least a week, but mostly after weeks) in the hope to find the right dose for me. So far no good
I'm taking 8x10 milligram now for a few days (according to Dr. Thomas you benefit more from more small doses and will have less side effects) and yesterday was my worst day since taking Bac.

Now I'm wondering would it be better to increase the doses or take less or just take the same dose for months? I really would appreciate it if I could talk to some one who has experienced the same and who could tell me what they have done...

Kind regards,

Dr.Dre (just a nick, I'm no doctor myself or rapper ;-))

[Otter]

Baclofen and depression?

Hi

My wife was on Baclofen for a few years but eventually added Mirtazapine and is now feeling great. She suffered from severe anxiety and depression and was on Fluoxetine which seemed to make things much worse. Her GP switched her to Mirtazapine, 45 mg a day, 30 morning and 15 at night and she has been fine since then which is over a year now.

The mechanism of mirtazapine is different from SSRI's which don't increase serotonin. Baclofen does calm anxiety but depression is related to serotonin deficiency. SSRI's don't increase serotonin so for many people they are ineffecative. Mirtazapine acts on the serotonin receptor, don't ask me how but it seems to be very effective.

[rangiatea]

Baclofen and depression?

I have taken Paxil-a SSRI years ago,and was not effective.Withwardals similar to Benzos but milder(took less).Never tried Mirta and other antidepressents. Baclofen is effective for anxiety but in lower dose(for me).High dose baclofen seem anxiogenic even hallucinogenic. So I stick with low dose10mg 3-4 x daily. and curbs anxiety and craving,but I overdosed bac almost 2 years and had insane closed and open visuals,dissocation(derealization,depersonlization ) and fast mood change.Never taken HDB after that,nor any other hallucinogenic,except for a few mild shroom trips(much better than a baclofen trip),Otter, I hope u enjoy the sun and warmth in Turkey.I live in Washington State .Best summer ever.Otherwise theweather is UK like for the rest of the year-endless rain,cold ,clouds-that is depressing-more do those with seasonal depression.

[flyer]

Baclofen and depression?

I do here good things about Mirtazapine which as an old drug is pretty safe. I've even heard of some getting help and very small doses. I've tied it for sleep which helps well. I'm sorry I can't help with depression. Maybe a benzo to take care of anxiety. I'd recommend Diazepam over Xanax to be honest. It has helped me when using TDB. The anxiety got too much in the end though.

Good luck

[Vitriol]

Baclofen and depression?

Anxiety is the main reason I'm trying Baclofen. The only other thing that reduces my natural high stress-levels is alcohol. Last few years I drank very little, except for 2 monthly extreme binges.
I think it works after building up for 2 weeks now to 80mg. Feel calmer. Can't tell if it works against binges .....i don't use it to fight daily cravings.

To early to come to conclusions

[greenjaybird]

Baclofen and depression?

Hi Dr. Dre and others using Baclofen by itself for depression and not feeling better (enough),

I'm very surprised that your docs have you on Baclofen alone (I can't speak to its efficacy against drinking problems, that's not an issue for me). If you have a straight-up anxiety problem, then it might be enough (also can't speak to that, because I have other issues as well), but it hasn't been found effective as an anti-depression med alone, only as part of a cocktail, the other ingredients depending on your own chemistry. But yeah, don't feel bad that it's not lifting the depression by itself, it's not going to. For more details on what it works for, the administrator of the Care Cure Community (out of Rutgers University) did a detailed search of the literature, you can read his summary and sources on this page at sci. rutgers. edu slash forum slash showthread dot php?172599-baclofen-and-psych-problems. His is the sixth post down, his moniker is Wise Young.

I have a combination of depression (with just a touch of bipolar), anxiety, ADD & OCD (lions, tigers, bears, oh my!). I've taken more drugs than I can remember during the last couple of decades, and am currently taking 40 mg. of vilazodone for depression, 300 of lamotrigine as a mood-stabilizer, and 20 of baclofen for the anxiety that isn't dampened by the lamotrigine alone (I was on 40 but backed down to 20, I can't remember why anymore!). I had lowered the vilazodone to 30 mg--I wanted to see if I'd be okay on less--I imagine everyone would prefer that whenever possible--but after a couple of months I started down the slippery slope, went back to 40 and have been okay since.

Since it's been 9 months since this was an active topic, I imagine everyone has moved on but I thought my two cents might be of value for others seeing this later.

Palladium, I'm curious as to whether you went back on tianeptine since the Baclofen wasn't working for you.

Thanks all, for sharing your experiences so everyone can benefit.

[neophyte]

Baclofen and depression?

I'm a long term suffer of anxiety (GAD and social anxiety), with depression sprinkled in. I had hope when I started baclofen it would cure my anxiety, sadly it did not.

I was already taking zoloft for 10 years (SSRI) but i added in Mirtazapine and had excellent results, it completely resolved my GAD and I could finally sleep like a normal person. My psychiatrist is now trying me on effexor + mirtazapine (SNRI) to see if that helps with my social anxiety.

Mirtazapine can actually work in synergy with SSRIs or effexor. Have a look at these combos.

Heroic combos | Psycho-Babble

[Samandkatharine]

Baclofen and depression?

I have had depression and anxiety off and on my whole life. At first baclofen helped with both issues, but I have been battling both for roughly 6'weeks. I have Ativan to use prn but it doesn't help. Prozac is making it worse, so I'm seeking the help of a psychiatrist to help figure this out. I'm only on 60mg of baclofen and indifferent, so maybe being sober is creating the anxiety I was hiding by drinking.

Some on this forum think baclofen is an effective AD. It was for me at first but now it's not at all.

Sam

[Calikime]

Baclofen and depression?

neophyte;1667170 wrote: I'm a long term suffer of anxiety (GAD and social anxiety), with depression sprinkled in. I had hope when I started baclofen it would cure my anxiety, sadly it did not.

I was already taking zoloft for 10 years (SSRI) but i added in Mirtazapine and had excellent results, it completely resolved my GAD and I could finally sleep like a normal person. My psychiatrist is now trying me on effexor + mirtazapine (SNRI) to see if that helps with my social anxiety.

Mirtazapine can actually work in synergy with SSRIs or effexor. Have a look at these combos.

Heroic combos | Psycho-Babble

Neophyte,
Are you tired during the day with taking Mirtazapine? My psychiatrist recently put me on Effexor and I asked about Mirtazapine prior to this new doctor with my GP. she said it was very sedating and didn't recommend it for me, so I didn't bother asking the psych about it. I know it helps with sleep at night, but how does it make you feel during the day? I am still on 100 mgs of baclofen so I get really tired in the evening from it. I am titrating down still but doing it very slowly, so I don't know where I will end up with my maintenance dose.

Also, I am new to the idea of combining two different AD's together. Do they somehow compliment each other and therefore have a better overall effect on anxiety and depression? I know I PM'd you about this, but wouldn't mind an update. I see my psychiatrist this week for a follow up.

Otter, you also said your wife takes Mirtazapine. How does she feel during the day?

Thanks.