Baclofen Blues

[Spellbound]

How long does this last.

This is my 2nd time past the switch on Baclofen - 1st was a year ago but I titrated down quickly and started drinking again.

I made the switch at 240 on May 21, although I went to 260 for a week. Haven't had any alcohol since then. I'd titrated up pretty quickly from the beginning of April - and I'm currently on maintenance of 140.

I've never really suffered from depression before, although a bit of circumstantial anxiety (death in family, loss of job - not drink-related - etc). At that time I was on medication, but only for 6 months or so (didn't like the removal from reality, not dealing with the circumstances that were making me anxious and the weight-gain).

But this past 3 weeks I've had such a gloom of depression. Over what I've done with my life and where I am now. The SE have also always been worst for me when titrating down - very little physical motivation to go to the gym, to keep on top of my work and I cannot stay awake in the eves. I've also gained a lot of weight on Baclofen as I did last time - in fact that's why I titrated down quickly the previous time so as to lose the weight, which I did. Also that time I had gum disease from decreased saliva levels caused by baclofen, which luckily didn't happen to the same extent this time around (a bit at my lower current dose).

So generally, no additional spare time yet vs when I was drinking. I am doing more reading on my commute and hoping that I'll have lots of spare time for other hobbies once I beat the general lethargy, sleepiness etc.

Very glad to not be drinking but generally in a very unhappy place - moreso than when I was drinking.

[Lostinspace]

Baclofen Blues

Hi Spellbound. Depression is, unfortunately, a very common experience when people stop drinking. You just hit your switch on May 21st, so you haven't been sober for all that long. And the downward titration, along with the decreased motivation and tiredness you're having because of it, would only make this worse.

I don't have much to say about how long this might last for you, but please know that it WILL pass eventually. And try to be kind to yourself. Focusing too much on the past, and how you've gotten to the place in life that you're at, will only keep you locked into a gloomy mindset.

We've all made a mess of our lives in different ways, but now have the opportunity to turn that around. Reflecting on lessons learned and what to do differently in the future can be helpful to a point. But mentally flogging yourself and dwelling on those mistakes will only keep you miserable and stuck.

Anyway, I'm sorry I don't have the best advice for you, but I hope you start to feel better soon. Hang in there.

[CaptnHaddock]

Baclofen Blues

Haven't had the chance to be at your level ("switch") -- be glad you've attained it!

Depression as you experience it is tough because you're sober. Depression when you're drinking doesn't hit you as much because you drink to evade it, but it's there nonetheless, drinking merely camouflages it (and actually makes it worse as time goes by).

You're on your way to a better life, hang tight!

[Spellbound]

Baclofen Blues

thank you both. and yes for putting it into perspective. It's great to be not be drinking. Having read Ne's thread yesterday, it also does seem that titrating down can put you in a flunk. And as I say, thinking of the time/years wasted on drinking.

[neophyte]

Baclofen Blues

took a good 2-3 months for my brain to right itself after daily drinking large amounts

[Spellbound]

Baclofen Blues

ah. that's good to know. how long have you been alcohol-free?

[spiritwolf333]

Baclofen Blues

Hi Spell, research PAWS (Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome)

Post-Acute Withdrawal Symptoms - Relapse Prevention Strategies

as follows:

PAWS:
Post-acute withdrawal feels like a rollercoaster of symptoms.

The most common post-acute withdrawal symptoms are:
•Mood swings
•Anxiety
•Irritability
•Tiredness
•Variable energy
•Low enthusiasm
•Variable concentration
•Disturbed sleep


In the beginning, your symptoms will change minute to minute and hour to hour. Later as you recover further they will disappear for a few weeks or months only to return again. As you continue to recover the good stretches will get longer and longer. But the bad periods of post-acute withdrawal can be just as intense and last just as long.

Each post-acute withdrawal episode usually last for a few days. Once you've been in recovery for a while, you will find that each post-acute withdrawal episode usually lasts for a few days. There is no obvious trigger for most episodes. You will wake up one day feeling irritable and have low energy. If you hang on for just a few days, it will lift just as quickly as it started.

After a while you'll develop confidence that you can get through post-acute withdrawal, because you'll know that each episode is time limited.