Announcement

**SugarAddict** · November 11, 2014, 08:40 PM

I should mention that my doctor doesn't want to go above 80 mg of baclofen for me and I doubt I will convince her otherwise. I also don't have much energy. I'm very tired, even before the baclofen. One thing I like about this drug is that it helps me sleep and I think it might be helping me w/my anxiety, of which I have a LOT of. Currently, my anxiety is about the Balofen, no joke. I had a terribly hard time convincing the doctor to prescribe it to me, but now I got the 80 mg script and I sure hope it will take away my terrible cravings for sugar/junk food. I'm so scared it Won't though. I have a hard time w/my fear. Nothing has ever worked for me. The baclofen Does seem to numb me to the drive to binge. I hope it lasts!

**Lostinspace** · November 12, 2014, 06:06 PM

Hi SugarAddict :welcome: I'm happy to hear that the bac is helping at least a little bit to decrease the drive to binge. It takes a lot of courage to post what you did, on a forum for alcoholics, so I applaud you. I can relate to your struggle. While I'm taking baclofen to help with alcohol cravings, I have also battled bulimia, off and on, since my early teens, and was an overeater in general, my entire life before that. Drinking has been the far bigger problem. But in the past, whenever I attempted a period of sobriety, I pretty much immediately reverted to binging and purging, which was my initial addiction.

That was not the case this time. Baclofen has worked wonders for me as far as relieving me of the impulse to binge eat. I'm still in the process of titrating up to find the right dose to obliterate the alcohol cravings, but the drive to binge eat has been (mostly) absent during all of my drinking-free stretches so far. And to be quite honest, the only times when I did have an urge to binge eat was when I was stoned and had a major case of the munchies! So take heart - there's hope

There's actually some research that shows that it can help for exactly that problem.

Your very fast titration undoubtedly has a lot to do with why you're having such a difficult time tolerating the side effects. I would definitely slow down from here on out. I know the temptation to go up quickly is strong, but success with baclofen is a product of both a high enough dose AND enough time on bac. Give your body a chance to adjust.

Unfortunately, there's no way to say what dose you'll need. It really is quite individual, but you'll know you're at the right dose when you get there, IF you give yourself a chance and go up slowly. Otherwise, you might end up overshooting the mark, and going up to a higher dose than you really need.

Also, I know the idea of supplementing your prescription with an online purchase is not ideal, but it might be needed. Wait and see. I get 160 mg from my doctor, but I eventually had to admit that I needed more, so I recently purchased from River Pharmacy, and am continuing to titrate up. Think of it this way - buying online is much more expensive than getting pills through your insurance, but binge food is also expensive. If this gives you a shot at freedom from your addiction, then it's worth it. As I'm sure you know, there's no money value on that - freedom from craving is true freedom. Good luck to you!

**SugarAddict** · November 12, 2014, 06:21 PM

Thanks for the replies, everyone.
Lostinspace, you wrote:
"But in the past, whenever I attempted a period of sobriety, I pretty much immediately reverted to binging and purging, which was my initial addiction."
I have heard of this. The book by Dr. Ameisen (spelling might be wrong) said that all addictions spring from the same source. I've heard of alcoholics turning to junk food when they go sober. I also think I would have a big problem w/alcohol if I tried it to any real degree. I have heard that many fat people do not drink at all - we eat a lot of junk food though - it's a terrible craving and devastates health - but we don't have to deal with breaking the law. Also, the mind is usually fairly clear when bingeing. A numbness sets in, but not actual drunkenness. I agree w/you that I need to scale back on the baclofen. I am going to just do 40 mg and see how that is.
I hope I don't have to order online, but if I do, thanks for mentioning River Pharmacy, I will check it out right now.
So, anyway, it seems like this forum is not for me, I don't want to make anyone uncomfortable or seem to make light of Their addiction to alcohol. I could have been you - my mother had trouble with alcohol - but then she turned to junk food. I just bypassed the booze and went straight for the snack cakes. It's truly devasted my health. I have tried to fight this for over 30 years, w/no real success. I have hope for Baclofen.

Also - I heard Baclofen can cause sexual dysfunction. If anyone knows about this, please let me know. Thanks!

**SugarAddict** · November 12, 2014, 06:26 PM

Son-of-Fred,
I really can't give up the diet soda. The baclofen helps w/the insane cravings I have for cakes, candies, ice cream, etc, anything terribly sweet and filled with fat, but I can't really quit the diet soda yet. Not sure if I ever will be able to. But I get what you are saying about the body expecting something sweet. I wonder if the thing to do is drink diet soda w/some food? Also, I notice that my cravings for salty foods (pretzels, chips) and simple carbs (pasta) are fairly strong, even on Baclofen, but I don't binge on those, so, I have to take my victories where I can find them. When one is fat, there is a very strong stigma to it that one, Literally, cannot hide. It's not a fun way to be, at all, but I have empathy for All addicts. I know we All suffer a Great Deal and society judges All of us.

**Lostinspace** · November 12, 2014, 08:09 PM

Hey SugarAddict. I'm sorry you don't have a lot of answers here, as a whole. Feel free to PM me any time. I understand more than you think I do. In any case, I wish you the best :hug:

**StuckInCA** · November 12, 2014, 09:27 PM

I dunno. The artificial sweeteners really are a problem of their own. Maybe try a soda with actual cane sugar in them? Not corn syrup, but real sugar? They are expensive and not all that easy to find, and who knows maybe even worse for weight issues.

It might be something to try, though. Maybe you'll feel more satisfied by real sugar. If not, you can always go back to diet soda. I know I drank a shitload of soda in my teens before I found liquor.

Self-prescribing is stressful, no doubt about that. But bac is safe. Don't go up too fast. Don't change doses too fast. Otherwise it is safe. That's about it from me at the moment. Good luck.

**summerglow** · November 14, 2014, 10:06 AM

Well quite new here and just on Baclofen for the 2nd time...long story... anyway, when I cut out the booze, I have to eat tons of chocolate(still lose weight)..lat night, I took my chocolate fix to bed as that's where I eat it. I had it .....amazingly I had no desire to have another which is unusual for me......maybe this will help me more.....I won't know until further down the line..... Keep you posted...

Well done to you so far....

**SugarAddict** · November 22, 2014, 08:58 PM

Update: I've been on 40 mg of Baclofen since I wrote this thread. Today I titrated up to 45 mg. So far, my cravings for binge food, which have always been Extremely Intense, have been very blunted. This drug Really works!!!! I see my cravings for binge food as no different than what an alcoholic or drug addict goes through. I'm very Happy w/Baclofen, so far! I am keeping my fingers crossed that 80 mg or Less of Baclofen will Permanently keep cravings away. Being a compulsive binger is it's own form of HELL.

Welcome Guest to My Way Out Forums.

Announcement

80 mg Baclofen Enough?

80 mg Baclofen Enough?

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment