Baclofen advice required

[Ne/Neva Eva]

By the way, I do know that 3 days of valium, or another long-lasting benzo, is pretty standard outpatient detox in the U.S. So you're 2/3s of the way there...

From: Treatment of Alcohol Withdrawal. Drs. Myron and Anton

http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh22-1/38-43.pdf

The symptoms of AW reflect overactivity
of the autonomic nervous system,
a division of the nervous system that
helps manage the body’s response to
stress. The signs and symptoms of
AW typically appear between 6 and
48 hours after heavy alcohol consumption
decreases. Initial symptoms
may include headache, tremor, sweating,
agitation, anxiety and irritability,
nausea and vomiting, heightened
sensitivity to light and sound, disorientation,
difficulty concentrating,
and, in more serious cases, transient
hallucinations. These initial symptoms
of AW intensify and then diminish
over 24 to 48 hours.
Delirium tremens (DT’s), the most
intense and serious syndrome associated
with AW, is characterized by severe
agitation; tremor; disorientation; persistent
hallucinations; and large
increases in heart rate, breathing rate,
pulse, and blood pressure. DT’s occur
in approximately 5 percent of patients
undergoing withdrawal and usually
appear 2 to 4 days after the patient’s
last use of alcohol.

It's an NIAAA-NIH paper. Which just means it's officially official. And hopefully (but not absolutely definitely) fact-checked. Ha. (Our system is a bit FUBAR. An American term that you can google if you don't mind profanity. )

Hope you get this before you decide to have a drink just to be safe! Hang in there either way!

[Danathos]

Oh don't worry I'm in bed now and haven't had a drink even though we have plenty in the house . Yeah a lot of Brits say FUBAR too . Almost no British doctors will prescribe benzo, they'd much rather protect their careers than actually prescribe something that's necessary . to be honest I don't feel too bad for now, I don't have the shakes and I'm as calm as I normally get. Btw I think something that *lowers* seizure threshold means that it makes seizures more likely, but I could be mistaken.
I know noone here can give medical advice or instruction re: baclofen for this use but then nether can most doctors who've never heard of it being used for this. Just wanted to know how you guys did it

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Glad you abstained and you're in bed and "as calm as you get". That's great.

I thought FUBAR was a U.S. Marines thing. Or military thing in generally. Very appropriate when referring to healthcare or politics around the globe, though, not just in the U.S. HA!



There's a lot of good to be said about your healthcare system, but I still prefer ours. Of course, we actually have decent (but not great) health insurance, and we can actually afford it. We didn't have it until we were in our early 30s, and a lot of that was because we couldn't afford it. Even then, it was a hit to pay such a large percentage of our income. Anyway. This is a bad place to talk politics, religion, or healthcare. Like a polite dinner made up of people who don't know anything but the most intimate details of each other. It'd be a weird dinner, wouldn't it? That makes me grin.

And you're right about the seizure threshold thing. I get that mixed up. It's like saying I'm going to lower the AC. What I mean is that I'm actually going to turn the air conditioning UP, so that it stops putting out as much cold air. Which is backward and drives my husband crazy. However, I probably want to be a little more careful when referring to seizures. Thanks for that.

How's your stomach?

Hope tomorrow is even better.

[Danathos]

It's not too bad to be honest, thought I've just woke up from a damned night terror which didn't help it

[Mom21961]

Hi Danathos. Hope things are still going well. I think the general rule of thumb is to increase Bac 10 mg every 3 to 5 days.

[Ne/Neva Eva]

It's not too bad to be honest, thought I've just woke up from a damned night terror which didn't help it

Ugh. Sorry. Those are the worst. Although I once had sleep paralysis. Once was enough. Never, neva eva, again. It was the scariest bloody thing I have ever experienced.

I once woke up convinced that someone was at our back door, which led to the bedroom. (EDIT: This was baclofen-related bad dreams. Same thing has happened to me when I start some antidepressants.) The thing is, the door was about 6' (~2 meters) off the ground. So the person needed a ladder or was levitating. The other thing is, at the time I had two big dogs. One of whom, a black chow mix, looked like a hound guarding the gates of hell. (Sweetest dog, and dumbest, ever.) When he barked, it was scary like the worst haunted house ever. Like horror movie, Cujo, Scary. And he was a 'fraidy cat, so he barked when the wind was blowing too much.

Anyway. That probably isn't helping your night terror. Although, in retrospect, it is really, really funny. One of the things that helped me, honestly, was thinking about the funny things people on here said. Sadly, there hasn't been much to laugh at recently. If you knew Bruno, (the dog) you would laugh. Especially at the thought that anyone could be anywhere near my window or door in the middle of the night without him sounding an alarm that would raise Cain. And the fact that if the person actually entered the house, friend or foe, he'd be likely to snuggle rather than bite. Perfect guard dog, actually.

Know that I'm thinking of you, and hoping for sweet dreams for the rest of the night. Hang in there.

[Mom21961]

Baclofen dosage

I thought someone here had Baclofen prescribing guidelines in their signature and I finally tracked them down: Scribd - Read Unlimited Books. (Thanks neophyte) . You do have to download the app, but it doesn't ask you intrusive questions. You will then have to search for the article by entering 'prescribing guide for baclofen'. If you would rather not, PM me and I will copy and paste the info and send it to you.

Ne.. Loved your description about your 'Cujo'. I'm thinking that based on what you said, he's crossed the rainbow bridge? . I also have a 'Cuju' that alerts us to all incoming threats, but he only weighs 6 pounds, so I'm thinking he doesn't sound nearly as impressive

[neophyte]

hi Mom,

The link in my signature will work, you can read it like a website without downloading the link. I think that this document is the most important one someone should read when thinking about going on baclofen. It probably should get an update with the new research findings etc

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Ne.. Loved your description about your 'Cujo'. I'm thinking that based on what you said, he's crossed the rainbow bridge? . I also have a 'Cuju' that alerts us to all incoming threats, but he only weighs 6 pounds, so I'm thinking he doesn't sound nearly as impressive

Bruno, our beloved and friendly Cujo-looking mutt, was about 90lbs (~41 kg), all black, with black eyes and black lips. Very furry, too. I never could understand why people were so nervous around him until after he died. I was looking at pictures one day, and realized he was a very intimidating looking dog. I'll post a picture tomorrow. I had to order a new printer, because the other one gave up the ghost. Very annoying.

That said, when I worked in dog rescue, it was the tiny ones, and the Jack Russell Terriers, that tried to take my face off. I don't let my dogs anywhere near those little creatures with a Napoleon-complex until I have it on good authority that they're not going to attack. It would be funny, if I wasn't worried about the vet bills! (Oh, and the harm. And the blood. And all that stuff...)

Neo, thanks for posting that and for the new thread you started. I can't remember if it was you or Fred who started a new information thread, but it's time to revive or start a new one. I'll see if I can get that done on Sunday, unless someone else wants to do it.

I'm quite sure that this discussion is not at all helpful to you personally, Danathos. I could write and talk about my beloved pets all day/night long. Sorry. Hope you got some sleep and your day has started off well.

[Mom21961]

hi Mom,

The link in my signature will work, you can read it like a website without downloading the link. I think that this document is the most important one someone should read when thinking about going on baclofen. It probably should get an update with the new research findings etc

Thanks Neo. I missed the 'continue in browser' option which allows you to read the article without the app. :thumbsup: I guess it's an iPhone/iPad thing.

[Danathos]

Just looking at the prescribing guidelines at the moment. Going crazy with anxiety at the moment, feel like theres a boulder in my throat like I'm going to gag and retch all the time

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Oh no. What's going on?

[Danathos]

nothing in particular, I went out to pick up some sleeping tablets the doctor has (for once) prescribed and was going to meet a chap I met at uni who i was in my class who is a mentor for a life after addiction group but I panicked before setting off to meet him and i've been like that most of the night. at the moment its bubbling under the serface but I'm just about calm enough. the beast will be back I'm sure

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Ugh. I remember those days. I had a couple of them this summer, too.

I had invited three of my girlfriends over for dinner. I hadn't seen them in ages, since I was too depressed to take a shower, much less leave the house. About 8 hours before they were supposed to arrive, I started to panic. No real reason. Just too much, I guess. And also, I felt like there was too much to talk about in terms of myself. You know? I didn't feel like talking about my anxiety and depression, or drinking or not drinking...But what else was there to talk about?

Anyway, about 4 hours before they were going to arrive, the panic really settled in and I cancelled. They were very supportive, and I received wonderful emails from all 3 of them after the fact. And fortunately, they went out to dinner without me and had a nice time.

I'm sorry you're experiencing it now. Was there something in particular about meeting your friend? Were you able to pick up your sleep meds? Hell, sometimes I found it hard just to go to a store. Too many people and too much interaction...

Enough about me. How about you?

[Danathos]

I got the sleep meds which will hopefully make fora more peaceful night.

Hasn't the Baclofen successfully treated your anxiety as well as alcoholism though Ne? you've been on Bac a long time havent you?