My baclofen journey

[Mentium]

We are all our own experimental subjects here I suppose but for what it is worth 'coming down' with bac can be done rather more swiftly than going up. My experience anyway.

Hope things work out for you Nicnak.

Hi all X
Re titrating down,I'm afraid I broke all the rules and went from 270 to zero in about 2 weeks but I think I'm in the minority who can do it so don't do as I did!

[Mentium]

Hello all. I think I will abandon this thread now. I'm still here, still sober and still doing OK, but I have been off the baclofen for a while now. Personally I feel better for it as it happens. I will join in the general chat now and again though. I'm also active on a SMART related forum, so there's plenty to keep me busy.

An interesting and enlightening 'journey'. One I would do again if I ever had to, with a tad more medical support. I hope I don't have to and I also hope baclofen gets the attention is really deserves from the so called experts.

Have a good weekend. Hope if isn't too snowy on the east coast of the USA!

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Mentium, I tried to send you a PM, but your box is full!

Let me know if you make room!

[Mentium]

Cleared out now. Didn't realise I had so many!

[Mentium]

Hello all. I posted earlier that I was going to abandon this thread as I was no longer taking baclofen, but as it is the main place I have posted about my progress or otherwise I thought I would post a quick update.

It is a few weeks now since I last drank. I've had time to ponder the impact or influence baclofen had in my stopping and I think on balance it was more influential than I gave it credit for at the time. The ease with which I actually stopped drinking was surprising and helped a lot to stay off the booze that first few days. So something was happening I have concluded which influenced my desire to drink. The fact that I was also feeling pretty awful was also a big motivator of course.

I'm posting and doing online meetings and a forum with SMART these days. It is a very helpful approach and I recommend it, though it is of course abstinence based.

I stay with this forum because I have made some friends here but also because unlike tradional abstinence related forums people aren't treated like dirt if they are drinking or lapse or whatever. There is a strong humane and compassionate sense here, despite the disruptive and sociopathic element that spoils things at times.

However not to dwell on the negative! I'm doing ok though currently a bit post withdrawal and rather flat emotionally. Better than a more or less perpetual hangover! Take care all! Good luck with your personal way out!

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Menty, I'm glad to hear that you are doing so well. The early days can be a tough time. I'm really, really glad that you have a support group where you can post and share your experiences. The research shows that it can make or break someone's goals (whether that's exercise or dieting or quitting anything! Really!).

Glad you're sticking around here, too. It makes a big difference. And as you know, we aren't very exclusive...

It's an incredible thing to not be judged for drinking. I wrote this on another thread, up in the GD area, but I'll share it here, too. My first sponsor in AA, more than 20 years ago, always embraced the drunk people that showed up to meetings. His thinking was that it was the best place for a drunk to be, you know? He was also confused about the judgment in the rooms when people didn't or couldn't abstain since the very definition of addiction is relapse despite best intentions and terrible consequences.

Anyway. His thoughts and philosophy framed mine, as did AA in many ways, since I was in and out of the rooms for so long.

Also, I think people often underestimate the power of baclofen when they quit drinking quickly. Keep it in mind, should you (heaven forbid) need it again. (Remember the definition... just sayin'. Not that I think you will relapse or don't wish you the absolute best in the world! You know I do.)