Campral ... Sober 7 years

[Skinned Knees]

I've been going through threads and reading about Baclofen. I had to take it for back spasms and checked Webmd and it doesn't say anything about off label prescribing. I stopped taking it because it was causing depression. I'm bipolar and am medicated for it. Campral, on the other hand, is a drug specifically for people that are alcohol dependent.

My story ... I had a really bad drinking problem that was escalating to alarming proportions. I tried to stop drinking many times on my own, but always went back to it. It was my drug of choice. I wasn't taking my bipolar meds correctly so that I could drink. I wasted so many days of my life nursing hangovers. I could never stay in a relationship for very long. Drinking was ruining my life. I have a daughter who was young at the time and I never did much with her because it would interfere with my drinking. How selfish is that???!!

I came onto this forum many years ago looking for help. I just couldn't stop. There are so many nice people here that showed me compassion and understanding. Finally, I said enough!!! I wanted to get well so that I could enjoy the rest of my life. I knew I couldn't move forward until I stopped drinking. I finally came clean to my psychiatrist. He prescribed Campral. I couldn't take it for longer than 3 weeks because it gave me really bad diarrhea (sorry for the TMI). But because I was able to take it for the 3 weeks, I broke the cycle. I still struggle with bipolar, but I am no longer drinking. I have been sober for 7 years and will never go back to it. I wasted too much of my life.

I really hope that some people will try it. Talk to your doctor. It really does take the cravings away. I never could have become sober without it.

SK :heartbeat:

[YouKayBee]

Hi Skinned Knees

I'm sure I recognise your name. I'm also glad you found a way out. Campral did nothing for me, I took it whilst AF often for several weeks at a time but always relapsed.

I'm glad it worked for you x

One thing I would question is do you actually know that Campral was originally intended for use with alcohol? The reason I ask is that many, many meds are discovered when actually formulating or being used for something else. Last time I checked, Drs weren't even sure how Campral worked.

[Skinned Knees]

One thing I would question is do you actually know that Campral was originally intended for use with alcohol?

Yes, it is solely used for alcohol cravings. I'm sorry it didn't work for you. Everybody's chemistry is different. I would definitely recommend trying it first before trying Topomax and Baclofen. So many don't realize that Topomax is an anti-depressant but can have the exact opposite effect if someone is taking it that isn't depressed. It really concerns me when I read so many posts of people using these drugs that aren't prescribed by their doctor.

SK

[YouKayBee]

Yes, it is solely used for alcohol cravings. I'm sorry it didn't work for you. Everybody's chemistry is different. I would definitely recommend trying it first before trying Topomax and Baclofen. So many don't realize that Topomax is an anti-depressant but can have the exact opposite effect if someone is taking it that isn't depressed. It really concerns me when I read so many posts of people using these drugs that aren't prescribed by their doctor.

SK

That's not what I meant, was Campral made up be used for alcohol cravings ie pharmacists set off to develop an anti-craving drug and using science came up with Campral?

[Skinned Knees]

That's not what I meant, was Campral made up be used for alcohol cravings ie pharmacists set off to develop an anti-craving drug and using science came up with Campral?

I can't answer that question, but because it is solely used for alcohol cravings, I would assume it was..

[Spiritfree]

Huge Congrats!

I've been going through threads and reading about Baclofen. I had to take it for back spasms and checked Webmd and it doesn't say anything about off label prescribing. I stopped taking it because it was causing depression. I'm bipolar and am medicated for it. Campral, on the other hand, is a drug specifically for people that are alcohol dependent.

My story ... I had a really bad drinking problem that was escalating to alarming proportions. I tried to stop drinking many times on my own, but always went back to it. It was my drug of choice. I wasn't taking my bipolar meds correctly so that I could drink. I wasted so many days of my life nursing hangovers. I could never stay in a relationship for very long. Drinking was ruining my life. I have a daughter who was young at the time and I never did much with her because it would interfere with my drinking. How selfish is that???!!

I came onto this forum many years ago looking for help. I just couldn't stop. There are so many nice people here that showed me compassion and understanding. Finally, I said enough!!! I wanted to get well so that I could enjoy the rest of my life. I knew I couldn't move forward until I stopped drinking. I finally came clean to my psychiatrist. He prescribed Campral. I couldn't take it for longer than 3 weeks because it gave me really bad diarrhea (sorry for the TMI). But because I was able to take it for the 3 weeks, I broke the cycle. I still struggle with bipolar, but I am no longer drinking. I have been sober for 7 years and will never go back to it. I wasted too much of my life.

I really hope that some people will try it. Talk to your doctor. It really does take the cravings away. I never could have become sober without it.

SK :heartbeat:

Well done! 7 Years. There is still a patent pending relative to the mixture of Baclofen and Campral: https://www.mywayout.org/community/me...kers-help.html

[needtochange]

So glad it worked for you. it really did nothing for me I am now on AB......and it works.

[YouKayBee]

I can't answer that question, but because it is solely used for alcohol cravings, I would assume it was..

Sorry for labouring a point.

It may surprise you then to hear that many medications were not discovered or created as the result of setting out to treat a particular problem. Many medications, including many for mental health/psychiatric use are not based on any particular science, the mechanism of action is often speculated afterwards. For example Prozac is used to treat depression, acting on serotonin in the brain yet no one knows how much serotonin is required in the brain, and the dosage is based on guess work observations of "we gave this much to people and they felt better, we gave a lower dose and they didn't feel better".

The reason I'm arguing this is that I have not seen anything which shows that Campral was developed as the result of wanting to find a drug to help with alcohol cravings, most Drs can't tell you exactly how it works, and as such it's not much different to accidentally discovering that baclofen and naltrexone have a use with alcohol.

Neuropsychopharmacology - Acamprosate: An Alcoholism Treatment That May Not Be What We Thought

They don't actually know how it works.

[Skinned Knees]

I understand what you are saying. I was simply suggesting using Campral as a jumping off point because it is solely used for alcohol cravings. It worked for me and I hope that it will work for others. There are many different ways to sobriety which is why I love this site.

I am very informative on psychiatric medications simply because I have been battling bipolar for 13 years. I have researched many hours and worked with my psychiatrist in finding the best cocktail of meds for me. Again, I would NEVER try any of the meds that I am on without my doctor's care. Psychiatric meds are very powerful and no one should ever take them without their doctors' knowledge.

Many meds are trial and error. What works for some may not work for others.

My concern is that many of the people on this forum are using baclofen and topomax without written prescriptions and without guidance from their doctor. I hope that it works for them, but I would suggest talking to their doctor about it first.

I don't mind a good debate. :friendly_wink:

[YouKayBee]

I understand what you are saying. I was simply suggesting using Campral as a jumping off point because it is solely used for alcohol cravings. It worked for me and I hope that it will work for others. There are many different ways to sobriety which is why I love this site.

I am very informative on psychiatric medications simply because I have been battling bipolar for 13 years. I have researched many hours and worked with my psychiatrist in finding the best cocktail of meds for me. Again, I would NEVER try any of the meds that I am on without my doctor's care. Psychiatric meds are very powerful and no one should ever take them without their doctors' knowledge.

Many meds are trial and error. What works for some may not work for others.

My concern is that many of the people on this forum are using baclofen and topomax without written prescriptions and without guidance from their doctor. I hope that it works for them, but I would suggest talking to their doctor about it first.

I don't mind a good debate. :friendly_wink:

My TSM Naltrexone was obtained from a Dr who I saw, and who wrote a prescription.

[Skinned Knees]

My TSM Naltrexone was obtained from a Dr who I saw, and who wrote a prescription.

That's good, but there are many here that are obtaining them from Canada where they don't need a prescription.

[Spiritfree]

Important Information - Advice

I understand what you are saying. I was simply suggesting using Campral as a jumping off point because it is solely used for alcohol cravings. It worked for me and I hope that it will work for others. There are many different ways to sobriety which is why I love this site.

I am very informative on psychiatric medications simply because I have been battling bipolar for 13 years. I have researched many hours and worked with my psychiatrist in finding the best cocktail of meds for me. Again, I would NEVER try any of the meds that I am on without my doctor's care. Psychiatric meds are very powerful and no one should ever take them without their doctors' knowledge.

Many meds are trial and error. What works for some may not work for others.

My concern is that many of the people on this forum are using baclofen and topomax without written prescriptions and without guidance from their doctor. I hope that it works for them, but I would suggest talking to their doctor about it first.

I don't mind a good debate. :friendly_wink:

Hi Skinned Knees -Thank you to the utmost for making this post. I do not think that most people understand how incredibly complicated AUD is and how very frustrating it is to solve for all who are involved -from those who afflicted with the disease (and underlying causes), to the families involved, to the scientists and doctors, to many others.

Your advice about seeking medical oversight during the attempt to try any medication for AUD or other neurological/mental disorders is extremely important. Too often, too many people who suffer from AUD only think that they have an alcohol problem -especially in the beginning of their acknowledgement of needing/having to quit drinking.

Skinned, for you to post such very helpful information on this site after 7 years of sobriety is a true gift to all of us on this site -both old and new comers. Your points are valid, meaningful, straightforward, and non offensive. You 'tell it like it 'is' and offer the fact that there are varying routes to alcohol freedom but Campral was what worked for you.

Again, thank you on my behalf of me and on the behalf of others who may read your information and find a way out for themselves.

--sf--

[Skinned Knees]

Thank you for the kind words Spiritfree. I know how hard it is to finally break free from alcohol addiction. It's a fight and sometimes you fall to your knees, but never stop fighting. I hit some pretty low times. I was trying to battle my bipolar depression with alcohol. It was escalating to alarming proportions. Finally, I had enough. I really wanted to get well and knew that the bipolar meds would never work as long as I kept drinking. That was my "ah ha" moment and I never looked back.

I rarely have a drink these days, but when I do, it's only one. I no longer crave the high. I used to think that drinking just one drink was a waste. Now I enjoy that one drink. The last time I had one was almost a year ago. I would much rather drink Coke LOL ...

I sincerely hope that everyone on this forum and even in the world that wants to get well finds their way out. Keep on fighting. It's worth it.

[Spiritfree]

Skinned Knees (in my case -broken knees), I just do not think that many of us truly realize that our alcohol addiction disorder is only second in line to our primary disorder(s). There are several medications, including Baclofen, to address the AUD disorder, but we all must find our own (hopefully with help) answers to our underlying causes/reasons that lead to the AUD disorder.

To resolve a compulsion to drink disorder without resolving the underlying symptoms only leads one to the irrational thought process that they are 'indifferent' to alcohol and all is ok, but this thought process eventually ends up causing them/us more harm than good -and of course, this is only my opinion.

--sf--

[Molly78]

Alcoholism is a disease in its own right. If you had diabetes no one would be telling you that once you've treated it with insulin you need to sort out why your pancreas packed up.

Many on this forum have comorbid conditions. If you do have depression, bipolar, OCD then of course you need to seek help for those conditions. Fortunately the western world, especially the US, is full of psychiatrists who are more than willing to diagnose & treat you, so yes, seek help. But please don't infer that every ex-alcoholic has some deep seated "problem" underlying their alcoholism, some sort of "spiritual malaise" - this brings us to the AA philosophy which so many people here reject, or have tried & found not to work.

As for not taking anti-alcohol meds without the supervision of a doctor - you only have to read the posts here to realise that most of us cannot find a doctor willing to prescribe anything at all for alcoholism. Most people are simply directed by their so-called "addiction specialist" to AA. And so we go around in circles.

THAT is the reason people order their meds online & treat themselves - not from some perverse desire to outsmart the medical profession or do it on the cheap.

I'm not posting this to get into a discussion with spiritfree who has his own warped agenda for promoting the fact that baclofen is not the answer &, everyone must have a doctor. I suspect there are market forces driving this - after all, if every alcoholic treated themselves with a cheap & simple drug like baclofen, a lot of doctors & expensive rehab facilities would go out of business. I'm posting in case this sort of discussion puts newbies off treating themselves.

So don't bother to reply to me sf becuaue I'm not interested.