Campral ... Sober 7 years

[Skinned Knees]

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.

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 stand by my posts. People should not be taking baclofen nor topomax without the supervision from a doctor. If there is research from reputable sources regarding those drugs, take it to your doctor and have a discussion about it and ask to give it a try. If your doctor says "no", then find a doctor who will say yes. Then you would be under the supervision of a doctor.

There are times to be "cheap", but taking these medications without the supervision of a doctor is not one of them. Did you know that Baclofen can cause depression? I found this out when I tried it for my back. I thought I needed a bump up on my anti-depressant until I looked it up online and found out that one of the side effects is that it can cause depression. If someone is suffering from depression, which is one of the reasons why people drink, then you're giving yourself a double whammy in the depression department.

I googled "is alcoholism genetic" and there is a site that comes up. It's information from the NIAAA. For some reason, when I try to provide the link it comes up "page not found". For those that might be interested, just google it. It's the second site down.

Your post is full of suppositions and misconceptions not to mention a heavy dose of sarcasm. We are having an intelligent debate. I love a good debate because then I might learn something new. If you would like to continue with the debate, leave the sarcasm at the door.

SK

[Spiritfree]

I stand by my posts. People should not be taking baclofen nor topomax without the supervision from a doctor. If there is research from reputable sources regarding those drugs, take it to your doctor and have a discussion about it and ask to give it a try. If your doctor says "no", then find a doctor who will say yes. Then you would be under the supervision of a doctor.

There are times to be "cheap", but taking these medications without the supervision of a doctor is not one of them. Did you know that Baclofen can cause depression? I found this out when I tried it for my back. I thought I needed a bump up on my anti-depressant until I looked it up online and found out that one of the side effects is that it can cause depression. If someone is suffering from depression, which is one of the reasons why people drink, then you're giving yourself a double whammy in the depression department.

I googled "is alcoholism genetic" and there is a site that comes up. It's information from the NIAAA. For some reason, when I try to provide the link it comes up "page not found". For those that might be interested, just google it. It's the second site down.

Your post is full of suppositions and misconceptions not to mention a heavy dose of sarcasm. We are having an intelligent debate. I love a good debate because then I might learn something new. If you would like to continue with the debate, leave the sarcasm at the door.

SK

Hi Skinned Knees - Again, thank you for your posts and especially this post.

Baclofen Prescription and Medical Supervision: I am 100% in agreement with only taking Baclofen/Topamax under the guidance and prescription of a medical doctor. There are many examples in this med section where people experience side effects (from Baclofen or alcohol withdrawal) that could be VERY dangerous. In fact, you may have even read where people (members on this forum) have ended up in the emergency room as a direct result of their use of Baclofen. For me, I ended up borrowing money to pay for a 30 outpatient program to prescribe Baclofen and oversee and monitor my alcohol removal program. I am/was certainly glad that MWO was there to offer support, but it was certainly no replacement for doctor oversight.

Often times, we do read on this forum where doctors may not prescribe Baclofen for AUD. It is my opinion that most that make this comment have not asked their medical doctor for a prescription, have not informed their medical doctor of their AUD, and will not speak to their medical doctor about AUD until it is almost too late. The stigmatized view of AUD by so many, including the AUD sufferer and family is the real problem -not the medical community.

Alcoholism and genetics: It is now fact and scientifically proven that genetics play a dominant role in whether one is more likely to become a victim of AUD or not. Not so long ago, I made a post relative to research that I had read and I was ridiculed by several members on the forum -including a person trying to become a licensed nurse. (Thankfully, the nurse has deleted many of these types of posts and her posts relative to buying Baclofen online without a prescription). If you have blue eyes (a genetic mutation) you are a higher risk than most for AUD. If you have red hair, you are considered extremely high risk for AUD. Instead of members carrying on a conversation relative to genetics and AUD, it turned into an attack on my personal character. Here are a few links to genetics and AUD:
• Eye Color Linked to Alcoholism Risk
• http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0217131116.htm

One final point that I would like to try and communicate is this: If your only problem with alcohol is a physical addiction then you are home free having abstained for 3 or 4 days. Otherwise, if you have both a physical and mental addiction to alcohol, then yes, you do have issues beyond the physical. As helpful as Molly would like to be, she has no idea how much harm posts like hers and others could be to people seeking relief from AUD.

AUD is a treatable/curable disorder, but only when (and if) one receives truthful and factual information.

--sf--

[Skinned Knees]

:welldone:

[Spiritfree]

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:

I repost this thread because I think that it is very important for all us to hear from someone who has 7 years sobriety and who offers solid, helpful knowledge. --sf--

[brettham]

7 Yrs is incredible, I can only aspire to achieve the same. Bac is causing some SE, not too bad except the brain fog/disconnectedness is no fun. I took Campral prescribed by a psychiatrist, but was still drinking. I'm wondering if I should try to titrate off bac , slowly of course and retry Campral now that I'm not drinking? Congrats

Brettham

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Hi Skinned Knees and Brett. I know you're not really going to understand or appreciate a part of this post, but it needs to be said.

First off, let me say congratulations to Skinned Knees and thanks so much for posting. Campral seems to be most effective if one is not drinking at all. (I know I wrote this elsewhere too. Forgive the fact that I'm repeating myself. It's important to know, I think.) I'm really glad it worked for you SK, and 7 years is no laughing matter. I can't imagine! I'm envious and really thrilled for you.

Brett, I hope you won't make any drastic decisions about baclofen. Forgive me that I don't know your history but there are a couple of things that can cause really bad SEs. One is going up too fast. The other is just time. I've always believed that staying at a level that makes someone completely miserable is not a good idea. That doesn't mean going down dramatically, or giving up altogether. Particularly if it's working!

Please, both of you, be wary of anything that Spiritfree posts. We know him to be both malicious and a pathological liar. (Please see this post: https://www.mywayout.org/community/me...ml#post1656050 and this post: https://www.mywayout.org/community/me...ml#post1657560)

I know he seems harmless, at least on this thread, but he's not. Be aware and wary. That's all I'm saying.

[brettham]

Ne, thanks for the post. I've put spirit on ignore at this point, couldn't take the negativity. He jump me on one off my first post, positive one moment, then giving unsolicited advise the next. I hear you about not stopping something that works and will endeavor to continue at present levels.

Thanks for the advise and kind words.

Brettham

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Ne, thanks for the post. I've put spirit on ignore at this point, couldn't take the negativity. He jump me on one off my first post, positive one moment, then giving unsolicited advise the next. I hear you about not stopping something that works and will endeavor to continue at present levels.

Thanks for the advise and kind words.

Brettham

I'm glad you're here and that you are focusing on the positive input instead of the negative.

I have a couple of insights to Skinned Knees' posts that may not be particularly appreciated but are still (I think) important.

In reading back, it's important to note that taking his/her bipolar meds correctly was an important component of finding sobriety. I am not suggesting that campral was not a part of the process! It is important to note, though, that there are many of us without major mental illness. I'm so, so glad that Skinned Knees is being properly treated, but I also think it might confuse the issues we're dealing with when we don't separate out multiple diagnoses.

Brett, I'm also not suggesting that you stay at present levels if it's painful! It used to be that we could post openly about how much baclofen we were taking and what the side effects (and effects) were without worrying about someone (Spiritfree) telling us it wasn't effective/worth it/working. I hope now that you have him on ignore, you can do that more freely.

I'm curious about your SEs, but don't want to totally take over poor Skinned Knees thread, either. Feel free to post elsewhere (or here) and I'll see if I can help. Gawds know I've experienced enough of them, even though they don't effect me now at all.

xo

[brettham]

I have put spiritfree on ignore so that is that!Se mostly in the form of brain fog/confusion,constipation(newly arrived) and a general feeling of malaise, but that pretty easy to control. Also, dry nostrils, dry eyes and some difficulty sleeping (have benzos when I need them. At presently levels 110mgs (screw spiritfree) for approx. 10 days. The great thing is that I don't really feel the need to go grab a glass of booze.

I've gone back I read some of your post and I must salute you on staying the course with se much greater than me. Thanks again for taking your time in helping me, god knows I really need the support.

Brettham

[knobert]

Hi Ne

Thanks for commenting on this thread.
I've been meaning to and I still may because of the way Molly78 was treated. I stand by her post.

Thanks Ne
Your friend
Knobert

[Ne/Neva Eva]

I have put spiritfree on ignore so that is that!Se mostly in the form of brain fog/confusion,constipation(newly arrived) and a general feeling of malaise, but that pretty easy to control. Also, dry nostrils, dry eyes and some difficulty sleeping (have benzos when I need them. At presently levels 110mgs (screw spiritfree) for approx. 10 days. The great thing is that I don't really feel the need to go grab a glass of booze.



I've gone back I read some of your post and I must salute you on staying the course with se much greater than me. Thanks again for taking your time in helping me, god knows I really need the support.



Brettham

I've heard of malaise affecting others when they were newly sober. I didn't have that experience. I was on fire to get stuff done! lol. So I can't really help you there, other than to suggest finding something(s) that light your fire and keep you busy. That said, the afternoon sleepiness sucked. I had the flexibility to take a nap, and I did, just about every day.



If 110mg sucks for you, go down (and stay at) 100. Or 90. Just find a place that doesn't suck. I sometimes went up, and that might work for you, too. Honestly, I think it's just that some amounts suck and some don't. So don't stay at one level if it is making you miserable. (Sleepiness and insomnia are kind of par for the course, though. So if those are the major SEs you're dealing with, then medicating or finding a way around them is the right route. I don't know how to avoid them otherwise.)



A known (and listed on the information sheet) side effect of baclofen is runny nose. Or however they put it in medical-ese! So dryness would be unexpected. Are you drinking enough? Do you have allergies?



I'm really psyched for you that you don't feel like grabbing a glass of booze. Gawd knows, that's the reason we go through all this, right?



Glad you posted. Husband just got home with dinner FINALLY! 'cause I'm starving and so I have to run. Hang in there.



xx

[Spiritfree]

7 Yrs is incredible, I can only aspire to achieve the same. Bac is causing some SE, not too bad except the brain fog/disconnectedness is no fun. I took Campral prescribed by a psychiatrist, but was still drinking. I'm wondering if I should try to titrate off bac , slowly of course and retry Campral now that I'm not drinking? Congrats

Brettham

Yes Bret, I think that might be a wise choice for you. Listen to the experience and the facts presented by someone who is seven years sober. Please try to avoid listening to others who are not sober and have been taking Baclofen for years. Just a thought.