Drinking again

[nicnak68]

So I've tried Baclofen twice with good results but terrible side effects.But the last time I saw the gp and they new I was on Baclofen they basically refused to treat me.Im now back to drinking 1 to 2 bottles of wine s day and all though I feel a lot better not taking Baclofen I just feel like I'm killing myself again.
Don't actually know what I'm asking here but I feel desperate again

[satz123]

So I've tried Baclofen twice with good results but terrible side effects.But the last time I saw the gp and they new I was on Baclofen they basically refused to treat me.Im now back to drinking 1 to 2 bottles of wine s day and all though I feel a lot better not taking Baclofen I just feel like I'm killing myself again.
Don't actually know what I'm asking here but I feel desperate again

Ah nicnak - :hug:
You were using the Bac as a crutch - it is only an aid to going contentedly AF. Accepting that you are an alcoholic and that you should not ever drink alcohol.
Once you have this acceptance it all becomes easier.
Go AF from today and take Antabuse for the tough times in the first few months to take away the choice of will I? / won't I ?.

This worked for me and no-one is more astonished then me. I was a daily wine drinker too. Now 2 years AF and content.

[nicnak68]

I don't think my doc would even prescribe me Antabuse and I've never been offered it

[Mentium]

Sorry to hear you are so unhappy Nicnac. I think he/she would prescribe Antabuse given your situation. I believe you need to be AF for at least 24 hours first.

The other alternative of course is to say to hell with your GP at least for now and go via baclofen under your own steam. Your doctor is hardly helping after all - and that is what they are supposed to be doing, right?

[Spiritfree]

Hi Nick -drinking or not-drinking, both can be pure hell -right? Nick, I went back and read your prior thread starts and I just have to believe that you are in a situation that is going to require more than just ordering and taking some medications. Please do not take offense at what I am saying. It is your LIFE that is on the line and you have to be the one to decide to find help outside of medications. You had stated in another thread that you had found this thing called indifference while taking Baclofen but then you lost your 'indifference'. My experience reveals the fact that a few things have to change with most alcoholics other than just stopping the drink. Reach out Nick to some professionals (therapists, addiction specialists, etc.) who will help you find your way out. --sf--

[YouKayBee]

Unfortunately Baclofen does have to be taken constantly to work, and obviously you aren't taking it.

So as above, you need to obtain it elsewhere, or find another way out.

[neophyte]

I would avoid a GP when trying to get treated for addiction. In this post cast on addiction they siad something like 2% of time is spent looking at addiction when training to become a dr. The Fix - Radiolab . You can imagine given this, that a GP probably isn't equipped to deal with the problem. I remember many times going to GPs and often I got the sense they became very uncomfortable. Have a watch of the podcast, I think you would be surprised that most GPs are not aware that addiction to alcohol, amphetamines and cocaine in particular change the brain in crucial reward centers in the brain. I suggest you go visit a psychiatrist who specialises in addiction, I saw one and he was happy with me taking baclofen. I didn't ask for a script since I was getting it online anyway. Besides, I was seeing him mainly to get my anxiety under control, i just lucked out that he also specalised in that area.

When you had side effects on baclofen, how long were you on your "switch dose" for? I found many side effects went away after 2-3 months. The only side effects i have now is that i snore badly and I get double vision when I'm tired. I'm on 225mg at the moment.

[knobert]

Drinking again

So I've tried Baclofen twice with good results but terrible side effects.But the last time I saw the gp and they new I was on Baclofen they basically refused to treat me.Im now back to drinking 1 to 2 bottles of wine s day and all though I feel a lot better not taking Baclofen I just feel like I'm killing myself again.
Don't actually know what I'm asking here but I feel desperate again

Hi Nic

I'm so sorry to hear what you're going through.
I don't know what your situation is, but I wouldn't go see that GP anymore. Man, that kind of crap ticks me off. It's bad enough dealing with medical ignorance and dogma, but on top of that, he/she refuses to treat you unless you're off the baclofen? So what was accomplished? The Dr. took you off of what was helping you not to drink, and got you back into an AUD. What happened to "Dr. do no harm"?

Can you get a different GP? Besides the drinking, how are feeling right now? Are you taking any other meds? Could you see a pdoc? Ne says they're usually a lot more knowledgeable and flexible when it comes to addiction. You know that Baclofen can stop the cravings so are you considering starting Bac again? Mom just went through quite an ordeal, but now she has a Dr.'s assistance and she says she is doing much better.

Anyway, try not to beat yourself up too much. Take a deep breath and reassess everything.
You can get through this
Stay hopeful and post back
Knobert :thumbsup:

[nicnak68]

Thanks everyone for your replies.
I'm on annual leave from work at the mo so drinking about 1.5 bottles of wine a day but in Monday I'm back so going to try to go AF and diet.
I'm meeting with the local alcohol people again soon but they are not much help.I realise it's just abstaining or Baclofen for me but the thought of going back on Bac fills me with dread as I now feel normal again and when I was on Bac people thought I had had a personality inplant and it did cause me quite a lot of problems at work

[Mentium]

All the best Nicnak. Abstention isn't at all easy I know, but that is probably how most people get out from under their addiction. It isn't to be sniffed at.

I do think more research needs to be done on the impact of bac on some people (I say some, because many here seem to have sailed through the process - not to put anyone off), but some of us clearly have struggled with it and experience rather more alarming, if not dangerous SEs..

All the best. It is tough alright. And just to add my current mantra, because it is helping me so much - going to the gym every other day is a wonderful boost! You might give it a try!

[Spiritfree]

Thanks everyone for your replies.
I'm on annual leave from work at the mo so drinking about 1.5 bottles of wine a day but in Monday I'm back so going to try to go AF and diet.
I'm meeting with the local alcohol people again soon but they are not much help.I realise it's just abstaining or Baclofen for me but the thought of going back on Bac fills me with dread as I now feel normal again and when I was on Bac people thought I had had a personality inplant and it did cause me quite a lot of problems at work

Hi Nicnaka68: Thank you for your post. The greatest thing of all is the fact that you are not willing to give up or 'give in' to alcohol. Baclofen works for a few people but not all, so please do not be upset at yourself for 'not taking the baclofen route' -so to speak. Please read the 'newbies nest' and other threads relative to beginners quitting alcohol -even though this may be be umpteenth time at trying to quit. Medications/treatments that truly help a person to quickly reset their brain to a non-addicted brain are available, just not legal in a lot of places. One thing is for certain however, the more days that you live without alcohol in your system, the better your life will become. Start over as many times as necessary. --sf--

[Spiritfree]

And now we know for sure who heds22 is and he truly means no harm to anyone.

Again, seek whatever eventually works for you; just DO NOT GIVE UP.

Nic -regardless of how many times someone tries to insist that Baclofen in your only way, just please try to understand that they have their heart and time invested in Baclofen and mean no harm to anyone -they just possibly don't understand that Baclofen does not work for many and are not quite yet able to be open minded enough to newer medications. Their intentions are well meant.

[knobert]

Thanks everyone for your replies.
I'm on annual leave from work at the mo so drinking about 1.5 bottles of wine a day but in Monday I'm back so going to try to go AF and diet.
I'm meeting with the local alcohol people again soon but they are not much help.I realise it's just abstaining or Baclofen for me but the thought of going back on Bac fills me with dread as I now feel normal again and when I was on Bac people thought I had had a personality inplant and it did cause me quite a lot of problems at work

Hi Nic
I'm glad you're feeling better. I hope you enjoy the rest of your time off.
I'm concerned though. You're off the bac, drinking 1 1/2 bottles of wine and now you feel normal. No matter how you try to beat alcohol, I want you to succeed. On Monday, you're going to start going AF and start dieting. Here are some suggestions that can help with the severity and duration of withdrawals and cravings. Here I go again. NUTRITION: (I can hear Mom2JTx3 now,{chortle, chortle}) No junk food. Eat real food, protein, vegetables, fruit. Stay HYDRATED. Lots of water, juices, soups and broths. Healthy snacks. No candy. Whole grain crackers.(They have different flavor Triscuits now that are pretty good.) Vegetables. Stuff you can bring with you to work. Make yourself a healthy sandwich for lunch(healthy bread), instead of grabbing fastfood. Also a good multi-vitamin (with minerals and complete B-complex).
Most drinkers are under nourished. Weight does not mean good nutrition.

I know we had this conversation before in the "Baclofen Advice Required" thread by Danathos, but it can't be stressed enough.

Also, L-Glutamine can help. You can buy it in a health food store, but it's much cheaper on-line.(Shop around on-line as the price can be much different from one site to another). Also a bottle of just vitamin b-6 tabs. Take a scoop of glutamin mixed in a beverage.(It doesn't really dissolve, so keep it stirred). Take this at least 4 times a day with a b-6 each time. Also some valerian root or "Mom's" Calms Forte can help take the edge off and melatonin at night can help you sleep if you have trouble.
All of these things above will not prevent or eliminate withdrawals and PAWS, but it may be the difference between failure and success.

Also, could I ask you a favor? When you start your abstinence on Monday, could you take observations of symptoms as you go? Be just as self-conscious as you were when taking a med and post back to us. In fact, take observations as if you were taking a med. I'm curious to see how some of the symptoms compare.

I know Mom has posted a link for PAWS somewhere, but I don't have it handy. Here's one from an emotional health web page. I think it would be good reading for anyone who has quit or is quitting drinking.

https://www.elementsbehavioralhealth.com/addiction-treatment/a-primer-on-post-acute-withdrawal-syndrome/

You won't find many scientific studies on PAWS as many medical associations don't recognize it's existence. Also not that many years ago, cravings were thought to be too elusive to be of any value! (See Dr. A's book, page 164)

You can do it Nic
Take care
Knobert :thumbsup:

[nicnak68]

Thanks for all your replies.The thing that frightens me the most about using Baclofen to quite alcohol is the cost.Even though I found a physic to write me a script in this country if was still costing me as much as getting it online because it was a private prescription,nearly £50 for 2 weeks supply.My husband and I for one reason and another have had our wages cut and worried about the cost of Baclofen as well as paying the mortgage ect in the long term

[Mom21961]

Thanks for all your replies.The thing that frightens me the most about using Baclofen to quite alcohol is the cost.Even though I found a physic to write me a script in this country if was still costing me as much as getting it online because it was a private prescription,nearly £50 for 2 weeks supply.My husband and I for one reason and another have had our wages cut and worried about the cost of Baclofen as well as paying the mortgage ect in the long term

Have you ever looked into the Sinclair method (TSM) using Naltrexone? I would guess it's cheaper. You may want to check that out. It's also approved for treating alcoholism (naltrexone, not TSM) so wouldn't be a hard sell. There have been several people that posted recently that had success with this method. It can take awhile, but you only take it when you drink... One hour before. Good luck!