Greetings fellow forum users
Today is the second anniversary of my abstinence from alcohol thanks to Baclofen
Do not be mistaken - Baclofen is NOT a miracle cure on its own - With good organization, planning, patience and understanding, Baclofen can help you attain and maintain sobriety
I began my programme in November 2015 following the titration schedule. Initially starting @30mg oral Baclofen (Zaclofen 10mg tablets) daily, increasing by 10mg every 4 days - This is considered slow, however having drunk irresponsibly for 30+ years, I wanted to be sure I gave myself the best chance I could - I spent many hours researching Baclofen (Science) and Baclofen (anecdotally) - The anecdotal evidence I read on this Forum was priceless and informative. On January 1st 2016, I had my last drink. I was on a dosage of 150 mg oral Baclofen (Zaclofen 10mg tablets) per day - My side effects at that time were;
Runny Nose - Like I had a permanent cold
Tingling finger tips - Not a major issue, just a bit of a funny feeling
Daytime somnolence - Knackered, each and every day - This is where my determination and understanding this would happen was a great help
Mild but sometimes serious constipation (This cleared up when I changed generic)
Loss of quality eyesight - This has improved of late
Reduction of libido
Episodes of a manic nature - this involved generally being "very enthusiastic" and noisy - lol - So i am told!!
Some states of confusion and memory loss - This side effect is still moot with me as although it has now improved I think some of it is a hangover following my stroke in March 2015
The bonus was that I slept all night, solidly - Sometimes too solidly! - This lead to several bed wetting episodes
I titrated up to 180mg oral Baclofen daily and maintained this until January 2nd 2017 when I tapered down to 150mg oral Baclofen daily - By now I had a NHS prescription and was dosing on 30mg Mylan tablets - I was able to put a decent enough case to my GP that she agreed to prescribe for me - This is fairly unheard of in the UK - I would like to thank tk for many of the case studies and information he posted on EOMA, which with all the information in the same place helped me greatly - My GP was so impressed she suggested she might try Baclofen on some of her other patients - I suggested this was not a good idea and have subsequently been criticised for this - I stand by this as although Balcofen will help people, their commitment to the programme cannot be guaranteed and after all, alcoholics are not the most reliable of patient by their very nature! The results to the patient following abuse are severe - For her to risk her reputation on an off label "cure", with the fuddy duddys of the GMC waiting to "bust her balls", is not a risk I would want her to take, on my say so - FWIW, I do think about this a lot....
My side effects dwindled in the summer of 2017 with constipation being the major player but it was certainly less intense under Mylan as it was with Zaclofen, which was a relief! I was still suffering from confusion and some mania, the mania usually just after a dose
In September 2017 I started tapering at 10mg less every 3 days until I got to a dosage of 60mg oral Baclofen daily - I spent a week at this level and then fluctuated between 0 and 60mg oral Baclofen a day - Currently i can take 60mg oral Baclofen, on demand with ZERO side effects
My attitude towards alcohol had over the 18 months or so, changed dramatically - I despise alcohol and generally the effects is has on some individuals that consume too much - The bravado, the bullshit that goes with a pissed person - The smell, attitude and irresponsibility that some display is awful but a welcome reminder and incentive - The lack of hangovers is nice too.
Why did Baclofen work for me? - The science is tedious to explain but the essence is that Baclofen allowed me to change my reward programme from a demand for alcohol to a demand for.....something different. Baclofen seriously reduced my anxiety and craving for alcohol as the reward. Simply Baclofen alleviated the anxiety I never knew i had - I think anyone who has has anxiety relieved will know what I mean - It's the relief which identifies the existence
Responsibility;
There is no point in taking Baclofen unless you are going to commit to a strict titration regime. Baclofen can (and will) hit abusers hard, whether you titrate too quickly or fail to maintain your dosage having established a routine - Baclofen is a long journey, patience is essential - Titrating too fast will not speed up the process, it will make the side effects worse and usually ends in failure and termination of your programme - Determination to succeed is the key - I knew that if I carried my course through I would succeed
Side effects;
Most, if not all have some side effects to Baclofen - Be it minor irritations or major inconveniences, we all get them - Just bear in mind if they get too much, one can taper to the previous dosage amount - Side effects tend to be more severe whilst consuming alcohol
Reprogramming my default presets;
I found it very important to change my focus' - (Obviously keeping out of pubs and away from alcohol was a given) Once Baclofen had got a hold on my anxiety and I could feel it (sleeping well at night was the telling sign for me - Not waking at two in the morning worrying about....? - nothing really) working I could get to work of the restructuring of my basic behaviour - The most important aspect was to nail the first drink, every afternoon when I arrived home I had a glass of wine - I replaced this with coffee and within a few weeks this became the norm and I could do this without thinking - Weekends and social occasions were more difficult, I basically shyed away from most social stuff for the first six months or so and for the following six months or so I vetted where and when I went out and who I socialised with - In fairness this was not that difficult as I am a fairly unsociable person anyway - I always take 30mg of oral Baclofen before I socialise even now as I find it helps greatly with my apparent social anxiety
Currently I take 30 or 60mg oral Baclofen (Mylan) daily, depending on how I feel - Up top......My GP has suggested I dump Baclofen for a more "traditional" medication but I prefer Baclofen as it does the job and I know where I am with Baclofen
The whole Baclofen scene is really quite depressing at the moment. You have got the business in France and despite having several blogs published i have only had two replys to the 47 emails and contact us requests I have sent - 20% of these were to Imperial College London, who have been procrastinating as recent as last year about their work with Baclofen - As a reminder I have sent some more!!!!
I would strongly suggest anyone considering starting a Baclofen programme read THIS publication and the information on EOMA
It is my opinion Baclofen works best for abstinence - Certainly in my case I still feel I am one drink away from a relapse. Baclofen has helped me get to the other side, it is my duty to hold up my end of the deal
To be continued............
Today is the second anniversary of my abstinence from alcohol thanks to Baclofen
Do not be mistaken - Baclofen is NOT a miracle cure on its own - With good organization, planning, patience and understanding, Baclofen can help you attain and maintain sobriety
I began my programme in November 2015 following the titration schedule. Initially starting @30mg oral Baclofen (Zaclofen 10mg tablets) daily, increasing by 10mg every 4 days - This is considered slow, however having drunk irresponsibly for 30+ years, I wanted to be sure I gave myself the best chance I could - I spent many hours researching Baclofen (Science) and Baclofen (anecdotally) - The anecdotal evidence I read on this Forum was priceless and informative. On January 1st 2016, I had my last drink. I was on a dosage of 150 mg oral Baclofen (Zaclofen 10mg tablets) per day - My side effects at that time were;
Runny Nose - Like I had a permanent cold
Tingling finger tips - Not a major issue, just a bit of a funny feeling
Daytime somnolence - Knackered, each and every day - This is where my determination and understanding this would happen was a great help
Mild but sometimes serious constipation (This cleared up when I changed generic)
Loss of quality eyesight - This has improved of late
Reduction of libido
Episodes of a manic nature - this involved generally being "very enthusiastic" and noisy - lol - So i am told!!
Some states of confusion and memory loss - This side effect is still moot with me as although it has now improved I think some of it is a hangover following my stroke in March 2015
The bonus was that I slept all night, solidly - Sometimes too solidly! - This lead to several bed wetting episodes
I titrated up to 180mg oral Baclofen daily and maintained this until January 2nd 2017 when I tapered down to 150mg oral Baclofen daily - By now I had a NHS prescription and was dosing on 30mg Mylan tablets - I was able to put a decent enough case to my GP that she agreed to prescribe for me - This is fairly unheard of in the UK - I would like to thank tk for many of the case studies and information he posted on EOMA, which with all the information in the same place helped me greatly - My GP was so impressed she suggested she might try Baclofen on some of her other patients - I suggested this was not a good idea and have subsequently been criticised for this - I stand by this as although Balcofen will help people, their commitment to the programme cannot be guaranteed and after all, alcoholics are not the most reliable of patient by their very nature! The results to the patient following abuse are severe - For her to risk her reputation on an off label "cure", with the fuddy duddys of the GMC waiting to "bust her balls", is not a risk I would want her to take, on my say so - FWIW, I do think about this a lot....
My side effects dwindled in the summer of 2017 with constipation being the major player but it was certainly less intense under Mylan as it was with Zaclofen, which was a relief! I was still suffering from confusion and some mania, the mania usually just after a dose
In September 2017 I started tapering at 10mg less every 3 days until I got to a dosage of 60mg oral Baclofen daily - I spent a week at this level and then fluctuated between 0 and 60mg oral Baclofen a day - Currently i can take 60mg oral Baclofen, on demand with ZERO side effects
My attitude towards alcohol had over the 18 months or so, changed dramatically - I despise alcohol and generally the effects is has on some individuals that consume too much - The bravado, the bullshit that goes with a pissed person - The smell, attitude and irresponsibility that some display is awful but a welcome reminder and incentive - The lack of hangovers is nice too.
Why did Baclofen work for me? - The science is tedious to explain but the essence is that Baclofen allowed me to change my reward programme from a demand for alcohol to a demand for.....something different. Baclofen seriously reduced my anxiety and craving for alcohol as the reward. Simply Baclofen alleviated the anxiety I never knew i had - I think anyone who has has anxiety relieved will know what I mean - It's the relief which identifies the existence
Responsibility;
There is no point in taking Baclofen unless you are going to commit to a strict titration regime. Baclofen can (and will) hit abusers hard, whether you titrate too quickly or fail to maintain your dosage having established a routine - Baclofen is a long journey, patience is essential - Titrating too fast will not speed up the process, it will make the side effects worse and usually ends in failure and termination of your programme - Determination to succeed is the key - I knew that if I carried my course through I would succeed
Side effects;
Most, if not all have some side effects to Baclofen - Be it minor irritations or major inconveniences, we all get them - Just bear in mind if they get too much, one can taper to the previous dosage amount - Side effects tend to be more severe whilst consuming alcohol
Reprogramming my default presets;
I found it very important to change my focus' - (Obviously keeping out of pubs and away from alcohol was a given) Once Baclofen had got a hold on my anxiety and I could feel it (sleeping well at night was the telling sign for me - Not waking at two in the morning worrying about....? - nothing really) working I could get to work of the restructuring of my basic behaviour - The most important aspect was to nail the first drink, every afternoon when I arrived home I had a glass of wine - I replaced this with coffee and within a few weeks this became the norm and I could do this without thinking - Weekends and social occasions were more difficult, I basically shyed away from most social stuff for the first six months or so and for the following six months or so I vetted where and when I went out and who I socialised with - In fairness this was not that difficult as I am a fairly unsociable person anyway - I always take 30mg of oral Baclofen before I socialise even now as I find it helps greatly with my apparent social anxiety
Currently I take 30 or 60mg oral Baclofen (Mylan) daily, depending on how I feel - Up top......My GP has suggested I dump Baclofen for a more "traditional" medication but I prefer Baclofen as it does the job and I know where I am with Baclofen
The whole Baclofen scene is really quite depressing at the moment. You have got the business in France and despite having several blogs published i have only had two replys to the 47 emails and contact us requests I have sent - 20% of these were to Imperial College London, who have been procrastinating as recent as last year about their work with Baclofen - As a reminder I have sent some more!!!!
I would strongly suggest anyone considering starting a Baclofen programme read THIS publication and the information on EOMA
It is my opinion Baclofen works best for abstinence - Certainly in my case I still feel I am one drink away from a relapse. Baclofen has helped me get to the other side, it is my duty to hold up my end of the deal
To be continued............
Comment