Hello everyone, long-time lurker and baclofen user here.
I just discovered a fantastic tool for managing AUD that I would like to share. Recently my doctor prescribed low-dose Abilify (aripiprazole) for my hard-to-treat depression, on top of antidepressants. It's an antipsychotic medication that is usually prescribed for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder but can also be prescribed at lower doses for depression. I was highly skeptical. I had heard of nothing but terrible side effects, but my depression was really terrible so I gave it a shot.
Within days I had noticed a profound difference. My depression had not just lifted, it seemed to completely disappear. That was fantastic news and highly welcome. But I also noticed another issue. I have taken a moderate dose of baclofen for many years. It helped me treat my lifelong dependence on alcohol, but I have to admit that I was still drinking due to my depression. I wasn't getting especially drunk, but it wasn't uncommon for me to have 4-5 drinks. I didn't like the side effects when I would try to increase my baclofen dosage so I've been a little stuck. But I noticed a distinct change in my drinking with Abilify. For one, I didn't crave alcohol in the slightest. And when I did drink, it tasted horrible and I got no high from it. It also made me profoundly sleepy. I have tried Naltrexone in the past and it has a very similar effect, but without the horrible nausea that Nal caused. Basically, it's like a form of Nal that makes me happy.
I decided to Google Abilify for Alcoholism and found that many, many others have had similar experiences while drinking--the lack of the high along with extreme sleepiness when drinking. Then I searched further and found this: Aripiprazole in the treatment of patients with alcohol dependence: a double-blind, comparison trial vs. naltrexone - PubMed - this powerful study was published in 2009, and yet I had never heard of the amazing anti-alcohol effects of this drug on this forum or anywhere else!
If you're interested it's absolutely worth having a discussion with your doctor. I only take 2 mgs, which is a tiny dose (schizophrenics and bipolar patients usually start at 15 mgs).
I am posting this in the hopes that it helps someone who is struggling. Thanks for reading.
I just discovered a fantastic tool for managing AUD that I would like to share. Recently my doctor prescribed low-dose Abilify (aripiprazole) for my hard-to-treat depression, on top of antidepressants. It's an antipsychotic medication that is usually prescribed for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder but can also be prescribed at lower doses for depression. I was highly skeptical. I had heard of nothing but terrible side effects, but my depression was really terrible so I gave it a shot.
Within days I had noticed a profound difference. My depression had not just lifted, it seemed to completely disappear. That was fantastic news and highly welcome. But I also noticed another issue. I have taken a moderate dose of baclofen for many years. It helped me treat my lifelong dependence on alcohol, but I have to admit that I was still drinking due to my depression. I wasn't getting especially drunk, but it wasn't uncommon for me to have 4-5 drinks. I didn't like the side effects when I would try to increase my baclofen dosage so I've been a little stuck. But I noticed a distinct change in my drinking with Abilify. For one, I didn't crave alcohol in the slightest. And when I did drink, it tasted horrible and I got no high from it. It also made me profoundly sleepy. I have tried Naltrexone in the past and it has a very similar effect, but without the horrible nausea that Nal caused. Basically, it's like a form of Nal that makes me happy.
I decided to Google Abilify for Alcoholism and found that many, many others have had similar experiences while drinking--the lack of the high along with extreme sleepiness when drinking. Then I searched further and found this: Aripiprazole in the treatment of patients with alcohol dependence: a double-blind, comparison trial vs. naltrexone - PubMed - this powerful study was published in 2009, and yet I had never heard of the amazing anti-alcohol effects of this drug on this forum or anywhere else!
If you're interested it's absolutely worth having a discussion with your doctor. I only take 2 mgs, which is a tiny dose (schizophrenics and bipolar patients usually start at 15 mgs).
I am posting this in the hopes that it helps someone who is struggling. Thanks for reading.