Horrible Baclofen Withdrawal

[InBigTrouble]

Horrible Baclofen Withdrawal

Ugh, I've had really bad insomnia since this whole nightmare started around 6/10. That's nearly a month without sleep! I was drinking heavily to combat the effects of insomnia but then I titrated back up to 60/mg a day and was sleeping fine for about a week. Then I titrated down to 50 and... Insomnia, BAD insomnia. I drank myself to sleep for about 3 days until I discovered a high dose of doxylamine succinate did the charm. Now the doxylamine is starting not to work here at 40 mg and my insomnia is returning. However, somewhere in there I had a couple weeks of not drinking, which is pretty miraculous. I really fucked up but it looks like there might be light at the end of the tunnel, it's just going to take time. So where do I go from here? It's day 3 of 40 mg. How do I get down and off the baclofen from here? A part of me knows that this medication works, and it's really regrettable that I didn't do my research and titrate up/down like a normal person, but the truth is I don't have health insurance and I didn't know what I was getting into. All I knew is that I needed to do something, and fast. This may be the answer in the future, but only under the guidance of a physician. Until I have that I really don't think that I'm responsible enough to take this medication.

Thanks to everyone who gave me advice and helped me probably one of the most difficult things (other than my drinking) that I have ever had to deal with in my life. You guys really mean a lot to me. Maybe the lack of sleep is making me emotional but you guys are real lifesavers.

[COSGringo]

Horrible Baclofen Withdrawal

You could try diphenhydramine which is similar to doxy. Add in some melatonin and tryptophan.
A healthy dose of exercise and such.

I am suffering with it too. Nothing is really working for me. Back to exercise this week so hoping that will help. Lots of caffeine during the day which I realize is bad but I have no choice right now.

[InBigTrouble]

Horrible Baclofen Withdrawal

Right, no health insurance so no doctor, at least in the short run. I'll be off baclofen in a week and a half so I'll see where I stand. Yes, I've had insomnia this bad before but it was when I was passing a kidney stone and let me tell you, it was pretty obvious that there was an issue with my kidneys at the time (now that's pain, baclofen is nothing compared to that). I might have a health issue but I have to get off baclofen first to see what that might be, so I can rule the medication out. Currently, when I drink, it's to get to sleep (as opposed to when I drank before baclofen, I would just drink all night. Now it's more like, how little can I take to get me to sleep). Hopefully this all ends soon and I can figure out what to do with my life---I got a week and a half and I also got my hands on some seroquel, so hopefully that helps with the whole insomnia thing. I was a little wary to take it but now that my insomnia is worsening it sounds just fine. It's been a scary experience but hopefully I'll figure out what else (other than drinking) might be wrong with me. I'm scared but also determined to get better and, if there is any silver lining here, for once in my life I've decided that I really do have a problem and that I need to take care of it. Hopefully this is a turning point and not a stumbling block.

[RedThread12]

Horrible Baclofen Withdrawal

I like that . . . yes, indeed . . . turning point.

And AT the turning point, it's important to check, from moment to moment, for where BALANCE might have moved to. Ne has done a great job of describing how much it doesn't work to "decide" one's baclofen trail. Which means that, even now, IBT, as you're titrating down and hopefully getting a little relief, not just from the insomnia, but from the FEAR that multiplies all of the negative possibilities, that you take it one day at a time.

You have a lot more experience and understanding, now. You've had some funky times, but you've also had some delicious AF time, and freedom from craving. I hope you feel, and find ways to enhance, the value of those things. And look around for what might be available to you in terms of health services for people with no insurance and little money. Every once in a while, there's a program or an agency that can and will help you, as you continue to find YOUR solutions. All the best!!

[Nichau]

Horrible Baclofen Withdrawal

I agree with COSGringo's comment about diphenhydramine. Over-the-counter generic Dramamine takes the edge off anxiety, is non-habit forming, and is inexpensive. Of course, use as directed...

[InBigTrouble]

Horrible Baclofen Withdrawal

So today is my last day of baclofen. I have adjusted well to 10 mg and I go off tomorrow. What can I expect? How long before this goes out of my system? How long does it take to recover after that?

I have had insomnia almost the whole time on this drug. I know, everyone is telling me it's because I have pre-existing medical condition. Fact is I never, ever, ever had insomnia this bad before I made the mistake of taking 100 mg of baclofen a day to 10 mg. That's when this whole nightmare started, so yeah, you can tell me I have whatever, but I'm not buying it. I think I royally screwed up for almost a week, taking very little bac after 100 mg/ day (probably ODing on it multiple times the previous week) and I hope some day my brain will recover. There are already some great signs of improvement: I'm regular now and have way less water retention. Yay! My focus is also showing signs of returning, and my anxiety/fear is long gone. Neck pain and fuzzy head? Not so much!

I went in to see a doctor finally. I didn't tell him about the baclofen. Not sure why. Maybe because I am uninsured and I don't want that kind of thing on my medical record if I someday want to, God forbid, start a family and insure my wife and kids (What's that? He likes to experiment with overseas pharmaceuticals? That ought to push the premium up considerably...) Plus, it seems from reading people's experiences here, the medical community seems not to be to savvy when it comes to high dose baclofen for treating alcoholism. The turning point for me seeing a physician came three nights ago when I couldn't handle my insomnia anymore. I was taking MASSIVE doses of benadryl (200 mg/night) and doxylamine (100 mg/night) and STILL only sleeping 2-3 hours. One morning I woke up wheezing, barely able to breathe... I should mention that in that time I did try the seroquel that was recommended to me and... HOLY CRAP! Sleep? Yeah, it makes you sleep. I imagine if I kept taking it I'd end up being one of those people you see in the subway that just kind of lurch around and drool everywhere. Not a fan of becoming a member of the walking dead! I'm sure it works for who it works for, but it wasn't for me. Anywho, the benadryl almost killed me, so I got a script for ambien. I still only slept about 5 or 6 hours last night but wow! What a step up! And no hangover or side effects.

So, bottom line is, I burned some sort of hole in my brain being stupid for 2 weeks---one ODing on bac, the other under-d-ing on bac (Not to mention the month prior when I used 40-60 mg of it on weekends to help with cravings---SO STUPID!). Also, the massive benadryl/doxylamine doses really exacerbated my insomnia (the doc said that my antihistamine regimen was probably not helping at all). Ambien is working like a charm, at least for now. I just hope it doesn't lead to sleep driving/eating/fucking and all the other horror stories you hear.

Sorry for the long winded post but I wanted to take a second to really thank everyone that helped me. I am about to titrate off and I hope the future is a little brighter. You people saved me from a far worse fate than a lack of sleep, and I will never forget it.

I am, at the moment, not drinking and I have to tell you that it is the furthest thing from my mind. All I can think about is getting better so alcohol hasn't even factored into the equation as of late. I know, that could all change, but at this point I seriously doubt it. This whole experience has left the long lasting impression any drug, alcohol or otherwise, just isn't worth it! Baclofen eventually had the intended result for me but not in terms of GABA-b agonism: It has given me a taste aversion to anything that comes out of a bottle!