One year later
Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Baghdad
Posts: 2,822
Discontinuation of baclofen can be associated with a withdrawal syndrome which resembles benzodiazepine withdrawal and alcohol withdrawal. Withdrawal symptoms are more likely if baclofen is used for long periods of time (more than a couple of months) and can occur from low or high doses. The severity of baclofen withdrawal depends on the rate at which baclofen is discontinued. Thus to minimise baclofen withdrawal symptoms the dose should be tapered down slowly when discontinuing baclofen therapy. Abrupt withdrawal is most likely to result in severe withdrawal symptoms. Acute withdrawal symptoms can be stopped by recommencing baclofen.[17]
Withdrawal symptoms may include auditory hallucinations, visual hallucinations, tactile hallucinations, delusions, confusion, agitation, delirium, disorientation, fluctuation of consciousness, insomnia, dizziness, Nausea, Feeling Faint, inattention, memory impairments, perceptual disturbances, anxiety, depersonalization, hypertonia, hyperthermia, formal thought disorder, psychosis, mania, mood disturbances, restlessness, and behavioral disturbances, tachycardia, seizures, tremors, autonomic dysfunction, hyperpyrexia, extreme muscle rigidity resembling neuroleptic malignant syndrome and rebound spasticity.[17][18]
So, what you're saying is that you take this addictive drug so that you "aren't an alcoholic anymore". Hmmm.
Withdrawal symptoms may include auditory hallucinations, visual hallucinations, tactile hallucinations, delusions, confusion, agitation, delirium, disorientation, fluctuation of consciousness, insomnia, dizziness, Nausea, Feeling Faint, inattention, memory impairments, perceptual disturbances, anxiety, depersonalization, hypertonia, hyperthermia, formal thought disorder, psychosis, mania, mood disturbances, restlessness, and behavioral disturbances, tachycardia, seizures, tremors, autonomic dysfunction, hyperpyrexia, extreme muscle rigidity resembling neuroleptic malignant syndrome and rebound spasticity.[17][18]
So, what you're saying is that you take this addictive drug so that you "aren't an alcoholic anymore". Hmmm.
Its_me_jen
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Salina, Ks
Posts: 8,547
12-Step Recovered Alkie
Join Date: May 2010
Location: West Bloomfield, MI
Posts: 5,797
that's great. Obviously, you're using a COMPLETELY different definition for alcoholism than those in AA use but good for you (most do though, including the wiki page mentioned).
For that brand of alcoholism, there can't be a pill. By an AA definition, that drug treats "moderate to heavy drinkers" but does nothing for the real alcoholic.
glad it solved your drinking problem for now though loop.
For that brand of alcoholism, there can't be a pill. By an AA definition, that drug treats "moderate to heavy drinkers" but does nothing for the real alcoholic.
glad it solved your drinking problem for now though loop.
Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Baghdad
Posts: 2,822
Originally Posted by OklaBH 
What is baclofen? Did your Dr prescribe it?
And I didn't read anything there about proponents claiming that it was a cure for alcoholism.
The 'cure' for alcoholism was proposed over two centuries ago, I don't think that's changed.
Benjamin Rush - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,442
I remember you being on Naltrexone Lo0p - did that not work out?
If your life's improved on baclofen, congratulations and best wishes.
If you want to call it a cure, that's your call but it's a little irresponsible IMO, because it's clearly not a cure by any definition of that word.
Admittedly I was not taking it for alcoholism, but my experience with baclofen was not nearly so positive.
D
If your life's improved on baclofen, congratulations and best wishes.
If you want to call it a cure, that's your call but it's a little irresponsible IMO, because it's clearly not a cure by any definition of that word.
Admittedly I was not taking it for alcoholism, but my experience with baclofen was not nearly so positive.
D
Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 8,614
Did I miss something? I did not see the word "cure" in Lo0p's post... if this balcofen contributed to their ability to quit drinking, that's what worked for them, and that's all. I did not get the idea Lo0p was telling anyone else here to do exactly as she/ he did...
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 8
I hesitate to respond to any questions here because I am very short on time and can only try to give them my full attention. I am also posting this using my Android phone because I do not currently have an internet connection and it is time consuming to do so.
Baclofen is an old medication used to treat muscle spasticity. It has been discovered recently that is very effective at treating addictions.
I used to order it over the internet but now my doctor does prescribe it.
It has completely freed me of my addiction to alcohol.
"The absence of addictive properties of baclofen represents a feature of paramount importance for the pharmacological treatment of alcohol
addicted patients." Int J Clin Pract, August 2006, 60, 8, 1003–1008.pdf
"has no known abuse potential" from wikipedia
^ Carter, LP.; Koek, W.; France, CP. (Jan 2009). "Behavioral analyses of GHB: receptor mechanisms." (PDF). Pharmacol Ther 121 (1): 100–14. doi:10.1016/j.pharmthera.2008.10.003. PMID 19010351.
^ Carter LP, Koek W, France CP (October 2008). "Behavioral analyses of GHB: Receptor mechanisms". Pharmacol. Ther. 121 (1): 100–14. doi:10.1016/j.pharmthera.2008.10.003. PMID 19010351. PMC 2631377.
Baclofen does cause physical dependency, much like someone who is dependent on blood pressure medication. It is dangerous to discontinue blood pressure medication. Likewise it is dangerous to abruptly discontinue baclofen. It is necessary to taper the dose downward over the course of several days or weeks when discontinuing it.
No single instance of addiction to baclofen has ever been reported.
That is a difficult question for me to answer. I can if I want to, but I don't ever want to anymore. I could say that I am abstinent, but that implies effort.
The last drink I had was a glass of fine red wine, maybe a couple of months ago now. I remember thoroughly enjoying it, but I finished it and did not want another one. The next day I forgot about it. I still have the bottle in my cupboard, but I don't ever feel inclined to have another glass.
In early October I went to a wedding. It was in a Vets hall with a bar and I was offered so many alcoholic drinks that I finally got fed up. I went to the bar and ordered a bud light. I tipped the bartender $10 and asked him to keep my beer in the fridge and to pull it out whenever I came to the bar. So I carried it around for a while and it stopped all the nuisance of people offering to buy me drinks. Then I'd give it to the bartender and he'd put it in the fridge for me for a while. I had the champagne toast. By the end of the night I had drank 1/4 of the beer and the champagne toast.
I guess the most accurate answer to your questions would be no I didn't quit drinking, but no I don't still drink.
Originally Posted by OklaBH
What is baclofen? Did your Dr prescribe it?
I used to order it over the internet but now my doctor does prescribe it.
It has completely freed me of my addiction to alcohol.
Originally Posted by sailorjohn
So, what you're saying is that you take this addictive drug so that you "aren't an alcoholic anymore". Hmmm.
addicted patients." Int J Clin Pract, August 2006, 60, 8, 1003–1008.pdf
"has no known abuse potential" from wikipedia
^ Carter, LP.; Koek, W.; France, CP. (Jan 2009). "Behavioral analyses of GHB: receptor mechanisms." (PDF). Pharmacol Ther 121 (1): 100–14. doi:10.1016/j.pharmthera.2008.10.003. PMID 19010351.
^ Carter LP, Koek W, France CP (October 2008). "Behavioral analyses of GHB: Receptor mechanisms". Pharmacol. Ther. 121 (1): 100–14. doi:10.1016/j.pharmthera.2008.10.003. PMID 19010351. PMC 2631377.
Baclofen does cause physical dependency, much like someone who is dependent on blood pressure medication. It is dangerous to discontinue blood pressure medication. Likewise it is dangerous to abruptly discontinue baclofen. It is necessary to taper the dose downward over the course of several days or weeks when discontinuing it.
No single instance of addiction to baclofen has ever been reported.
Originally Posted by Kjell
Did you quit drinking or do you still drink?
The last drink I had was a glass of fine red wine, maybe a couple of months ago now. I remember thoroughly enjoying it, but I finished it and did not want another one. The next day I forgot about it. I still have the bottle in my cupboard, but I don't ever feel inclined to have another glass.
In early October I went to a wedding. It was in a Vets hall with a bar and I was offered so many alcoholic drinks that I finally got fed up. I went to the bar and ordered a bud light. I tipped the bartender $10 and asked him to keep my beer in the fridge and to pull it out whenever I came to the bar. So I carried it around for a while and it stopped all the nuisance of people offering to buy me drinks. Then I'd give it to the bartender and he'd put it in the fridge for me for a while. I had the champagne toast. By the end of the night I had drank 1/4 of the beer and the champagne toast.
I guess the most accurate answer to your questions would be no I didn't quit drinking, but no I don't still drink.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 8
Originally Posted by DayTrader
that's great. Obviously, you're using a COMPLETELY different definition for alcoholism than those in AA use but good for you (most do though, including the wiki page mentioned).
For that brand of alcoholism, there can't be a pill. By an AA definition, that drug treats "moderate to heavy drinkers" but does nothing for the real alcoholic.
glad it solved your drinking problem for now though loop.
For that brand of alcoholism, there can't be a pill. By an AA definition, that drug treats "moderate to heavy drinkers" but does nothing for the real alcoholic.
glad it solved your drinking problem for now though loop.
This is an entry from my journal, and it is one of the darkest hours in my life. It was a day or two after I got out of jail and a day or two before my life changed forever. It's memories like these that seem so long ago right now that when I read them I might as well be reading someone else's journal. But at the same time, I will never, ever forget them.
October 23, 2009:
"I was walking to the gas station down the street last night to get a bottle of wine (I was already wasted) and a car was coming in the opposite direction. They sped up and swerved just a tiny bit in my direction. I thought they were speeding up and swerving in my direction to scare me. Now sober, I know they were just speeding up because they were turning onto the highway that I was walking on and just lost the grip on the wheel a bit while they gassed it. I got angry and, glaring through the windshield at the driver, charged the car, running straight toward it as fast as I could. I had a vision of diving head first into their windshield and my brain being splattered all over it. I can't explain it other than to say that I was thinking: "You think you can scare me ************? I would ******* welcome whatever you think you could do to me" They swerved away and sped off. I ended up on my ass in the middle of the highway. My ankle might be broken, or sprained quite severely. Either way it's probably a good thing I can't really walk right now.
If you are out there, if you are listening, please send me an angel. I really need one right now. I feel like I am in the twilight of my life. I want to die and I am not afraid."
Originally Posted by OklaBH
Im learning alllll kinds of stuff on here. Thank you that was very interesting. Im still confused about the pill that cures alcoholism though.
One thing I can say with absolute certainty is that alcohol is no longer a problem in my life.
i've done my almost
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 1,934
Loop-
I know what you mean, when I read my posts from when I first joined SR, they seem like they're from another person.
...and that is wonderful b/c I needed to change who I was. Simple as that. Sounds like you did too.
I can't say I agree with your approach, but I'm happy for you.
Kjell
I know what you mean, when I read my posts from when I first joined SR, they seem like they're from another person.
...and that is wonderful b/c I needed to change who I was. Simple as that. Sounds like you did too.
I can't say I agree with your approach, but I'm happy for you.
Kjell
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,442
This thread is starting to sound more like an infomercial to me.
I'm closing it under these two rules.
D
I'm closing it under these two rules.
10. Medical Advice: No Posts giving medical advice, medication advice, or psychiatric advice. Do not use the forum to give or ask for professional medical or psychiatric advice. If you are a medical professional, please remember the forums and chat are for peer support only and not to be used for distributing professional medical advice and/or using the forum to represent your professional services. Medical and Psychiatric advice includes giving a diagnosis, treatment plan, medication advice and dosage suggestions, over the counter and natural home remedies that should be approved by medical professionals. Detox can be dangerous and life threatening at times. Please consult with your physician.
2. Outside Agendas: No posts of an overtly political or religious nature OR posts promoting advocacy of particular personal, medical, legal, religious, political, or non-profit causes. The forums are intended for offering mutual personal support related to recovery from addiction or recovery for family and friends. This is our primary purpose. Debating controversial subjects should be taken elsewhere. Limited references are allowed, but the forums should not be used to convert others. Do not post content or links to and from sites that flame someone's person, religious beliefs, race, national background, sexual orientation, or recovery program/method. It is inappropriate to promote the use of alcohol or drugs on our addiction recovery forums.
Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
