Baclofen
Member
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 456
I've tried every program there is... I've had a lot of success but it have never lasted.. However after a week of baclofen (scripted by my doctor per my request), I feel it is a miracle for me. After the first dose, I had no desire to drink and I feel "normal". I don't so this is to replace therapy, as I'm working with rational recovery as well.
Member
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 456
Here's a good clinical study if you are interested.
Suppression of Alcohol Dependence Using Baclofen: A 2-Year Observational Study of 100 Patients
I'll keep you all updated as time goes by.. It's only been a week.
In conclusion, the results of the present study show that baclofen is very effective in the treatment of alcohol dependence, and, in particular, extremely efficacious in effortlessly reducing motivation to drink. High doses of baclofen were often necessary, but not always, to obtain an optimal effect.
I'll keep you all updated as time goes by.. It's only been a week.
Member
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 456
Originally Posted by Dee74 
are you doing anything for your recovery besides the baclofen IRTQ?
just curious
D
just curious
D
(edited for the following)..
I continue being a good father/husband. Pay bills, go to church, volunteer in the community. As far as "recovery", nothing in that area.
Member
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 456
Originally Posted by Dee74
Your call - but I reckon the more stuff you have in your 'toolbox' the better?
I was so scared of drinking again I made I wasn't relying on any one thing, but that I had a few back ups too?
D
I was so scared of drinking again I made I wasn't relying on any one thing, but that I had a few back ups too?
D
Member
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 456
I would have replied earlier Dee, but I wanted to be thoughtful as possible. That being said. Since I first joined, I've stopped and started drinking at least 20 different times. Tried every behavioral/spiritual program there is. I have not once tried to use medication. I was only drinking 5-6 beers a day when I quit this last time, far from the days when I joined of drinking a liter of whiskey daily for years. I digress, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. This is where I feel many in recovery are insane in trying to use the same plan and end up right where they started only to start the process again, those failures were taking a toll on me even more so than the drinking itself.
Baclofen, to me, had instant results, within 6 hours of taking this medication, cravings were completely gone and have been since I took the first pill. The FDA is soon to approve use for alcoholism later this year or early 2016 but it has been approved for off label use for some time.
And thanks Dee for the well wishes.
#justmyopinion
Baclofen, to me, had instant results, within 6 hours of taking this medication, cravings were completely gone and have been since I took the first pill. The FDA is soon to approve use for alcoholism later this year or early 2016 but it has been approved for off label use for some time.
And thanks Dee for the well wishes.
#justmyopinion
Member
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 456
Just an update for those that are interested... It is vitally important to take the medication as directed. I skipped a dose (I'm scripted 3 times a day like most others).. I felt the cravings come back, at a lesser amount. When I got home I took my medication and the cravings quickly faded.
Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: North of England
Posts: 1,442
I am a bit of an old timer here having 'quit' several times only to be drinking within weeks or months again. Most recently I stopped drinking for 11 months last year but started again last November. I'm an habitual daily drinker who has found sober life stressful, full of anxiety and pretty miserable. I stumbled upon Olivier Ameisen's book the End of my Addiction a couple of months ago now and read a great deal of the research that is available on-line about baclofen. I have identified an addiction specialist - actually a well known psychiatrist here in the UK - who prescribes baclofen and I have an appointment with him in a little over a week's time. I don't believe in magic cures, easy ways out of addiction or any of that, but I do know I need to do something different to make sober life enjoyable and not a bumpy anxiety ridden roller coaster, so it is worth a try. Nice to see a thread about it here. Will be happy to post about my experience following my appointment.
Member
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 456
Good luck Mentium.. I would say to anybody, this isn't a first line treatment. I would try everything possible to avoid medication if possible. This was my "if all else fails" moment, and surprisingly it's been the most effective and pain free.
Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: North of England
Posts: 1,442
Just to report that I had my appointment with the medic mentioned above. He is a Professor of Psychiatry as it happens who specialises in addiction and has promoted the use of baclofen in the UK. He knew Olivier Ameisen personally I discovered (the guy who wrote The End of my Addiction).
I had an hour with him and he took my history, discussed alcohol use and its link with anxiety and ended up writing a prescription for baclofen for me. The plan is to write to my GP in due course and hand over the 'plan' to him if he will accept it. Time will tell.
In terms of my 'program', I have a long standing arrangement to go to London for a family break with my mother, daughter and partner. Three nights with a show and meals out. Not a good time to be starting a plan of sobriety, so I will do that when we come back in two weeks time.
I will bore you all with reports of how that goes in due course.
I had an hour with him and he took my history, discussed alcohol use and its link with anxiety and ended up writing a prescription for baclofen for me. The plan is to write to my GP in due course and hand over the 'plan' to him if he will accept it. Time will tell.
In terms of my 'program', I have a long standing arrangement to go to London for a family break with my mother, daughter and partner. Three nights with a show and meals out. Not a good time to be starting a plan of sobriety, so I will do that when we come back in two weeks time.
I will bore you all with reports of how that goes in due course.
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Join Date: May 2012
Location: Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 16,945
Originally Posted by Mentium
Just to report that I had my appointment with the medic mentioned above. He is a Professor of Psychiatry as it happens who specialises in addiction and has promoted the use of baclofen in the UK. He knew Olivier Ameisen personally I discovered (the guy who wrote The End of my Addiction).
I had an hour with him and he took my history, discussed alcohol use and its link with anxiety and ended up writing a prescription for baclofen for me. The plan is to write to my GP in due course and hand over the 'plan' to him if he will accept it. Time will tell.
In terms of my 'program', I have a long standing arrangement to go to London for a family break with my mother, daughter and partner. Three nights with a show and meals out. Not a good time to be starting a plan of sobriety, so I will do that when we come back in two weeks time.
I will bore you all with reports of how that goes in due course.
I had an hour with him and he took my history, discussed alcohol use and its link with anxiety and ended up writing a prescription for baclofen for me. The plan is to write to my GP in due course and hand over the 'plan' to him if he will accept it. Time will tell.
In terms of my 'program', I have a long standing arrangement to go to London for a family break with my mother, daughter and partner. Three nights with a show and meals out. Not a good time to be starting a plan of sobriety, so I will do that when we come back in two weeks time.
I will bore you all with reports of how that goes in due course.
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