Baclofen
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Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Perth Western Australia
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Baclofen
Hi there, I'm just wondering if anyone else is using Balcofen for alcoholism? I've been on it now for a few weeks to the point that I have increased my dose enough to stop drinking. My doctor has been prescribing this medication for a number of years and there is a program here through Royal Perth hospital that are using this regularly, and contributing to scientific studies.
I can't find any recent posts on it- so hoping to find others who are on the same regime. Thanks xx
I can't find any recent posts on it- so hoping to find others who are on the same regime. Thanks xx
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Originally Posted by Dee74 
no experience with it as a aid for alcoholism Nic- but I wish you the best 
D
D
Mr
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: FRANCE
Posts: 5,230
Hi Nic, yes i was on it here in france for about a year. It was not even authorised at the time.
I have tried lots of meds over the years. I dont want to and I am not allowed to give medical advice but just some info here :
Baclofene is pretty famous here in France and there are alot of buzz around it.
A famous cardiologist / heart specialist called Dr Olivier Ameisen self medicated Baclofene and proclaimed it was the drug that cured his alcoholism. He wrote a book called the last glass.
Have a look with google translate : Baclofene - Olivier Ameisen - Découverte du baclofène dans le traitement de l\'alcoolisme et autres dépendances.
Alcoholism is not a disease of the will or weakness, it is a "biological" disease!
The phenomenon of addiction is housed in the amygdala of the brain (anxiety, impulses) and not in the cortex (will). What is required or what is expected of patients unfortunately not used to much. In my addiction to alcohol stems from a deficit calming substance (GHB) naturally produced by the brain. This would explain why baclofen, whose action takes place on the same receptor (GABA) that GHB can compensate for this phenomenon. Addiction fits into the amygdala of the brain (anxiety, impulses) and not in cortex (will)
My opinion ; "Could be worth a shot. Anything beats the grog..."
Stay strong !
I have tried lots of meds over the years. I dont want to and I am not allowed to give medical advice but just some info here :
Baclofene is pretty famous here in France and there are alot of buzz around it.
A famous cardiologist / heart specialist called Dr Olivier Ameisen self medicated Baclofene and proclaimed it was the drug that cured his alcoholism. He wrote a book called the last glass.
Have a look with google translate : Baclofene - Olivier Ameisen - Découverte du baclofène dans le traitement de l\'alcoolisme et autres dépendances.
Alcoholism is not a disease of the will or weakness, it is a "biological" disease!
The phenomenon of addiction is housed in the amygdala of the brain (anxiety, impulses) and not in the cortex (will). What is required or what is expected of patients unfortunately not used to much. In my addiction to alcohol stems from a deficit calming substance (GHB) naturally produced by the brain. This would explain why baclofen, whose action takes place on the same receptor (GABA) that GHB can compensate for this phenomenon. Addiction fits into the amygdala of the brain (anxiety, impulses) and not in cortex (will)
My opinion ; "Could be worth a shot. Anything beats the grog..."
Stay strong !
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Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Perth Western Australia
Posts: 2,671
Originally Posted by theVman31
Hi Nic, yes i was on it here in france for about a year. It was not even authorised at the time.
I have tried lots of meds over the years. I dont want to and I am not allowed to give medical advice but just some info here :
Baclofene is pretty famous here in France and there are alot of buzz around it.
A famous cardiologist / heart specialist called Dr Olivier Ameisen self medicated Baclofene and proclaimed it was the drug that cured his alcoholism. He wrote a book called the last glass.
Have a look with google translate : Baclofene - Olivier Ameisen - Découverte du baclofène dans le traitement de l\'alcoolisme et autres dépendances.
Alcoholism is not a disease of the will or weakness, it is a "biological" disease!
The phenomenon of addiction is housed in the amygdala of the brain (anxiety, impulses) and not in the cortex (will). What is required or what is expected of patients unfortunately not used to much. In my addiction to alcohol stems from a deficit calming substance (GHB) naturally produced by the brain. This would explain why baclofen, whose action takes place on the same receptor (GABA) that GHB can compensate for this phenomenon. Addiction fits into the amygdala of the brain (anxiety, impulses) and not in cortex (will)
My opinion ; "Could be worth a shot. Anything beats the grog..."
Stay strong !
I have tried lots of meds over the years. I dont want to and I am not allowed to give medical advice but just some info here :
Baclofene is pretty famous here in France and there are alot of buzz around it.
A famous cardiologist / heart specialist called Dr Olivier Ameisen self medicated Baclofene and proclaimed it was the drug that cured his alcoholism. He wrote a book called the last glass.
Have a look with google translate : Baclofene - Olivier Ameisen - Découverte du baclofène dans le traitement de l\'alcoolisme et autres dépendances.
Alcoholism is not a disease of the will or weakness, it is a "biological" disease!
The phenomenon of addiction is housed in the amygdala of the brain (anxiety, impulses) and not in the cortex (will). What is required or what is expected of patients unfortunately not used to much. In my addiction to alcohol stems from a deficit calming substance (GHB) naturally produced by the brain. This would explain why baclofen, whose action takes place on the same receptor (GABA) that GHB can compensate for this phenomenon. Addiction fits into the amygdala of the brain (anxiety, impulses) and not in cortex (will)
My opinion ; "Could be worth a shot. Anything beats the grog..."
Stay strong !
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I don't have any experience with Baclofen specifically, but just like most other "anti-craving" drugs and the like, there really seems to be a mixed response. You can read a lot about it here on the site too via the threads Dee posted or just doing a site search with the name of the drug.
I think for the most part there really is no "magic bullet" pill you can take that is going to solve your addiction problem. Almost all of the current drugs that are available are designed to be used in conjunction with a sobriety plan/method. I sometimes like to equate it to many of the psych meds out there - none of them solve the underlying problem ( depression, anxiety, PTSD, etc ) but they do sometimes help "take the edge off" while other therapies and methods are implemented.
There is also some evidence that Baclofen itself can become addictive too - which can also be the case with lots of other drugs that are suppose to help ( Benzos for example ). Bottom line, just about any drug that alters your brain chemistry might have unintended effects.
I think for the most part there really is no "magic bullet" pill you can take that is going to solve your addiction problem. Almost all of the current drugs that are available are designed to be used in conjunction with a sobriety plan/method. I sometimes like to equate it to many of the psych meds out there - none of them solve the underlying problem ( depression, anxiety, PTSD, etc ) but they do sometimes help "take the edge off" while other therapies and methods are implemented.
There is also some evidence that Baclofen itself can become addictive too - which can also be the case with lots of other drugs that are suppose to help ( Benzos for example ). Bottom line, just about any drug that alters your brain chemistry might have unintended effects.
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Originally Posted by ScottFromWI
I don't have any experience with Baclofen specifically, but just like most other "anti-craving" drugs and the like, there really seems to be a mixed response. You can read a lot about it here on the site too via the threads Dee posted or just doing a site search with the name of the drug.
I think for the most part there really is no "magic bullet" pill you can take that is going to solve your addiction problem. Almost all of the current drugs that are available are designed to be used in conjunction with a sobriety plan/method. I sometimes like to equate it to many of the psych meds out there - none of them solve the underlying problem ( depression, anxiety, PTSD, etc ) but they do sometimes help "take the edge off" while other therapies and methods are implemented.
There is also some evidence that Baclofen itself can become addictive too - which can also be the case with lots of other drugs that are suppose to help ( Benzos for example ). Bottom line, just about any drug that alters your brain chemistry might have unintended effects.
I think for the most part there really is no "magic bullet" pill you can take that is going to solve your addiction problem. Almost all of the current drugs that are available are designed to be used in conjunction with a sobriety plan/method. I sometimes like to equate it to many of the psych meds out there - none of them solve the underlying problem ( depression, anxiety, PTSD, etc ) but they do sometimes help "take the edge off" while other therapies and methods are implemented.
There is also some evidence that Baclofen itself can become addictive too - which can also be the case with lots of other drugs that are suppose to help ( Benzos for example ). Bottom line, just about any drug that alters your brain chemistry might have unintended effects.
I know it's not a magic pill, for me it's giving me some hope of achieving permanent sobriety.. but I know I will need to put better steps in place to help me too.. I have let my guard down in the past and have ended up relapsing..
I was just hoping to hear back from others who have been on the same medication- and whether it was successful for them..
I appreciate the response.
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Originally Posted by Nic233
Thanks Scott.. Yes I was told by my doc that I will need to wean back down again slowly otherwise there are pretty awful side effects coming down from such a high dose.
I know it's not a magic pill, for me it's giving me some hope of achieving permanent sobriety.. but I know I will need to put better steps in place to help me too.. I have let my guard down in the past and have ended up relapsing..
I was just hoping to hear back from others who have been on the same medication- and whether it was successful for them..
I appreciate the response.
I know it's not a magic pill, for me it's giving me some hope of achieving permanent sobriety.. but I know I will need to put better steps in place to help me too.. I have let my guard down in the past and have ended up relapsing..
I was just hoping to hear back from others who have been on the same medication- and whether it was successful for them..
I appreciate the response.
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Join Date: May 2009
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I had high hopes for it.. I did manage 6 months sober from it. I found sobriety through other means and I haven't had a drink since March 2016... There are some nasty side effects to baclofen when you get in the dosages that are recommended.
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Thanks for the reply.. yes I am in those high doses and the side effects have become horrible. I've had to come down a dose again..
trying to weigh up the risk vs benefit right now.. not sure I'll be able to stick with it:-( just had soooo much hope
trying to weigh up the risk vs benefit right now.. not sure I'll be able to stick with it:-( just had soooo much hope
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I reckon it's important to remember that whether you're taking meds or not, it's absolutely possible for you to stay sober Nic - a little effort and commitment goes a long way.
I hope the side effects settle down.
D
I hope the side effects settle down.
D
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Originally Posted by Dee74
I reckon it's important to remember that whether you're taking meds or not, it's absolutely possible for you to stay sober Nic - a little effort and commitment goes a long way.
I hope the side effects settle down.
D
I hope the side effects settle down.
D
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I work in a group home for mentally ill adults. Some of them have co-occurring conditions such as alcoholism and drug addiction. One of my clients was on baclofen and he said it helped. I take antabuse, which so far has been the only thing that has been successful in keeping me sober.
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Originally Posted by scintillady
I work in a group home for mentally ill adults. Some of them have co-occurring conditions such as alcoholism and drug addiction. One of my clients was on baclofen and he said it helped. I take antabuse, which so far has been the only thing that has been successful in keeping me sober.
It's interesting that you mentioned your clients who've found baclofen successful-I was also a drug addict(ice) but I've been clean 8 years ish- I've just replaced one addiction with another..I'm really hoping the side effects go away soon x
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I've just started Baclofen so I'm still in the lower dosage range (5mg 3 times a day, leading up to 20mg total as of today), but so far I do notice a marked decrease in my anxiety. I've also had experience with Phenibut which is related to Baclofen (both GABA-b agonists) but the cost of Phenibut and procuring it was a limiting factor in using it to reduce cravings long term... Phenibut is a stronger anxiolytic but harsher body wise (imo)..
I see my GP on Tuesday next week to check in. He only gave me the initial titrate up dose, and I'm hoping for the best.. I don't want to be stuck on a 20 tab prescription every few weeks..
I was actually worried that I wouldn't be able to find a doctor to help with it either, after a doctor at Fiona Stanley hospital last year gave me the information on it. She told me to go to my GP, but at the time I didn't have a reliable one, I'd given up on them really.. but the new doc at my local clinic was happy to trial it with me.
I'm so far doing ok on it. Havent stopped drinking as much though, but it's been 4 days only..
(so much for the last time I posted here, where I was hitting day 10 on the wagon... insipid thing, alcohol and the mind)
I see my GP on Tuesday next week to check in. He only gave me the initial titrate up dose, and I'm hoping for the best.. I don't want to be stuck on a 20 tab prescription every few weeks..
I was actually worried that I wouldn't be able to find a doctor to help with it either, after a doctor at Fiona Stanley hospital last year gave me the information on it. She told me to go to my GP, but at the time I didn't have a reliable one, I'd given up on them really.. but the new doc at my local clinic was happy to trial it with me.
I'm so far doing ok on it. Havent stopped drinking as much though, but it's been 4 days only..
(so much for the last time I posted here, where I was hitting day 10 on the wagon... insipid thing, alcohol and the mind)
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