steve11694

Dr Olivier Ameisen, 55, one of France's top heart specialists, says he overcame his own addiction to alcohol by self-administering doses of a muscle-relaxant called baclofen.
He has now written a book about his experience - Le Dernier Verre (The Last Glass) - in which he calls for clinical trials to test his theory that baclofen suppresses the craving for drink.


'Needed alcohol'
Dr Ameisen was associate professor of cardiology at New York's Cornell University, and in 1994 he opened a profitable private practice in Manhattan.
But, stricken by an overwhelming feeling of inadequacy - he says he felt like "an impostor waiting to be unmasked" - he found relief in large quantities of whisky and gin.




"I detested the taste of alcohol. But I needed its effects to exist in society,"




BBC NEWS | Europe | France abuzz over alcoholic 'cure'

stone

I hope you don't mind steve but I found some other interesting articles on the BBC website...

BBC NEWS | Magazine | Can an alcoholic have an occasional drink?

BBC NEWS | Health | 'There is life after alcoholism'

BBC NEWS | Health | How people beat the demon drink

stone

Anyway, even if baclofen does reduce teh craving for a drink, I think it takes more than that to recover from alcoholism...it would be useful in the early stages though.

steve11694

hi stone, great links, and of course I don't mind. all contributions are welcome

MeHandle

If I recall the news show correctly, the results of the trial tests so far have produced an 80% success rate.

A point I think is important to mention is the alcoholic still has to want to go to the doctor. There are already drugs out there the Doctors have used. It is still about acting on a conviction to stop drinking.

Bernadette

but do they end up a baclofen addict?

CatsPajamas

One of the articles said he started with 5 mg of baclofen and is now on a "daily regimen" of 35 - 40 mg per day.

I'm not sure if that's an addiction or not if it's managed and prescribed.... another debate topic I guess.

justanothrdrunk

Sounds like replacing one drug with another to me.

GiveLove

And to me. One of my XAs was proud that he "quit drinking" and took up marijuana instead. Oh well...if it helps someone somewhere...and if they can afford it....and if it has no long-term health effects....

BeyondBSC

Baclofen is not a scheduled med but does have a high perplexity for addiction. My company watches it closely, in review with other medications that have similarities, and those who are on benzo’s. Maintenance…for a muscle relaxer…typically has side effects associated with it.
Short term solution for a long term problem.

ToughChoices

For what it's worth -

I always get excited about new drug therapy options for the treatment of addiction. I know that pharmacotherapy doesn't CURE alcoholism, but I do think that certain agents can "ease the battle" a bit.

Having said that, baclofen is a CNS depressant. Its side effect profile includes symptoms of sedation, somnolence, and both respiratory and cardiovascular depression (slows down breathing and heart rate). Abrupt discontinuation of the medicine can result in seizures. I know that driving and operating heavy machinery is discouraged when under the influence of the medication.

Sounds a lot like the effects of alcohol, no?

-TC

FormerDoormat

Yes, it does, TC. Perhaps that's why it was successful; it does essentially the same thing as alcohol.

Pajarito

I'm not convinced. In my experience, my STBXAH quit drinking but never addressed his core issues- what drove him to drink in the first place. There is so much more work to be done than to put a cork in it. From the people I know who are working a program, I understand it takes a lot of introspection, spiritual work and meetings, etc. to really change. Baclofen sounds like a band aid to me.

Jazzman

I think a study is needed using that drug, a placebo and a large group of volunteers...

I'll volunteer my dog.... He's into that kinda stuff....

tommyk

I 'overcame' alcoholism by sheer willpower.

But what works for me won't work for others.

Use whatever works for YOU, that's what is important.

Mambo Queen

OK, I call ******** on at least one fact in one of those BBC studies that stone linked to. It said that two-thirds of those that seek treatment are cured, except for maybe an occasional "odd relapse". Where have you ever heard of a cure rate that high for alcoholism? And it didn't sound like they were talking about the drug either, just England's version of rehab.