Baclofen Prescribing Guide for Doctors-English Version

[Otter]

The English translation of the Prescribing Guide including titration schedule and informed consent form can be found at:https://dl.dropbox.com/u/59463672/Prescribing-Guide-for-Baclofen-in-the-Treatment-of-Alcoholism-Don.pdf

[COSGringo]

Baclofen Prescribing Guide for Doctors-English Version

Another thing I find interesting is Dr L was very adamant about taking your last dose 3 hours before you sleep but in this guide it tells you to take it when you sleep.
I've had to do that when I've dozed off or just forgot and I had no problems taking it that late.
Makes me wonder who knows what.

[spacebebe01]

Baclofen Prescribing Guide for Doctors-English Version

Thanks for posting this Otter, I cant usually maintain concentration to read things like this but I am finding this one easy to read. Half way though it but have to go and get my son up to bed now so will finish it in the morning.

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Baclofen Prescribing Guide for Doctors-English Version

I'm a bit confused by this. Questions to follow...

[joethelion]

Baclofen Prescribing Guide for Doctors-English Version

Does anyone else have problems with that site ? I am never able to open any page there. Just says `server not found`.

[joethelion]

Baclofen Prescribing Guide for Doctors-English Version

COSGringo;1341474 wrote: Another thing I find interesting is Dr L was very adamant about taking your last dose 3 hours before you sleep but in this guide it tells you to take it when you sleep.
I've had to do that when I've dozed off or just forgot and I had no problems taking it that late.
Makes me wonder who knows what.

Can it be because at higher doses if I`m not wrong, baclofen might cause insomnia ?

[BetterAndBetter]

Baclofen Prescribing Guide for Doctors-English Version

joethelion;1341711 wrote: Can it be because at higher doses if I`m not wrong, baclofen might cause insomnia ?

Even at low doses (approx 50 -75 mg, here) it can cause insomnia. It seems to be getting better as my body acclimates to Baclofen, but I've definitely had to take a few walks and such after midnight. I'm typing this after waking up at 4 am. I definitely get enough sleep to be functional, but there's no doubt, from my experience, that Bac can affect sleep patterns. Haven't changed much else in my life that could account for it. I am currently on low dose Baclofen and taking my time with it, because I think that the insomnia is the result of a "speedy" effect that occurs from the Bac, for me. It could be that it's just the anti-anxiety properties kicking in and I'm much more "my self" than my generally anxious, inhibited self (much less inhibited than most, generally, but still not driving the General Lee). Beyond that.... I think that it can make me a little more animated and stuff just pops out of my mouth in terms of my relating to others, especially combined with alcohol.

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Baclofen Prescribing Guide for Doctors-English Version

COSGringo;1341474 wrote: Another thing I find interesting is Dr L was very adamant about taking your last dose 3 hours before you sleep but in this guide it tells you to take it when you sleep.
I've had to do that when I've dozed off or just forgot and I had no problems taking it that late.
Makes me wonder who knows what.
Just based on the information provided in what Otter posted we can see that there aren't many hard and fast rules! So it's not a matter of someone knowing more (or less) as much as it is just trying to find a way through or around the SEs--especially the sleep disturbances!

BetterAndBetter;1341744 wrote: Even at low doses (approx 50 -75 mg, here) it can cause insomnia.
...
Beyond that.... I think that it can make me a little more animated and stuff just pops out of my mouth in terms of my relating to others, especially combined with alcohol.

Keep in mind that alcohol also causes sleep disruptions--including somnolence, sleeping poorly and insomnia. Perhaps we get so used to the SEs related to excessive drinking we forget what they actually are.
Early sobriety (or even drinking a lot less) is guaranteed to bring insomnia, usually coupled with a dramatic increase in anxiety. So at least there is some relief from that when it's coupled with baclofen.
Which is not to say that baclofen doesn't cause or exacerbate disruptions in sleep patterns. Clearly it does. But there are several other mitigating factors, too, that we often overlook!

:H to the General Lee.
I find a lack of inhibition from baclofen, but again, I wonder if it's not just the fact that I'm much less anxious and mired in my own mind. Ya' know? Food for thought, anyway.

Thank you Otter, so much, for translating this. I was disappointed that it wasn't more "official" but at least it's a start.
There are so many exceptions! I don't like exceptions, and I'm pretty sure most doctors don't either. The whole, "let the patient decide" doesn't really fly, especially when docs tend to be wary of treating us to begin with.
*sigh*
Thanks again.

[BetterAndBetter]

Baclofen Prescribing Guide for Doctors-English Version

Yeah... We could just be bipolar, NE, but I think the lessening of social inhibition thing has far more to do with the anti-anxiety properties of the Bac. I enjoy that part of it. And, I agree... the document Otter posted is amazing in terms of documenting what is known about Bac, so far. I'm only halfway throughl reading it and it is already very helpful to me.

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Baclofen Prescribing Guide for Doctors-English Version

BetterAndBetter;1341758 wrote: Yeah... We could just be bipolar, NE, but I think the lessening of social inhibition thing has far more to do with the anti-anxiety properties of the Bac. I enjoy that part of it. And, I agree... the document Otter posted is amazing in terms of documenting what is known about Bac, so far. I'm only halfway throughl reading it and it is already very helpful to me.

Nah, we're not bipolar. Well, I'm not! :H I've looked. Professionals have looked. There's not a damn thing wrong with me that booze--or the lack of booze--doesn't fix. (well, perhaps this underlying "anxiety" disorder or whatever...that may be the crux of it and why bac works when absolutely NOTHING else did...But I digress. Again. :H)

By lack of inhibition I didn't mean that I was disrobing in public. Not that I haven't done that. :egad: but those particular incidents were under the influence of a great deal of booze. :H

It's still nice to meet new people, or run into old friends, and not have it be dreadfully anxious-making. Ya' know?

[BetterAndBetter]

Baclofen Prescribing Guide for Doctors-English Version

Ne/Neva Eva;1341764 wrote: Nah, we're not bipolar. Well, I'm not! :H I've looked. Professionals have looked. There's not a damn thing wrong with me that booze--or the lack of booze--doesn't fix. (well, perhaps this underlying "anxiety" disorder or whatever...that may be the crux of it and why bac works when absolutely NOTHING else did...But I digress. Again. :H)

By lack of inhibition I didn't mean that I was disrobing in public. Not that I haven't done that. :egad: but those particular incidents were under the influence of a great deal of booze. :H

It's still nice to meet new people, or run into old friends, and not have it be dreadfully anxious-making. Ya' know?

I've discounted the bipolar thing, also. I may be creative and slightly crazy, but they ain't gonna pin that on me... no way. Yes... As a very shy child who fought his way into a fairly well-spoken adulthood, it is very nice to see that there is yet another level of social comfort, so to speak. I think Dr. A's theory about underlying anxiety as a possible precursor to alcoholism is difficult to dispute. Old school "self medication". I like to yap and any excuse to be better at it is okay with me. Now, the people around me may disagree, but they're still not disinhibited enough to tell me to shut up. LOL.

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Baclofen Prescribing Guide for Doctors-English Version

:H :H :H
I agree.

btw, Otter or others, where was this published? And the docs involved? It doesn't give their credentials. What's up with that?
I guess what I'm asking is, how official is this?
Because I feel like if I took this to my doctor she would wonder if it was just something I cooked up on the internet?

I was going to wait to ask the questions until I had a chance to look it up, but I'll throw it out there in case anyone has an easy answer. I'll try and look into it, today, too.

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Baclofen Prescribing Guide for Doctors-English Version

And why is it prescribed as a last resort instead of a first or second line of defense???

[MusiciansMallet]

Baclofen Prescribing Guide for Doctors-English Version

Ne/Neva Eva;1341771 wrote: Otter or others, where was this published? And the docs involved? It doesn't give their credentials. What's up with that?
I guess what I'm asking is, how official is this?
Because I feel like if I took this to my doctor she would wonder if it was just something I cooked up on the internet?

I was going to wait to ask the questions until I had a chance to look it up, but I'll throw it out there in case anyone has an easy answer. I'll try and look into it, today, too.

Well, after all it is just a translation & it does link to the original French document. And for what it's worth, in the same area at the end, it notates the translator (a Mr. David Harris, apparently? Good luck googling that name unless you're a search engine expert). I did a quick search trying to find any sort of information/background on baclofenuk.com (the hosting website) which identifies itself as the "baclofen UK world forum" but couldn't find much, although only did a quick search since i'm short on time.

Either way, it is the UK-based.. so, for presentation to a doctor; a lot of the specifics under the "off label prescribing" & other areas about specific prescribing protocol may only apply to the UK & not necessarily prescribing guidelines w/in the US & the FDA.. I would keep that in mind & advise your doctor this if you do present it to him or her.

[StuckinLA]

Baclofen Prescribing Guide for Doctors-English Version

I'm really short on time, too, but the original document was posted on the site for the Soci?t? Fcan?aise d'Alcoologie, if that helps anything at all.