My journey with Baclofen started

[Maxi]

Hi guys,

:new:

I started my Baclofen journey 14 days ago. I had a false start when I titrated too fast to 50 mg per day and had extreme difficulties breathing what freaked me out. I went back to 30 and now I am at 50 again.

Unfortunately I still drink around 350ml of vodka per night (have been doing it for many years) but not during day as I work pretty intensively running my own business.
I am fed up with that ? I am 33 and my health deteriorates (very fat liver, constant hungovers, extremely anxiety and so on).

I hope I can win this battle. I have never taken any anti alcohol medicine and have not shared my problem with anyone until now.

What puzzles me is that I have completely different SE that those which I read about at MWO. Did anyone of you guys have similar observations?

1. I do not feel sleepy at all. I feel kind of euthoric buzz which is pretty weird. It was fun at the beginning but gets tiresome. I?d like to feel normal. There is completely no anxiety and I used to have extreme anxiety before.

2. I feel like a different person. It?s hard to explain. I just feel my personality changed.

3. The feeling of horniness is becoming irritating.

4. I need to drink much more to get drunk and do not have any hangovers at all what makes me drink more. I do not feel the urge to drink as heavily as before but I enjoy it and have to drink more to get the same effect.

PS. I would really like to achieve indifference and would love to be able to stop baclofen. Do you believe it is possible? I kind of feel as a different person and would love to go back to ?previous? me without the need to drink. Is it possible to stop taking Baclofen at some time?
All the best!
Max

[thomas m]

My journey with Baclofen started

Maxi;1540277 wrote:

PS. I would really like to achieve indifference and would love to be able to stop baclofen. Do you believe it is possible? I kind of feel as a different person and would love to go back to ‘previous’ me without the need to drink. Is it possible to stop taking Baclofen at some time?
All the best!
Max

Not sure if indifference works like that for most Max. I could be wrong though but I'd say the majority of people fall back into there old ways after a while. But I wouldn't worry. Everyone I've read about who hit indifference usual say after a while all SEs drop off.

I wouldn't get to down about the SEs your experiencing. They tend to go away after a while as you go up (and down). The "feeling like a different person" I can sort of get where your coming from. I got this to (from going up to quick).

I've had every SE imaginable but most pass after a while.

I've always thought that if you've a lot going on (running your own business), then you really need to take it easy to avoid SEs. I couldn't imagine having to deal with people in a work environment feeling not quite right.

I know the feeling where you just want to feel indifference because your sick of drinking but you also don't want to rush, get beaten by SEs and end up hating the medicine and stopping.

At 50mg, Bac does nothing for me and a lot of others. 100 upwards I tend to start getting a bit of help anti cravings wise.

My only advice is to keep plugging away, steady and slowly. My first time trying I titrated up all over the shop jumping up in 20s, 50s etc etc and ended up not knowing whether I was coming or going and hating the medicine. Also give each bump up 3-4 days or more if necessary to let you body become accustomed to it.

Best of luck

[kronkcarr]

My journey with Baclofen started

Hi, Maxi,

Welcome. I had your first two SEs early on. I really enjoyed them because I was always so busy running my business and household. They did wear off.

I have a friend who asked me if I thought I could come off of baclofen once I stabilized. At 8 months I don't think I can. After I switched at 80 mgs I slowly went down to 40 mgs and my anxiety came back. I'm now at a maintance dose of 60 mgs. For me, my old thinking and habits returned at a deeper level. As many here say baclofen will get us to indifference and then we have to work on ourselves to find a comfortable place.

It's worth it!

[zampa75]

My journey with Baclofen started

kronkcarr;1540292 wrote: Hi, Maxi,

For me, my old thinking and habits returned at a deeper level.

Do you mean when you went down to 40? They were stronger than before?

Tell me if I get this straight: you're saying you need to find a maintenance dose and stick with it, right? And with you it's 60 mg per day.
As you well know I am not there yet - quite the opposite as I've just begun - but I am perfectly ok with keeping taking it if the SEs are manageable. Anything to get out of prison : )

[Colin]

My journey with Baclofen started

Maxi;1540277 wrote:
3. The feeling of horniness is becoming irritating.

Enjoy it whilst it lasts. Jack Nicholson's advice to old men was "Never waste an erection"

Many men have noted that horniness becomes much less frequent after reaching indifference which might also be irritating. Maybe the pleasure centres associated with sex are also subdued by baclofen.

[Mandiekinz]

My journey with Baclofen started

Oh man, if I told my fiance of No. 3...he'd start slipping extra doses into my coffee! During my bouts of sobriety, I don't have the desire for sex. Nor do I find it pleasurable. However, I noticed that although my initial desire is no different, I do find it more pleasurable. Probably due to being more relaxed.

I do hope that you find your indifference. From my understanding from my doctor and from a lot of research, it's unlikely to come off the Baclofen and still be able to continue on with the feeling of indifference. Although, my doc says once you hit your switch, you stay at that dose for indefinitely. Others say once you hit your switch and you move down to a more comfortable "maintenance" dose for indefinitely.

Read around the forums, and keep posting there's tons of support here for you. and WELCOME!!!!

[neophyte]

My journey with Baclofen started

Maxi;1540277 wrote: Hi guys,

:new:

I started my Baclofen journey 14 days ago. I had a false start when I titrated too fast to 50 mg per day and had extreme difficulties breathing what freaked me out. I went back to 30 and now I am at 50 again.

Unfortunately I still drink around 350ml of vodka per night (have been doing it for many years) but not during day as I work pretty intensively running my own business.
I am fed up with that ? I am 33 and my health deteriorates (very fat liver, constant hungovers, extremely anxiety and so on).

I hope I can win this battle. I have never taken any anti alcohol medicine and have not shared my problem with anyone until now.

What puzzles me is that I have completely different SE that those which I read about at MWO. Did anyone of you guys have similar observations?

1. I do not feel sleepy at all. I feel kind of euthoric buzz which is pretty weird. It was fun at the beginning but gets tiresome. I?d like to feel normal. There is completely no anxiety and I used to have extreme anxiety before.

2. I feel like a different person. It?s hard to explain. I just feel my personality changed.

3. The feeling of horniness is becoming irritating.

4. I need to drink much more to get drunk and do not have any hangovers at all what makes me drink more. I do not feel the urge to drink as heavily as before but I enjoy it and have to drink more to get the same effect.

PS. I would really like to achieve indifference and would love to be able to stop baclofen. Do you believe it is possible? I kind of feel as a different person and would love to go back to ?previous? me without the need to drink. Is it possible to stop taking Baclofen at some time?
All the best!
Max

I'm on day 5, 50mg. Those side effects/general well being points you mention are me exactly. I often stop and think to myself "something is different" i dont know how to put my finger on it either, but it seems like something good is happening.

I had the last 3 days off work, normally when i have nothing to do i just clock watch when its time to take my drugs alcohol for brief relief of being agitated and bored. I dont seem to be doing this anymore. I am enjoying my time in between my codeine and alcohol use for what seems like the first time in many years.

[jeffrey]

My journey with Baclofen started

YES, IF IT WORKS

I WAS JUST WANTING TO ADD THAT I STARTED ON ANTABUSE WHICH DECREASES COCAINE CRAVINGS AS WELL. THE BEST PART OF THIS SCRIPT IS THAT WHEN YOU KNOW YOU CANT HAVE A DRINK, YOUR PSYCHOLOGICAL ADDICTIVE MIND CENTER BECOMES QUITE. THATS THE GUY THATS ALWAYS PROMPTING US TO DRINK BECAUSE ITS OK. TELLING US WERE NOT READY TO QUIT. REMINDING US OF ALL THE FUN WE WILL MISS OUT ON. I CALL THIS PART OF ADDICTION "A MARBLE IN A CAN" ONCE IT STARTS SPINNING THERES ALMOST NO WAY TO STOP IT. "THE MONKEY ON YOUR BACK" THE PART OF YOUR ADDICTION THAT NEVER SHUTS UP IN OUR HEADS. ONLY REMEMBERING THOSE WONDERFUL MOMENTS OF CALM AND PEACEFUL TIMES AND HOW IT RELIEVES OUR STRESS. WELL WHEN YOU KNOW IF YOU DRINK YOUR GOING TO GET VIOLENTLY ILL, SPEAKING FOR MYSELF...MY HAUNTING AND HOUNDING SEEMS TO DISAPPEAR. I KNOW CANT KNOW MATTER WHAT. I WILL BE INSTANTLY SICK! THIS FOR ME HAS SHUT DOWN THE TOUGHEST PART OF ADDICTION, "THE MIND". BY THE WAY I WOULDNT WANT TO LEAVE OUT WHERE I GO AFTER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL IS IN MY BODY. STRAIGHT TO THE CRACK!! THIS ANTABUSE FOR ME KILLS TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE, BECAUSE I DONT DO CTRACK ANYMORE WITHOUT THE BOOZE. I HAVE TRULY GROWN TO HATE THE EFFECTS IT HAS ALL BY ITSELF. RACING HEART, PARANOIA, ETC. SO I CUT OUT THE SOURCE AND HAVE NO DESIRE FOR EITHER.
:new:

[Xadrian]

My journey with Baclofen started

neophyte;1540421 wrote: I often stop and think to myself "something is different".

That's exactly what happened when I went up the first time. I could feel something was going on.

[Maxi]

My journey with Baclofen started

Thank you very much for welcoming me at this forum. It is very comforting to know that there are other people going the same way and having similar experience.

Yesterday I titrated from 50mg to 75. I did that because I started the first dose at 4 am and I was tolerating it well. I divided the intake for 12.5mg dosages.

From what I can see there is definitely something working. I cannot say I was indifferent because thoughs of drinking came to me a couple of times. The huge difference was that they were not obsessive.

Normally I would enter my home after work and have the first drink without taking of my shoes (I know it sounds bad but this is what I usually do).

I had some other obligations so I visited family and enjoyed a long conversation. This is really strange because normally I would try to finish the meeting asap in order to have a “free time” and start the drinking session.

On the other hand there is no anxiety which is really strange because I normally worry about everything (that my family will die at one point, that my wife might be having an affair, that I can step on a needle somewhere and get a full lists of diseases that I should make more money although I am doing really well – the list is a long one).

After Baclofen I stopped worrying completely. I still think about alcohol but not to smooth my nerves but because I really enjoy it.

I fear though that I will have to take Baclofen for life and I would not like that. I would like to have children some time in the future and I am afraid that taking high Baclofen doses might not be good for that.

I also fear the fact that I am high on Baclofen and this is not a real me. I have a feeling that perhaps the reason why it is easier not to drink is because I have a different high, a Baclofen one. I was thinking that if I was taking other drugs I could also be not drinking – different thoughts come to my mind.

Anyway I had a fairly easy AF day yesterday - I only had 1 non-alcoholic beer (actually 0.5%). SE were terrible at nigh as I could not breath and was afraid to go to sleep.

I will see when the trip will take me to.

All the best to all of you,
Max

[neophyte]

My journey with Baclofen started

Maxi;1540660 wrote:

Anyway I had a fairly easy AF day yesterday - I only had 1 non-alcoholic beer (actually 0.5%). SE were terrible at nigh as I could not breath and was afraid to go to sleep.

Nice one on the AF day, as to your feeling that you couldn't breath, can you describe that a bit more? I notice that my breathing feels shallow and slow, im not really panicking that i can't breath but i could see that a higher dose might cause that. I'm on 50mg at the moment on the 6th day.

[skullbabyland]

My journey with Baclofen started

Regarding the shallow breath at night feeling (which usually means insomnia cuz it's uncomfortable)- I get this regularly, every time I increase my dose (every 8 or so days in my case).

After I increase, it usually goes away after 4 or 5 days and is not dangerous from all that I've read- just annoying.

To make sure that I sleep through the night, I usually take 10mg melatonin and 50mg benadryl and sleep well.

[skullbabyland]

My journey with Baclofen started

Max- welcome to the forum and to bac treatment. A couple thoughts-

How often do you increase your dose? Going from 50 to 75 is a sizable jump and some people have problematic SEs when jumping up too quick. Also a note- usually it takes 3 or 4 days to really feel the full effects of a jump in dosage. People can get into problems when they don't realize this and go up too fast. Bac is a serious drug with serious SE's and can be problematic when not dosed carefully. Read up on various threads on this.

Great to hear that you've responded so well so early- the lessening of the obsessive thoughts can be a real blessing, as can the lessening of anxiety. From my experience on bac, these things can come and go and go up and down like a rollercoaster for a while before evening out, so don't worry if that happens too.

Also, from what I understand, to prohibit alcoholic drinking from returning, most people will need to at least keep taking a maintenance dose for the long haul. People who don't almost always return to problem drinking.

Best of luck to you.
Skullbaby

Maxi;1540660 wrote: Thank you very much for welcoming me at this forum. It is very comforting to know that there are other people going the same way and having similar experience.

Yesterday I titrated from 50mg to 75. I did that because I started the first dose at 4 am and I was tolerating it well. I divided the intake for 12.5mg dosages.

From what I can see there is definitely something working. I cannot say I was indifferent because thoughs of drinking came to me a couple of times. The huge difference was that they were not obsessive.

Normally I would enter my home after work and have the first drink without taking of my shoes (I know it sounds bad but this is what I usually do).

I had some other obligations so I visited family and enjoyed a long conversation. This is really strange because normally I would try to finish the meeting asap in order to have a ?free time? and start the drinking session.

On the other hand there is no anxiety which is really strange because I normally worry about everything (that my family will die at one point, that my wife might be having an affair, that I can step on a needle somewhere and get a full lists of diseases that I should make more money although I am doing really well ? the list is a long one).

After Baclofen I stopped worrying completely. I still think about alcohol but not to smooth my nerves but because I really enjoy it.

I fear though that I will have to take Baclofen for life and I would not like that. I would like to have children some time in the future and I am afraid that taking high Baclofen doses might not be good for that.

I also fear the fact that I am high on Baclofen and this is not a real me. I have a feeling that perhaps the reason why it is easier not to drink is because I have a different high, a Baclofen one. I was thinking that if I was taking other drugs I could also be not drinking ? different thoughts come to my mind.

Anyway I had a fairly easy AF day yesterday - I only had 1 non-alcoholic beer (actually 0.5%). SE were terrible at nigh as I could not breath and was afraid to go to sleep.

I will see when the trip will take me to.

All the best to all of you,
Max

[Maxi]

My journey with Baclofen started

Another 2 days have passed. I was drinking 0,6 l each evening because I just could not get the same buzz and drunkness.

I hope that it will pass because I tent to drink more while on Bac for 2 reasons: I cannot get drunk and I do not suffer any hangover / anxiety.

[Maxi]

My journey with Baclofen started

PS. I fear that I will be drinking more on Bac and that I feel as taking some recreational drugs - the more Bac I take the more euthoric I feel.

Could some people let me know how long the took to indifference and what dosade tey took? Also let's say that I take 150mg daily and decide to stop. How long the safe titration down would take?