Hi Folks,

So, I'm now no less than 36 weeks (9 months!) into TSM - just 4 weeks to go before I declare defeat. Having said that, I have sufficient naltrexone to keep me going into the New Year. And that's still staying with the higher dose of 100 mg (one hour before drinking).

Right from the outset, I had doubts that this method would work for me as I think I'm primarily a GABA drinker. Endorphins play second fiddle as my main motivator for drinking is to keep anxiety at bay. In that respect, I may have more success with baclofen. Dr Olivier Ameisen was able to 'kill two birds with one stone', namely, anxiety and alcoholism - through his use of baclofen. I'm still keen to see what I can achieve with dietary supplements but I suspect it will be slow progress. And that's a problem for me right now as my anxiety has been through the roof of recent. Today, I shall be starting a new course of 'treatment' with my therapist aimed at curbing this anxiety spike.

The biggest problem with going down the baclofen route is trying to find a doctor that will prescribe it. Because of my ultra-cautious nature, I am unhappy with the idea of buying medications online. I feel much more comfortable knowing that I am under medical supervision at all times. That's partly because I take an array of other drugs and I don't know how they'll interact with baclofen. I have made several enquiries and know of just one doctor that has already mentioned (to me) the use of baclofen. One minor (!) problem is that he's 400 miles away, which in UK terms is a lot. Still, I'm not going to let that be an obstacle to progress.

That's enough from me.

V.

We have similar conditions. I am hypomanic and OCD, so over the years I was always trying to tone it down, but after many years you get worn out. My psychiatrist says that these conditions drove me to self-medicate with alcohol, since it solved both maladies. Eventually the self-medication became out-of-control and I became an alcoholic. Now that I am being properly treated for my conditions with an SSRI and two different central nervous system depressants, the alcohol is unnecessary. But, I was still an alcoholic that needed to be cured. TSM cured me of the alcoholism and I was no longer drawn to self-medicate since I have been under a doctor's care for my conditions for the past five years. So the root cause that drove me into alcoholism no longer exists.

I was thinking of your condition. Unfortunately, I haven't taken the time to read through your whole thread to see if you are being professionally treated for GAD and OCD. If not, you will still be drawn to alcohol to self-medicate. Either that, or kill the root cause by medicating with Baclofen since that significantly reduces anxiety per Dr.Olivier Ameisen's instructions. I have his book as well.

Bob

Hi Bob,

Thanks for your comments.

Firstly, I don't blame you for not reading through my whole thread - I only recommend that as an antidote to insomnia!

I am being professionally treated for both GAD and OCD. Indeed, I have been in treatment for more years than I care to remember. But I am finding that it's painfully slow progress. No medications have helped long-term; the benzos have only brought short-term relief (bit like alcohol). I have had no success with SSRIs. So, my mainstay has been, and continues to be, psychotherapy. I am currently seeing a therapist who is very good and I am keeping my fingers crossed that this is going to do the trick; I see my therapist weekly.

For me, I don't see the root cause of my problems as anxiety itself - that is a symptom of my problems. Rather, the root cause lies with my set of beliefs formed about myself and the world around me. And these beliefs are rooted fairly and squarely in my traumatic childhood. In short, the root cause is childhood trauma. Consequently, I have been using a combination of Imagery Re-Scripting, CBT and Schema Therapy to address my condition.

V.

Thanks for reminding us that GAD is not the same thing as garden-variety anxiety. I can't imagine dealing with it on that level, day in and day out. Whatever the cause of your problems, Virgil, I'm happy you're determined to find a solution.

No matter what you decide about TSM, you are a far-too-valuable part of this community for us to lose. If it turns out TSM does not work for you, your perspective and input will remain useful for us.

And we hope you'll continue to rely on us for support.

Of course, my wish for you remains that you hit that sudden success like bob3d and others have.

Hi Lena,

Many thanks for your kind words.

Just recently, I've been giving some thought to what part I'll play in this community after Christmas. In saying that, I'm now resigned to failure with TSM. Sad. But I have made some good friends as a result of participating in this community and I will certainly keep in contact with them. I have started using the MWO forums again and I am following the baclofen threads, with interest. I may choose to spend more time on their forums but I will follow, with interest, the progress of my fellow members here in the TSM community. I am genuinely keen to see how people progress - both the 'old-timers' and newbies alike.

You know, whenever I see that expression 'old-timer', I can't help but remember my university days when one of the most popular beers we sold in the hall of residence was - you guessed it - Old Timer, brewed (as I remember) by Wadworth's who reside in Devizes, Wiltshire.

All the best.

V.

Hi Folks,

I have just completed Week 37 on TSM. My units are up a tad and this is the result of increased anxiety on most days throughout the week. Having said that, my consumption on one day was a mere 9 units. This was the result of needing to do some work on my computer so I wasn't drinking. Moral of the story - keep myself busy. But there are limits to what is achievable by taking this approach.

My search for an alternative to TSM continues and it's proving to be an uphill struggle at present. I cannot find a single doctor in Southern England that will prescribe baclofen who doesn't charge the earth. I thought I'd struck gold a couple of days ago. I discovered a doctor in London that does prescribe baclofen but his fees are prohibitively expensive. I suspect his clients are celebrities who can afford his rates. But, my search continues. I have always said that I'm uncomfortable about buying medications online but necessity may force me to succumb.

That's it for this week.

V.

Hi V,

A member of the alcohol group I was attending is (or was, the last time I went) prescribed low-level Baclofen for anxiety AND craving reduction on the NHS. Whether it is from his GP or a psychiatrist I don't quite remember, but I have a strong feeling it was from his GP.

I'm sure there's a good chance you've already mentioned it to your GP without success. Mine shot Baclofen down in a second when I asked for it (you know full well what he is like!) but an open-minded GP CAN prescribe it on the NHS.

I'm considering talking to my psychiatrist about it - my GP will listen to her - if I decide to go down that route. The next few weeks will probably help me make that decision. My previous (private) psychiatrist - quite prominent - shot down both Baclofen and TSM, but then I never presented the hard evidence from the books (I was too dink-sodden at that point ). PLUS he is the head of that particular establishment of The Priory

I don't have Dr Ameisen's book to hand, but from memory there is enough evidence in there from his own papers to convince an open-minded medical professional to at least allow a trial phase of use, if pushed.

I too had never even dreamed of ordering medicines from the internet, but found confidence about River from the members here, and the Nal they provided from India was unquestionably the real thing.

All the best,

8

Hi Folks,

I now have an appointment with an alcohol addiction specialist this coming Monday. I am hoping to walk away from the appointment holding a prescription for baclofen in my hand. With a bit of luck, that should happen. Fingers crossed. The way by which this appointment has come about is nothing short of divine intervention.

V.

Hi V,

I'm pretty sure you've got it covered with the "divine intervention" going on, but I'll be pulling for you too! Maybe this will be the a new beginning to the end...

Hi K1,

Nothing wrong with a bit of extra help!

My thanks to you.

V.