Hi All

Started on Baclofen today. After drinking heavily over the past few weeks (with Nal) I feel able to have an a/f day today. It's helped dramatically with withdrawal. No sedation, or sleepiness - I just feel "normal" - anxiety not through the roof. Hope this is the boost I need.

AshL

I hope so, too, Ashl. I've been wondering. Thanks for coming by.

Thanks so much for sharing this info - it's a route I may explore in a month or so, if I can't get over the anxiety I experience on days I try to go AF.

Can you share your dosage, etc.? And keep us posted?

Thanks for your support all. It really is appreciated!

G4M - I'm taking 10mg once an hour if required. up to 80mg a day. I will adjust it as I get past the intial withdrawal stage.

Are you going to continue to take nal and drink or are you going to abstain all together?

I really don't know SG. I just want to get through the next few days first and haven't made a decision as of yet. I suppose it would be better to abstain as I tend to overdrink and develop a cycle of feel extremely anxious and panicky the next day so drink more to ease that...before I know it my drinking is daily and problematc (Know this is fairly common).

I suppose I'll be in a better place to think it though once I have been A/F for a few days. Relief from the panic/anxiety - to be able to break this cycle - is enough for me at the moment. Hopefully I'll see clearer soon.

I suppose I should just point out - as far as I can see from my personal research: although Baclofen is a type of CNS depressant, it is not studied well enough for alcohol withdrawal to be recommended as a detoxification agent so I am in effect taking responsibility for my self with this.

from what ive read, you should complete the 12 weeks at least

remember, abstaining does not produce extinction!

All the very best to you, ashl. It's good to know how a fellow Brit is getting on.

V.

P.S. Just in case I've set myself up for criticism, I also care about others' progress too!

found this, i was hooked on diazo and had to have septic shock and hosptialization
before i kicked the drug.

if you do not need it, avoid it, read what it says.....

"Discontinuation of baclofen can be associated with a withdrawal syndrome which resembles benzodiazepine withdrawal and alcohol withdrawal. Withdrawal symptoms are more likely if baclofen is used for long periods of time (more than a couple of months) and can occur from low or high doses. The severity of baclofen withdrawal depends on the rate at which baclofen is discontinued. Thus to minimise baclofen withdrawal symptoms the dose should be tapered down slowly when discontinuing baclofen therapy. Abrupt withdrawal is most likely to result in severe withdrawal symptoms. Acute withdrawal symptoms can be stopped by recommencing baclofen.[13]"
wikipedia

Thanks Canadian. I am well aware of the risks and have taken this in to account. I know Baclofen is a controversial medication for alcohol dependence- some would go as far to say it's substituting one addiction for another. However I would like to point out that one does not build up a tolerence to Baclofen and it doesn't create any buzz as such (as oppose to BZD's, GHB, barbituates) - so it's abuse potential is pretty much non existent. If anyone can correct me then please feel free.

It started to become reported widely upon as a possible treatment for alcohol addiction after the personal experience/success story of Dr Olivier Ameisen was published.