Male. 32. Average size to thin.

Drinking started as a teenager. Escalated very gradually to drinking often, to drinking every day by age 23. Amount gradually increased during 20's. By late 20's, no ability to sleep at all without drinking. By age 30, drinking some mornings and starting to get withdrawal symptoms. By age 32, drinking 12-15 units per day on average days, just to keep shakes, headaches, racing heart, heaves, anxiety, under bay. No real mental health issues. Started to loose feeling in hands and feet. Odd skin problems. No appetite, but gaining weight. No enjoyment from drinking anymore, just staying afloat.

No family doctor and the ones I saw in walk-in clinics were no help.

Self-administered a detox with Ativan in December, which was unpleasant, but worked. Went a day without drinking for the first time in years. That turned into three. Felt great, so I started drinking again.

In January, in total despair, I got a prescription for Baclofen, 60 mg per day. This helped my withdrawal symptoms of shaking, heaving, and insomnia. Did nothing for the anxiety and racing heart. Was able to detox a second and third time with 60 mg Baclofen alone. Didn't last. Ordered more online and titrated up to 100 mg per day. Started to experience side effects from the Baclofen then - insomnia, confusion, crazy somnolence, low mood. But drinking did go down - a bit. Below 12 units per day, but not much less.

Over two months, gradually tried to get up to 150 mg per day. Every time, side effects became intolerable. Was able to maintain 100 mg per day.

In April, started 25 mg Naltrexone prior to drinking. IMMEDIATE response! I felt awkward and sick drinking AND LOVED IT. Oh, what a great feeling! The only side effect has been some nausea, but I kind of like it, as it encourages me to drink less and eat less junk food. Positive side effect is the Naltrexone seems to counter-act the insomnia caused by the Balcofen.

Pre-TSM: 12-15 units per day, more on occasion

First week's progress: 9, 6, 3, 7, 9, 11, 5 units (So, about half of usual.)

I FEEL GREAT! Especially after the "below 6" days. So alert, like I haven't been in years.

So far I feel no need to go above 25 mg Naltrexone, and the 100 mg Baclofen keeps cravings under control and prevents shakiness after days I do go overboard. The Naltrexone is so comforting. I know it's there if I need it, and I will use it along with willpower. I have a bottle of Valium that never gave me that comfort. It was for use if I "fail". The Naltrexone is there to "succeed."

Terry, thanks for posting that. Very interesting indeed. Would you say that relief of anxiety is one of the reasons you drank? I have often wondered that some of our board members that didn't respond to naltrexone alone or that had significant anxiety as part of their reason for drinking might respond to a combination of bac and nal. I certainly would have added baclofen if I had not seen progress with naltrexone. Hopefully we'll see some studies on bac+nal in the future. Glad to hear your doing better.

Anxiety is definitely one of the reasons I drank. But I suspects it was caused by the alcohol as much as anything else.

Baclofen did not reduce my anxiety much - which again makes me think it was mostly a symptom of physical withdrawal.

As I mentioned though, if I do drink too much now, I feel like crap the next day, but the Baclofen suppresses many of the withdrawal symptoms enough to function - except the anxiety.

That is curious. I read Ameisen's book and his relief of anxiety through baclofen is a recurring theme throughout the book. It's a powerful story but anecdotal just as your lack of anxiety relief with baclofen is also anecdotal. I'm just glad you are finding a combination that is making a dent in your numbers. That is really all that matters it will be years before the exact mechanisms of alcoholism are completely understood. Please keep us all updated on your progress.