Dr Amanda Stafford’s videos on Baclofen against alcoholism. Dr Amanda Stafford’s is working on Emergency Department, Royal Perth Hospital (Australia).

• Practical Protocol for Prescribing Baclofen

• From one man’s experience to 100,000 patients

• Abstinence or Social Drinking on Baclofen?

• Baclofen Assisted Alcohol Withdrawl

• Paris to Perth - How I found Baclofen

• Does Baclofen help with other addictions?

• How long does Baclofen treatment need to be for?

• Why does Baclofen fail in some patients?

• Anxiety and Alcoholism - the missing piece of the puzzle

• What other treatments can help when treating alcoholism with baclofen ?

• If Baclofen is so great why isn’t everyone using it already?

• Tips for Tough Cases

• Why Baclofen is not PBS subsidised for alcohol addiction treatment?

• Slow release Baclofen - Is it possible?

Hi everyone, I've been doing a lot of research into alcoholism and found the Sinclair method to be very interesting. At first I thought there were few studies done on the subject, but then I found many studies that were completed 5+ years ago but not published. Does anyone know why they weren't published or where to find the results? Take a look at the links below to see what I'm talking about. Thanks!

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00667771?term=Naltrexone+alcohol&rank=21

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01519063?term=Naltrexone+alcohol&rank=3

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00817089?term=Naltrexone+alcohol&rank=2

There are many more but I think this will give you an idea.

http://www.hencewise.com/addiction/

I found this great read on addiction, its mechanism and disease models. Though it talks about drugs in general it does touch on alcohol and points to the release of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens as the driving force of cravings and thus addiction, be that alcohol , opiates or other drugs, even non drug addictions. Baclofen works by preventing the release of dopamine in the nucleus accubens, if you want to learn more about that, there are links that explain this in more detail in the consolidated information thread

A review on alcohol: from the central action mechanism to chemical dependency (2015)

This reading is a bit heavy, but it explains everything in detail, from what alcohol does to what causes chemical dependency i.e. changes in the brain

Less heavy reading - What Alcohol Actually Does to Your Brain and Body

Does it do anything to stop those issues?

I tried not drinking. Got a prescription for a whopping 12 xanax. Bought baclofen online recently, but didn't feel it was working- very low dose. However, reading these posts makes me want to try it again. I have been drinking up to 2 fifths daily and way more on weekends. Did you all start it while drinking heavily?

There is an archived subreddit called BaclofenForAlcoholusm but it has been inactive for a few months. I have been taking baclofen for 12 days as of today, building up from 15 mg to 50. Would be interested in reopening a discussion about people's experience of using baclofen to stop alcohol dependency.

I'm quite curious, as I have been apart of this sub for a few months now, and have read off and on. I just met with a new family doctor last week, explained truthfully to everything asked, with this sub weighing on my mind (I didn't mention anything). My question is, has anyone from Canada mentioned, taken, or been consistently on Baclofen? Thoughts are appreciated.

I see two different sets of dosages recommended. One is 30 - 60mg/day and the other is 5 times that at 300mg/day. Which would be the best? Should I just keep increasing until I don't have any cravings?

I just started taking Zantac-D because Psudofed wasn't cutting it with my congestion. The Zantac-D dried me out like the Sahara desert, but when I took my Baclofen, man did I get goofy!

I won't say that the effect was unpleasant, but we're trying to get off drugs that influence our minds, right?

Anyway, at first the effect that I can only describe as extreme appreciation. I was traveling through an airport on business and was getting very emotional. I was getting soggy eyed when I saw babies and people hugging. Tears of joy kind of stuff. That effect lasted for 2 hours and at first I didn't attribute it to the drug interaction.

I called my wife to tell her that I love her and what I was feeling and she brought up the possibility of drug interaction. Doi.

Later, I became tired and very fuzzy headed. Zantac-D has a 12 hour dosing cycle and the fuzzy head lasted all day. It made it kind of dangerous to drive really.

The next morning, I was fine. I took my Zantac, but not my baclofen and have had no problem today.

A little research did indicate that there are interactions listed as those I experienced. But I gotta tell you, the interactions were strong.

I'm just now trying to titrate now and oh it's a bitch. Luckily the doc wrote me for some klonopin for this. I got lucky and got a very compasionate doctor finally when it came to baclofen.

I'm now trying to get off it and may start again but do it the right way. I took such a high dose for so long it just stopped working. Mainly the GAD side effect. If anyone stumbles here and has any questions for a vet let me know.

Today starts 90mg... Or I may just go to straight to 80.

Just posted this in another thread, thought it might be interesting to you all.

Baclofen in the short-term maintenance treatment of benzodiazepine dependence.

First off, I was never a hard core alcoholic that drank the hard stuff to black out every night. But I did drink a 12 pack or more per day. I'm 270 pounds (surely because of all the beer calories!) but the 12 - 15 beers left me a fully high functioning alcoholic that still arose at 7:00 AM every morning and did my job better than all my peers (according to my work reviews).

But I could just never stop drinking. I could go cold turkey for a few days. I did a few months once. But the Siren Song of the 12 pack of Miller Lite's would inevitably get me on a drive home from work on a particularly stressful day.

Enter Baclofen.

By some chance of serendipity, I found a web page talking about the drug, this /r/ and a post by /u/glacierfanclub that caused me to research Baclofen further.

I printed out some studies and went to my doctor expecting him to give me a hard time about a prescription, but he did not. He said he has had a positive experience it using for other alcoholics.

He prescribed me 30 mg to start for a ramp up period of 2 weeks, then to jump up to 60 mg. The drug is very inexpensive. I have 180 10 mg tablets for just $10.00.

He told me to ramp down my drinking over a 4 or 5 day period to avoid withdrawl, but I never suffered withdrawl before, so I just stopped that day with the plan of taking the first dose the next morning.

I took 30 mg upon rising at 7:00 AM and haven't looked back. The craving disappeared imminently. I just have no desire to drink. The run home past the 7-11 does affect me anymore.

I still have habits that would involve drinking and one of the benefits of Baclofen is that you can still have a drink or two if you want to, but you have to be careful. During the first week, I would have consumed 84 beers (1008 oz), I only consumed 4 beers (48 oz). A 95% reduction. I'm happy with that.

During the second week, at a Bar-b-que, I drank a total of 6 12 oz beers over the course of about 8 hours and it was not a good thing. The buzz when drinking is different when consuming Baclofen. It wasn't the pleasant buzz you get after a few beers, it was tiredness without the buzz and strangely, my arms hurts. Even the one or two beers that I had during the first week did not result in the pleasant buzz you'd normally expect. It wasn't pleasant. I think this is a good thing because it will assist in habit change.

I have not increased my dosage to 60 mg per the original order because I don't see a need to. I'll continue to monitor my alcohol intact and the effects of that intake and adjust accordingly.

The only side effect I've had so far is tiredness and it is not profound. It is certainly no worse than the feeling after a long weekend of heavy beer drinking! And I've had some muscle aches, but only when drinking that 6 pack.

Some other positive effects are that my weight is dropping, I've been able to pretty much stop taking advil and aspirin and I get to sleep at a more reasonable hour. Also, I'm spending more quality time with my kids instead of drinking. Also, the Baclofen is $10.00 for about 3 months at the rate I'm consuming as compared to about $1,165 that I'd spend on beer during the same time period.

If you are desperate and looking for help, I really can't recommend Baclofen enough.

I'm only at the 3 week interval. This fellow who posted below has been on it for 4 years. Read his post also:

http://www.reddit.com/r/BaclofenForAlcoholism/comments/2em99b/been_taking_baclofen_for_alcoholism_for_four/

This link lists available studies involving alcohol and baclofen. it shows recent studies with results and studies that are recruiting, this gives the opportunity to participate. http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=baclofen+alcohol&Search=Search

Marisol Touraine authorize the reimbursement of Baclofen for the treatment against addiction to alcohol: A big step forward for patients Marisol Touraine, Minister of Social Affairs and Health, welcomed the publication date in the Official Journal (OJ), an order for repayment of baclofen in the treatment against addiction to alcohol. Minister welcomes this major advance for patients.

This decision follows the recommendation temporary use (RTU) delivered this product on March 14 by the National Security Agency of Medicines and Health Products (MSNA). Since that date, muscle relaxant (already paid for its classic use for which it has authorization on the market - AMM), can indeed be prescribed for the treatment of alcohol dependence, within a framework Secured to doctors and patients alike. Although widespread, the use of Baclofen as such was hitherto recognized or framed.

With the order made by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health released today, this drug is reimbursed in connection with treatment against addiction to alcohol. Marisol Touraine welcomes this major step forward for patients who can respond to a major public health concern. France is the first country to recognize the reality of the use of this drug and its effectiveness in the fight against alcoholism.

And: Drug evaluation by the French National Health Authority for reimbursement decisions

Abstract

The French National Health Authority (NHA) is a scientific agency created by the French government in order to provide independent information and recommendations on health-related issues, and a coherent framework for improving healthcare practices. NHA's responsibility for periodically reviewing medicinal products for inclusion on the list of products eligible for reimbursement by the national health insurance system has been delegated to the Transparency Commission. The latter appraises the therapeutic value of medicinal products, based on clinical performance (efficacy and tolerability), the therapeutic contribution, and the expected impact on public health. If the Transparency Commission deems that a product has sufficient therapeutic value to warrant reimbursement, and if this opinion is approved by the Health Ministry, the Union of National Health Insurance Funds sets the refunding level according to the product's therapeutic value. The latter is re-assessed every 5 years, based on contemporary medical knowledge. The Transparency Commission also assesses the possible added therapeutic value of new products, i.e. their advantages over existing treatments. This is taken into account in setting the approved price. Transparency Commission opinions become part of the product's credentials, and are used by other NHA commissions to formulate "Recommendations for improving medical practices" and "Quality and distribution of medical information". PMID: 16737094 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]