DOSE: 100 mg Baclofen (25/25/25/25); 900 mg Gabapentin (300/300/300); 300 mg Bupropion SR (150/150).
SIDE EFFECTS: Decreased alcohol cravings.
I'm sorry for not updating my blog more often. After beginning gabapentin I stopped increasing my baclofen dose, and therefore felt I was no longer living up to the blog's title. I had to take a makeup final exam earlier this week, and I think I did well on it. In order to study more successfully for my exam, I cut my gabapentin dose in half. I did this also because I couldn't tell if gabapentin was making a difference in my alcohol cravings. The wellbutrin (bupropion) has been effective at giving me more energy during the day, and since I've been at the same baclofen dose for several weeks now I am experiencing literally no side effects from it, or from any of the other medications. After I reduced my gabapentin dose, I initally noticed a slight return of cravings, but that has since diminished. By no means have I reached the highly sought after "indifference" to alcohol. I still have drinking urges, but they have not yet been severe by any means. I haven't had any moment that I would consider a "close call", and I'm able to function productively. In the next few days I may stop taking gabapentin completely, and start slowly increasing my baclofen dose once again. I've been sober for over three months now, and I'm proud of that. Reaching this point is not new to me, but it's definitely worthwhile. However I need to continue to work on the social and psychological aspects of alcoholism, and start to branch out and find support networks. I'll be starting my next semester of classes in the coming weeks, and that will surely bring about quite a bit of stress and anxiety. So hopefully I can have a network of supportive people in place by the time school starts. Aside from that, not too much to report. I'm back home once again for the holidays, which is always stressful. But it is good to see my family again. Back in Arizona I've become somewhat reclusive, and I know that I need to change that habit in order to maintain enjoyable sobriety. It is good to know that if I stick to one dose of baclofen for long enough I can reach a point where I feel no side effects other than reduced alcohol cravings.
Hope everyone has a happy holidays!
Sunday, December 21, 2014
Saturday, December 6, 2014
Day 49
DOSE: 100 mg Baclofen (25/10/20/20/25); 1,800 mg Gabapentin (600/600/600); 300 mg Bupropion SR (150/150).
OTHER MEDICATION(S): Multivitamin (1 tablet); Fish Oil (1 capsule).
SIDE EFFECTS: Short-term memory lapses; mild anxiety; slightly decreased alcohol cravings.
Well now I'm on quite a cocktail of medications. After meeting with my psychiatrist a few days ago, we decided to add Wellbutrin (generic Bupropion) to the mix to combat tiredness and memory problems. He was reluctant to prescribe a stimulant (for good reason), and so far bupropion has most definitely helped with tiredness. I've been researching gabapentin, and memory problems is not a listed side effect. Perhaps it's just a lack of focus and motivation that is causing me to have trouble retaining information. The reason I took an extra 10 mg today is because I was feeling really anxious and having some cravings. It's kind of frightening that my cravings are returning, and I'm not sure what's causing it. The past couple days it's been pretty bad, but I am able to recall how terrible my life was when drinking and could easily say no. For about the first month out of treatment my cravings were practically nonexistent, so I'm thinking that gabapentin may actually be making things worse. For now I'm just going to continue doing what I'm doing and hope that things get better as my body continues to adjust to these medications.
I finally stopped procrastinating on an assignment that I had to complete in order to finish one of my makeup classes, and that has helped to alleviate some pressure at least. However I still have the big exam to take, and that continues to cause a lot of stress. I'm still sober which is obviously the most important part, and I plan to stay that way. The side effects have pretty much all abated, except for the ones I've listed above. Regardless of anything, I'm extremely happy about the fact that medications for alcoholism are being researched and tested. I'll post more later!
OTHER MEDICATION(S): Multivitamin (1 tablet); Fish Oil (1 capsule).
SIDE EFFECTS: Short-term memory lapses; mild anxiety; slightly decreased alcohol cravings.
Well now I'm on quite a cocktail of medications. After meeting with my psychiatrist a few days ago, we decided to add Wellbutrin (generic Bupropion) to the mix to combat tiredness and memory problems. He was reluctant to prescribe a stimulant (for good reason), and so far bupropion has most definitely helped with tiredness. I've been researching gabapentin, and memory problems is not a listed side effect. Perhaps it's just a lack of focus and motivation that is causing me to have trouble retaining information. The reason I took an extra 10 mg today is because I was feeling really anxious and having some cravings. It's kind of frightening that my cravings are returning, and I'm not sure what's causing it. The past couple days it's been pretty bad, but I am able to recall how terrible my life was when drinking and could easily say no. For about the first month out of treatment my cravings were practically nonexistent, so I'm thinking that gabapentin may actually be making things worse. For now I'm just going to continue doing what I'm doing and hope that things get better as my body continues to adjust to these medications.
I finally stopped procrastinating on an assignment that I had to complete in order to finish one of my makeup classes, and that has helped to alleviate some pressure at least. However I still have the big exam to take, and that continues to cause a lot of stress. I'm still sober which is obviously the most important part, and I plan to stay that way. The side effects have pretty much all abated, except for the ones I've listed above. Regardless of anything, I'm extremely happy about the fact that medications for alcoholism are being researched and tested. I'll post more later!
Thursday, November 27, 2014
Day 40
DOSE: 80 mg Baclofen (20/20/20/20); 1,500 mg Gabapentin (600/300/600).
OTHER MEDICATION(S): Multivitamin (1 tablet).
SIDE EFFECTS: Headache in the morning; short-term memory lapses; somnolence; decreased alcohol cravings.
I haven't posted in a little while, and that's because I've taken a slight detour on my baclofen journey. I met with a psychiatrist about a week ago hoping to get an increased prescription for my baclofen use so I don't have to supplement my dose through other means. However, after meeting with the psychiatrist, he insisted that I try gabapentin, another off-label alcoholism drug. So I've been titrating up on gabapentin, but because it makes me drowsy too I had to reduce my baclofen intake so I could tolerate both. In the past few days I've noticed a frightening return of cravings, and I'm unable to determine whether it's from taking gabapentin or from reducing the amount of baclofen I'm taking. I was up to 110 mg/day of baclofen when I began gabapentin, and I quickly dropped the amount of baclofen to 80 mg, which could well be the cause of my recent drinking urges. Regardless, I'm still sober! I drove home for Thanksgiving yesterday, and I became very tired near the end of my drive, to the point that I almost thought I couldn't continue! However, I bought some coffee and snapped out of it. So I'm a little nervous about changing my game plan to include gabapentin, but I want to give it a fair chance and see if it helps me reach a point of indifference towards alcohol. The few studies that I've read about the efficacy of gabapentin in reducing cravings seem promising, and if it doesn't work out I will simply return to my original baclofen titration schedule. Anyways, getting ready for a delicious Thanksgiving dinner with my family, so I should probably get going. Also, today I haven't had any cravings whatsoever, so hopefully that will continue as my body adjusts to this new medication. Happy holidays!
OTHER MEDICATION(S): Multivitamin (1 tablet).
SIDE EFFECTS: Headache in the morning; short-term memory lapses; somnolence; decreased alcohol cravings.
I haven't posted in a little while, and that's because I've taken a slight detour on my baclofen journey. I met with a psychiatrist about a week ago hoping to get an increased prescription for my baclofen use so I don't have to supplement my dose through other means. However, after meeting with the psychiatrist, he insisted that I try gabapentin, another off-label alcoholism drug. So I've been titrating up on gabapentin, but because it makes me drowsy too I had to reduce my baclofen intake so I could tolerate both. In the past few days I've noticed a frightening return of cravings, and I'm unable to determine whether it's from taking gabapentin or from reducing the amount of baclofen I'm taking. I was up to 110 mg/day of baclofen when I began gabapentin, and I quickly dropped the amount of baclofen to 80 mg, which could well be the cause of my recent drinking urges. Regardless, I'm still sober! I drove home for Thanksgiving yesterday, and I became very tired near the end of my drive, to the point that I almost thought I couldn't continue! However, I bought some coffee and snapped out of it. So I'm a little nervous about changing my game plan to include gabapentin, but I want to give it a fair chance and see if it helps me reach a point of indifference towards alcohol. The few studies that I've read about the efficacy of gabapentin in reducing cravings seem promising, and if it doesn't work out I will simply return to my original baclofen titration schedule. Anyways, getting ready for a delicious Thanksgiving dinner with my family, so I should probably get going. Also, today I haven't had any cravings whatsoever, so hopefully that will continue as my body adjusts to this new medication. Happy holidays!
Monday, November 17, 2014
Day 30
DOSE: 100 mg Baclofen (Brand name Fexobac) (25/25/25/25).
OTHER MEDICATION(S): Multivitamin (1 tablet). Omega 3 Fish Oil (1 capsule).
SIDE EFFECTS: Slight headache in the morning; somnolence; decreased alcohol cravings.
I'm finally in triple digits on my high-dose baclofen experience, and so far I have not experienced practically any of the negative side effects that I had heard so much about. It's my third day at 100mg, and I am still feeling tired at certain points throughout the day. Normally the somnolence wears off after the second day of a dose increase, but so far I'm still wanting to take an occasional nap. But it's definitely worth it, because so far today I haven't had a single craving for alcohol! Or if I have it's been so minor that I can't even remember it. Regardless, I'm feeling good about where I'm at. When I'm working out at the gym, I notice some slight muscle weakness, but it hasn't been too much of a hindrance so far. I'm still sober, and since I'm not counting individual days but rather the 20th of each month, I'll have two months sober in just three days! This will not be the first, or second time I've been sober for two months, but it will be the longest amount of time I've been sober without attending Alcoholic's Anonymous meetings. It just feels good to be choosing my own path, and attempting to use a medical treatment for a medical problem, as opposed to a dogmatic, theological approach to the treatment of alcoholism. However I am participating in an outpatient program and attending therapy sessions. I'm still noticing that it's hard to get myself motivated to do things that I really need to get done, but I really need to just buckle down and do it. I'm also playing on an intramural soccer team, and I'm still experiencing muscle cramping when I sprint or exert a lot of energy. Now that tiredness is becoming more common, I might start titrating up more slowly, perhaps every five days as the dosage gets higher. I've also started taking the larger dose (if there is one) in the morning and before bed so as to avoid sleepiness. Anyways, not much more to report on that front. Life is slowly starting to come back together, and I'm optimistic about baclofen. I'm also extremely grateful that I'm not experiencing crazy symptoms like insomnia, or itching, or anything else like that. Goodnight.
OTHER MEDICATION(S): Multivitamin (1 tablet). Omega 3 Fish Oil (1 capsule).
SIDE EFFECTS: Slight headache in the morning; somnolence; decreased alcohol cravings.
I'm finally in triple digits on my high-dose baclofen experience, and so far I have not experienced practically any of the negative side effects that I had heard so much about. It's my third day at 100mg, and I am still feeling tired at certain points throughout the day. Normally the somnolence wears off after the second day of a dose increase, but so far I'm still wanting to take an occasional nap. But it's definitely worth it, because so far today I haven't had a single craving for alcohol! Or if I have it's been so minor that I can't even remember it. Regardless, I'm feeling good about where I'm at. When I'm working out at the gym, I notice some slight muscle weakness, but it hasn't been too much of a hindrance so far. I'm still sober, and since I'm not counting individual days but rather the 20th of each month, I'll have two months sober in just three days! This will not be the first, or second time I've been sober for two months, but it will be the longest amount of time I've been sober without attending Alcoholic's Anonymous meetings. It just feels good to be choosing my own path, and attempting to use a medical treatment for a medical problem, as opposed to a dogmatic, theological approach to the treatment of alcoholism. However I am participating in an outpatient program and attending therapy sessions. I'm still noticing that it's hard to get myself motivated to do things that I really need to get done, but I really need to just buckle down and do it. I'm also playing on an intramural soccer team, and I'm still experiencing muscle cramping when I sprint or exert a lot of energy. Now that tiredness is becoming more common, I might start titrating up more slowly, perhaps every five days as the dosage gets higher. I've also started taking the larger dose (if there is one) in the morning and before bed so as to avoid sleepiness. Anyways, not much more to report on that front. Life is slowly starting to come back together, and I'm optimistic about baclofen. I'm also extremely grateful that I'm not experiencing crazy symptoms like insomnia, or itching, or anything else like that. Goodnight.
Monday, November 10, 2014
Day 23
DOSE: 80 mg Baclofen (Brand name Fexobac) (20/20/20/20).
OTHER MEDICATION(S): Multivitamin (1 tablet). Omega 3 Fish Oil (1 capsule).
SIDE EFFECTS: Mood changes; somnolence; slightly decreased alcohol cravings.
Haven't posted in a little while. I've noticed a slight decrease in my motivation to get things done. Also, this morning and afternoon I was in a terrible mood, and found myself extremely stressed out over seemingly minor situations. A few days ago I bought a new car, which was a hellish process but I absolutely love my new vehicle! However I think the baclofen has made me hyper-sensitive to stressful situations, and over the weekend I noticed a strong desire to drink. The feeling came back again this morning, so I'm a bit frightened because that's usually how I feel before I relapse. I'm still sober though, and I'll have two months sober on the 20th! Also, I play on an intramural soccer team, and my leg muscles started cramping continuously to the point that I couldn't even play the game. I have to assume this is also a side effect of baclofen. My sleep is still good other than the fact that I wake up early in the morning (not early to most people, around 6 a.m.), and I'm unable to fall back asleep once I wake up. My kitty is doing well. She runs around constantly now and bugs the hell out of me. All in all I'm still optimistic about reaching a state of indifference toward alcohol through high-dose baclofen. Tomorrow I'll be increasing my dose to 90 mg. I've slowed my titration to an increase of 10 mg every four days, and if I continue to feel tired during the day I will slow it even more. The side effects are not nearly as bad as several other users have reported, so I'm happy about that. Anyways, just wanted to post an update. Alcohol cravings are most definitely not gone, but I only experience them in situations of high stress. During usual day-to-day activities, I have noticed that I'm hardly ever thinking about alcohol. I'll post more in the days to come!
OTHER MEDICATION(S): Multivitamin (1 tablet). Omega 3 Fish Oil (1 capsule).
SIDE EFFECTS: Mood changes; somnolence; slightly decreased alcohol cravings.
Haven't posted in a little while. I've noticed a slight decrease in my motivation to get things done. Also, this morning and afternoon I was in a terrible mood, and found myself extremely stressed out over seemingly minor situations. A few days ago I bought a new car, which was a hellish process but I absolutely love my new vehicle! However I think the baclofen has made me hyper-sensitive to stressful situations, and over the weekend I noticed a strong desire to drink. The feeling came back again this morning, so I'm a bit frightened because that's usually how I feel before I relapse. I'm still sober though, and I'll have two months sober on the 20th! Also, I play on an intramural soccer team, and my leg muscles started cramping continuously to the point that I couldn't even play the game. I have to assume this is also a side effect of baclofen. My sleep is still good other than the fact that I wake up early in the morning (not early to most people, around 6 a.m.), and I'm unable to fall back asleep once I wake up. My kitty is doing well. She runs around constantly now and bugs the hell out of me. All in all I'm still optimistic about reaching a state of indifference toward alcohol through high-dose baclofen. Tomorrow I'll be increasing my dose to 90 mg. I've slowed my titration to an increase of 10 mg every four days, and if I continue to feel tired during the day I will slow it even more. The side effects are not nearly as bad as several other users have reported, so I'm happy about that. Anyways, just wanted to post an update. Alcohol cravings are most definitely not gone, but I only experience them in situations of high stress. During usual day-to-day activities, I have noticed that I'm hardly ever thinking about alcohol. I'll post more in the days to come!
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Day 17
DOSE: 70 mg Baclofen (Brand name Fexobac) (20/15/20/15).
OTHER MEDICATION(S): Multivitamin (1 tablet). Omega 3 Fish Oil (1 capsule).
SIDE EFFECTS: Slight mood changes; headache; somnolence; slightly decreased alcohol cravings.
Today I increased my dose another 10 mg, reaching the 70 mg mark and going strong! Many people claim that around this dosage and higher are when problems and debilitating side effects can occur, so I'm a little nervous about that. This morning when I took the 20 mg dose I felt pretty tired, but I think that's also because my new kitten has been keeping me awake with her crying at night. Anyways, I know that very few people read this blog, but it's helpful for me to be able to look back on my progress and experiences. I noticed increased tiredness and markedly reduced alcohol cravings. However just about an hour ago I had what seemed like a wave of anxiety brush over me, and the effects of that have persisted for a while. Overall the side effects have not been too negative at all, and I'm still sleeping great aside from strange dreams. I've also noticed that I'm waking up slightly earlier than usual. Not a big deal though. I'm getting a little nervous thinking about how high I should go with baclofen, and whether or not "indifference" is attainable. Still hopeful and happy and healthy. I'm sure I could write a lot more about a bunch of random stuff, but now I'm just going to kick back, watch The Walking Dead and cuddle with my new kitty! Goodnight.
OTHER MEDICATION(S): Multivitamin (1 tablet). Omega 3 Fish Oil (1 capsule).
SIDE EFFECTS: Slight mood changes; headache; somnolence; slightly decreased alcohol cravings.
Today I increased my dose another 10 mg, reaching the 70 mg mark and going strong! Many people claim that around this dosage and higher are when problems and debilitating side effects can occur, so I'm a little nervous about that. This morning when I took the 20 mg dose I felt pretty tired, but I think that's also because my new kitten has been keeping me awake with her crying at night. Anyways, I know that very few people read this blog, but it's helpful for me to be able to look back on my progress and experiences. I noticed increased tiredness and markedly reduced alcohol cravings. However just about an hour ago I had what seemed like a wave of anxiety brush over me, and the effects of that have persisted for a while. Overall the side effects have not been too negative at all, and I'm still sleeping great aside from strange dreams. I've also noticed that I'm waking up slightly earlier than usual. Not a big deal though. I'm getting a little nervous thinking about how high I should go with baclofen, and whether or not "indifference" is attainable. Still hopeful and happy and healthy. I'm sure I could write a lot more about a bunch of random stuff, but now I'm just going to kick back, watch The Walking Dead and cuddle with my new kitty! Goodnight.
Saturday, November 1, 2014
Day 14
DOSE: 60 mg Baclofen (15/15/15/15).
OTHER MEDICATION(S): Multivitamin (1 tablet). Omega 3 Fish Oil (1 capsule).
SIDE EFFECTS: Slight mood changes; headache; slightly decreased alcohol cravings.
These past few days have been quite an emotional roller-coaster. On Wednesday night my car broke down as I was driving home to watch Game 7 of the World Series (I'm a huge San Francisco Giants fan), and I would later come to find out that my transmission is busted and it's a $1700 repair. So needless to say I've been pretty stressed out about that. I was forced to miss my IOP appointment on Thursday due to my lack of transportation, and began to experience some increased cravings and anxiety. Many people have experienced a "honeymoon" effect with baclofen, where their cravings completely disappear at the beginning but begin to return after a little while. That has been my experience to some extent. I'm still sober, which is all that matters, but I have noticed some increased anxiety and an increased desire to drink. However these feelings have been in no way overwhelming. I felt pretty jealous last night as I watched everyone celebrate Halloween while I sat at home, sober, feeling incapable of participating. I just chalked this holiday up as a loss and figure that I'll have a bunch more Halloweens once I've maintained sobriety for a considerable period of time. Anyways, I'm up to 60 mg and not experiencing hardly any negative side effects from baclofen. The only things I've noticed are that my bruxism (jaw clenching) may actually be getting worse due to baclofen, and I find myself unable to go back to sleep when I wake up, and I'm typically waking up around 7 a.m. All that's important to me is my sobriety, and for now I have successfully maintained that. Oh, on a completely random note, I adopted a kitten today in an impulsive act of foolishness, but I think she will have quite a bit of therapeutic value once I get used to having a little critter running around. I'm still optimistic about the future, and looking forward to my continued journey with baclofen.
OTHER MEDICATION(S): Multivitamin (1 tablet). Omega 3 Fish Oil (1 capsule).
SIDE EFFECTS: Slight mood changes; headache; slightly decreased alcohol cravings.
These past few days have been quite an emotional roller-coaster. On Wednesday night my car broke down as I was driving home to watch Game 7 of the World Series (I'm a huge San Francisco Giants fan), and I would later come to find out that my transmission is busted and it's a $1700 repair. So needless to say I've been pretty stressed out about that. I was forced to miss my IOP appointment on Thursday due to my lack of transportation, and began to experience some increased cravings and anxiety. Many people have experienced a "honeymoon" effect with baclofen, where their cravings completely disappear at the beginning but begin to return after a little while. That has been my experience to some extent. I'm still sober, which is all that matters, but I have noticed some increased anxiety and an increased desire to drink. However these feelings have been in no way overwhelming. I felt pretty jealous last night as I watched everyone celebrate Halloween while I sat at home, sober, feeling incapable of participating. I just chalked this holiday up as a loss and figure that I'll have a bunch more Halloweens once I've maintained sobriety for a considerable period of time. Anyways, I'm up to 60 mg and not experiencing hardly any negative side effects from baclofen. The only things I've noticed are that my bruxism (jaw clenching) may actually be getting worse due to baclofen, and I find myself unable to go back to sleep when I wake up, and I'm typically waking up around 7 a.m. All that's important to me is my sobriety, and for now I have successfully maintained that. Oh, on a completely random note, I adopted a kitten today in an impulsive act of foolishness, but I think she will have quite a bit of therapeutic value once I get used to having a little critter running around. I'm still optimistic about the future, and looking forward to my continued journey with baclofen.
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Day Ten
DOSE: 40 mg Baclofen (10/10/10/10).
OTHER MEDICATION(S): Multivitamin (1 tablet). Omega 3 Fish Oil (1 capsule).
SIDE EFFECTS: Slight mood changes; decreased alcohol cravings.
Tomorrow I will be increasing my dose to 50 mg, and I've decided to go up every three days due to the fact that I haven't had any limiting side effects. Yesterday I was having some strange mood swings and occasional cravings for alcohol, which frustrated me because prior to that I hadn't been experiencing hardly any cravings. I've also been getting anxious about a job interview that I have tomorrow morning. I've been noticing that in stressful situations I think baclofen actually makes me more anxious, not less like some people have experienced. However that feeling usually subsides after about 20 minutes. Overall I'd still take any of this over intolerable alcohol cravings and that lurking sensation of feeling "trapped" into sobriety. I started my intensive outpatient program yesterday, and I'm looking forward to continuing to attend those groups as well as beginning individual therapy sessions. Baclofen is doing about as much as a pill can do so far, but I still need to address underlying issues in order to have meaningful, lasting sobriety. Or is that the AA talking? Occasionally I'll notice myself drifting into feelings of regret about foolish past behaviors while drunk. I've done some incredibly ridiculous things while intoxicated, but it really serves no purpose to dwell on any of it. Anyways, I'm 38 days sober and feeling great! The only thing on my mind is this stupid interview tomorrow, and for some reason I just can't help but thinking I'm going to fail miserably. All I can do is show up and be myself and hope for the best. I'm sorry for these boring, monotonous blog entries, I'll try to spice things up as I get used to this whole process.
And just to repeat for anyone who is curious about my dosing schedule:
1st dose: 7 - 8:30 a.m. (depending on when I wake up)
2nd dose: 1 - 1:30 p.m.
3rd dose: 6 - 6:30 p.m.
4th dose: 10 - 11:30 p.m. (depending on when I go to sleep)
This schedule is working great for me so far, and when I increase I take the larger dose in the morning and in the evening because the afternoons are the only times I occasionally experience tiredness from baclofen. I'll post again soon!
OTHER MEDICATION(S): Multivitamin (1 tablet). Omega 3 Fish Oil (1 capsule).
SIDE EFFECTS: Slight mood changes; decreased alcohol cravings.
Tomorrow I will be increasing my dose to 50 mg, and I've decided to go up every three days due to the fact that I haven't had any limiting side effects. Yesterday I was having some strange mood swings and occasional cravings for alcohol, which frustrated me because prior to that I hadn't been experiencing hardly any cravings. I've also been getting anxious about a job interview that I have tomorrow morning. I've been noticing that in stressful situations I think baclofen actually makes me more anxious, not less like some people have experienced. However that feeling usually subsides after about 20 minutes. Overall I'd still take any of this over intolerable alcohol cravings and that lurking sensation of feeling "trapped" into sobriety. I started my intensive outpatient program yesterday, and I'm looking forward to continuing to attend those groups as well as beginning individual therapy sessions. Baclofen is doing about as much as a pill can do so far, but I still need to address underlying issues in order to have meaningful, lasting sobriety. Or is that the AA talking? Occasionally I'll notice myself drifting into feelings of regret about foolish past behaviors while drunk. I've done some incredibly ridiculous things while intoxicated, but it really serves no purpose to dwell on any of it. Anyways, I'm 38 days sober and feeling great! The only thing on my mind is this stupid interview tomorrow, and for some reason I just can't help but thinking I'm going to fail miserably. All I can do is show up and be myself and hope for the best. I'm sorry for these boring, monotonous blog entries, I'll try to spice things up as I get used to this whole process.
And just to repeat for anyone who is curious about my dosing schedule:
1st dose: 7 - 8:30 a.m. (depending on when I wake up)
2nd dose: 1 - 1:30 p.m.
3rd dose: 6 - 6:30 p.m.
4th dose: 10 - 11:30 p.m. (depending on when I go to sleep)
This schedule is working great for me so far, and when I increase I take the larger dose in the morning and in the evening because the afternoons are the only times I occasionally experience tiredness from baclofen. I'll post again soon!
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Day Eight
DOSE: 40 mg Baclofen (10/10/10/10).
OTHER MEDICATION(S): Multivitamin (1 tablet). Omega 3 Fish Oil (1 capsule).
SIDE EFFECTS: Slight mood changes; decreased alcohol cravings.
Another positive day today. I have been increasing the dosage slightly more quickly than I had originally planned, but as of yet I haven't noticed any tough negative side effects. The somnolence has completely gone away, and I've only noticed occasional mood swings and some infrequent headaches. It's well worth it because even at such a relatively low dose, I am not having many alcohol cravings. I really do need to get involved in some volunteer work or something, because I need to fill my days a bit more. Tomorrow I'll be starting my outpatient program, and I'm hoping to make some sober friends through those meetings. I still haven't attended an AA meeting, but it hasn't been an issue yet. I've just been to so many meetings, for so long now, that I am almost repulsed by the idea of returning. Realistically, though, shame and embarrassment is definitely playing a role in my reluctance to return. Ultimately, I just need to join in on some sober leisure activities like sports teams or hiking, etc. The 40 mg dose will have to carry out for at least four days, because I need to have enough to last until my next refill. Oh, one other thing I've noticed in terms of side effects is that I've been finding myself waking up with a slight headache around 7 a.m. and finding it difficult to fall back asleep. I usually take my last dose around 10:30 p.m., so perhaps my body is reacting to the fact that it doesn't have any baclofen coursing through its system. However the positive effects far outweigh any negative consequences to this point, and I'm very pleased with the results. In terms of past anti-craving medications, I've taken Wellbutrin, Campral, Naltrexone and Antabuse, none of which had any real noticeable impact. Wellbutrin helped some, at least with my depression, but other than that not really.
All in all, I'm really optimistic about baclofen. I'm a little nervous that I may be developing a tolerance too quickly, and that the generic form of the drug may be less powerful than the brand name version. However, I think I'm just reading too much into little details. I'm still happily sober, and that's all that matters! Goodnight.
OTHER MEDICATION(S): Multivitamin (1 tablet). Omega 3 Fish Oil (1 capsule).
SIDE EFFECTS: Slight mood changes; decreased alcohol cravings.
Another positive day today. I have been increasing the dosage slightly more quickly than I had originally planned, but as of yet I haven't noticed any tough negative side effects. The somnolence has completely gone away, and I've only noticed occasional mood swings and some infrequent headaches. It's well worth it because even at such a relatively low dose, I am not having many alcohol cravings. I really do need to get involved in some volunteer work or something, because I need to fill my days a bit more. Tomorrow I'll be starting my outpatient program, and I'm hoping to make some sober friends through those meetings. I still haven't attended an AA meeting, but it hasn't been an issue yet. I've just been to so many meetings, for so long now, that I am almost repulsed by the idea of returning. Realistically, though, shame and embarrassment is definitely playing a role in my reluctance to return. Ultimately, I just need to join in on some sober leisure activities like sports teams or hiking, etc. The 40 mg dose will have to carry out for at least four days, because I need to have enough to last until my next refill. Oh, one other thing I've noticed in terms of side effects is that I've been finding myself waking up with a slight headache around 7 a.m. and finding it difficult to fall back asleep. I usually take my last dose around 10:30 p.m., so perhaps my body is reacting to the fact that it doesn't have any baclofen coursing through its system. However the positive effects far outweigh any negative consequences to this point, and I'm very pleased with the results. In terms of past anti-craving medications, I've taken Wellbutrin, Campral, Naltrexone and Antabuse, none of which had any real noticeable impact. Wellbutrin helped some, at least with my depression, but other than that not really.
All in all, I'm really optimistic about baclofen. I'm a little nervous that I may be developing a tolerance too quickly, and that the generic form of the drug may be less powerful than the brand name version. However, I think I'm just reading too much into little details. I'm still happily sober, and that's all that matters! Goodnight.
Friday, October 24, 2014
Day Six
DOSE: 30 mg Baclofen (10/5/10/5).
OTHER MEDICATION(S): Multivitamin (1 tablet). Omega 3 Fish Oil (1 capsule).
SIDE EFFECTS: Headache; slight mood changes; decreased alcohol cravings.
So far my body has been very receptive to baclofen, and I'm hardly experiencing any real negative side effects. I think I'm going to speed up my schedule a little bit and see if everything continues to go well. Since I was getting tired in the middle of the day, I've switched up my dosages a little bit so I'm taking less in the afternoon. I took 10 mg at 8:30 am, 5 mg at 1:30 p.m., 10 mg at 6:30 p.m., and I'll be taking 5 mg before bed. Baclofen has been helping me sleep, which has been great because I had read several experiences of people having insomnia due to baclofen use. Today was my second day at 30 mg, and either tomorrow or the next day I'm going to increase the dose to 40 mg. I went to my assessment interview for my outpatient treatment program, and I start on Monday. I'm looking forward to that. Sorry I'm rushing this entry because I really don't feel like writing anything tonight. Even at such a low dose, I am definitely feeling positive benefits from baclofen in terms of both decreased alcohol cravings and just an overall sense of well-being. I think it was extremely helpful that I had already been sober for a month before beginning. It has been highly recommended from experts in baclofen therapy for alcoholism that at least a few days of abstinence take place before beginning the regimen. Obviously for some people this isn't possible, and I know that when I'm in active alcoholism I'm never sober for more than an hour, let alone a day or two. I'm excited to continue pushing forward and to incrementally up my dose until I feel completely satisfied with the results. Again, I apologize for the sloppy entry tonight, but I just feel like sitting back and watching some TV before bed. Looking forward to tomorrow!
OTHER MEDICATION(S): Multivitamin (1 tablet). Omega 3 Fish Oil (1 capsule).
SIDE EFFECTS: Headache; slight mood changes; decreased alcohol cravings.
So far my body has been very receptive to baclofen, and I'm hardly experiencing any real negative side effects. I think I'm going to speed up my schedule a little bit and see if everything continues to go well. Since I was getting tired in the middle of the day, I've switched up my dosages a little bit so I'm taking less in the afternoon. I took 10 mg at 8:30 am, 5 mg at 1:30 p.m., 10 mg at 6:30 p.m., and I'll be taking 5 mg before bed. Baclofen has been helping me sleep, which has been great because I had read several experiences of people having insomnia due to baclofen use. Today was my second day at 30 mg, and either tomorrow or the next day I'm going to increase the dose to 40 mg. I went to my assessment interview for my outpatient treatment program, and I start on Monday. I'm looking forward to that. Sorry I'm rushing this entry because I really don't feel like writing anything tonight. Even at such a low dose, I am definitely feeling positive benefits from baclofen in terms of both decreased alcohol cravings and just an overall sense of well-being. I think it was extremely helpful that I had already been sober for a month before beginning. It has been highly recommended from experts in baclofen therapy for alcoholism that at least a few days of abstinence take place before beginning the regimen. Obviously for some people this isn't possible, and I know that when I'm in active alcoholism I'm never sober for more than an hour, let alone a day or two. I'm excited to continue pushing forward and to incrementally up my dose until I feel completely satisfied with the results. Again, I apologize for the sloppy entry tonight, but I just feel like sitting back and watching some TV before bed. Looking forward to tomorrow!
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Day Four
DOSE: 20 mg Baclofen (5/5/5/5).
OTHER MEDICATION(S): Multivitamin (1 tablet). Omega 3 Fish Oil (1 capsule).
SIDE EFFECTS: Headache; mild somnolence; decreased alcohol cravings.
I had a somewhat interesting day today. Last night I decided to take an extra 5 mg of baclofen before bed because that morning I noticed what seemed to be a slight baclofen "hangover" from not having it in my system for several hours. It worked well and I slept great once again, so I'm going to do that again tonight. Tomorrow I will increase my dose to 30 mg, and I'm a little nervous about that but also excited. Overall I felt good today in terms of the effects of baclofen on my alcohol cravings, but I did experience noticeable tiredness after lunch, around 1:30 p.m. I took a nap and found it very difficult to shake off the feeling of somnolence and lethargy after I woke up. Eventually that feeling wore off and I felt fine, but it was a strange experience. My days are pretty slow since I'm not in school or working right now, so I need to find some new activities to fill my days. I believe this is where a program such as Alcoholic's Anonymous would come in handy, because a pill obviously can't address the social and environmental aspects of alcoholism. Next week I will be starting an outpatient treatment program that meets three times a week for three hours. Hopefully I'll be able to make some sober friends there and start participating in fun, sober leisure activities. My intramural sports team will also begin next week, and I'm excited for that. I have also noticed mild headaches at various times throughout the day, but this could be a result of my bruxism (jaw clenching). Part of me was hoping that baclofen, being a muscle relaxant, might alleviate some of my jaw clenching/teeth grinding, but it hasn't done so yet.
In all, today was a positive day and I'm still feeling very good about my baclofen adventure. Some marked tiredness, mild headaches, and very slight mood changes are all that have occurred in terms of side effects so far. I hope that as I increase my dose, the side effects don't get to be too much. I just read (Oct. 22, 2014) that the University of North Carolina is seeking volunteers for a controlled study of baclofen use for the treatment of alcoholism, so I will definitely be keeping up with those developments. My guess is that within five years scientists will have changed the molecular makeup of baclofen just enough to be able to market it as a new drug and thus allow pharmaceutical companies to profit from it. Due to the fact that baclofen is a relatively old drug, all of its patents have expired, so big-name drug companies can't make money on it. That is the only reason I can see for why it is not being focused on more in the treatment of alcoholism.
Anyways, I'll post more in the next day or two. I'm 33 days sober, and things are going well!
OTHER MEDICATION(S): Multivitamin (1 tablet). Omega 3 Fish Oil (1 capsule).
SIDE EFFECTS: Headache; mild somnolence; decreased alcohol cravings.
I had a somewhat interesting day today. Last night I decided to take an extra 5 mg of baclofen before bed because that morning I noticed what seemed to be a slight baclofen "hangover" from not having it in my system for several hours. It worked well and I slept great once again, so I'm going to do that again tonight. Tomorrow I will increase my dose to 30 mg, and I'm a little nervous about that but also excited. Overall I felt good today in terms of the effects of baclofen on my alcohol cravings, but I did experience noticeable tiredness after lunch, around 1:30 p.m. I took a nap and found it very difficult to shake off the feeling of somnolence and lethargy after I woke up. Eventually that feeling wore off and I felt fine, but it was a strange experience. My days are pretty slow since I'm not in school or working right now, so I need to find some new activities to fill my days. I believe this is where a program such as Alcoholic's Anonymous would come in handy, because a pill obviously can't address the social and environmental aspects of alcoholism. Next week I will be starting an outpatient treatment program that meets three times a week for three hours. Hopefully I'll be able to make some sober friends there and start participating in fun, sober leisure activities. My intramural sports team will also begin next week, and I'm excited for that. I have also noticed mild headaches at various times throughout the day, but this could be a result of my bruxism (jaw clenching). Part of me was hoping that baclofen, being a muscle relaxant, might alleviate some of my jaw clenching/teeth grinding, but it hasn't done so yet.
In all, today was a positive day and I'm still feeling very good about my baclofen adventure. Some marked tiredness, mild headaches, and very slight mood changes are all that have occurred in terms of side effects so far. I hope that as I increase my dose, the side effects don't get to be too much. I just read (Oct. 22, 2014) that the University of North Carolina is seeking volunteers for a controlled study of baclofen use for the treatment of alcoholism, so I will definitely be keeping up with those developments. My guess is that within five years scientists will have changed the molecular makeup of baclofen just enough to be able to market it as a new drug and thus allow pharmaceutical companies to profit from it. Due to the fact that baclofen is a relatively old drug, all of its patents have expired, so big-name drug companies can't make money on it. That is the only reason I can see for why it is not being focused on more in the treatment of alcoholism.
Anyways, I'll post more in the next day or two. I'm 33 days sober, and things are going well!
Monday, October 20, 2014
Day Two
DOSE: 15 mg Baclofen (5/5/5).
OTHER MEDICATION(S): Multivitamin (1 tablet). Omega 3 Fish Oil (1 capsule).
SIDE EFFECTS: Mild nausea; mild muscle weakness; decreased alcohol cravings.
It's only the second day of my baclofen schedule, but I noticed some positive changes in my mood and alcohol cravings. I slept great last night, apart from some pretty bizarre dreams. After experiencing some uncomfortable side effects from such a low dose (10 mg) yesterday, I was wary about my future with baclofen. However, today went much better. I took my first 5 mg at 9 a.m. with breakfast, and did not notice any tiredness like the day before. I noticed a lack in motivation for a short period, but was still able to take care of a lot of errands and household chores. After eating lunch around 1:30 p.m. I took my second 5 mg dose, and noticed that I was in a good mood and had not been experiencing hardly any alcohol cravings. A few hours after that I went to the gym, and noticed some slight muscle fatigue, a side effect commonly attributed to baclofen use. I took my third 5 mg dose around 7 p.m., and was able to relax and watch some T.V. after a busy day of running around and taking care of small tasks. Due to my recent relapse, I was forced to take a medical leave of absence from the university I attend, so I have a lot of free time on my hands. I have been spreading out my doses based on other clinical trials and the fact that baclofen only stays active in the body for approximately four hours after ingestion.
I'm going to stay on my 15 mg dose for three more days, and then I will begin increasing the amount by 10 mg every five days. I have read about many unpleasant side effects of baclofen as a result of moving up too quickly, which is why I'm choosing to go slowly. Overall, today has left me feeling far more optimistic about my journey using baclofen therapy to treat my alcoholism. I'm still debating whether or not I should return to Alcoholic's Anonymous to supplement my recovery process, but I've been in-and-out of the rooms for so long now that the thought of going back to meetings is almost repulsive. I did notice that I've been smoking more cigarettes than usual, but that could be more from boredom than anything else. It's only the second day, but I'm looking forward to tomorrow. I will most likely skip a few days of posting updates so as to avoid tiresome repetition, but will definitely continue to share my progress often.
OTHER MEDICATION(S): Multivitamin (1 tablet). Omega 3 Fish Oil (1 capsule).
SIDE EFFECTS: Mild nausea; mild muscle weakness; decreased alcohol cravings.
It's only the second day of my baclofen schedule, but I noticed some positive changes in my mood and alcohol cravings. I slept great last night, apart from some pretty bizarre dreams. After experiencing some uncomfortable side effects from such a low dose (10 mg) yesterday, I was wary about my future with baclofen. However, today went much better. I took my first 5 mg at 9 a.m. with breakfast, and did not notice any tiredness like the day before. I noticed a lack in motivation for a short period, but was still able to take care of a lot of errands and household chores. After eating lunch around 1:30 p.m. I took my second 5 mg dose, and noticed that I was in a good mood and had not been experiencing hardly any alcohol cravings. A few hours after that I went to the gym, and noticed some slight muscle fatigue, a side effect commonly attributed to baclofen use. I took my third 5 mg dose around 7 p.m., and was able to relax and watch some T.V. after a busy day of running around and taking care of small tasks. Due to my recent relapse, I was forced to take a medical leave of absence from the university I attend, so I have a lot of free time on my hands. I have been spreading out my doses based on other clinical trials and the fact that baclofen only stays active in the body for approximately four hours after ingestion.
I'm going to stay on my 15 mg dose for three more days, and then I will begin increasing the amount by 10 mg every five days. I have read about many unpleasant side effects of baclofen as a result of moving up too quickly, which is why I'm choosing to go slowly. Overall, today has left me feeling far more optimistic about my journey using baclofen therapy to treat my alcoholism. I'm still debating whether or not I should return to Alcoholic's Anonymous to supplement my recovery process, but I've been in-and-out of the rooms for so long now that the thought of going back to meetings is almost repulsive. I did notice that I've been smoking more cigarettes than usual, but that could be more from boredom than anything else. It's only the second day, but I'm looking forward to tomorrow. I will most likely skip a few days of posting updates so as to avoid tiresome repetition, but will definitely continue to share my progress often.
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Day One
DOSE: 10 mg Baclofen (5/5) (Brand name Fexobac, generic for Lioresal).
RELATIVE FACTORS: Gender: Male ; Weight: 170lbs
OTHER MEDICATION(S): Multivitamin (1 tablet). Omega 3 Fish Oil (1 capsule).
SIDE EFFECTS: Mild somnolence; mild mood changes; increased alcohol cravings (read below).
Due to circumstance, I began my Baclofen intake at 2 p.m. by ingesting 5 mg orally. I have been completely sober for exactly one month today, so I noticed the effects of Baclofen after approximately 30 minutes. I felt more relaxed, somewhat tired, and experienced mild mental "fog." I was just released from a 30-day inpatient treatment facility for my alcoholism, so my stress and anxiety level was increased due to the initial shock of being back in my old environment. I believe that fact played more of a role in my increased alcohol cravings than that of the Baclofen, however I think it should be mentioned regardless. I took another 5 mg at 7 p.m., and did not notice the Baclofen nearly as much as the first dose. It is now 9:40 p.m., and I feel a little sleepy. I am somewhat concerned about sleep, but will report back tomorrow. From this point on I am going to take 15 mg of Baclofen distributed in 5 mg doses three times per day for the next four days before increasing the amount. It is only the first day, so I did not expect any positive results from such a low dose. I had quit smoking cigarettes for two weeks during my treatment, however due to the stress of being home I began smoking again. I am not sure if Baclofen had any impact on this decision.
I remain optimistic, but also fearful. Alcohol has taken everything from me, and I will do anything to overcome it. If you are suffering from alcoholism or addiction, feel free to contact me and share your experiences. I would love to hear from you, so please comment below. I will continue to post about my journey as often as possible, and will try to be as detailed and meticulous as I can in regards to relevant information.
All the best.
Relapse
Last month, on September 6, I relapsed. I immediately spiraled into out-of-control binge drinking once again, and within a week I was in a hospital detoxing. I stopped eating, showering, drinking water, and ceased doing anything else to take care of myself. I almost died twice in less than three weeks, and the final time I went to the hospital my B.A.C. was over .45 coupled with the fact that I had consumed 15 mg of Ativan that was prescribed to me after my previous hospitalization. After roughly three weeks, I woke up in a treatment center with no knowledge of how I got there or what had taken place anytime before that moment. Again.
I just discharged today, and I am now going to try to use high-dose Baclofen therapy to save my own life. This is my last chance at survival. I am documenting this in a vain attempt to help others. Alcoholism has proven so devastating, so horrific, that I simply do not know what else to do. I am going to die if I can't maintain complete abstinence from alcohol and other drugs. I doubt hardly anyone will ever read this, but to those few who do stumble on this blog, I hope you find it helpful.
I just discharged today, and I am now going to try to use high-dose Baclofen therapy to save my own life. This is my last chance at survival. I am documenting this in a vain attempt to help others. Alcoholism has proven so devastating, so horrific, that I simply do not know what else to do. I am going to die if I can't maintain complete abstinence from alcohol and other drugs. I doubt hardly anyone will ever read this, but to those few who do stumble on this blog, I hope you find it helpful.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)