Baclofen FAQ's

[Don Chance]

What is Baclofen?

 

Baclofen is a drug to treat muscle spasticity that has been around for over 50 years and has been well studied. It is safe to use long term provided your kidneys are healthy.

 

Baclofen's use for alcoholism was developed by Olivier Ameisen a french cardiologist who was a severe alcoholic. He wrote a book about Baclofen, The End of my Addiction. There is also a support forum.

 

Baclofen does work in my experience and has worked for millions of people in Europe and Australia to get them stop drinking. Baclofen functions by replacing alcohol, GabaA receptors instead of GabaB receptors. Baclofen is not without side effects but in comparison to alcohol they are very minor.

 

How to start taking Baclofen?

 

The first place to start is by reading the best web site on Baclofen for alcoholism, written by a doctor in Australia. Baclofen Treatment.

 

Method #1 (worked for me)

Decide to stop drinking. Take 10mg of Baclofen every hour starting about 9am or 10am. Take no more than 60-80mg. Around 60-80mg you should be feeling the effects and no longer be craving alcohol. Baclofen has also been studied for use for withdrawal.

 

Note: the first time and for the first 6-8 weeks, the side effects will more noticeable and annoying but over time they will dissipate. You will probably feel dizzy and wanting to go to sleep when you take it. It is important not to take too much too quickly. You need to find the right dose for you. Not too little or it will not work.

 

Method #2 ( as written in Baclofentreatment.com )

Start 10-20 mg per day. Continue drinking as usual then increase 10mg a day to functioning dose of 70-80mg per day. You should naturally give up alcohol this way as the dose increases.

 

So the idea is that you take Baclofen everyday instead of alcohol. I noticed that every month or six weeks I would still crave alcohol and allow myself a beer or two. I always found that after a couple of drinks I would not want any more. You can also take less Baclofen say 40-60mg then go out and have a beer or two with friends then take the last 10-20mg when you are finished.

 

After approximately 4 years of non drinking you body will "reset." It did for me. One day I just noticed I no longer craved alcohol. Then you can get off of Baclofen.

 

What warning are there when taking Baclofen?

 

Caveat: This is not medical advice, I am only providing information. You should speak to a doctor before starting to take any medicine such as Baclofen.

 

Caveat: Some people (a small number, rare occurrence) have had bad side effects from Baclofen (psychosis)

 

Caveat: Baclofen can not be stopped abruptly after taking it for long period of time. Withdrawals can be as severe as alcohol. It must be reduces very slowly. 5 mg every few days.

 

Where to get Baclofen in Thailand?

 

The best generic product is called Liobac (400 baht @200, 10mg tabs) and the best place to buy it is The Diamond Pharmacy in Bangkok.

Another option is ordering from China. Is much cheaper. 100 grams will last 3 years.

 

How will i know if Baclofen will work for me?

 

I suggest you try 10-20 mg and you will get an idea if it will work or not. For me I knew right away that it would.

 

Where can i get more information on Baclofen?

 

As mention www.baclofentreatment.com has all the info and can explain better than me. Good luck!

 

[Neeranam]

Treating an addiction with an addictive drug doesn't make sense to me and didn't work for me in the long-term, not with this one but with Diazepam.  

 

[Don Chance]

11 hours ago, Neeranam said:

Treating an addiction with an addictive drug doesn't make sense to me and didn't work for me in the long-term, not with this one but with Diazepam.  

 

Baclofen is not a benzo type drug. It is not a depressant.

Baclofen is also not addictive. You will take the same dose day after day.

The point here is that you will replace alcohol with baclofen and the side effects will much much less. It is amazing that is works so well.

Side effects of alcohol are numerous: damage to your brain or liver, depression, stomach problems, mental problem, addiction etc. Baclofen doesn't have any of that.

[Neeranam]

21 minutes ago, Don Chance said:

Baclofen is not a benzo type drug. It is not a depressant.

Baclofen is also not addictive. You will take the same dose day after day.

The point here is that you will replace alcohol with baclofen and the side effects will much much less. It is amazing that is works so well.

Side effects of alcohol are numerous: damage to your brain or liver, depression, stomach problems, mental problem, addiction etc. Baclofen doesn't have any of that.

Ok, I wish you all the best. Can you stop taking it when cravings have gone? 

[Don Chance]

It takes about 4 years to reset from alcohol. So, after that you can taper off the baclofen.

1 hour ago, Neeranam said:

Ok, I wish you all the best. Can you stop taking it when cravings have gone? 

 

[Don Chance]

bump , how to make this a sticky?

[HansumFarang]

I can confirm that baclofen is very effective at stopping alcohol cravings. I've taken it for a long time. As Don Chance points out, if you have been taking it for a while, it's not advisable to stop taking it cold turkey.,

 

And frankly, you would be crazy to take it at all without the supervision of a medical professional. I'm not recommending that you take it, just relating my experience.

[cyril sneer]

On 7/13/2020 at 7:32 AM, Don Chance said:

The best generic product is called Liobac (400 baht @200, 10mg tabs) and the best place to buy it is The Diamond Pharmacy in Bangkok.

Another option is ordering from China. Is much cheaper. 100 grams will last 3 years.

 

is there anywhere else to get it? bkk too far and that website is out of stock

[Don Chance]

2 hours ago, cyril sneer said:

is there anywhere else to get it? bkk too far and that website is out of stock

You can try any pharmacy. Baclofen is an essential medicine.

[cyril sneer]

On 5/13/2021 at 4:11 PM, Don Chance said:

You can try any pharmacy. Baclofen is an essential medicine.

i've seen these on the Medtide website ,48 baht for 10, is that generally a decent price?

 

also, i've read that if taking tramadol at the same time it won't work. Is there any way around this?

[Don Chance]

1 hour ago, cyril sneer said:

i've seen these on the Medtide website ,48 baht for 10, is that generally a decent price?

 

also, i've read that if taking tramadol at the same time it won't work. Is there any way around this?

I would buy LioBac or Flexobac brands in Thailand only. There are 400-600 baht for a box of 200.

 

"Using narcotic pain or cough medications together with other medications that also cause central nervous system depression can lead to serious side effects including respiratory distress, coma, and even death."

 

[cyril sneer]

On 12/6/2021 at 10:40 AM, Don Chance said:

I would buy LioBac or Flexobac brands in Thailand only. There are 400-600 baht for a box of 200.

 

"Using narcotic pain or cough medications together with other medications that also cause central nervous system depression can lead to serious side effects including respiratory distress, coma, and even death."

 

thanks

 

very few pharmacies in the city I live sell it but found one today, 55 baht for 10x 10mg

 

so looking at 1100 baht for 200. is there any other places that will post?

[Don Chance]

2 hours ago, cyril sneer said:

thanks

 

very few pharmacies in the city I live sell it but found one today, 55 baht for 10x 10mg

 

so looking at 1100 baht for 200. is there any other places that will post?

Where do you live? I have bought some in Krabi and Hatyai. Maybe you can order it from these people below or just as the local pharmacy to order you a box or two.

 

The best generic product is called Liobac (400 baht @200, 10mg tabs) and the best place to buy it is The Diamond Pharmacy in Bangkok.

Edited December 8, 2021 by Don Chance

[ThaiPauly]

I had no idea that Baclofen could be used in this way!

 

I have been prescribed it for stomach pain, and was told not to drink until my symptoms are better.

 

Though I did wonder, being a daily drinker why I found temptation very easy to resist.

 

For people that need it in Chiang Mai then Dara Pharmacy , nearly opposite McCormick Hospital have it and it's not dear, although I am unsure of the exact price

 

[Don Chance]

Good article points how Baclofen is more effective than AA.

 

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/04/the-irrationality-of-alcoholics-anonymous/386255/

[Neeranam]

On 5/25/2023 at 3:23 PM, Don Chance said:

Good article points how Baclofen is more effective than AA.

 

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/04/the-irrationality-of-alcoholics-anonymous/386255/

Baclofen is more effective for heavy drinkers. Heavy drinkers don't need a spiritual solution. However, alcoholics do need a spiritual solution. 

 

[Don Chance]

On 6/15/2023 at 8:07 PM, Neeranam said:

Baclofen is more effective for heavy drinkers. Heavy drinkers don't need a spiritual solution. However, alcoholics do need a spiritual solution. 

 

I think most alcoholics or drug addicts have psychological. problems. Often serious mental illnesses. Either way they are self treating the pain and become addicted. So it makes sense to go to a Psychologist and spend some money on therapy. People suffer trauma or abuse by their parents when growing up.

AA is like self help psychology : people will hear about the abuse others have suffered and realize they have too. Abuse is not only physical but psychological such as tough love.

[Neeranam]

13 minutes ago, Don Chance said:

AA is like self help psychology

Alcoholism is a mental illness.

All alcoholics have psychological problems, it's a three-fold illness - mental, physical, spiritual.

AA is self-abandoning to a higher power, not self-help. 

[Neeranam]

On 12/6/2021 at 9:09 AM, cyril sneer said:

i've seen these on the Medtide website ,48 baht for 10, is that generally a decent price?

 

also, i've read that if taking tramadol at the same time it won't work. Is there any way around this?

Isn't Tramadol an opiate like drug? 

I was told never to take it, if you have an alcohol problem, for more than 10 days. 

[Neeranam]

4 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

Alcoholism is a mental illness.

All alcoholics have psychological problems, it's a three-fold illness - mental, physical, spiritual.

AA is self-abandoning to a higher power, not self-help. 

I think that drugs like Balclofen, or Naltrexon(one I took) are great for the physical cravings, they stop naturally produced opiates(that normal drinkers don't produce). 

If you are an alcoholic, perhaps that ALONG with CBT(for mental) and meditation(for spiritual) may work.