Baclofen for alcoholism is a group dedicated to discussing baclofen for the treatment of alcoholism and other addictions. Baclofen is a nonaddictive, relatively safe medication that dates back several decades. The issue of baclofen addiction addiction is a problem that affects people from all demographics. People in favor of using baclofen to treat alcoholism have formed communities on the internet and are lobbying hard for health authorities to begin allowing doctors to prescribe it freely. The alcoholism and addiction cure download ebook pdf. In a study published in february 2014 in the journal alcoholism. A 2012 study in alcohol and alcoholism documented the case of a 46yearold patient who mixed 240 mg of baclofen with alcohol. This subreddit is for those who are looking to stop drinking utilising pharmacological drugs to assist in recovery why baclofen because it is far superior to other. Ameisens book about baclofen curing his alcoholism, i was determined to try it for myself. Prescribing baclofen widely as it currently happens in france might be premature and should be reconsidered, a dutch research team wrote in. Indifference is a new concept in addiction medicine, described for. The general theory of baclofen is that it is a gabba b agonist and controls anxiety disorders. The book was the end of my addiction by olivier ameisen. So much so that he is able to drink, if he wants, without any ill effects or loss of control.
This book is the story of the dazzling discovery of a cure that could soon be within reach of all. Other anti craving medications can be discussed here such as antabus, naltrexone, topamax and campral etc. Baclofen for alcoholism after reading the book the end of my addiction by olivier amiesen, i decided to try baclofen to help me quit drinking. Attached you find the news report and a reference to a small doubleblind randomized trial suggesting a beneficial effect of. This book is a plea for research that can rescue millions from the scourge of addiction. On the other hand, baclofen is increasingly being considered an option to help treat symptoms of alcoholism and alcohol withdrawal. The purpose of this study was to examine the longterm effects of baclofen in a large cohort of alcohol dependent patients compliant to baclofen treatment.
Baclofen is now touted by a vocal minority as a new alcoholism treatment, and not only this but that the search for an alcoholism cure is at an end. France is ground zero for clinical research on baclofen, a drug said to eliminate alcohol cravings. A hundred patients with alcohol dependence, resistant to usual treatments, were treated with escalating doses of baclofen no superior limit. How i used the revolutionary new treatment, baclofen, to manage, treat, and cure my own alcoholism. My journey with baclofen and alcoholism alcohol abuse. It helps to reduce anxiety in alcoholics, which in turn can help to reduce cravings. But as long as the medical and research establishments ignore a cure for one of the most deadly diseases in the world, we wont be able to understand baclofens full potential. Dr olivier ameisen was a brilliant cardiologist and running his own successful practice when he developed a profound addiction to alcohol. The question of whether or not baclofen could cure alcoholism has remained open because there has been no confirmation yet from the medical experts regarding this theory. The average maximal dose of baclofen taken was 147 mgday. I found a forum out there that people talk about most everything relative to alcoholism. Thankfully over the last 30 years, the number of treatment techniques and tools to address alcohol use disorders have multiplied. I might add that it is fundamentally absurd to think that alcoholism is somehow different from other afflictions, and that it is untouchable by medicine. This is a practical guide to prescribing baclofen in alcohol addiction.
Visit the my way out forum and read other posts regarding baclofen. Ameisen, the author of the famous book, required 270 mgday 3. Olivier ameisen, a french cardiologist, somehow made a confirmation of the link between the two. Baclofen does not cure these problems, but it may allow other treatment, such as physical therapy, to be more helpful in improving your. The little pill that could cure alcoholism when an alcoholic doctor began experimenting with baclofen, he made what could be the medical breakthrough of the century. The secret of his sobriety, as outlined in his book the end of my addiction, first published in 2008 and reissued in the uk this month, is a drug called baclofen. Olivier ameisen june 25, 1953 july 18, 20 was a frenchamerican cardiologist who wrote a bestselling book about curing alcoholism using the drug. The claims, made by dr olivier ameisen in a book which has jumped into the bestsellers list in france, have created a huge stir in the european medical establishment. Eleven years ago, dr olivier ameisen realised he was an alcoholic. Baclofen medication for alcohol cravings ria health. Baclofen cure for alcoholism page 3 rutgers university. Nonetheless, antialcoholism clinics are being besieged by demands for treatment with the drug prescribed by dr ameisen in his book, le dernier verre the. Without proof of its efficacy, prescribing high doses of the drug known as baclofen may. A drug touted as a miracle cure for alcoholism and prescribed for this purpose in france, may work no better than counselling, dutch researchers said wednesday.
According to the us national institute on alcohol abuse and alcoholism niaaa, lowrisk drinking corresponds to an alcohol consumption. You can read about my initial year on baclofen and what i went through to beat my addiction to alcohol here in the baclofen diary. I think the more prudent thing to do here is a slow, longer taper, but i wanted to rip the band. Baclofen is used to help relax certain muscles in your body. Without proof of its efficacy, prescribing high doses of the drug known as baclofen may be irresponsible, they warned. Pharmacodynamic interactions can lead to dangerous responses in the body. With research seemingly supporting the use of baclofen, it is hard to imagine why the drug may not yet be approved to treat alcoholism. The olivier ameisen story baclofen treatment for alcoholism. Despite having a medical history free of neurological disorders, this man suffered two seizures after drinking while on baclofen. All the information in this module is available in written form including protocols for prescribing and dose adjustment and an information pack to give patients link. Baclofen cure for alcoholism page 2 rutgers university. French doctor claims to have found chemical cure for. I am now 23 days clean from a 14month 2 mgday clonazepam habit.
Athens, greece high doses of baclofen multiple brands, a drug normally used to treat spasticity, supports alcoholdependent patients in maintaining abstinence from alcohol and. If you or someone you love is suffering from an alcohol use disorder, contact a dedicated treatment provider to learn about your rehabilitation options today. It wasnt an easy journey whatsoever but it turns out i was right to take a chance because baclofen worked for me. Baclofen oral route description and brand names mayo. David servanschreiber, md, phd, author of healing without freud or prozac and anticancer. Half case report, half memoir, olivier ameisen was a wellknown cardiologist doing some crazy good work in new york. Baclofen is now becoming the most successful treatment for alcoholism. The little pill that could cure alcoholism the guardian. A claim that the drug baclofen can cure alcoholism has received mixed reaction. A prescription guide for baclofen in alcohol use disorder for use.
Doctor claims cure for alcoholism in a pill abc news. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or. There is a lot of research now into alcoholism and addiction at places like rutgers. The following information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. Baclofen has been associated with a variety of side effects and is believed to undo the effects of other medications a person may be taking.
This practice is still considered to be an offlabel use for baclofen, but there is some clinical evidence that this drug is effectively utilized in addiction treatment. Baclofen is a drug used to control muscle stiffness in people with neurological diseases. In this first study, 10 male aud patients received 30 mgday baclofen starting from 5 mg, three times a day, and then 10 mg, three times a day for four consecutive weeks. The national institute on drug abuse nida reports a 2. It does not work for everyone but there are other medications. French cardiologist dr olivier ameisen tested out baclofen on himself and was amazed by the effect it had on reducing his drinking. A french doctor has used it to cure his alcoholism. Alcohol consumption in grams and craving for alcohol were assessed before.
It should also be noted that, in addition to the patients abstinent at the. Baclofen for treating anxiety and alcoholism full text. Olivier ameisens book the end of my addiction is available through any on line book merchant. Baclofen for alcohol addiction baclofen for alcohol. Is baclofen addictive or a treatment for addiction. It relieves the spasms, cramping, and tightness of muscles caused by medical problems, such as multiple sclerosis or certain injuries to the spine. The use of baclofen as a treatment for alcohol use disorder. Ameisens colleagues in the medical community have mixed feelings about the drug. A drug being touted and prescribed as a cure for alcoholism may not work any better than counselling, dutch researchers have said.
I came across baclofen searching for an alternative. One mans discovery baclofen and its potential as a new treatment for alcoholism first came to light with the publication of a book. The use of baclofen as a treatment for alcohol use. Practical protocol for prescribing baclofen in alcohol. The end of my addiction kindle edition by olivier ameisen m. He has now written a book about his experience le dernier verre the last glass in which he calls for clinical trials to test his theory that baclofen suppresses the.
Alcoholism is a disease and should be treated as such. Addolorato and colleagues were the first to investigate the efficacy of baclofen in reducing alcohol consumption in aud patients. New alcoholism treatment could a simple muscle relaxant be the magic pill for treating alcohol dependency. Does that mean that it is treatable by drugs, like many other diseases. Investigating baclofen the drug that claims to cure. Highdose baclofen supports abstinence in alcoholism. Dr olivier ameisen, 55, one of frances top heart specialists, says he overcame his own addiction to alcohol by selfadministering doses of a musclerelaxant called baclofen. You can learn more about baclofen from reading the blog and also by joining the forum here. Ninetytwo percentage of patients reported that they experienced the craving. One mans discovery baclofen and its potential as a new treatment for alcoholism first came to light with the publication of a book by a french cardiologist, dr. But as long as the medical and research establishments ignore a cure for one of the most deadly diseases in the world, we wont be able to understand baclofen s full potential. Increasingly, doctors also use this medication as an offlabel treatment for alcohol cravings in people going through treatment for alcoholism. There is a forum called mywayout where users exchange experiences. As usual, baclofen is showing equivocal promise as a good adjunct to behavioral treatment for addiction far from the addiction cure and more like another addiction treatment tool.
New alcoholism treatment baclofen has been around for a long time, but not as an alcoholism cure rather to treat painful muscle spasms and alcohol withdrawals. How do recovering alcoholics respond to baclofen alcohol. Baclofen is the name of a medication originally developed to treat people affected by severe muscle spasms. Searching for a cure for his deadly disease, he happened upon baclofen, a muscle relaxant that had been used safely for years as a treatment for various types of. The use of very highdoses of baclofen for the treatment. The present report is an analysis of the authors medical charts of patients taking, or having taken, very high doses of baclofen, i. Click download or read online button to get the alcoholism and addiction cure book now. Baclofen is the only current aud treatment capable of producing this effect.
Baclofen was first developed as a seizure medication, and wound up being approved to treat muscle spasticity in the 1970s. If you want a real way out of alcoholism, baclofen may work for you. Baclofen mixing it and alcohol the recovery village. Baclofen, as prescribed under a doctors care, could possibly help many addicts. A french cardiologist says he has discovered a cure for alcoholism and ended his own decadeslong addiction to alcohol by dosing himself with a. A recent bbc news report highlighted a book written by a french cardiologist describing his cure from alcoholism utilizing baclofen. The key effects of baclofen on the alcohol addicted patient are.
It began to get attention as a treatment for alcoholism in the 2000s, when french cardiologist olivier ameisen successfully used it to cure his addiction to alcohol. Heal thyself is the paperback edition of the end of my addiction. Baclofen saved my life and helped me successfully withdraw from benzodiazepines, opiates and gabapentin. Given that the usual pharmacological treatments of alcoholism have a limited longterm effectiveness johnson, 2008, and although the present study was only observational, it adds new evidence demonstrating that baclofen is a treatment of major interest for alcoholism. Researchers want to see if baclofen can be a safe and effective treatment for alcoholics who have.
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