I'm 47 year old woman and was drinking up to 3 bottles of wine a day for years.although it was a slow progression from teenage years till now.I have been on it since 9th of August and didn't believe it would work for me but had to give it a go as I was desperate.Well it hit my SWITCH as they call it on 26th of August.I can't believe is that simple.I just don't want to drink anymore.Have even been to the pub for lunch and it doesn't interest me at all.This drug WORKS!!....Just can't see how it will get approved for drug abuse anytime soon as its out of patent and all that entails.Side effects are pretty severe but so is being drunk all the time
There are many articles about baclofen and addiction. One claims that in recent trials 100 people suffering from alcoholism, or alcohol abuse, about half found their cravings had reduced considerably. Some said they were completely cured, while some said the side effects caused them to stop taking it as they felt so ill.
the main stumbling block seemed to be finding a gp willing to prescribe it. The majority of people taking baclofen obtained it from 'varying sources', mainly off the Internet or from a private Dr who would issue a private prescription.
Personally, the list of side effects would put me off taking it.
I did get mine from the Internet and have ordered another batch.It is costing a lot of money and next time I will approach my go but I don't hold out much hope.But what I have spent on the baclofen I have saved ( or will save) on wine.I am taking 180 milligrams and 2 days after I titrated up to this amount is when I became indifferent to alcohol.I will leave it a while on this amount and they start to titrated down
I would have deep reservations about ordering drugs online. Plenty of warnings that you don't know where they came from or what they actually contain. Many concerns about the age of the drugs, with the possibility that they could be drugs which have been discarded by drug companies and are in the 'wrong hands'.
having said that, I'm aware that many people order drugs online without any problems. The above is purely my own view based on articles and reports ive read/seen.
Am pleased you have found something which is obviously working well for you. My GP won't prescribe nalfemene which I accept, but wouldn't resort to buying it online. However, each to their own
Why won,t your GP prescribe you Nalmefen? Did you ask? It is on the NHS now. I would take that further or find a gp who will. I am on it and it works great.
Is it true that gp's are prescribing it as that's the brand name of baclofen I got from the internet
Nicole, what is the name of the medication printed on the box/bottle please?
I don't understand your reply to ray21540. He mentioned about Nalmefene which is not baclofen.
Oh no,similar,namanfen but also says baclofen
Wow, that is very similar isn't it? 
Thanks for replying so quickly, didn't want any confusion.....
If you are serious about stopping then is there not a centre for people with addictions? Or tell your doctor you were so desparate to stop you ordered on line and it helped but you would rather take his advice.
I am going to see the doc next week and tell them all about it.Over the years I've back and forth to the docs and they just tell me to cut down ect.Have had 3 liver function tests that came back normal so I think they just thought I was just exaggerating.But haven't been back for about 7 years as I was spiralling out of control albeit privately,no one but my hubby knew how bad I was.now I'm really worried as my completion has changed and I'm bruising very easily
Baclofen is a muscle relaxant or at least that is what it,s main use. Nalmafen is something very different . Read up on it and then speak to your GP.
nicole
i first mentioned nalfemene to my key worker after being referred to ADS by my GP. She'd never heard of it! I ended up printing off some info for her. At my next appointment she said she'd discussed it with her manager, but it was something they wouldn't recommend.
Went back to gp who said he wouldn't prescribe some weird American trial.
Thanks to Joanna on this forum, I was able to get reliable info, stats to show success rate, and NICE guidelines and went this week to see a different gp. Waste of time, because the answer was the same, wouldn't prescribe it. Only way I could get it would be paying to see a private physciatrist and paying for a private prescription.
I was referred to an alcohol/drug centre and they'd never heard of it, I gave them the info which I'd found online and was told they wouldn't recommend it due to horrific side effects!!
I had a day programme where I went to the centre each day to take Subutex for codeine addiction. The side effects I must admit were lovely.
If you don't mind my asking, how did you get addicted to codeine? My husband was given codeine 30mg post surgery. I've taken a couple of them when I couldn't sleep, but didn't feel a thing. Didn't do or make me feel any different
Hi Nicole,
I have taken baclofen for 12 months so I known what you are talking about. I can vouch for its amazing effects too!!. It is really amazing isn't it? just the feeling to be yourself again and able to take the right decision without constant stress/interference of wanting a drink.
Baclofen is actually a very cheap drug as you know and if you muster the courage to go to your GP you can refer to the BACLAD study from Germany. It is the first study double blind and placebo and it was published earlier this year. Of course it shows its fantastic anti-craving effect.
As you know be prepared to face a lot of ignorance about this treatment. It may be better to wait unetil the BACLOVILLE (France) study is out. This should be at the end of the year.
Thank you for your testimony as it will help a lot people who get desperate.
Good for you to have thought out of the box and seek a treatment which works. You'll have a good life without this brain addiction that is called an "alcool problem".
Vanessa
PS unfortunately namalfene appears to me as a waste of time and tax payer money. It is marginally effective (see European drug agency report) and much more expensive than baclofen.
Why is nalfemene a waste of time? There's many people on this forum alone who seem to find it helpful. Also how is it a waste of tax payers money? If GPS were to prescribe baclofen would that be a waste of time and tax papers money as well. Is namalfene a different drug to nalfemene?
The spelling is NALMEFEN or known as SELINCRO. Some predictive text issues in earlier posts. This is prescribable on the NHS if you meet the NICE criteria. It has only been available since March in England. I had to do all the research but my GP agreed to give it ago. It has really worked and I am back in control. Liver results were 179 now 65. ( normal range 0 - 70 ) I still enjoy a drink 2 - 3 times a week but no craving. I can take it or leave it. If your GP will not prescribe ask why
If not happy with that take it to the commissioner's. Used to be the PCT maybe PCG now.
Glad you were able to get it prescribed for you and that you've had such excellent results. Yes I could appeal to PCG, but all my family use the surgery, and I have friends working there who I know from when I was an assistant practice manager at another surgery.
From your point of view, you wouldn't say its a waste of space and waste of tax payers' money then?