How long do I have to take the medication? It’s a question LifeBac team members get all the time, and there are often other questions wrapped within it: Why can’t I get the medication from my doctor and take it on my own? Am I just trading one dependence for another? Isn’t it harmful to take medication for a long time? These questions are justified—your life may permanently change as a result of the decisions you make when dealing with overdrinking. We understand that and take it seriously, so here are our answers to each of those questions.

How long do I have to take the medication?

We know why people ask this question. They want to know when they’ll have that control again, they want to know how expensive it’s going to be, and they want to be able to set their expectations.

The short answer is that it depends on more factors than we can control. The long answer is that the time it takes to have a permanent effect is a direct result of the time and effort put into the LifeBac program.

We break the process down into three phases:

1. The first step is to find your Effective Dose—for some people, this takes a month, for

others, it takes more or less time.

2. Then, we recommend you spend at least 4-6 months at your Effective Dose to

ensure cravings do not return.

3. After that time, we can slowly reduce your dose while monitoring the return of cravings. This step has no timeline—some people taper off according to our established plan and don’t experience cravings, and others take a smaller dose indefinitely.

We wish we could give everyone a timeline that they can put on their calendar, but we can’t. Each person is different, but we can share some information that addresses the concerns that make people ask the question in the first place.

When it comes to expectations, it’s worth considering how long you’ve been drinking. If you’ve struggled with alcohol cravings for 5 years, 1 year of medication and habit development is an incredibly short time to take back that control.

We understand that cost can be an issue, but we also know that our program is effective. While LifeBac may seem like a big expense at first, it must be compared to the cost of drinking.

Based on how much you spend on alcohol in a week, how much will you spend on alcohol in 2 years? Now compare the cost of LifeBac—how much will you spend on LifeBac in 2 years? Now, what if you don’t spend the money on LifeBac, so you keep overdrinking. How much will you spend on alcohol in 5 years? How about 10 years? Suddenly, the cost of LifeBac is much smaller. And that’s before you compare the other costs of overdrinking to that of a life in control of alcohol.

If you are not sure how much you are really spending on alcohol, check out our drink calculator at lifebac.com. Then ask yourself, “What other costs of alcohol am I paying?”

Can you have your doctor prescribe you baclofen? Yes, at their discretion. Should you have your doctor prescribe you baclofen? Probably not.

The issue with getting a prescription from your doctor is that they probably aren’t familiar with the use of baclofen to manage overdrinking. While some European and Australian doctors use baclofen to manage overdrinking, US doctors primarily use baclofen to combat muscle spasticity. You wouldn’t be the first person to get a strange look from their doctor for requesting baclofen to manage overdrinking.

But weird looks from your doctor aren’t the issue. The issue is that your doctor will probably not be well versed in baclofen protocols for overdrinking. Even if they are, your doctor won’t be there to coach you through the process when you need support. Try to call them every week for a phone consultation, and they are liable to get a restraining order.

The coaching sessions we offer are crucial. Replacing alcohol-related habits with healthy habits is more than a nice sentiment—it’s the rerouting of neural pathways so that your mind works with you to control the desire to drink.

LifeBac is also able to provide you with additional anonymity—doctors must document a prescription for alcohol abuse in your medical file, but we keep your information private.

Additionally, your doctor will not be familiar with the process of creating a customized medication plan. Our medical providers are trained to build medication plans that are specific to you and your drinking window. Without that individualized plan, the medication is less effective.

So yes, you can get a baclofen prescription from your doctor. But your likelihood of success is low.

LifeBac was started to give you the power to choose your relationship with alcohol. We don’t have any other focus, so we can go all-in on tackling this one issue. We use science and technology to create a personalized medication plan that we monitor for each individual. Beyond that, we provide access to weekly coaching sessions (more or fewer, if you choose) to help you confront the habits that continue to drive drinking even after the medication takes effect. Those are things a doctor simply can’t offer.

Put simply, no. Baclofen has been medically approved in the United States since 1977, and since that time, there have been no signs that baclofen is habit-forming.

Baclofen is commonly used to treat muscle spasticity in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and cerebral palsy. Neither of those diseases is treatable, so patients with those diseases often take the medication throughout their lives. There has been no indication that taking baclofen over many years has any adverse effect.

It is important to note that these findings are based on medically managed prescription plans. Following a medically managed plan is important because baclofen can have negative effects if abused, mismanaged, or quit suddenly without a reduction schedule.

The discussions surrounding prescription medication, home remedies, holistic treatment, and alternative medicine are vast and loud. Without diving into everything, here are a few points to consider before we encourage you to ask yourself a question:

Now consider what drinking has done to your life. After you think about it, answer this question: Is your drinking less harmful than taking a time-tested medication with a chance of mild, potentially remediable side effects?

"I've been with LifeBac for a while, and I've found my Effective Dose - can I stop taking baclofen?"

This is one of the biggest reasons former clients return to LifeBac. We understand how tempting it is to get out and save some money once you feel like you're back in control. The fact is, feeling in control and being in control aren't always the same thing.

Baclofen, along with the work of our coaches, is breaking a firmly rooted positive feedback loop. It isn’t easy to change the structure of neural pathways, so it takes time. Once you feel in control, you’ve reached a wonderful stage of progression, but the process isn’t finished. Keeping up with your dosage and following the direction of our medical providers will ensure that you remain in control.

While we appreciate all of our LifeBac members, we don’t want to keep you with us forever. Our goal is like that of a parent: once you’re able to make it on your own, we want you out, and we want you to stay out. Not only will leaving the program early risk the return of alcohol cravings, but it will also cause you to have to start over if you need to rejoin LifeBac. That means more time and more money. Don’t try to take the quick fix over the long-term solution—follow the direction of our medical providers and coaches.

When it comes time to taper, make sure you are staying aware of any returning cravings. Being diligent through this process will allow you to catch any issues early on and stay ahead of them.

It may feel like a drag at times. But remember, the goal isn’t just to get your life back now, it’s to get your life back forever.