An American cardiologist who was “drinking himself into an early grave” has told the Daily Mail about his “fairytale recovery”. Interesting choice of words, that. Dr Olivier Ameisen claims that taking a drug prescribed for muscle spasm has allowed him to quit suicidal binge drinking and enjoy the odd glass of of vodka or champagne.
The scientific evidence in his first-person account in the Mail? None, unless you count the fact that Ameisen, after self-medicating with a drug called baclofen, felt his cravings melt away. NB: Ameisen didn’t just self-medicate; he greatly exceeded the normally prescribed dose for a drug that is never normally given to alcoholics. His theory is that baclofen relaxed his “chronic muscular and nervous tension, keep it from intensifying into chronic anxiety and panic, and thereby short-circuit the craving for alcohol to resolve that extreme distress”.
But where is the research showing that (a) baclofen stops muscular and nervous tension turning into anxiety in humans, or that (b) alcoholism is caused by such tension? The last time I checked, no single cause of alcoholism had been identified. Nor is it likely to be, given that “alcoholism” is not really a disease, but shorthand for addictive drinking.
Ameisen does have supporters among psychiatrists treating alcoholics, who say preliminary trials are encouraging. But the Mail article’s breezy tone hints at something that almost certainly does not and never will exist – a cure for alcoholism. To find out more, read Dr Ameisen’s new book on the subject. Oh, didn’t I mention that? Yes, he has a book to sell.
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18 responses
the daliy mail love bad science
This does seem pretty light on the details, but there is plenty of evidence that many cases of addiction involve people self-medicating for genuine problems, and can be helped considerably by providing them with alternative drugs which address their problems more effectively with less damage.
He is corrrect that severe anxiety is crippling. Been there got the t shirt. I started self medicating with alcohol and all the GP’S, shrinks and counsellors all said stop the drinking and the anxiety will vanish. Nobody understood that my anxiety was so severe before I started drinking that that was the reason I started drinking. There is very little meaningful help for alcoholics and again he is right that a lot of addicts have previously suffered anxiety and or depression. Mental health workers need to get their act together instead of condeming this man who is at least trying to find a cure and knows what he’s talking about given that he has suffered first hand.
Is he claiming to be presenting scientific evidence?
has anybody tried this treatment on themself
I agree with Wendy big time. I am going through the throes of anxiety right now and the drinking is making it worse. I hate it and I hate this life. I have ruined too many people including myself. My brother is helping me, he turned me onto the drug, which he just ordered from Canada. I hope it works.
I guess we should be glad that this drug didnt convince him that he can fly jumbo jets. Sober people running about arent nearly as scary.
This is an ill-conceived attack on this man’s experience. He is a legitimate medical researcher who, like others before him, has conducted experimental therapy on himself where it wouldn’t have been practical or indeed ethical to do so on others. His treatment is now cautiously being tested worldwide by others with success. The fact that nobody knows exactly how it works is also nothing new in medicine.
I can say from experience that baclofen WORKS. Period. I suffered with crippling, debilitating alcoholism for 20+ years. Rehab twice. I had lost all hope. I ran across Dr. Ameisen’s info and got my primary care doc on board and we gave baclofen a try. It has literally saved my life. I have become completely indifferent to alcohol/drugs. I do not happen to agree that I can go out and have just 1 drink - I do not think that is wise to ever ingest something that, at one time, nearly destroyed me. I cannot see how he would think that is ok. But, even if I try to entertain the thought of having a drink, I have absolutely no desire. This drug has saved my life & it is nothing short of a miracle
If anyone wants to discuss further - email k8tee1@gmail.com
I have read the Dr Ameisen’s book and have been prescribed Baclofen by my doctor. My alcohol consumption has halved so far and seems to be getting lower by the day. I had already tried Antabuse and Topamax - neither made a difference.
Baclofen does take my anxiety away. I am a happier more relaxed person. I have started exercising and my career has suddenly taken off. All good from my personal experience.
Can one obtain Baclafen in South Africa? Must I see my GP/MD first?
Sounds interesting. If this is documented and proved the scientist can milk millions ou t of it!
Perhaps you could have checked out Pubmed, WebMD for Medical Students or a number of medical information sites before you questioned Dr. Ameisen’s character. If you had you would have found the research that you wanted to see. Also, please note, after an original discovery there usually is a time lag of months to years before replicating studies are published.
Does anyone know of a doctor in Austin, TX or nearby who is willing to prescribe Baclofen? Have read the book and checked other sources and think this could help. Any information is very much appreciated.
Anything that helps with alcoholism is welcome. However anxiety is only one of many reasons why people drink.
24/7 Help Yourself
My doc has started me on Baclofen after I gave him Ameisen’s book to read. We have both been trying to contact Dr. Ameisen through his website and publisher, no luck. Does anyone know what he is currently doing and if he is still successfully clean and sober? Seems like he’s dropped off the planet!
Does anyone know how to find a UK GP who will prescribe Baclofen against alcoholism. Our specialist has refused as it is “beyond his prescribing competence.”
We are slightly at our wits end.
Any pointers to deeper info would be appreciated.
Lancet trial report at:
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(07)61789-9/fulltext
See also:
http://www.olivierameisen.com/en