First of all, welcome. This is a great group of people who are very giving of their support and experiences, and I'm sure you'll find you've come to a great place.

I assume you did not order the pdf of the book but a hard copy so have not read it yet. If that is the case, then let me give you a very brief outline of what is included in the program. First, you will be taking a number of supplements. The purpose is twofold. As a heavy drinker you are most likely quite deficient in many of the most basic vitamins, minerals and amino acids. You need to start correcting these imbalances. As well, there are a number of studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of supplements such as kudzu and l-glutamine (see the research tab on the homepage of the site) in curbing the cravings for alcohol. See this thread for a list of the supplements recommended in the program. You may want to start gathering them now in preparation for starting the program. Make sure you read the entire thread. Also, purchase l-glutamine, as it has been added to the list since that thread. See the l-glutamine thread for more information on this.

On the medication front, the program recommends Topamax as the cornerstone drug to curb cravings. I would recommend you make an appointment to see your doctor now, as it may take a few weeks to get that scheduled. You should also read the research about the off-label use of this drug to curb alcohol cravings included on the site. Some of the people on this program (myself included) have opted not to go through their physician for Topa. That is strictly a personal decision. If you choose not to, there are a number of offshore sites where you can purchase it. It is not inexpensive, but certainly cheaper than a daily habit of a dozen beers. The 'Worldwide supplement, etc. resources' thread at the top of this section of the forum can point you to a number of sites for not only Topamax, but also the supplements.

Self-hypnosis is another tool we all find to be really effective and incredibly relaxing. You should order (and start using) the CDs from this site as soon as possible.

Finally, and personally one of the things I find to be most important, is exercise. If you aren't already, start exercising. It's amazing what those little endorphins do to curb cravings and just make you feel like a million bucks.

We're a motley crew...but quite loveable in our own quirky ways. I'm sure you'll get used to us.

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HadEnough