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March
28 will mark My Way Out’s official one year anniversary.
We are delighted and overwhelmed with the success
of this program over the past 12 months. We’ve heard
from thousands of individuals from all over the world,
many of whom have finally broken the bonds of addiction.
They have found a program that fits their lifestyle
and comfort level and can be done in the privacy of
their own homes. A program that allows a choice of
moderated drinking or abstinence. And a program that
provides a community of enthusiastic support—often
online—offering strength, fellowship, and inspiration.
Now, one year later, we present information to make
the program even better. We’ve learned so much from
the patients, physicians and researchers with whom
we’ve worked and we are eager to share it with everyone
involved in the My Way Out program. Like any good
medical therapy it will continue to evolve, to be
enhanced, and provide even greater efficacy.
Here is an overview of modifications and updated recommendations
to My Way Out:
Nutrition
We have made our first official recommendations
for modifications the My Way Out nutritional program
for those who may wish to adopt them. As many of you
know, this therapy allows a great degree of individual
tweaking. We learn, through many of our patients and
MWO members, what works best and how others may incorporate
similar practices. We follow a tremendous amount of
research, including a number of ground-breaking studies
in addiction medicine. And we work closely with highly
regarded specialists; they include physicians, researchers,
nutritionists, herbalists and others who help ensure
our program is safe, effective, and cutting edge.
We consider our original supplement schedule to be
extremely effective. It works very well for most individuals,
so if you are on the program, you may simply choose
to continue using your supplements at the existing
doses. However, we have proposed several potential
modifications you may wish to consider based on data
and observations over the past year. If you're currently
using the My Way Out program—or considering it—and
would like more information about specific changes
in our supplement program please see our
MWO 2006 update sheet.
For
feedback from MWO members about supplements and nutrition
and as they relate to My Way Out, visit
http://www.mywayout.org/community/showthread.php?t=2724
Medication
When we first published My Way Out, the anti-craving
drug of choice was Topamax (topiramate), an anti-seizure
mediation used off label. As I mentioned in the book,
which was published in March, 2004, newer drugs would
soon become available, including Campral (acamprosate),
which many of our members now use. It is often the
medication of choice for those who select complete
abstinence over moderated drinking. Other pharmacological
solutions are also being introduced, including the
oral medications Baclofen or Vivitrex, the latter
of which is a reformulation on naltrexone and delivered
in a monthly injection. Other medications—and combination
of medications—are under development to help balance
neurotransmitters in the brain and blunt the craving
for alcohol. New research has also brought to light
data about drinker sub-types, including early and
late onset drinkers.
Our experience suggests the following:
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