Tapering Off Alcohol: Is It Safe and Should You Do It?

The time it takes to taper will depend on how long you’ve been drinking, how much you’ve been drinking and a variety of personal factors. Creating a tapering schedule you can stick with is a crucial part of weaning yourself off alcohol. The best schedule varies based on how much you drink each day and your overall health. As mentioned above, we strongly recommend speaking with a doctor to ensure your plan is a safe one, and won’t cause dangerous withdrawal symptoms.

Medically assisted detoxification (detox) is an inpatient program that keeps you stabilized during alcohol withdrawals. Staffed by medical professionals, these programs offer 24-hour monitoring so you always have support if any complications arise. However, if you don’t taper properly, you may experience withdrawal symptoms, especially if you have severe alcoholism.

Evidence Based

When you quit drinking cold turkey, your body suffers from a cascade of changes caused by the sudden shift. Since alcohol depresses central nervous system activity, quitting drinking can cause an imbalance of an excitatory neurotransmitter called glutamate. This excess glutamate triggers alcohol withdrawal symptoms, which can sometimes be dangerous.

How to Wean Off Alcohol: Tapering Safely and on Schedule

• This will be the basis of the protocol to taper off the substance to increase the chances of success.
• For those at risk for severe withdrawal symptoms, medically-supervised detox is often the safest choice for beginning their sobriety or moderation journey.
• A taper may not be right for you if you frequently drink more than you intended, try to cut back but cannot or feel that your alcohol use is affecting your life.
• If you’ve been unable to quit on your own, you should consider attending an alcohol rehab center.

Over time, you can decrease the alcoholic drinks while increasing the non-alcoholic ones while still following the same behaviors you were used to. Tapering can be an excellent way to prevent harmful withdrawal effects after ceasing alcohol intake. If you have a severe level of addiction or dependency, you may need a detox program. Talk to a medical professional to find the best detox option for you. You can taper off alcohol if you worry that you are developing alcohol addiction. However, it should not cause someone to become stuck on a step, which would defeat the purpose of a taper.

If you or your loved one is suffering, contact us to learn more about a brighter, sober tomorrow. The 20-minute rule is a great tool for cutting down on alcohol use. After you finish an alcoholic beverage, wait 20 minutes before consuming another. This 20-minute break allows the alcohol to hit your bloodstream and reduces the cravings for another drink, preventing you from overdoing it. If you are worried you or your loved one might have an alcohol use disorder, there is hope — reach out to Dove Recovery alcohol rehab in Columbus, Ohio. We will help you find the resources you need for alcohol use disorder.

Safely Get Naltrexone Online to Stop Drinking

Because everyone’s body reacts differently, there’s not a lot of research that proves tapering can decrease the effects of alcohol withdrawal. A popular way to taper off alcohol is to gradually reduce the number of drinks you consume over a period of time. For example, if you normally drink 6 glasses of wine each night, you can try reducing that to 5 glasses of wine a night. After several days of 5 glasses of wine, you can reduce that down to 4.

Increase Time Between Drinks

A luxury center treating addiction and co-occurring mental health with evidence-based therapies, a continuum of care in bespoke facilities, and private bedrooms. Weaning off alcohol can not only dramatically improve the quality of your life, but it can also actually save it. If you are looking to reduce your alcohol consumption safely, contact Legacy Healing. Weaning off alcohol is considerably safer and more effective than going cold turkey. If you are looking for how to taper off alcohol, you can follow these steps.

This is offered to patients with moderate to severe Alcohol Use Disorder, having the goal of achieving abstinence. Note that Disulfiram it is not a cure to alcoholism, and a full therapy must be used. Within 5 minutes, you’ll receive an email with these details – free of charge. Surrounding yourself with other people who are sober will dramatically improve your chances of staying away from alcohol.

Strategies for Tapering Off

• Alcohol withdrawal occurs when you stop using alcohol after a prolonged period of heavy use.
• Your brain will still be hyperactive and take about a week to 10 days to readjust.
• But, it might also come with seemingly some discomfort or disappointment from friends.
• Tapering can sometimes help a person avoid uncomfortable and sometimes deadly symptoms of withdrawal.
• If you have a severe level of addiction or dependency, you may need a detox program.
• Mild anxiety, for example, can turn into overwhelming agitation or even hallucinations.

Luckily, these expert tips for people looking to drink less make it a lot simpler. After successfully completing detox, there are additional treatment options at Serenity Lane. There is a residential inpatient treatment program with medical supervision. During rehab, you will have the opportunity to participate in group therapy. Supporting someone who is trying to wean off alcohol can be challenging but incredibly important. Encourage them in their progress and offer non-judgmental support when they struggle.

When it comes to tapering off alcohol safely, seeking support and professional guidance can play a crucial role in your journey towards sobriety. Building a support system and consulting with medical professionals and therapists can provide the necessary guidance, encouragement, and accountability to help you achieve your goals. The purpose of alcohol tapering is typically to avoid some of the more dangerous symptoms Living in a Sober House: Fundamental Rules of detox. The length of time for alcohol tapering depends entirely on your baseline of use.

Read on to learn how https://appsychology.com/living-in-a-sober-house/ to wean off alcohol, whether alcohol withdrawal can kill you, and other common questions about quitting drinking. Our state-specific resource guides offer a comprehensive overview of drug and alcohol addiction treatment options available in your area. However, even the best-designed tapers can put you at risk for alcohol withdrawal syndrome. For this reason, you should never start an alcohol taper before clearing with your doctor.

You can read all about mindful drinking in this article by a licensed therapist at Monument. As you take a step to improve your well-being by quitting alcohol, don’t forget to secure it financially. Explore the reliable ManipalCigna Health Insurance plans with comprehensive coverage tailored to your healthcare needs. Serenity Lane offers rehabilitation for alcoholism, or alcohol use disorder. Our hope is to create the safest, most comfortable environment for you to begin your treatment journey. Some people withdrawing from alcohol could be at risk for delirium tremens (DTs).

When you drink heavily, alcohol is present in your bloodstream constantly. Alcohol suppresses your brain’s normal function, and your body adjusts to this constant presence of alcohol by making your brain more hyperactive. This increased hyperactivity, combined with the suppressing effect of alcohol, helps your brain function more normally. This process is called dependence because your brain depends on alcohol being present to function normally. Because tapering is not the recommended way to stop using alcohol, there is no recommended tapering schedule. If you plan to taper, you must create a schedule that is right for you.