How to Safely Taper Off Alcohol Alcohol Detox Programs

Even if you think either option sounds like something that could work for your situation, we still recommend talking to a doctor before proceeding. If you only drink two to three drinks per week, you can easily quit cold turkey without experiencing major withdrawal symptoms. However, tapering off may be the way to go if you drink heavily or have more than how to taper off alcohol six drinks per week. This is why it’s always best to find some form of long-term support in sobriety. Support groups, from Alcoholics Anonymous to SMART Recovery, are one free way to find a community of people on the same journey. There are also a number of anti-craving medications to help you avoid drinking again, or even help with your tapering process.

  • Aftercare resources such as 12-step groups, sober living homes and support for family and friends promote a life rich with rewarding relationships and meaning.
  • Experts advise surrounding oneself with positive influences whenever possible.
  • Safe alcohol withdrawal is an important part of starting a recovery process.
  • It’s the process of weaning or tapering from alcohol or drugs so your body can function without these substances.
  • If you are struggling with alcoholism, the safest way to quit drinking is through professional rehabilitation.

Get cost-effective, quality addiction care that truly works. Chris Elkins worked as a journalist for three years and was published by multiple newspapers and online publications.

Dangers of Stopping Alcohol Use Abruptly

By setting a specific day or time for a ‘beer-free’ day, you create a reminder of your commitment to sobriety. Tapering off alcohol is one of the safest ways to overcome alcoholism. Instead of complete cessation of alcohol, you begin to slowly taper down on your consumption over a period of time. Central nervous system depressants are a class of drugs that includes several prescription medications like benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and sedative-hypnotics. Depressants are so-called because they depress activity in the central nervous system. In other words, they slow down chemical communication in the brain and body.

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Alcohol intoxication and withdrawal can create electrolyte imbalances, which causes side effects such as muscle spasms, numbness and seizures. A Healthy Diet A healthy diet includes eating foods that contain the proper balance of carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, proteins and fats. These nutrients help the brain and other organs function. If a person is malnourished, the body doesn’t have the energy it needs to recover from alcohol dependence. Learn more about the role of nutrition during recovery A Shower Taking a shower doesn’t help you sober up, and it doesn’t help alcohol leave your body more quickly.

How to Manage Withdrawal Symptoms

For others, simply cutting back the number of drinks can bring on alcohol withdrawal symptoms. If you drink heavily on a regular basis, it can be dangerous to stop alcohol cold turkey. For this reason, you should not suddenly quit drinking without talking to your doctor. The consequences of quitting alcohol cold turkey can be serious and lead to alcohol withdrawal syndrome, which can be fatal in severe cases. Alcohol dependence and addiction are serious medical conditions. Minor symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can be overcome with rest and at-home remedies, and it is possible for some people to taper off alcohol without supervision. However, individuals who suffer from alcohol addiction require professional rehab.

how to taper off alcohol

You may decide to seek medical treatment for your withdrawal symptoms or decide to enter a professional detox or rehab center. Depending on how much alcohol you drink to start with, the amount of time an alcohol weaning schedule takes may vary. For example, those who drink more heavily may need more time to taper than those who drink less alcohol. Further, if you start to develop alcohol withdrawal symptoms during the taper, your doctor may instruct https://ecosoberhouse.com/ you to pause or slow the taper as a result. These factors can make one person’s taper last longer than another person’s taper. However, it’s important to note that people with moderate to severe alcohol addictions may struggle with sticking to a taper schedule and end up relapsing to heavier alcohol use. If you’re unable to reduce how much you drink, you may have a disease called alcoholism that requires professional addiction treatment.

Why Is Alcohol Withdrawal Dangerous?

If you experience dangerous signs such as high blood pressure, racing heart, or arrhythmias, slow your taper and seek assistance. In 2019 the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrationreported that 14.5 millions of americans suffered from Alcohol Use Disorder. Treatment is the best way to ensure long-term abstinence from alcohol. This is especially true if you are suffering from an alcohol use disorder.

But making the difficult decision to cut back on drinking is much more important than the length of your alcohol taper. A medical professional can help you determine if a fast or slow taper, or quitting altogether, is appropriate based on a thorough medical assessment and evaluation of your withdrawal risk. However, it is important to be aware of the risks of attempting a taper on your own. Sometimes, people think that if their symptoms are mild, they don’t need medical help. Unfortunately, alcohol withdrawal symptoms can worsen quickly, and they can include agitation and hallucinations that make it more difficult to seek help. For this reason, it is best to seek medical advice on whether you should taper at home or under medical observation. Tapering gradually lowers the amount of alcohol that you use over time.

Why Should You Taper?

Alcohol rehab helps you taper off alcohol, and it treats other side effects and causes of alcoholism. Even though tapering off your alcohol consumption is one of the best ways to stop drinking, it’s important to note that this will need to be done with professional help. This can ensure that you are more likely to succeed with getting on the road to recovery, and that you are less likely to relapse. Instead, those who suffer from alcohol use disorders should seek professional treatment to help address both addiction as well as underlying mental health issues.

What does 3 weeks without alcohol do to your body?

Overall benefits of three weeks without alcohol

Clear skin. More energy. Improved gym performance. Reduced anxiety and improved mood.

Substituting a prescription drug for alcohol should only happen with the help of a medical professional. No one should ever attempt a substitution taper with prescription medication unless their doctor specifically prescribed it for that purpose in a medical detox program. Moreover, substituting one kind of beverage for another does not help you taper off alcohol if you consume the same number of standard drinks as you usually have. For example, one 12-ounce can of beer contains the same amount of alcohol as a 5-ounce glass of wine or a mixed drink containing 1.5 ounces of alcohol. Cutting down your alcohol intake may not be as easy as it sounds. People who want to reduce their alcohol consumption often do not realize how much of their social and daily routines alcohol has become.

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