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

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. You may be able to detox at home and still attend outpatient therapy or support group meetings.

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If you do relapse, talk to your therapist or addiction treatment specialist who can help you quickly get back on track and prevent it from happening again. It is important that your recovery plan has a list of people who can support you as you wean off alcohol. Identify specific situations, emotions, https://ecosoberhouse.com/ environments, and people that motivate your drinking. Examples of triggers could include stress, social gatherings with alcohol, certain friends, and bars. “Once you have a sense of how much you’re drinking, it’s helpful to track how many drinks you’re having per day,” says Witkiewitz.

• The most severe form of alcohol withdrawal is known as delirium tremens, which develops in about 3 to 5% of people with severe alcohol addiction.
• If you drink heavily on a regular basis, it can be dangerous to stop alcohol cold turkey.
• They may cut back for a short period of time, but soon find themselves back to drinking at their usual level.
• Alcohol withdrawal occurs when neurotransmitters that combat the effects of alcohol on the nervous system suddenly have nothing to counteract them.
• Whether you’re a daily imbiber, heavy drinker, or frequent binge drinker, you’re likely to experience withdrawal symptoms when you quit.
• A person is free to increase the taper speed (e.g., lower by three drinks instead of two) as they see fit.

Avoiding the Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal

• You can choose to taper your substance use or go “cold turkey.” In either case, you won’t have outside support or treatment.
• In fact, a relapse can be a valuable learning experience that helps you avoid slipping in the future.
• Contact emergency health services if you or someone you know experiences more than one symptom of severe alcohol withdrawal.
• The main ways to prevent alcohol withdrawal are to avoid alcohol altogether or to get professional help as soon as possible if you think you’re developing alcohol use disorder.
• 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.

Delirium tremens (DT) is a life-threatening condition that requires medical attention. If you experience nausea, seizures, and hallucinations, seek help. Eating healthier helps your body heal from the effects of alcohol. It also ensures your body has proper nutrition to maintain stamina during the stress it will go through during detox. Making alcohol difficult to access can help you avoid temptation and increase the chances of a successful detox. The detoxification timeline varies based on the severity of the alcohol addiction.

• Our knowledgeable and compassionate team is available 24/7 to help get you or someone you care about into treatment and answer any questions or concerns you might have.
• Also, your insurance should cover addiction treatment services, so look for therapists and/or rehabs in your network to help reduce the costs.
• It can be helpful to make a plan ahead of time for how to handle a relapse.
• However, it may be suitable for someone with a lower risk of experiencing alcohol withdrawal, or a person who has access to medical professionals at home.

– Rekindle an old hobby or start a new one.

In fact, a relapse can be a valuable learning experience that helps you avoid slipping in the future. A relapse can serve as an opportunity for you to refocus on your larger goals, practice self-forgiveness, and find ways to stay motivated. Surrounding yourself how to taper off alcohol at home with other people who are sober will dramatically improve your chances of staying away from alcohol. You should develop this plan while you are in treatment, so you can use it to protect and maintain your sobriety once your stint in treatment ends.

If you properly taper your alcohol use, you’re less likely to experience alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Gradually reducing the amount of alcohol you drink can help give your body the time it needs to adjust to the lack of alcohol. The purpose of tapering off alcohol is to avoid major withdrawal symptoms so you can achieve sobriety safely. 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.

Strategies For Tapering Off Alcohol

• This is why many people dependent on alcohol will choose to taper down their usage rather than stop drinking altogether.
• Drink a cup of soothing tea or a tall glass of water before you imbibe—once your thirst is quenched, you may not feel the need for as much—or any—alcohol.
• 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.
• The brain compensates for the depressive effects of alcohol by increasing its activity.
• One important thing to do when addressing alcohol withdrawal is to distance yourself from enablers and any drinking advocates that are in your life.

We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers.

How to Manage Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms at Home

In contrast, robust evidence supports quitting alcohol while under medical supervision. If you struggle with drinking, the safest way to quit is under a doctor’s care. If you drink heavily, your doctor may recommend quitting with the help of a medical detox center. In medical detox, you receive around-the-clock care from doctors and nurses to help prevent and treat alcohol withdrawal symptoms and their complications. This can set you up for a safe and effective detox and put you in a good position to continue your recovery in rehab. For people with moderate to severe alcohol addiction, utilizing an alcohol detox center is always the safest option.

– Ride out the cravings.

Thus, a user will likely seek out alcohol again to rid themselves of the uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. You may decide to seek medical treatment for your withdrawal symptoms or make the choice to enter a professional detox or rehab center. Even if you don’t succeed the first time, there are still plenty of treatment options you can turn to. With these things in mind, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons of tapering your alcohol use to make a fully informed decision. If your health, wellness, and even life may be at risk, quitting alcohol should only be attempted with the help of a medical professional.

Build a Sober Community of Support

The main difference between tapering and quitting alcohol cold turkey is how fast you quit. Cold turkey is a common slang term for quitting alcohol (or any substance) all at once. Tapering or weaning means ramping down your alcohol use until you get to zero—or to a more moderate level of drinking that you prefer.

The second situation involves counting the daily drinks and switching them to a beverage with lower alcohol content, such as beer. Switching to beer from hard liquor is safer because it is easier to control the amount of beer that is consumed and is harder to binge drink. Consuming a lighter alcoholic drink like beer also makes it easier for someone to stay hydrated throughout the taper.