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Safe alcohol withdrawal is an important part of starting a recovery process. For this reason, you should not abruptly stop alcohol use after a long period of heavy use without medical supervision. Instead, slowly cutting back on your drinking, or using an alcohol tapering schedule, is a safer method to become sober. Consultation with a medical professional or recovery coach is strongly recommended. Analcohol addictionis dangerous, and the best way to reduce the risks of drinking is to stop using alcohol. Tapering your alcohol intake, or slowly reducing it over time, can help you avoid severealcohol withdrawal symptoms. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals.
They may have a mild-to-moderate substance use problem without being chemically dependent. Still, they may need to consider cutting back for other physical, mental, and social health reasons.
Pros and Cons of Tapering Off Alcohol
This is a staggering number considering that many other drugs do not even have the possibility of lethal withdrawals. For this reason, experts advise that alcohol cessation be monitored safely with steady effort between oneself and a physician. Obviously quitting cold turkey from a 12-beer-a-day habit is going to be more stressful than tapering off slowly. But that does not mean home detox is effective, appropriate, or safe.
The rationale is simply that you’re less likely to drink much of a beverage you don’t like. Limit yourself to one drink per hour, for example, or substitute a glass of water, juice, or Gatorade between each alcoholic drink.
Choosing To Wean Yourself off Alcohol
You should talk to a doctor about the safest way to detox if you experience any withdrawal symptoms when you stop how to taper off alcohol drinking. When coming off drugs or alcohol tapering is the best way to prevent severe withdrawal symptoms.
- For example, depression could cause suicidal thoughts, and eating poorly can weaken your immune system.
- Alcohol tapering is a way to quit drinking while reducing your risk of withdrawal and complications.
- However, the self-control it takes to taper can be challenging for someone with an AUD.
- People who try tapering off alcohol won’t have the guided support of medical professionals that they would at inpatient treatment.
- When that numbing sensation disappears entirely, the brain is left dangerously overstimulated.
- In this case, having a strong support system, attending AA meetings, and talking with an addiction counselor is key to a successful detox process.
How long it takes depends on factors like how much you typically drink. A person who drinks more alcohol will probably have a longer taper than a person who drinks less alcohol. Always remember that if the taper is not working for you or if you are having major withdrawal that it is safest to check into a medical detox because alcohol withdrawal can kill you. Even mild or moderate withdrawal can be dangerous for people with high blood pressure or bad hearts. Because withdrawal raises blood pressure there can be a danger of heart attack or stroke.The longer and harder a person has drunk alcohol–the more severe the withdrawal will be. For some drinkers, cutting down on the amount of alcohol they drink simply does not work.
Impacts Of Alcohol Abuse
Discussing these issues with a loved one can help you avoid relapse. Whether you feel like you drink too much alcohol, or you have an alcohol abuse issue, quitting drinking cold turkey can be dangerous. Knowing how to safely taper off alcohol can make all the difference in how successful you are in quitting drinking.
Overstimulation in your nervous system can affect important unconscious functions like your heart rate, blood pressure, and electrical impulses. This is why you can experience seizures and heart failure during alcohol withdrawal. Alcohol works by increasing the potency of a neutral chemical in the brain called GABA, or gamma-Aminobutyric acid. GABA is a neurotransmitter responsible for your brain’s rest and digest response, which helps to facilitate sleep, relaxation, and anxiety release.
Alcohol Treatment at Serenity Lane in Oregon
Alcohol abstinence can feel impossible early in the recovery process, and you should not expect yourself to face it alone. The Recovery Village Palm Beach Florida at Baptist Health can help you get started on your recovery with alcohol addiction treatment — safely, comfortably and with your future in mind. Reach out to one of our supportive professionals and begin the healing process. The process of reducing alcohol consumption should begin with your baseline of use, since your taper schedule depends on how much you drink before you start decreasing your intake. To calculate your baseline, you need to know how many standard drinks you drink in a day.
- Knowing how to safely taper off alcohol can make all the difference in how successful you are in quitting drinking.
- It can also involve substituting the drink of choice with another drink; for example, a person may taper off hard alcohol with beer.
- However, it is important to be aware of the risks of attempting a taper on your own.
- However, your body is adaptable, and after a period of regular, heavy drinking, your nervous system will adapt to the presence of alcohol.
- The Freedom Center Editorial team is made of up individuals who have struggled with addiction, loved ones who have helped family members through addiction, and professionals in addiction treatment.
Factors such as pattern of alcohol use, other medical conditions, genetics, and how your body responds to alcohol can all play a role in withdrawal symptoms. 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.