With a doctor’s help, you can taper off alcohol slowly to avoid severe symptoms. You may cut back on drinking slowly over time, but if you have an alcohol use disorder, it can be very challenging to resist drinking too much for an effective taper. Instead, you may be treated with benzodiazepines, a class of medications that are chemically similar to alcohol.
Alcohol withdrawal can have dangerous effects
To successfully taper your alcohol use, finding what works best for you is important. Alcohol proof is the amount of alcohol found in distilled spirits or liquor. Smaller drinks with a higher percentage of alcohol are stronger than the same size drink containing a lower-proof liquor. Find an accountability partner or someone you can call to keep you on track when you want to drink. Build a network of people you can go to when you need help, join a support group or see a therapist.
Your Guide to Tapering Off Alcohol
Having a conversation in advance can also help set expectations on your friends’ part. This way, by the time you get to your destination for the evening, they know you won’t be drinking and have managed their own ideas for how the night will go. For example, when it comes to the ever-popular suggestion of first-date drinks, mention that you probably won’t be drinking—but that they should free to—before making set plans. While you don’t need to discuss your drinking habits with everyone, bringing a few friends in on your intention is a good idea, says Treloar Padovano.
How Long Does it Take to Wean Off Alcohol?
Rehabilitation facilities can help you on your path to sobriety by addressing alcohol withdrawal symptoms and becoming involved in sober living support groups, like AA. Because alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, quitting drinking can cause your body to have too much of an excitatory substance called glutamate as it tries to rebalance. This can trigger alcohol withdrawal symptoms, which can be dangerous in some cases. Quitting cold turkey is the preferred method of withdrawal, but only if done under medical supervision, where symptoms can be treated as they occur. Weaning off alcohol is essential to break the cycle of dependence and regain control over one’s life. In conclusion, the journey of safely weaning yourself off alcohol is unique to each person.
- Be patient with yourself and celebrate each milestone along the way.
- It’s common to experience difficulty when making big changes, but good self-care practices can help you manage overwhelming feelings and take care of your mind and body.
- For those who drink more than 20 drinks a day, the tapering schedule becomes more complex and may require a different approach.
- This involves slowly decreasing your alcohol intake over time to allow your body to adjust and minimize withdrawal symptoms.
- Use it as an opportunity to learn from the experience, identify triggers or underlying factors that contributed to the relapse, and reinforce your commitment to sobriety.
Tapering Off Alcohol vs. Going Cold Turkey
An effective tapering schedule may include cutting out one drink at a time at regular intervals. It might help to set goals and reward yourself when you reach them. The severity of withdrawal symptoms can range from mild to life-threatening. Mild to moderate symptoms may include anxiety, shaky hands, sweating, nausea, and insomnia. More severe symptoms can include hallucinations, seizures, and delirium tremens, characterized by confusion, rapid heartbeat, and fever.
Alcohol is likely the most widely used recreational substance in the world. In the United States, most people will drink alcohol at least once. Its cultural acceptance has made it a common psychoactive substance in the United States. More concerning is the prevalence of binge drinking and heavy alcohol use. In the same year, 28.3 million people had an alcohol use disorder (AUD).
It can also help you gain a new perspective as you consider how your life will change without alcohol. A sober life doesn’t have to mean more time at home as you try to block out triggers. It can mean more time for your other interests, and even new interests. More time to meet new people, catch up with old friends and try new things. As such, there is only limited guidance available about the best ways to taper.
Join a gym, learn a new skill, or find sober social groups you can enjoy. A substitution taper can involve substituting a prescription drug for alcohol. It can also involve substituting the drink of choice with another drink; for example, a person may taper off hard alcohol with beer. If Sober Houses Rules That You Should Follow you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms consistent with DTs, call 911. DTs can be fatal, and a person going through them should have medical support in a hospital or rehab facility. Helps get lives back on track from substance use and behavioral addiction.
You should not begin a tapering plan before talking to your doctor. Based on your medical history, your doctor can advise you about the safety of the taper. There are multiple health benefits you can experience when you start drinking less alcohol. The exact benefits will depend on how much alcohol you were drinking and on https://yourhealthmagazine.net/article/addiction/sober-houses-rules-that-you-should-follow/ factors such as your genetics, overall health, and how your body responds. But drinking less is always a good choice for your body and health. This can sometimes cause unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, and these symptoms can make it hard to stick with your recovery plan.
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. The long and the short of it is–tapering off alcohol with medical support can help you quit drinking. But could weaning yourself off alcohol help you stay sober for good?
Your body has become used to, and dependent on, certain levels of alcohol. Alcohol depresses your nervous system2, so your body creates more receptors for neurotransmitters, or messengers, to stimulate the nervous system. Keep the big picture in mind through a goal such as reducing your drinking overall in a week, month, or year,” Dr Lee said. Eating well and ensuring you are staying hydrated can stop dehydration and some of the nutrient deficiencies that come from prolonged alcohol use and withdrawal. Dr Lee explains that choosing a non-alcoholic beer or a caffeinated beverage can help provide a small buzz. Consider writing them down and keeping notes on hand, so you have a physical reminder to look at when you need it to help motivate you to stay the course.
- These programs offer more flexibility than residential rehab, while still supporting a healthy lifestyle for people in recovery.
- If you are struggling to stop or cut down through alcohol tapering, this may be a sign to seek more help, Lee said.
- You can use the guidelines to get an idea of how many standard drinks you’re used to.
- If you turn to alcohol to manage emotional distress, the added overwhelm can prompt the urge to drink, making success seem even more out of reach.
- As the name suggests, this method involves gradually reducing the amount of alcohol you drink over time, so you consume less and less alcohol each day or week.
We do not and have never accepted fees for referring someone to a particular center. Providers who advertise with us must be verified by our Research Team and we clearly mark their status as advertisers. An Orange County center treating addiction and dual diagnoses with a whole-person approach to care, evidence-based therapies, and reintegration support. You might select a light beer instead of a harder liquor, like whiskey. To curb habitual drinking, alternating between alcohol and water is useful.
Before beginning a tapering schedule, speak with your doctor about the risks of detoxing at home. Tapering off alcohol may complicate other medical conditions or co-occurring mental health disorders. If you’re unable to reduce how much you drink, you may have a disease called alcoholism that requires professional addiction treatment.
If you’ve been drinking for a long time, you may experience withdrawal symptoms when you quit drinking. People who try tapering off alcohol won’t have the guided support of medical professionals that they would at inpatient treatment. In contrast, in-patient care can be more beneficial and less expensive in the long-term. It’s always best to speak with a healthcare provider when changing your relationship with alcohol. Every person has unique needs, and tapering off may not be an adequate solution to reduce or stop drinking.
