Tapering Off Alcohol Safely: How to Manage Withdrawal

If the choices you make when you’ve been drinking make you cringe when you are sober, alcohol use is impacting your life negatively. Once you’ve cut back on your drinking (so you’re at or below the recommended guidelines), examine your drinking habits regularly to see if you’re maintaining this level of drinking. Some people attain their goal only to find that old habits crop up again later. Learn more about alcohol withdrawal here and, once again, speak to a doctor first.

How To Decenter Alcohol From Your Social Life

This can give your body the chance to adjust, helping you avoid the worst of withdrawal symptoms. Making a schedule to slowly reduce your alcohol intake is a safe way to taper off the substance. This will ensure that you are not quitting cold turkey which could result in severe and debilitating  withdrawal symptoms or even death. Depending on how much alcohol you’ve been consuming, it can take days or over a week to gradually reduce your dose safely and get off alcohol. When done under medical supervision, tapering off alcohol has few downsides. However, tapering can sometimes be unsafe if you attempt to do so on your own without a doctor’s knowledge.

If you have developed an addiction to alcohol, we can help you with effective medication-assisted treatment at Gratitude Lodge in Newport Beach and Long Beach, CA. 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. Delamere describes the different stages that you go through while detoxing from alcohol6. Blending modern and traditional approaches, a residential treatment center addressing substance use disorders with equine therapy in Scottsdale, Arizona. As you prepare to wean off alcohol, consider taking the following steps ahead of time to have a clear path to success.

Tapering Off Alcohol Safely: How to Manage Withdrawal

If you’ve been binge drinking 15-20+ drinks a day for 2-3 days, you will need to taper. The numbers may be less for women, individuals with smaller bodies, and people who are underweight. The rest of this guide addresses pre-planning, withdrawal symptoms, planning, creating a taper schedule, and the next steps after a taper. I’d encourage you to read them all, but at the very least, please read the sections on withdrawal symptoms and the schedule itself. Unfortunately, alcohol tapering has not been extensively studied. This means that there is little data about the best way to taper your drinking.

Why Do You Experience Withdrawal Symptoms?

Remember that you are not drinking for pleasure–you are drinking medicine–so only drink what is needed. The best recommendation when struggling with alcohol misuse is to seek medical and mental health professional consultation as soon as possible. The professionals can determine the best treatment plan for you and your unique set of needs. It is best to consult with a medical professional first before reducing or stopping alcohol use. Depending on a variety of factors, it could be dangerous for you to reduce or stop drinking without medical support. Medical detox is often the safest and most effective way to manage alcohol withdrawal for those with severe alcohol dependence.

Addiction Treatment

The material is not a substitute for qualified medical diagnoses, treatment, or advice. It should not be used to replace the suggestions of your personal physician or other health care professionals. In 2019 the Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health Services Administration reported that 14.5 millions of americans suffered from Alcohol Use Disorder. Treatment is the best way to ensure long-term abstinence from alcohol.

Taking It Slow: Importance of Gradual Quitting

If you are considering at-home detox, speak with your doctor before beginning the process. They sober house can help you determine the best and safest action for your needs. BetterHelp can connect you to an addiction and mental health counselor.

If you taper off alcohol slowly or with medical supervision, the brain has time to adapt without causing severe side effects. For people who drink heavily and frequently, it’s wise to consult with a medical professional before tapering. “Some will experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop abruptly, which is an indicator for medically managed alcohol withdrawal treatments from a health professional. When you quit drinking cold turkey, your body suffers from a cascade of changes caused by the sudden shift.

Detox of Alcohol from the Body

• Deciding to reduce or eliminate your alcohol consumption is a big step and will open up a whole new world of improved health and well-being.
• Find a reason to stay sober and keep that in mind as you go through this process.
• You can strengthen your emotional and communication techniques to help you work through any tough situations that may arise in the future.
• They can help you decide if it’s the safest way to start your recovery, and they can help you make a taper plan.
• When you quit drinking or wean off alcohol, your body will adjust to the lack of alcohol in your body.
• The key is to find a method that aligns with your goals and ensures safety during the transition.

It is very important that you estimate your BASELINE ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION in terms of standard drinks in order for you to be able to set up a taper schedule. Just for reference a 12 ounce regular strength (5%) beer is one standard drink. A standard (750 ml) bottle of wine at 12% alcohol contains 5 standard drinks. A 750 ml bottle of 80 proof booze contains 17 standard drinks.

Rehab Resources

A 6-bed recovery oasis providing tailored luxury care for addiction and mental health for clients seeking the ultimate in treatment, privacy, and comfort. After prolonged alcohol use, your body can come to rely on alcohol for normal functioning, and suddenly going without it can cause potentially dangerous withdrawal symptoms. This phenomenon is often described as “alcohol dependence.” The most common more mild withdrawal symptoms include headaches, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. Tapering off alcohol is a method of reducing your alcohol intake gradually. This process can help your body break its dependency on alcohol with minimal side effects.

This form of tapering would likely involve medications to eliminate withdrawal symptoms. Slowly, to reduce the discomfort of withdrawal symptoms, you will come off the medication with the goal being complete abstinence from alcohol. Getting curious about a life without alcohol is already an incredible step, and a healthier lifestyle is within reach.