Ideally, pick someone who doesn’t also have a problem with alcohol. This can sometimes cause unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, and these symptoms can make it hard to stick with your recovery plan. There are several ways to taper your alcohol consumption without therapy. Each day should have fewer drinks than the day before it. However, it should not cause someone to become stuck on a step, which would defeat the purpose of a taper. A person is free to increase the taper speed (e.g., lower by three drinks instead of two) as they see fit.
Physical Health Benefits
They can help you decide if it’s the safest way to start your recovery, and they can help you make a taper plan. Tapering off alcohol helps some people start their recovery journeys. It can also be a good idea for people who don’t want to, or can’t, attend any type of full detoxification program. Contact emergency health services if you or someone you know experiences more than one symptom of severe alcohol withdrawal. Tapering is also a strategy used by people with a substance or alcohol use disorder (AUD).
State Rehab Guides
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 sober house qualified healthcare providers. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.
Challenges of Cutting Down Your Alcohol Intake
- Gain the perspective of those who have attempted tapering off alcohol.
- Generally speaking, alcohol home detox is neither the most effective nor the safest method of quitting alcohol.
- Remember, doctors are (usually) intelligent people who spent over a decade studying medicine to help people.
- While tapering off alcohol is a common approach, it may not work for everyone.
- Tapering helps people stop using alcohol and other substances in small and manageable steps.
Although I didn’t experience any seizures, I certainly wouldn’t recommend it. You will probably notice them if you’ve been drinking for extended periods of time. They might not mean you need to call 911, but you may need to slow your taper if they’re https://www.inkl.com/news/sober-house-rules-a-comprehensive-overview bothering you too much. My best advice on dealing with these is to buck it up, hug someone if possible, and try to distract yourself.
- The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
- Depending on how much alcohol you drink to start with, the amount of time an alcohol weaning schedule takes may vary.
- Insomnia, anxiety and paranoia — the opposite effects of alcohol — are the expected results.
- However, improper tapering could lead to relapse, overdose, and severe health consequences.
- Sometimes, they may experience seizures and delirium tremens (DTs).
Can You Taper Off Alcohol Safely At Home?
We recommend Gatorade because it has balanced electrolytes. If you choose to drink water make sure that you get enough salt for electrolyte balance so that you avoid water intoxication. Some people may also find it easier to just taper off their alcohol use rather than jumping immediately into an abstinence day even if they do not have significant withdrawal symptoms. 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.
With physical dependence, your body becomes used to the presence of alcohol in your system and begins to adapt accordingly. However, even the best-designed tapers can put you at risk for alcohol withdrawal syndrome. For this reason, you should never start an alcohol taper before clearing with your doctor.
Your Guide to Tapering Off Alcohol
A therapist will work with you to create a personalized plan for cutting back and provide ongoing guidance and accountability. If you suddenly quit drinking, your body can struggle to catch up. 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. Programs such as inpatient or outpatient rehab, medical detox, individual or family therapy and support groups are available.
Tapering alcohol may be uncomfortable, and there may be subconscious triggers that stimulate the desire to drink alcohol. Stress is a common trigger that makes it hard to modify your alcohol intake. Finding a different, more healthy way to unload stress may go a long way in helping someone succeed in cutting back on their alcohol use.
Medications Used in Tapering Off Alcohol
- If you have a severe alcohol addiction, it might be best to seek professional addiction treatment.
- Cutting down your alcohol intake may not be as easy as it sounds.
- If it is a mixed drink, it can contain sugar or other additives that should not be included in the taper and may worsen the effects of withdrawal symptoms.
- It’s vital to do this under the supervision of a medical professional to ensure the process is safe and smooth.
- John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE is board-certified in addiction medicine and preventative medicine.
If you regularly drink a handle of liquor (around 40 standard drinks) or more per day, please seek professional help. If you drink alcohol and are thinking about quitting, it is important to make sure you do so safely. One potential way to quit drinking is through tapering, which involves slowly reducing your alcohol intake over time. You don’t have to let the fear of alcohol withdrawal stop you from cutting back or quitting. Tapering off alcohol was long ago considered the primary approach for alcoholism treatment.
I am wondering if anyone here had success tapering from a similar level. I worry that I am toast because I see people posting that they wish they could cut back from 3 to 4 drinks a a day, and it scares me. I dont remember the last time I had four drinks in a day. I can’t afford to take time off from work for rehab, and I only have access to a small town gp as I’ve lost my licence. I want to quit really bad but im afraid because when I try I have chest pains and shakes and overwhelming anxiety attacks. Weaning off alcohol can benefit people who drink moderately or have support systems.