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

When coming off drugs or alcohol tapering is the best way to prevent severe withdrawal symptoms. Tapering is the act of gradually reducing alcohol use until completely abstinent. By creating a schedule to monitor your alcohol how to taper off alcohol use you can see just how much of the substance you are drinking. When they suddenly quit drinking, the brain continues its hyperactivity, but alcohol no longer suppresses the effects.

Step Taper

If you were to suddenly stop drinking alcohol, your receptors would become hyperactive because they are no longer being depressed. This is why you should taper off alcohol, or use a prescribed medication like benzodiazepines, during detox3. It’s vital to do this under the supervision of a medical professional =https://ecosoberhouse.com/ to ensure the process is safe and smooth. Talk with a healthcare professional if you’re concerned you may experience detox symptoms when quitting drinking or cutting back. If you’re unable to reduce how much you drink, you may have a disease called alcoholism that requires professional addiction treatment. Alcohol rehab helps you taper off alcohol, and it treats other side effects and causes of alcoholism.

Long-Term Alcohol Use and Weaning

Slowly decreasing the amount you drink over time can spare your body from withdrawal symptoms. This is because drinking heavily over a long period can cause your body to become physically dependent on alcohol. With physical dependence, your body becomes used to the presence of alcohol in your system and begins to adapt accordingly. Support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or sober living houses can help you get connected with peers who are going through the same journey as you are. Alcohol is a highly addictive drug, and if you experience setbacks or find it difficult to cut down on your alcohol consumption by yourself, that is normal.

• There’s no set time frame for tapering off alcohol that works for everyone.
• All the same, “a quick drink” often turns into three or four drinks.
• As such, there is only limited guidance available about the best ways to taper.
• When an individual has developed a substance use disorder or dependence on alcohol, stopping its use outright can seem virtually impossible.

Mental Health Resources

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. This is especially true if you are suffering from an alcohol use disorder. Addiction alters the chemical balance in a person’s brain, making it extremely difficult to quit drinking alcohol on one’s own. For some people who consume alcohol, tapering just doesn’t work. Maybe they don’t have peer support or maybe their alcohol addiction is too severe.

• It has a lot of water and you can find them in the 4.5-5% range.
• You may need to do a slower taper than someone else who was drinking the same amount as you.
• Tough days might come, but with our supportive sober community, you’re never alone.
• Inpatient treatment may be an expensive option in terms of time and money.
• Overall, do whatever you can to make yourself as comfortable as possible.
• But quitting on your own can pose risks to your health and is unlikely to be successful.
• Based on your medical history, your doctor can advise you about the safety of the taper.

Further, if you start to develop alcohol withdrawal symptoms during the taper, your doctor may instruct you to pause or slow the taper as a result. These factors can make one person’s taper last longer than another person’s taper. Tapering gradually lowers the amount of alcohol that you use over time. This lessens the severity of withdrawal symptoms, as there is not an abrupt or dramatic change.

When To Seek Medical Attention

This can sometimes cause unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, and these symptoms can make it hard to stick with your recovery plan. These can indicate a life threatening condition called delirium tremens. It’s important to seek urgent medical care if you experience any of these symptoms. Establishing new habits and routines, and dealing with the underlying causes of your drinking habits, are essential to lasting recovery.

Medications Used When Tapering Off Alcohol

If you suddenly quit drinking, your brain can start to make more of an excitatory substance called glutamate. This excessive glutamate level can lead to alcohol withdrawal symptoms, which can be dangerous. It is no surprise, then, that many people’s physical dependence on alcohol tends to increase.

• Also, learn to cope with and avoid situations that might cause you to want to drink more.
• You’ll need to stick with gradual reduction every day and not revert to previous levels of consumption, otherwise it won’t work.
• Addiction alters the chemical balance in a person’s brain, making it extremely difficult to quit drinking alcohol on one’s own.
• However, some groups have stepped in to try to bridge this gap and have published sample tapering schedules to help those trying to stop drinking.
• Alcohol abuse affects how you feel and how you make decisions.

• For over 20 years Dr. Umhau was a senior clinical investigator at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
• Understanding and preparing for these difficulties can greatly enhance the chances of successful recovery.
• This form of tapering would likely involve medications to eliminate withdrawal symptoms.
• For some people, it can be helpful to wear something like a bracelet to always have a reminder on hand when you need it.

Further, mental health disorders like anxiety and depression are extremely common in those who struggle with drinking, and these disorders can make it even harder to stay sober. By looking at your medical history and alcohol intake, your doctor can determine whether you need to taper in a medical detox facility or can safely detox at home. However, tapering can be dangerous if you have severe AUD, leading to uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. If you start noticing these symptoms, contact a medical professional immediately. If you’ve been drinking for a long time, tapering off can cause withdrawal symptoms.

This is why it’s always best to find some form of long-term support in sobriety. Support groups, from Alcoholics Anonymous to SMART Recovery, are one free way to find a community of people on the same journey. There are also a number of anti-craving medications to help you avoid drinking again, or even help with your tapering process. Finally, finding a therapist or a recovery coach can help alcohol rehab you develop new coping mechanisms and move forward in your life. Tapering is meant to reduce the withdrawal symptoms from quitting alcohol, but this isn’t a guarantee.