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. Talk to our caring professionals today and take the first step toward living a fulfilling, addiction-free life. Nanci Stockwell of Advanced Recovery Systems discusses the risks of detoxing at home and the benefits of detoxing from alcohol and other drugs in a safe environment. Tapering can help you overcome alcohol dependence, which is a side effect of chronic alcohol use that causes cravings and withdrawal.

This depends on several factors, including how much alcohol you typically consume, how long you’ve been drinking, and your overall health. For some, the process might take a few days, while others may need several weeks to safely taper off alcohol. It’s important not to rush the process and to adjust your plan based on how your body responds. A healthcare provider can give you a better idea of the timeline for your specific situation. Whatever method you use to taper down, your plan should also be approved and monitored by a healthcare profession to ensure your safety.

What To Do After You Finish Tapering Off

If you start to experience any of the following symptoms, seek medical attention immediately. Withdrawal usually begins 6 to 8 hours after the last drink and peaks within 72 hours. Alcohol also inhibits the glutamate receptor–which is the cause of staggering, slurring, and general interference with muscular coordination. Glutamate receptor rebound also appears to contribute to the withdrawal symptoms described above.

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Tapering vs Cold Turkey

• You can strengthen your emotional and communication techniques to help you work through any tough situations that may arise in the future.
• As mentioned above, we strongly recommend speaking with a doctor to ensure your plan is a safe one, and won’t cause dangerous withdrawal symptoms.
• Then come up with a reduction rate you think will be safe, and that you can stick to.
• Most people begin by assessing how many drinks they generally have.
• Tapering is a gradual process that helps prevent alcohol withdrawal symptoms and health risks.

When planning how to wean off alcohol, it’s important to identify and avoid these triggers whenever possible. This might mean skipping social events where alcohol is present or finding new ways to cope with stress without turning to alcohol. Part of an alcohol tapering plan should include ways you’ll tend to yourself during times when you have a craving or a bad day. Planning for social situations where you know there will be alcohol can help you navigate how to respond. Depending on how much you drink and for how long, one rule of thumb is to avoid cutting more than 25% of your drinking intake at a single time to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

Manage Withdrawal Symptoms

Working with a physician on the Monument platform can help determine what timeline will work for you based on your past drinking habits and risk of withdrawal. Whatever schedule is chosen, it’s important to commit so you can build upon your progress and https://yourhealthmagazine.net/article/addiction/sober-houses-rules-that-you-should-follow/ avoid withdrawal symptoms as much as possible. 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.

Check in with your body for signs of detox

Reducing the amount of the chosen substance consumed daily is known as a direct taper, but it may not be effective for everyone. It is only advisable to direct taper if the preferred drink is beer with a low alcohol percentage. To drop the number of drinks you have each week, start with a daily limit.

With these things in mind, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons of tapering your alcohol use to make a fully informed decision. If your health, wellness, and even life may be at risk, quitting alcohol should only be attempted with the help of a medical professional. Expect to feel some discomfort, including anxiety, sweating or irritability. If you feel more severe symptoms, such as paranoia, increased pulse, or tremors sometimes called alcohol shakes, you should taper more slowly and consider seeking professional help. If you feel severe symptoms, such as hallucinations, rapid heartbeat or disorientation, call 911 immediately. If you’re used to drinking less than 20 beers per day, HAMS recommends reducing your alcohol consumption by two beers per day until you achieve sobriety.

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. Tapering will normally create less severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms but will spread them out over a prolonged period. Essentially, tapering provides less intense withdrawal symptoms but over a longer amount of time. The long and the short of it is–tapering off alcohol with medical support can help you quit drinking.

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’ve been unable to quit on your own, you should consider attending an alcohol rehab center. It teaches you healthy ways to cope with stress and techniques for overcoming the underlying causes of alcohol addiction. However, tapering can be dangerous if you have severe AUD, leading to uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.

Consider professional support

If you struggle to stop drinking, avoid places and situations that tempt you to drink alcohol. You may even ask your friends and family not to drink while around you. A full continuum of care treating addiction and mental health through an evidence-based approach, relapse prevention, and holistic healing with beach activities.

BetterHelp can connect you to an addiction and mental health counselor. Attending a residential rehab or outpatient program gives you coping mechanisms and life skills that can help you for years to come after treatment. You can strengthen your emotional and communication techniques to help you work through any tough situations that may arise in the future. Located in sunny Southern California, Chapters Capistrano provides holistic, evidence-based treatment for substance abuse and addiction. Helps get lives back on track from substance use and behavioral addiction. Offers evidence-based, step-down care from residential to outpatient to aftercare.

Alcohol Tapering Schedule

The main downside of cold turkey is how unpleasant and risky it can be. If you drink heavily, alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be harsh, dangerous, and even fatal. For this reason, it’s generally best to avoid quitting abruptly, or at bare minimum speak with a doctor first and have someone looking out for you. 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. The tapering down process can take place for the first several weeks or even months of the alcohol recovery timeline.