Unfortunately, there’s little to no evidence that tapering off reduces the effects of alcohol withdrawal, some of which can be severe or even life-threatening. Quitting with proper medical supervision may be more important than whether you stop gradually or all at once. Sadly, the threat of severe withdrawal symptoms prevents millions of people from stopping their alcohol abuse. Individuals experience alcohol withdrawal when they stop giving their bodies alcohol.
Selecting a Tapering Schedule
- I was a big time alcoholic who eventually crashed and burned.
- In essence, tapering is a detoxification process that is not being administered or observed by a doctor or medical staff.
- They may recommend strategies such as an alcohol taper.
- Weaning off of alcohol can look different for everyone.
Anyone wanting to stop using alcohol may benefit from tapering if they first consult with their doctor to ensure they are tapering safely. Tapering is a more cost-effective method of stopping alcohol use, especially for those who do not have healthcare insurance or the resources needed to get a professional detox. People who have successfully tapered from alcohol before may be especially likely to benefit from this strategy. Over time, this can help you slow down and make more intentional choices about how much you’re drinking. You can read all about mindful drinking in this article by a licensed therapist at Monument. As a Certified Professional Recovery Coach, I often speak with people who want to wean off alcohol.
Should i taper off alcohol reddit?
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. Once your taper is complete, discard or immediately give away any remaining alcohol in your house and try to avoid high-risk environments such as bars, liquor stores, https://northiowatoday.com/2025/01/27/sober-house-rules-what-you-should-know-before-moving-in/ casinos, etc.
What Happens When You Stop Drinking Alcohol
If you need to taper in the first place, you have already proven that you can’t drink like a normal person. I don’t recommend tapering yourself at all, and I especially don’t recommend doing it rapidly, but it has been done. Some people have done a rapid taper in which they go from their baseline to zero in a weekend or so. Before you start your detox, ensure you have enough alcohol on hand to last you a few days.
Drink Over A Handle A Day?
- You can also take break days, where you drink the same amount as the previous day to sort of level yourself off.
- The idea is to religiously take this like medicine for the next week or two.
- In contrast, in-patient care can be more beneficial and less expensive in the long-term.
- The alcohol content itself is important, and it depends on the percentage of alcohol, the proof of the alcohol and the actual amount of alcohol in the drink.
Choosing a drink with less alcohol content can help people taper. You might select a light beer instead of a harder liquor, like whiskey. To curb habitual drinking, alternating between alcohol and water is useful.
Safely Get Naltrexone Online to Stop Drinking
You can enter in the type of drinks you consume and when you drink them to determine the total amount of alcohol you consume each day. This will help you figure out a baseline to start your taper. Pick a drink that goes down easy and has a high concentration of water so you don’t get too dehydrated. I would go with hard seltzers because they have a decent amount of water in them and I don’t really enjoy drinking them, so I drink them more slowly. Pick a drink with between 4.5% and 5% alcohol by volume (ABV).
The hardest thing will probably be to stop yourself from starting again. I’ll be honest, your chances of staying sober on your own are slim to none. It doesn’t mean you have to go to rehab (though that’s certainly an option). You can try support groups, therapy, psychiatrists, spiritual groups, and outpatient rehab services. I have a complete guide on Alternatives to Rehab, which has over a dozen different options to select from.
You Experience Withdrawals When You Stop Drinking
Don’t quit other lighter substances while you’re detoxing from alcohol. I’m specifically talking about things like weed, cigarettes, and vaping. If you are underweight, a woman, FtM, or at risk of complications due to high blood pressure, consider tapering slower than this. Note that in some states, doctors may commit individuals at risk of harming themselves to 72 hours of involuntary treatment for addiction.
Intoxicating beverages have been around since the Neolithic period (about 10,000 BC) which is a lot longer than modern medications. Throughout history alcohol has been used for a number of different issues, including tapering off to overcome alcohol use. An evidence-based rehab offering holistic and experiential therapies, tailoring treatment to each client on a comfortable campus near Austin. Your body has become used to, and dependent on, certain levels of alcohol.
Minimized Risk of Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
It’s common for the first symptoms to appear within a few hours after Living in a Sober House: Fundamental Rules your last drink. If you’re self-tapering, I assume you don’t want to go to rehab. You can try out any of the things in my guide on Alternatives To Inpatient Drug Rehab. I’m not saying smoking weed all day is a healthy coping skill. But from a harm reduction standpoint, it’s much less likely to get you into trouble than alcohol, pills, or harder drugs. If you’re cross-addicted to harder drugs like stimulants or opiates, you need to stop using those.
It is commonly a self-managed detox method which is usually less successful than a program at an alcohol detox center. You don’t have to let the fear of alcohol withdrawal stop you from cutting back or quitting. Generally speaking, alcohol home detox is neither the most effective nor the safest method of quitting alcohol.
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