It’s a good idea to talk with a medical professional before you begin a taper. They can help you decide if it’s the safest way to start your recovery, and they can help you make a taper 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. Most people experience the most severe symptoms from about 36–72 drug addiction hours after stopping drinking. If you’ve decided to taper off alcohol, you’ll need to be prepared with some strategies to make the process easier.
- If you’re struggling with severe alcohol addiction, a medical detox program is your likely best option for tapering off alcohol safely.
- According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), approximately 28.6 million adults had AUD in 2021, underscoring its widespread prevalence.
- Many people find that rather than having a vague goal of drinking less it works better to set specific limits for how much they plan to drink per session and per week.
- The hardest thing will probably be to stop yourself from starting again.
- Just as what is a useful method for one person may not be for another, what is a safe method for someone may not be for someone else.
Pros and Cons of Tapering Down Alcohol Intake
A doctor may prescribe a benzodiazepine as part of the https://ecosoberhouse.com/ tapering process. All of these withdrawal symptoms are common during acute alcohol withdrawal syndrome. For example, depression could cause suicidal thoughts, and eating poorly can weaken your immune system. An effective tapering schedule may include cutting out one drink at a time at regular intervals. It might help to set goals and reward yourself when you reach them. A standard drink is a term used because different alcoholic beverages have different concentrations of alcohol, giving you varying amounts of alcohol depending on the fluid you drink.
How long will you lose weight after quitting alcohol?
- However, when you quit drinking abruptly, your body’s chemical balance will be thrown off suddenly, leading to uncomfortable side effects.
- Melody is here to help as you adjust to a life with less (or no) alcohol.
- Replacing alcoholic beverages with non-alcohol drinks is a great method of helping during a taper.
- If you are doing a self detox be sure to drink lots and lots of fluids and to take vitamin pills.
Severe withdrawal symptoms, called delirium tremens (DT) can be fatal. There is also an intensive outpatient program (IOP) that includes group therapy, individual counseling, and education about the disease of addiction. After successfully completing detox, there are additional treatment options at Serenity Lane.
Why Continuing Education About Addiction Matters
A healthcare professional can offer guidance and support and may prescribe medication to help you cope with withdrawal symptoms. They may also refer you to support groups or counseling services. The tapering schedule can depend on factors such as your level of addiction, how long you’ve been drinking, and any underlying health conditions. Your healthcare provider may also prescribe medication to help you manage withdrawal symptoms.
Practice Mindful Drinking
It includes a logging section you can use to keep track of your daily alcohol intake, along with some withdrawal warnings. These schedules are largely based on my experience of self tapering, what I’ve read on r/dryalcoholics and HAMS Harm Reduction Guide to Tapering. You may need to do a slower taper than someone else who was drinking the same amount as you.
Physical DT symptoms may include shaking, irregular how to taper off alcohol heartbeat and blood pressure, sweating, and a change in body temperature. If you attempt to taper off using wine or hard liquor you might just wind up getting drunk again because these have higher alcohol content than beer. Try to limit yourself to drinking no more alcohol than necessary when you start tapering.