How to safely taper off alcohol

January 12, 2023

There’s no set time frame for tapering off alcohol that works for everyone. Even if your situation seems like someone else’s, your body may respond differently to the tapering process. 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. Aside from unavoidable triggers, tapering off alcohol can also have side effects which can be difficult to manage at home.

If someone close to you is willing to help you, actively involve them in your planning and preparation to stop drinking.
The most effective option for alcoholics to stop drinking is to find a treatment program that offers medical detox services.
Because tapering can be tricky and alcohol withdrawal syndrome can be dangerous, you should never start a taper before talking to your doctor.
The second situation involves counting the drinks you consume daily and switching them for a beverage with lower alcohol content, such as beer.
Depending on how much alcohol you drink to start with, the amount of time an alcohol weaning schedule takes may vary.
It is important to only attempt a taper while under a doctor’s care.

It may be possible to detect it in the blood for several hours, and in the urine for several days. Many alcoholic drinks will cost more from Tuesday after Rishi Sunak and the chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, enforced tax rises on booze. Because of its associations with pleasure, wine is rarely suitable for tapering. Some people suggest beer, although the amount of fizzy liquid can make this challenging.

Strategies for Tapering Off Alcohol

Start by estimating how much you drink on a daily basis—and be honest with yourself. It can help to make use of standard drink measurements, as mentioned above. Then come up with a reduction rate you think will be safe, and that you can stick to.

The thought of abstaining from alcohol completely can feel daunting, and in some cases, it can even be dangerous without medical supervision.
Hair testing can be used to detect the use of many different substances, including alcohol.
If you’re struggling with severe alcohol addiction, a medical detox program is your likely best option for tapering off alcohol safely.
When you gradually drink less instead of quit cold turkey, you give your body a chance to get used to smaller amounts of alcohol.
If you begin to have withdrawal symptoms during your taper, this is a sign that your taper may be going too fast and that you need to slow it down.

Often, people with alcohol use disorder find that other people in their lives spot their addiction long before they do. Whatever your reason to quit drinking, know that you’re doing yourself a favor. Alcohol impacts our sleep, relationships, weight, risk for serious chronic conditions and more. That’s why it’s vital to have support while tapering off alcohol. Here are some tips and strategies for how to taper off alcohol safely.

How long does alcohol stay in the system?

Medically assisted detoxification (detox) is an inpatient program that keeps you stabilized during alcohol withdrawals. Staffed by medical professionals, these programs offer 24-hour monitoring so you always have support if any complications arise. Typically, alcohol withdrawal symptoms happen for heavier drinkers. Alcohol withdrawal can begin within hours of ending a drinking session. 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.

using beer to taper off alcohol

Medicines can be used to reduce nausea, severe anxiety, other flu-like symptoms, and treat seizures. If you’re living with alcohol use disorder, treatment at a medical rehabilitation facility is your best option. Through therapy, support groups and medication, you’ll be supported how to taper off alcohol on your path to recovery. In most cases, the longer you take to wean off the effects of alcohol, the less severe your withdrawal symptoms should be. However, it can be challenging to stick with a long-term tapering schedule, so you have to find the right balance for you.

People who have successfully tapered from alcohol before may be especially likely to benefit from this strategy. In 2019 the Substance Abuse 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.

Primary care physicians should offer to initiate long-term treatment for alcohol use disorder, including pharmacotherapy, in addition to withdrawal management. An alcohol addiction is dangerous, and the best way to reduce the risks of drinking is to stop using alcohol. Tapering your alcohol intake, or slowly reducing it over time, can help you avoid severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

If you stop drinking, your body needs to rapidly adjust to the absence of alcohol, leading to withdrawal symptoms. In medical detox, doctors and nurses provide around-the-clock care while helping you wean off alcohol. Another big factor in how long a taper lasts is alcohol withdrawal symptoms. If you begin to have withdrawal symptoms during your taper, this is a sign that your taper may be going too fast and that you need to slow it down. Seizures can also occur within the first 24 to 48 hours, although these are less likely to occur in people with less severe alcohol dependency.

Reach out to one of our supportive professionals and begin the healing process.
Some detox programs also offer therapy to prepare you for addiction treatment.
A person who is a lighter weight or who has a smaller body frame will be more affected than someone who weighs more or has a larger body frame.
That said, tapering off alcohol doesn’t completely eliminate withdrawal symptoms.

When this happens, the brain and CNS start to depend on this drug to regulate the systems it affects. These conditions account for why it’s best to taper off oxycodone rather than go cold turkey. It can take huge effort and commitment to reduce your alcohol consumption to nothing. https://ecosoberhouse.com/ So when you reach the end of tapering, you will likely feel relieved and proud. Even with the most ambitious reduction plan, it could be a couple of weeks before you bring your drinking entirely to a halt. As you reduce, start by removing drinks from the middle of the day.

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. Establishing new habits and routines, and dealing with the underlying causes of your drinking habits, are essential to lasting recovery. Alcohol also changes your brain chemistry, which can result in higher levels of anxiety and depression for the first several months.

This form of tapering would likely involve medications to eliminate withdrawal symptoms. Slowly, to reduce the discomfort of withdrawal symptoms, you will come off the medication with the goal being complete abstinence from alcohol. Getting curious about a life without alcohol is already an incredible step, and a healthier lifestyle is within reach. A popular way to taper off alcohol is to gradually reduce the number of drinks you consume over a period of time. For example, if you normally drink 6 glasses of wine each night, you can try reducing that to 5 glasses of wine a night.

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