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Can Tapering Off Alcohol Reduce Withdrawal Symptoms?

Developing a proactive plan for tapering alcohol is an important step in the process. The more aware you are of potential risk factors and your individual needs, the more likely you will  succeed. Specifically, excessive drinking can cause an imbalance in the important brain neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).

To calculate your baseline, you need to know how many standard drinks you drink in a day. Knowing how to treat alcohol withdrawal can be a tricky thing to tackle. To avoid severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms, it will always be best to examine your treatment options and find the best program for you and your particular circumstances. 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. After several days of 5 glasses of wine, you can reduce that down to 4.

Pros and Cons of Tapering Down Alcohol Intake

Tapering off helps reduce uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms and prevent life-threatening complications. Some people might need medications or tapering drugs to help ease any withdrawal symptoms that arise throughout the tapering-off process. Whether you feel like you drink too much alcohol, or you have an alcohol abuse issue, quitting drinking cold turkey can be dangerous. Knowing how to safely taper off alcohol can make all the difference in how successful you are in quitting drinking.

For many drugs, tapering is a standard medical procedure during detox. If you have taken antidepressant medications in the past, your doctor probably instructed you to slowly decrease the amount of medication you are taking rather than quitting them cold turkey. Tapering off substances gradually can prevent withdrawal symptoms from occurring.

Is Weaning Off Alcohol Right For Me?

Consumption should be minimal; just enough to prevent withdrawal symptoms and gradually reducing the amount until you are no longer using alcohol. You should be able to taper off alcohol with https://ecosoberhouse.com/ a few days, 3 to 5 at the most. While you are tapering off alcohol, it is important that you stay hydrated. Follow a healthy diet with fruits and vegetables and take a multi-vitamin.

Take the first step toward addiction treatment by contacting us today. Himself, an alumni of The Freedom Center, Michael brings a personal experience of the program to his role. A resident of Gaithersburg, Michael has planted roots and established a network in the local recovery community. Michael’s goal is to connect current client and alumni with resources to strengthen their life in recovery. After graduating high school, he attended college at the University of Coastal Carolina & Salisbury University. In 2015, Corey was given the opportunity to join Amethyst Recovery Center’s Business Development team.

The Potential Harms of Going Cold Turkey

The most common research technique among those surveyed is an internet search (61%), followed by asking a doctor or medical professional (55%). If you’re relying on internet searches to find potential treatment centers, how to taper off alcohol at home make sure to ask these ten questions to find a licensed facility that can meet your needs. Stopping alcohol use is the first step of the recovery journey, but staying sober for longer and longer periods is the goal.

• Easter mocktails are a celebratory yet healthy alternative to cocktails for those looking for a lighter, healthier beverage for the holiday festivities.
• Design a schedule or calendar laying out how you’ll gradually reduce the number of drinks you consume over a period of time.
• Before you begin an alcohol taper, a little preparation can go a long way, especially when it involves handling your triggers and tracking how much you drink.
• If you can taper off alcohol slowly, you are likely to have mild withdrawal symptoms if any.
• 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.

That way, you can rest assured that your vitals are being monitored and you are taking the necessary steps to achieve a full recovery with very minor, if any, medical complications. Going cold turkey can lead to acute alcohol withdrawal for those who have a history of long-term and/or heavy alcohol use. However, achieving sobriety is a process that can take quite some time. To speed up the processes, many choose to try going “cold turkey,” aka, stop drinking and never pick up a glass again.

Serenity Lane is here for all Oregonians in need of help to overcome alcohol addiction. The annual cost of excessive alcohol use to Oregon’s economy each year is $3.5 billion due to lost productivity, health care expenses, criminal justice costs, and motor vehicle crashes. These are offered to patients with moderate to severe Alcohol Use Disorder, having the goal of reducing alcohol comsumption and achieving abstinence. Prefer Topiramate or Gabapentin if patients are intolerant to or have not responded to Naltrexone and Acamprosate. There are two types of triggers that can set off a person’s urge to drink.

Prior to entering the substance abuse and mental health field, Erin was a Special Education Teacher for 10 years. When you quit cold turkey without supervision, you’re more likely to relapse and binge drink, which increases the likelihood of overdose. It is crucial to ensure that each day’s drink count is lower than the previous day to maintain a gradual reduction. It’s also important to avoid getting stuck at a particular step, as it would defeat the purpose of the taper.

In excessive alcohol users, the glutamate system has to function at a higher level to maintain equilibrium. Withdrawal symptoms may begin within a few hours after the last drink and may last up to 48 to 72 hours. Psychological alcohol withdrawal may continue long after the physical symptoms subside. In fact, many in recovery report having psychological cravings years after they stopped drinking. Another more serious condition that develops during alcohol withdrawal is delirium tremens or the DTs.

If you’re trying to quit cold turkey and need help, please find professional help from an addiction rehab center. Even if you think either option sounds like something that could work for your situation, we still recommend talking to a doctor before proceeding. By gradually decreasing your alcohol consumption over time rather than abruptly ceasing it, you allow your brain to adjust its production of GABA and glutamate. The best recommendation when struggling with alcohol misuse is to seek medical and mental health professional consultation as soon as possible. The professionals can determine the best treatment plan for you and your unique set of needs.

Rehab Programs

Alcohol is produced by the fermentation, or the breakdown, of yeast, sugars, and starches. Is alcohol beginning to take up more and more of your time, budget, and life? You may be wondering how to begin the process of ridding yourself or your loved one of alcohol use once and for all. This is offered to patients with moderate to severe Alcohol Use Disorder, having the goal of achieving abstinence.

Samantha’s own journey of recovery serves as a powerful foundation for her therapeutic services. She approaches her work with empathy, understanding, and non-judgment, recognizing that everyone’s path to healing is unique. Each method has pros and cons, but regardless of which one you choose, you must have the knowledge and resources to make a quit attempt successful.

How to Modify the Alcohol Tapering Schedule Over Time

Instead, slowly cutting back on your drinking, or using an alcohol tapering schedule, is a safer method to become sober. Consultation with a medical professional or recovery coach is strongly recommended. If you drink heavily, this includes making sure you have a safe plan for quitting alcohol. Heavy drinkers should never abruptly quit alcohol without medical supervision, as alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be dangerous. Tapering involves slowly decreasing alcohol use over time, which helps to reduce withdrawal symptoms and improve safety when quitting alcohol.