After about one week of detox, you can transition into inpatient treatment. Our 30-day inpatient program offers the most structured and supportive pathway to ongoing recovery from alcohol addiction. Tapering off alcohol at home can be safe for some individuals, but it carries risks, and it’s crucial to consult a healthcare provider to assess your suitability for this approach.
Challenges of Quitting Drinking
Going “cold turkey” means abruptly stopping drinking entirely, leading to uncomfortable withdrawal effects. The intensity of the withdrawal symptoms depends on the severity of the alcoholism. It is sometimes possible to taper your alcohol use at home if your AUD isn’t severe. Although, you’ll need support if you want to successfully and safely taper at home. Although it is possible to taper your alcohol use alone, professionals highly advise that you seek medical attention.
You Experience Withdrawals When You Stop Drinking
Alcohol is the third-leading preventable cause of mortality in the United States, with approximately 95,000 people dying from alcohol-related causes each year. By gradually tapering off alcohol, you can lower your risk for alcohol-related accidents or death. If you’re struggling to wean off alcohol, it might be best to seek addiction treatment.
Withdrawal and Safety When Tapering Off Alcohol
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. Along with withdrawal symptoms, it may be even more difficult to cut back or taper your alcohol use if you struggle with an alcohol use disorder (AUD). AUD makes it difficult to control alcohol use — it may seem like the alcohol is controlling you. A taper may not be right for you if you frequently drink more than you intended, try to cut back but cannot or feel that your alcohol use is affecting your life.
- As many as 71% of people who go through alcohol detox experience symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.
- Once alcohol is stopped, your brain continues to be hyperactive until it readjusts to the absence of alcohol.
- Learn which signs to look out for, and how to care for your well-being.
- Prolonged and excessive alcohol consumption can impact your brain, causing changes to the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors.
Strategize for Your Goals
Your brain will still be hyperactive and take about a week to 10 days to readjust. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms are related to the hyperactivity of your brain and will continue until your brain fully how to taper off alcohol adjusts to the absence of alcohol. Laying it all out in black and white can take time and some serious self-examination.
- Some people are facing problems with their health or personal lives which require them to quit immediately.
- Delirium tremens (DTs) can begin 48 hours after your last drink and last up to five days.
- It can be tempting to just “rip off the Band-Aid” when getting sober, but tapering off alcohol is often much safer—and much less stressful.
- They can take you to the hospital or help you get medical support.
It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers. It should not be used https://ecosoberhouse.com/ in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider. Safe alcohol withdrawal is an important part of starting a recovery process. For this reason, you should not abruptly stop alcohol use after a long period of heavy use without medical supervision.
Tapering Off Alcohol Safely: How to Manage Withdrawal
Gradually reducing your alcohol Sober living house consumption, a process known as tapering, can help prevent severe withdrawal symptoms. Even with careful tapering, some people may still experience severe withdrawal symptoms. If you notice intense physical reactions, such as hallucinations, seizures, or delirium tremens (DTs), seek immediate medical attention. This is a critical aspect of understanding how to wean off alcohol safely. Severe withdrawal can be life-threatening and may require hospitalization or medical detox. It can be tempting to just “rip off the Band-Aid” when getting sober, but tapering off alcohol is often much safer—and much less stressful.
Your Guide to Tapering Off Alcohol
If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol addiction, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. We are dedicated to supporting you through every step of your journey. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you achieve a healthier, alcohol-free life. The kindling effect happens when someone goes through alcohol withdrawal several times.
- “The role of GABAA receptors in mediating the effects of alcohol in the central nervous system.” Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience, July 28, 2003.
- Delamere describes the different stages that you go through while detoxing from alcohol6.
- You can master the necessary life skills to maintain your sober lifestyle through treatment.
- A luxury center treating addiction and co-occurring mental health with evidence-based therapies, a continuum of care in bespoke facilities, and private bedrooms.
- A doctor may prescribe a benzodiazepine as part of the tapering process.
Can You Quit Alcohol Cold Turkey?
Slowly reduce the amount of alcohol you consume each day until you reach sobriety. If you begin to experience serious withdrawal symptoms, drink enough to make the symptoms subside. If you want to change your relationship with alcohol, it’s important to have an honest conversation with a doctor about your drinking habits before you start tapering off. They’ll be able to help you create a tapering schedule that won’t only raise your chance of success but also avoid severe symptoms. The main difference between tapering and quitting alcohol cold turkey is how fast you quit. Cold turkey is a common slang term for quitting alcohol (or any substance) all at once.