On top of this, quitting immediately — or “cold turkey” as many users and professionals call it — can be dangerous. Withdrawal symptoms are generally uncomfortable to deal with, but they can be fatal. To avoid or reduce the impact of the withdrawal symptoms, people struggling with alcohol may choose to progressively taper off alcohol rather than quit abruptly. For people who drink heavily and frequently, it’s wise to consult with a medical professional before tapering. “Some will experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop abruptly, which is an indicator for medically managed alcohol withdrawal treatments from a health professional.

Challenges to Weaning Off Alcohol

I believe that measuring my intake and reducing it by an ounce every day might be a controllable method that will have less impact on my personal & professional life. I am at peace with the fact that cold turkey is not a method that I can sustain. I would love to hear some stories about how you successfully tapered off.

• Through these programs, our caring and dedicated staff can help you on your road to recovery.
• People who want to reduce their alcohol consumption often do not realize how much of their social and daily routines alcohol has become.
• Follow a healthy diet with fruits and vegetables, and take a multi-vitamin.
• Just because you had 8 drinks instead of 6 one day doesn’t mean you’ve failed, especially if you still drank the same or less than the previous day.
• Mild anxiety, for example, can turn into overwhelming agitation or even hallucinations.

Pros of Tapering Down Alcohol Intake

If you plan to taper your drinking in order to stop, make sure you limit your intake consistently, avoid fluctuations, and adhere to a weekly reduction schedule with a set date to stop. If you or someone you know is quitting alcohol and experiences seizures, DTs, hallucinations, or other major effects, seek immediate medical attention or call 911 for help. Individuals who’ve consumed higher amounts of alcohol over time can develop life-threatening complications when trying to quit.

Mental Health Treatment

Tapering is also a strategy used by people with a substance or alcohol use disorder (AUD). However, improper tapering could lead to relapse, overdose, and severe health consequences. Sometimes as much as a two liter plus a twelve pack of tall boys. I dont have access to a doctor that can really help a lot. I am wondering if anyone here had success tapering from a similar level.

Some find tapering is not a suitable option to stop drinking due to various factors such as social responsibilities or peer pressure. For many people, tapering alone is insufficient to help heal their addiction. It’s always best to speak with a healthcare provider sober house when changing your relationship with alcohol.

• It’s common for the first symptoms to appear within a few hours after your last drink.
• These can include improved liver function, better sleep quality, enhanced cognitive function, and a lower risk of developing alcohol-related diseases.
• After all, you’re trying to stop or lessen drinking, not continue.
• Alcohol depresses your nervous system2, so your body creates more receptors for neurotransmitters, or messengers, to stimulate the nervous system.
• This simple yet straightforward method can be safe and effective.

Taper off alcohol with alcohol?

These complications can develop within a few hours or days and appear in the form of seizures, delirium tremens (DTs), and hallucinations, sometimes even leading to death. Stopping alcohol use is the first step of the recovery journey, but staying sober for longer and longer periods is the goal. Getting professional treatment and long-term support are two of the most valuable strategies for avoiding relapse. 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.

Depending on how much alcohol you drink to start with, the amount of time an alcohol weaning schedule takes may vary. For example, those who drink more heavily may need more time to taper than those who drink less alcohol. Further, if you start to develop alcohol withdrawal symptoms during the taper, your doctor may instruct you to pause or slow the taper as a result. These factors can make one person’s taper last longer than another person’s taper. If you drink heavily on a regular basis, it can be dangerous to stop alcohol cold turkey.

This is why you should taper off alcohol, or use a prescribed medication like benzodiazepines, during https://www.inkl.com/news/sober-house-rules-a-comprehensive-overview detox3. It’s vital to do this under the supervision of a medical professional to ensure the process is safe and smooth. Choosing to taper off alcohol is an admirable decision and a step in the right direction. As with many self-detox methods, the risks and rewards go hand in hand when attempting to overcome an alcohol substance use disorder. But, with a little prior knowledge on how to taper off alcohol, adequate planning and professional consultation from a healthcare provider, it can certainly be done.

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.

I worry that I am toast because I see people posting that they wish they could cut back from 3 to 4 drinks a a day, and it scares me. I dont remember the last time I had four drinks in a day. I can’t afford to take time off from work for rehab, and I only have access to a small town gp as I’ve lost my licence. I want to quit really bad but im afraid because when I try I have chest pains and shakes and overwhelming anxiety attacks. Good news is I’m down to 4 shots today and then 2 tomorrow and then sober after that, but in the mean time, I’ve only had maybe seven hours of sleep the past four days.

Eating well and ensuring you are staying hydrated can stop dehydration and some of the nutrient deficiencies that come from prolonged alcohol use and withdrawal. Dr Lee explains that choosing a non-alcoholic beer or a caffeinated beverage can help provide a small buzz. As you navigate this question, it can be helpful to think about how you typically prefer to approach change. Metaphorically speaking, do you like to dip your toe in first, or cannonball right in? As long as safety precautions are taken, there’s no wrong way to begin a sobriety or moderation journey. This journey is often non-linear, and your goals can change over time.

I once went from averaging 25 a day to 10 the first day and five the second day. The first night I barely slept because of auditory hallucinations and the second night I had tunnel vision and felt like a stroke victim. I took a few shots and luckily nothing bad happened, but something easily could have happened.