How to Safely Taper Off Alcohol Alcohol Detox Programs

The main downside of tapering off is that it requires discipline. You’ll need to stick with gradual reduction every day and not revert to previous levels of consumption, otherwise it won’t work. If it’s too hard to control how much you drink each day, weaning might not be the right strategy. That said, there are now several medications that can help reduce your cravings and make weaning off alcohol easier.

Quitting cold turkey means you stop using alcohol all at once without any period of adjustment or replacement therapy. Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal include nausea, vomiting, shaking, headaches, and insomnia. With the sudden cessation of alcohol in the chronic user, the alcohol mediated CNS inhibition is reduced and the glutamate mediated CNS excitation is left unopposed, resulting in a net CNS excitation .

About Alcohol Abuse

This assessment should include an evaluation of the presence of coexisting medical and psychiatric conditions, the severity of the withdrawal symptoms, and the risk of withdrawal complications. If you’ve decided to quit drinking, and tapering seems like the right approach, we’ve got you covered. Here’s how to wean off alcohol—including useful strategies, how to create a tapering schedule, and how to stay safe throughout the process. As you begin your alcohol tapering process, talk to someone you trust about your plan.

Essentially, when an individual drinks, the brain amplifies certain activities to counterbalance the depressive effect alcohol has on it. When that numbing sensation disappears entirely, the brain is left dangerously overstimulated. Insomnia, anxiety and paranoia — the opposite effects of alcohol — are the expected results. Thus, a user will likely seek out alcohol again to rid themselves of the uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.

Alcohol Taper Sample Schedules

If yourblood pressure, pulse, or body temperature rises, or if you have more serious symptoms likeseizuresand hallucinations, seek medical care immediately . Late symptoms begin between two and four days after the last drink, and they usually include changes in heart rate, breathing and blood pressure. Serious symptoms caused by delirium tremens include hallucination and seizure. Nonetheless, quitting cold turkey might Cure for Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms be the only way for people who don’t have an alcohol use disorder . In this case, having a strong support system, attending AA meetings, and talking with an addiction counselor is key to a successful detox process. Eyer F, Schuster T, Felgenhauer N, Pfab R, Strubel T, Saugel B, et al. Risk assessment of moderate to severe alcohol withdrawal – Predictors for seizures and delirium tremens in the course of withdrawal.

The length of the tapering process can vary based on the needs of the person. People with a greater dependency on alcohol may need to stretch out the process to gradually reduce their alcohol intake. Still, even if someone’s alcohol withdrawal experience does not include seizures of Delirium tremens, the more common symptoms of alcohol withdrawal still make for an overwhelmingly unpleasant experience. Quitting any addictive substance can be extremely difficult, but quitting alcohol is often especially so.

Can You Taper off of Alcohol?

Tapering is not recommended for people with an alcohol use disorder . In this situation, tapering may lead to relapse, overdose, and serious health consequences. Once you have completely tapered off alcohol, you will have to decide if you want to follow a path of total abstinence or moderate alcohol use. If you choose moderate alcohol use, the best way to avoid alcohol withdrawal is to refrain from alcohol use two days in a row. If alcohol use is more frequent, try to abstain at least three days each week. Some individuals experience a neurological condition known as the kindling effect as a result of repeated alcohol withdrawal. Individuals who have experienced the kindling effect may more severe symptoms including seizures, even when they use small amounts of alcohol.

Not everyone who drinks excessively develops an alcohol use disorder or becomes an alcoholic. Approximately 90% of people who drink to excessive levels will not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of AUD. It can be easier to adapt your body to drinking smaller amounts of alcohol with a substitution taper.