Is Tapering Off Alcohol Safe? Is It Better to Taper Off Alcohol?

This is often known as seasonal depression, winter depression, or seasonal affective disorder …. Alcohol also inhibits the glutamate receptor–which is the cause of staggering, how to taper off alcohol slurring, and general interference with muscular coordination. Glutamate receptor rebound also appears to contribute to the withdrawal symptoms described above.

You can receive 24/7 text support right away and at your convenience. There is no obligation to enter treatment and you can opt out at any time. Consider talking to a counselor to help navigate the emotional impact of tapering your alcohol use. A great deal of time is spent in activities necessary to obtain alcohol, use alcohol, or recover from its effects. Drinking at night can block REM sleep, wake you up in the middle of the night, and generally lower your sleep quality. While withdrawal can cause insomnia, eventually quitting it can lead to better sleep quality.

Why Taper Off Alcohol?

Our goal is to equip you with the knowledge and support you need to become a thriving recovering alcoholic. Your body needs time to adjust to the changes it will experience. Respect your body’s need to heal and avoid any extreme activity levels beyond what you would normally do.

how to safely taper off alcohol

Attempting to taper at home is dangerous and often results in a relapse. Enrolling in an alcohol detox program will offer you the ability to safely and comfortably overcome the detoxification process. We are dedicated to transforming the despair of addiction into a purposeful life of confidence, self-respect and happiness. We want to give recovering addicts the tools to return to the outside world completely substance-free and successful. People tapering off alcohol may begin experiencing early withdrawal symptoms within 6 to 12 hours after their last drink.

How to Safely Taper off Alcohol – Charlotte Detox Center

As many as 71%8of people who go throughalcohol detox experience symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. Alcohol withdrawal can range from uncomfortable to life-threatening, so anyone considering stopping alcohol https://ecosoberhouse.com/ should speak with a medical professional to determine which method is best for them. When a person decides to stop drinking, they must decide whether to stop “cold turkey” or taper their alcohol use.

Alcohol proof2is the amount of alcohol found indistilled spirits or liquor. Smaller drinks with a higher percentage of alcohol are stronger than the same size drink containing a lower proof liquor. Medication to curb cravings can be a helpful tool for reducing your consumption. Maintain a healthy diet with lots of B vitamins (especially thiamine/B1), as alcohol makes it hard for the body to absorb vitamins. Find support by asking your friends, family or self-help groups to assist you in staying sober.

Delirium Tremens

If you experience withdrawals, you may have an AUD and should suspend the tapering and enroll in a detox program. While there are websites that tout home remedies for alcohol withdrawal, and an overall weaning process, this process can be very dangerous. You may receive medication to ease withdrawal symptoms—such as anti-diarrheal medicines or over-the-counter pain relievers.

how to safely taper off alcohol

That said, tapering off alcohol doesn’t completely eliminate withdrawal symptoms. Alcohol withdrawal is dangerous and it’s important to be careful throughout the process. Whichever method you choose, what is most important is to commit to your alcohol tapering schedule, so you can be sure that you have avoided the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal as much as possible. If that is, in fact, the case, and they are going to experience the symptoms of withdrawal anyway, then it might be more helpful for them to undergo a more streamlined and straightforward detox process. This should, of course, still be done under the care and supervision of a medical professional at a treatment center specializing in medical detoxification. Particularly severe alcohol withdrawal experience, the more effective option may be to try tapering off alcohol safely instead of attempting to abruptly quit all at once.

Setting Up A Taper Schedule

Tapering is the process of gradually weaning off alcohol rather than quitting cold turkey. The process of tapering yourself off alcohol begins with planning. From here, you can plan a schedule for gradually reducing how much you drink per day. Ideally, this schedule will be determined with the assistance of a doctor or addiction treatment professional.

What’s the best way to cut down on alcohol?

  1. Keep track. Keep a record of how much you drink and see what helps you cut down.
  2. Drink-free days.
  3. Alternate alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic ones.
  4. Don't stock up on alcohol.
  5. Use smaller glasses.
  6. Make booze cubes.
  7. Don't top-up.
  8. Don't buy rounds of drinks.