The first step in tapering off alcohol is to consult a healthcare provider or addiction specialist. They can assess your drinking patterns, evaluate the severity of your dependence, and recommend a personalized tapering schedule tailored to your specific needs. 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.
Alcohol Use Disorder
The long and the short of it is–tapering off alcohol with medical support can help you quit drinking. But could weaning yourself off alcohol help you stay sober for good? In fact, 30 million people have alcohol use disorder1 in the United States alone. Luckily, this nationwide issue has resources available to help you heal. Consulting with medical professionals and therapists is an essential step in tapering off alcohol safely. They can offer expert advice, monitor your progress, and provide personalized recommendations based on your specific needs.
Unsupervised Medical Care
- Once you have a clear understanding of your current alcohol consumption, you can start setting achievable goals for reduction.
- These factors can make one person’s taper last longer than another person’s taper.
- That’s why we have a comprehensive set of treatment providers and don’t charge for inclusion.
- Reducing the amount of the chosen substance consumed daily is known as a direct taper, but it may not be effective for everyone.
- Gradual reduction can help minimize withdrawal symptoms and make the process more manageable.
- In a medical setting, individuals are closely observed for signs of serious complications, like seizures or dehydration, which can be managed immediately.
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. This is why it’s always best to find some form of long-term support in sobriety. Support groups, from Alcoholics Anonymous to SMART Recovery, are one free way to find a community of people on the same journey. There are also a number of anti-craving medications to help you avoid drinking again, or even help with your tapering process.
The Importance of Developing Emotional Independence in Sobriety
Addiction is a disease, not a moral failing, and this process is a critical, courageous step toward recovery. Drinking socially typically refers to the occasional, moderate consumption of alcohol. For most people, this means having a drink here and there without it interfering with responsibilities, relationships, or health.
Benzo Detox and Withdrawal Symptoms & Treatment Methods
Before beginning a tapering schedule, speak with your doctor about the risks of detoxing at home. Tapering off alcohol may complicate other medical conditions or co-occurring mental health disorders. If you’re unable to reduce how much you drink, you may have a disease called alcoholism that requires professional addiction treatment. Alcohol rehab helps you taper off alcohol, and it treats other side effects and causes of alcoholism. If you’ve been unable to quit on your own, how to safely taper off alcohol you should consider attending an alcohol rehab center.
We do not and have never accepted fees for referring someone to a particular center. Providers who advertise with us must be verified by our Research Team and we clearly mark their status as advertisers. Now that you’ve successfully completed the detoxification process, it’s time to build your sobriety toolkit through treatment. Studies show that those who receive some type of formal treatment after detox are more likely to maintain sobriety8. Alcohol withdrawal usually lasts for a few days, but some effects may linger for months. Symptoms are most severe around day 34, and the total process can last for 2 to 10 days.
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 withdrawal symptoms range in severity depending on how extensive the misuse behavior was. The alcohol withdrawal symptom delirium tremens (DT) is estimated to kill up to 5% of those attempting to quit suddenly after chronic usage. This is a staggering number considering that many other drugs do not even have the possibility of alcoholism symptoms lethal withdrawals.
- If you are tapering yourself off alcohol for the first time, it can be helpful to know what symptoms to expect during the process.
- It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers.
- Contact a medical professional immediately if you notice any withdrawal symptoms.
- After a person has acclimated to this new change, they can lower the number yet again.
These programs include medical guidance, therapy, and coping strategies to help you taper safely and build a lasting recovery plan. Alcohol withdrawal occurs when neurotransmitters that combat the effects of alcohol on the nervous system suddenly have nothing to counteract them. Essentially, when an individual drinks, the brain amplifies certain activities to counterbalance the depressive effect alcohol has on it.