Can Tapering Off Alcohol Reduce Withdrawal Symptoms?

A veteran of two branches of the U.S. military, Max is continuing his education in healthcare administration. Max began his career in the addiction field working as a group facilitator and teacher, developing and delivering a successful faith-based curriculum in a long-term residential treatment setting.

For those who try to follow their own alcohol tapering schedule at home, they are more likely to increase the level of their drinking to their original levels. This can become dangerous, as your tolerance to alcohol will reduce over time as you taper off the alcoholic beverages. The absence of alcohol will mean that if you were to return to your former levels of alcohol consumption, you could potentially put yourself in fatal circumstances.

The Pros and Cons of Tapering Off Alcohol

Tapering gradually lowers the amount of alcohol that you use over time. This lessens the severity of withdrawal symptoms, as there is not an abrupt or dramatic change. Tapering will normally create less severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms but will spread them out over a prolonged period. Essentially, tapering provides less intense withdrawal symptoms but over a longer amount of time. Opioid withdrawal can be dangerous, and symptoms can be severe.

This excessive glutamate level can lead toalcohol withdrawal symptoms, which can be dangerous. The process of reducing alcohol consumption should begin with your baseline of use, since your taper schedule depends on how much you drink before you start decreasing your intake. To calculate your baseline, you need to know how many standard drinks you drink in a day. Creating a tapering schedule you can stick with is a crucial part of weaning yourself off alcohol. The best schedule varies based on how much you drink each day and your overall health.

Related Articles About Alcohol Abuse

Counseling can help you learn strategies to cope with stress, identify early warning signs of https://healthyvitaminsrx.com/html/good_-and-bad-fats.html and avoid opioid use. Depending on your pattern of medication use, your doctor may recommend continued chemical dependence counseling after you’ve completed your opioid taper. If you are struggling to stop drinking, do your best to avoid places and situations that involve alcohol.

In 2017, James had the opportunity to combine his business experience and passion for recovery to start The Freedom Center. Her experience in behavioral health training, program development, and organizational leadership lead her to pursue a certification as a Project Management Professional in 2018. Vince is a licensed social worker who treats clients recovering from substance use disorders. Vince received his bachelor’s degree in Family Science from The University of Maryland, and received his master’s degree in Social Work from The Catholic University of America. He provides individual therapy, group therapy, and assessments for clients in recovery from substance use and any related mental health issues. Vince is passionate about the work that he does, and approaches therapy through an empathetic and motivational approach.

Ways to Taper Off Alcohol

Remember that you are not drinking for pleasure–you are drinking medicine–so only drink what is needed. Moderate or intermediate alcohol withdrawal usually occurs hours after the cessation of alcohol intake. Its manifestations include intense anxiety, tremors, insomnia, seizures, hallucinations, high blood pressure, racing pulse.

• In a study published in The Lancet, alcohol was ranked as more dangerous than opioids, meth, cocaine and every other drug that is taken recreationally.
• Switch to a drink you like less, and only stock your house with that option.
• The material is not a substitute for qualified medical diagnoses, treatment, or advice.
• Give your loved ones as much information as you can about your self-tapering strategy.
• It is all part of the process, and no one’s process is the same.

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. The right length for an opioid taper varies with each person and each medication. Your doctor should prescribe an opioid taper schedule that addresses your medical needs while minimizing risks to your health.

Have A Strong Support System

Verywell Mind’s content is for informational and educational purposes only. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Daily drinking can have serious consequences for a person’s health, both in the short- and long-term. Many of the effects of drinking every day can be reversed through early intervention. You can also get help by reaching out to a professional rehab facility directly, like The Recovery Village. We can leverage our resources and team to help you reduce and eventually end your alcohol use.

It’s best to reduce your drinking by a small amount each day to avoid the shock to your system. So, if you normally have 6 beers a day, you could be done tapering within one week. It’s always best to consult a physician on the best strategy, especially if you drink heavily. This is why many people dependent on alcohol will choose to taper down their usage rather than stop drinking altogether. Someone will slowly diminish the amount they drink with the intention of avoiding the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal completely and will hopefully be able to avoid a relapse as well. If your BASELINE ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION is less than 20 drinks per day then we recommend reducing consumption by two standard drinks per day.

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. If you are tapering yourself off alcohol for the first time, it can be helpful to know what symptoms to expect during the process. Although the symptoms can vary for each person based on personal factors, many people share common experiences during this process. As a rule of thumb, HAMS suggests reducing your consumption by two standard drinks per day until you reach zero. For example, if you typically have 10 drinks per day, you could cut back to 8 the first day, then 6, 4, 2, and finally none. If you have 20 or more drinks per day, they suggest one drink per hour the first day, every hour and a half the next, then reducing by 2 drinks per day after that.

When coming off https://www.flirtybor.com/the-earnings-that-accompany-music-licensing.htmls or alcohol tapering is the best way to prevent severe withdrawal symptoms. Tapering is the act of gradually reducing alcohol use until completely abstinent. By creating a schedule to monitor your alcohol use you can see just how much of the substance you are drinking. Tapering off alcohol at home versus under medical supervision can also lengthen the process, for the sake of safety. Unlike a home environment, medical detox services have the professional support and resources necessary to treat severe withdrawal symptoms.

Cons of Tapering Alcohol Use

Consult with a doctor to ensure that tapering off of alcohol is safe for your specific situation and that your plan for tapering is safe. Tapering from alcohol incorrectly can be fatal in some severe situations. Your doctor may recommend combining your taper with counseling on medication use.