Can Tapering Off Alcohol Reduce Withdrawal Symptoms?

There can be medical risks to reducing or stopping alcohol use. A medical professional will evaluate your medical history and current symptoms or problems to determine the best treatment plan to meet your unique needs. Individuals who seek help at a treatment center are able to find help either outpatient or inpatient, with inpatient helping more moderate to severe issues. In an inpatient treatment center, the individual is able to be treated for withdrawal symptoms, and begin therapy. In 2019 the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrationreported that 14.5 millions of americans suffered from Alcohol Use Disorder.

• Vince is passionate about the work that he does, and approaches therapy through an empathetic and motivational approach.
• She works with The Freedom Center team to develop and implement policies, procedures and oversees Intakes and Transportation.
• Tapering alcohol is beneficial because you can avoid alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
• How long it takes depends on factors like how much you typically drink.
• We personalize every aspect of your detox and offer counseling, treatment plans, nutrition services and options for continuing rehab treatment at The Recovery Village Ridgefield.

When an individual has developed a substance use disorder or dependence on alcohol, stopping its use outright can seem virtually impossible. 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.

Medications Used When Tapering Off Alcohol

It can also involve substituting the how to taper off alcohol of choice with another drink; for example, a person may taper off hard alcohol with beer. 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.

One of those decisions will be what you will do when friends or family pressure you to drink. Going cold turkey can lead to acute alcohol withdrawal for those who have a history of long-term and/or heavy alcohol use. Deirdre graduated in 2012 from Pace University and completed her bachelor’s at Columbia University in New York and has her Master of Science in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Pros and Cons of Tapering Off Alcohol Intake

These strategies work in different ways to help you quit drinking, and one or the other may be appropriate for you based on your needs. Slowly decreasing the amount you drink over time can spare your body from withdrawal symptoms. This is because drinking heavily over a long period can cause your body to become physically dependent on alcohol. With physical dependence, your body becomes used to the presence of alcohol in your system and begins to adapt accordingly. Severe or major alcohol withdrawal aka Delirium Tremens (D.T.s). This usually occurs more than 48 hours after a cessation or decrease in alcohol consumption. It is characterized by disorientation, agitation, hallucinations, tremulousness, racing heart, rapid breathing, fever, irregular heartbeat, blood pressure spikes, and intense sweating.

With a plan, you will likely be better able to monitor and manage your drinking habits. Take a break from drinking and choose alcohol-free days.Decide not to drink for at least a day or two every week.

What is Quitting Cold Turkey?

Heavy drinkers should never abruptly quit alcohol without medical supervision, as alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be dangerous. Tapering involves slowly decreasing alcohol use over time, which helps to reduce withdrawal symptoms and improve safety when quitting alcohol. An alcohol taper is the process of slowly reducing your alcohol intake. When you gradually drink less instead of quit cold turkey, you give your body a chance to get used to smaller amounts of alcohol. An alcohol taper1can be an effective strategy to begin recovery and help set a realistic goal for people who are not ready to quit alcohol completely, but they’re not for everyone.

• Find support by asking your friends, family or self-help groups to assist you in staying sober.
• Its manifestations include intense anxiety, tremors, insomnia, seizures, hallucinations, high blood pressure, racing pulse.
• Alcohol is produced by the fermentation, or the breakdown, of yeast, sugars, and starches.
• If a person abruptly stops drinking alcohol within 6 to 8 hours they will experience hyperactivity, anxiety, tremors, sweating, nausea, and confusion.
• When you taper your alcohol, you slowly reduce your alcohol intake over time.
• It may be useful to note what you were feeling and thinking leading up to and at the time of drinking.
• Whether he’s leading groups or providing individual and family therapy, Kevin’s passion for serving those suffering from substance use disorders is always on display.

As you know, drinking does not provide actual relief from the difficulties of life; instead, drinking often makes our problems worse. Develop a plan in advance for how you will manage triggering spaces and events (i.e., bars/restaurants, holiday parties).

Substitution Taper

In 2017, James had the opportunity to combine his business experience and passion for recovery to start The Freedom Center. Each method has pros and cons, but regardless of which one you choose, you must have the knowledge and resources to make a quit attempt successful. If you’re trying to quit cold turkey and need help, please find professional help from an addiction rehab center. Even if you think either option sounds like something that could work for your situation, we still recommend talking to a doctor before proceeding. 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.