It can be tempting to just “rip off the Band-Aid” when getting sober, but tapering off alcohol is often much safer—and much less stressful. Rather than quitting drinking abruptly (or “cold turkey”), many professionals recommend gradually reducing your drinking (or tapering) over time. This can give your body the chance to adjust, helping you avoid the worst of withdrawal symptoms.

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Tapering, or weaning off, is an approach to detoxing from alcohol or other drugs that involves gradually reducing one’s consumption over a given length of time. Individuals can taper off alcohol alone, though it is generally safer and more effective to do so under the supervision of addiction professionals. For people with severe alcohol dependence, clinical evidence shows that tapering is a safer alternative to the “cold turkey” method, which involves quitting alcohol entirely all at once.

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Remember, knowing your “why” can help you stay focused during difficult moments. In the lungs, the alcohol is vaporized (changed into vapor) and is exhaled. This is why police officers and other officials use a breathalyzer test to measure the level of alcohol intoxication or drunkenness. From the stomach, most of the alcohol travels to the small intestine.

FAQ: Weaning Off Alcohol

However, medical treatment is necessary to treat major symptoms of withdrawal. The purpose of tapering off alcohol is to avoid major withdrawal symptoms so you can achieve sobriety safely. The time it takes to taper will depend on how long you’ve been drinking, how much you’ve been drinking and a variety of personal factors.

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Deciding to taper off alcohol is a slower process that requires planning, but it can decrease both the chase of experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms and relapse. 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 sober house of alcoholism.

Serious symptoms caused by delirium tremens include hallucination and seizure. When you are detoxing from alcohol at a rehab center, nurses and doctors monitor vital signs, provide adequate nourishment and treat complications if they occur. The amount of time it takes to detox from alcohol depends on several factors, including whether you’re detoxing at home or with medical supervision. Detoxing at home usually takes longer because you should be cautious to avoid serious complications. Nanci Stockwell of Advanced Recovery Systems discusses the risks of detoxing at home and the benefits of detoxing from alcohol and other drugs in a safe environment.

Without medical supervision, it’s hard to predict how your body will respond to withdrawal. Before you begin an alcohol taper, a little preparation can go a long way, especially when it involves handling your triggers and tracking how much you drink. Remember your motivation for cutting back and set realistic goals. It is important to note that alcohol tapers are generally not recommended as the best way to stop using alcohol.

Step-by-Step Guide Taper Off Alcohol Safely Sober Living

• Depending on how much alcohol you drink to start with, the amount of time an alcohol weaning schedule takes may vary.
• Instead of drinking 9 drinks a day, for instance, a person can reduce that number to 7 or 8.
• Some find tapering is not a suitable option to stop drinking due to various factors such as social responsibilities or peer pressure.
• This counterbalance of activity works in a person’s favor, allowing them to function throughout the day even as they continue to depress their nervous systems by drinking alcohol.
• After successfully completing detox, there are additional treatment options at Serenity Lane.
• You can master the necessary life skills to maintain your sober lifestyle through treatment.

If you drink heavily, alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be harsh, dangerous, and even fatal. For this reason, it’s generally best to avoid quitting abruptly, or at bare minimum speak with a doctor first and have someone looking out for you. If you properly taper your alcohol use, you’re less likely to experience alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

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If cravings become overwhelming, reach out for professional help or contact support services like SAMHSA’s National Helpline for additional resources. Depending on the organ and whether or not there has https://yourhealthmagazine.net/article/addiction/sober-houses-rules-that-you-should-follow/ been relapse(s), recovery is possible. There is hope that even after years of heavy alcohol use, the liver has the ability to regenerate or regrow.

Although it is possible to taper your alcohol use alone, professionals highly advise that you seek medical attention. Detoxing from alcohol can be dangerous if you don’t do it properly. If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol addiction, don’t hesitate to reach out for help.