Posts in category: Sober living

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. In your drinking diary, include information about what and how much you drank as well as where you were.

Central nervous system depressants are a class of drugs that includes several prescription medications like benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and sedative-hypnotics. Depressants are so-called because they depress activity in the central nervous system.

Practice Mindful Drinking

Studies have shown that between 13 and 71%9of people going throughalcohol detoxdevelop withdrawal symptoms. Factors such as pattern of alcohol use, other medical conditions, genetics, and how your body responds to alcohol can all play a role in withdrawal symptoms. The amount of time it takes to taper off of alcohol can vary greatly from person to person. Some people may be able to taper quickly and quit alcohol completely, while others may take a longer time. But making the difficult decision to cut back on drinking is much more important than the length of your alcohol taper. A medical professional can help you determine if a fast or slow taper, or quitting altogether, is appropriate based on a thorough medical assessment and evaluation of your withdrawal risk.

Remember your motivation for cutting back and set realistic goals. Use beer or another option with low alcohol content first, regardless of the normal drink of choice. This process can allow your body to adapt to receiving smaller amounts of alcohol. Substituting a prescription drug for alcohol should only happen with the help of a medical professional. No one should ever attempt a substitution taper with prescription medication unless their doctor specifically prescribed it for that purpose in a medical detox program. A direct taper means drinking the regular substance of choice but lowering the amount that’s consumed every day.

How Do You Safely Taper Off Alcohol?

If you experience dangerous signs such as high blood pressure, racing heart, or arrhythmias, slow your taper and seek assistance. In 2019 the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrationreported that 14.5 millions of americans suffered from Alcohol Use Disorder. Treatment is the best way to ensure long-term abstinence from alcohol. This is especially true if you are suffering from an alcohol use disorder.

• Excessive drinking can weaken the immune system, increasing the body’s likelihood of developing an infection.
• The support of an alcohol detox program may help you wean off alcohol more quickly and with fewer unpleasant side effects.
• If you can treat and tackle the depression that may be driving you to drink, it can help.
• Many other factors go into play with these difficult and trying scenarios.
• Withdrawal symptoms can vary in severity and depend on many factors, such as drinking history, metabolism, age, medical condition, what other substances or medication you take, and more.

Seeking help as early as possible during the withdrawal process is the best way to stay safe as you cleanse your body of alcohol. People who have alcohol use disorder that goes undiagnosed may have an especially difficult time cutting back on their alcohol consumption. In many cases, people with a moderate to severe alcohol use disorder may be advised to undergo medical detox, where they slowly rid the body of alcohol under medical supervision rather than a taper. If you’re struggling to stick to a taper or do not trust yourself to moderate your alcohol use, having strict supervision and support can help you meet your recovery goals. Due to the risk of withdrawal symptoms like seizures, many people benefit from a stable environment provided by medical detox centers. In these settings, they use a taper-off method that sometimes includes medications to help mitigate the effects of alcohol withdrawal symptoms. For most people, the safest way to quit is to taper off alcohol gradually.

Things to Consider When Planning to Taper Off Alcohol

Alcohol misuse and alcoholism are largely linked to depression. If you can treat and tackle the depression that may be driving you to drink, it can help. Again, you should not try to taper off alcohol alone if you are struggling with alcoholism. If it isn’t working for you, it’s possible that it’s time to think about your triggers, support networks, and everything else that can affect your relationship with alcohol. All Alcoholrehabhelp content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible. A healthcare provider can evaluate your case and determine the treatment program that is most suitable for you.

• Trained Emergency Physician who has practiced for 15 years and also had guided alcohol and drug addiction programs for the past 20 years.
• If withdrawal is so uncomfortable that you’re turning to drugs for comfort, you should contact your doctor or a rehab center to discuss medically supervised withdrawal.
• To learn about how our substance abuse treatment programs address alcohol dependence and withdrawal management, please contact us today.
• Although it is possible for some to quit drinking without any side effects, fit leads to painful alcohol withdrawal symptoms for most.
• Reach out for professional help to discuss a treatment plan that is safe and effective.

It can be easier to adapt your body to drinking smaller amounts of alcohol with a substitution taper. You should only attempt an alcohol taper while under a doctor’s care. However, learning more about how an how to taper off alcohol alcohol taper works can help you prepare to quit. With these things in mind, you need to weigh the pros and cons of tapering your alcohol use—ideally with someone you trust—to make a fully informed decision.

Mark joined the medical team at The Freedom Center in September 2018 as the Medical Director. He received his medical degree in Mexico with further certification from Rutgers Medical School in New Jersey. He then attended New York Medical College for his residency training. In autumn and winter, the days get shorter, and skies are often cloudy, depriving us of natural sunlight and unleashing all sorts of mood disturbances in many people. This is often known as seasonal depression, winter depression, or seasonal affective disorder …. NYC-based content strategist with over 3 years editing and writing in the recovery space. Strong believer in accessible, empathic, and fact-based communication.

Gain the perspective of those who have attempted tapering off alcohol. The more information gained and the more emotional support provided can make a big difference. Personal health, both physical and mental, as well https://ecosoberhouse.com/ as someone’s current drinking habits, should also be taken into account before deciding on anything. Nonetheless, quitting cold turkey might be the only way for people who don’t have an alcohol use disorder .

What Does “Tapering Off Alcohol” Mean?

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. If you’re addicted to alcohol, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to recover without some form of addiction treatment. You may be able to detox at home and recover from alcoholism with the help of support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous. However, medically supervised detox and professional rehab are more likely to help you maintain long-term sobriety.