Is Tapering Off Alcohol Safe? Is It Better to Taper Off Alcohol?

For this reason, even at-home tapers should be done under a doctor’s care. Whether you’re a daily imbiber, heavy drinker, or frequent binge drinker, you’re likely to experience withdrawal symptoms when you quit. Unfortunately, there’s little to no evidence that tapering off reduces the effects of alcohol withdrawal, some of which can be severe or even life-threatening. Quitting with proper medical supervision may be more important than whether you stop gradually or all at once. If you’re struggling with severe alcohol addiction, a medical detox program is your likely best option for tapering off alcohol safely.

For example, one 12-ounce can of beer contains the same amount of alcohol as a 5-ounce glass of wine or a mixed drink containing 1.5 ounces of alcohol. If you plan to taper your drinking in order to stop, make sure that you limit your intake consistently, avoid fluctuations, and adhere to a weekly reduction schedule with a set date to stop. Generally speaking, alcohol home detox is neither the most effective nor the safest method of quitting alcohol. However, it is inexpensive and may be suitable for someone whose job, relationships, and well-being are not in jeopardy. An effective tapering schedule may include cutting out one drink at a time at regular intervals. During alcohol detox, doctors closely monitor your heart rate, blood pressure, and other vital signs.

Who is likely to have significant alcohol withdrawal symptoms?

Some studies have shown that sleep disturbances can increase the chance of relapsing…. Tapering off alcohol means slowly reducing the amount of alcohol you drink until you are completely alcohol-free. Give us a call and we can help find the right treatment program for you or your loved one – even if it’s not ours! These are offered to patients with moderate to severe Alcohol Use Disorder, having the goal of reducing alcohol comsumption and achieving abstinence. Prefer Topiramate or Gabapentin if patients are intolerant to or have not responded to Naltrexone and Acamprosate.

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. Spring Hill Recovery Center provides residential treatment for addiction and co-occurring mental health issues. However, some conditions may require treatment beyond our capabilities, and we reserve the right to medically discharge a patient for a higher level of mental health care. In most cases, withdrawal symptoms begin within 8 hours after a person’s last drink. They typically peak within three days, though some symptoms may last for weeks.

How to Wean Off Alcohol Safely

Tapering is meant to reduce the withdrawal symptoms from quitting alcohol, but this isn’t a guarantee. As mentioned above, many people will still experience some level of withdrawal, just to a lesser degree. This may work for many people, but in practice each individual will respond best to a different pace, and each doctor will have their own recommendations. https://www.healthworkscollective.com/how-choose-sober-house-tips-to-focus-on/ The risk of tapering too slowly is that you won’t stick with it, while the risk of tapering too fast is severe withdrawal. If you experience dangerous signs such as high blood pressure, racing heart, or arrhythmias, slow your taper and seek assistance. Depending on how much you drink, tapering off alcohol can take one to several weeks.

Addiction experts have not conducted many studies on alcohol tapering. As a result, little information is available regarding the best way to taper. That said, some independent groups have stepped in, publishing sample tapering schedules to guide people who are trying to cut back on drinking.

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Tapering off gives your body time to adjust to living without the effects of alcohol by slowly reducing your intake over a period of days or weeks. It can be very hard to quit drinking, and isn’t something that should be done alone. If someone were to attempt to stop drinking alcohol without tapering off their use, this will then display symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. This can be a very dangerous thing to do if not done by following medical advice. For heavy drinkers, they will need to follow a specific medical detox which is also monitored to ensure this is done safely.

Many factors can play a role in the development of alcohol dependency. The more risk factors that are present at a young age, the more likely the individual will become an alcoholic. We are ready to cheer you on as you continue down the road of recovery toward a healthier, happier you. A 2019 survey found 7.4% of adult (ages 18 and over) Oregonians reported having alcohol sober house use disorder in the past year. This is a significant difference from the overall United States average of 5.7% of U.S. adults that reported having alcohol use disorder in the past year. The annual cost of excessive alcohol use to Oregon’s economy each year is $3.5 billion due to lost productivity, health care expenses, criminal justice costs, and motor vehicle crashes.

That way, you can rest assured that your vitals are being monitored and you are taking the necessary steps to achieve a full recovery with very minor, if any, medical complications. Going cold turkey can lead to acute alcohol withdrawal for those who have a history of long-term and/or heavy alcohol use. However, achieving sobriety is a process that can take quite some time. To speed up the processes, many choose to try going “cold turkey,” aka, stop drinking and never pick up a glass again. The effects of alcohol can vary depending on weight, gender, age and other factors. Each person’s alcohol metabolism is different, and even though a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .085 is considered legal intoxication, a BAC lower than .08 may adversely affect some people.

The consequences of quitting alcohol cold turkey can be serious and lead to alcohol withdrawal syndrome, which can be fatal in severe cases. When you slowly taper your alcohol intake over time instead of quitting cold turkey, you reduce the likelihood of withdrawal symptoms. By weaning yourself from drinking, you give your brain the chance to adjust the amount of GABA it produces. The main downside of cold turkey is how unpleasant and risky it can be. If you drink heavily, alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be harsh, dangerous, and even fatal.

As a licensed clinician, Cheryl stands ready to diagnose and treat a wide spectrum of mental, behavioral, and personality disorders that sometimes present alongside a substance use disorder. Samantha is a compassionate therapist dedicated to helping individuals navigate their mental health challenges and find healing and recovery. Currently pursuing her advanced degree in psychology, Samantha’s personal journey of overcoming addiction fuels her passion for supporting others on their path to wellness. Samantha’s own journey of recovery serves as a powerful foundation for her therapeutic services.

• When talking about tapering or gradually reducing alcohol use, it is important to have awareness of possible withdrawal symptoms.
• By setting a specific day or time for a ‘beer-free’ day, you create a reminder of your commitment to sobriety.
• Tapering is the process of gradually weaning off alcohol rather than quitting cold turkey.

Alcohol addiction can be difficult and sometimes dangerous to handle on your own. If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol addiction, contact us to learn more and get started with alcohol addiction treatment. The Recovery Village Ridgefield medical detox center in Vancouver, WA, is a fully staffed rehab facility designed to help you wean off alcohol in comfort. We offer 16 detox beds and around-the-clock medical care provided by a multidisciplinary team of addiction experts.

At a rehab clinic, an alcohol withdrawal taper can be provided to slowly get you back to normal life. This form of tapering would likely involve medications to eliminate withdrawal symptoms. Slowly, to reduce the discomfort of withdrawal symptoms, you will come off the medication with the goal being complete abstinence from alcohol. The guidelines for tapering from alcohol are generalized; you may need to modify the tapering schedule if you have difficulties with the original plan. The risk of tapering too quickly is potentially dangerous withdrawal symptoms, and the risk of tapering too slowly is an increased likelihood of relapse. When you abruptly stop drinking, your body struggles to rebalance itself, resulting in an excessive increase in the levels of glutamate, an excitatory substance.

• In contrast, robust evidence supports quitting alcohol while under medical supervision.
• To speed up the processes, many choose to try going “cold turkey,” aka, stop drinking and never pick up a glass again.
• This is a highly personal decision, which can be made through self-reflection, and with the support of a medical professional and your peers.
• Ask loved ones to look out for signs of alcohol relapse to help you stay on track with your recovery process.