Tapering can be a long process that takes weeks or even months to finish. Although it is possible to taper at home, having medical supervision and assistance can ensure a successful taper. A doctor can supervise your tapering progress, helping you manage your cravings and prevent relapse. Overall, getting professional help can improve your chances for long-term sobriety. Stopping alcohol can be rewarding, but it’s not without challenges. You may face social pressure, ingrained habits, and emotional reliance on alcohol.
Keep the big picture in mind through a goal such as reducing your drinking overall in a week, month, or year,” Dr Lee said. “The role of GABAA receptors in mediating the effects of alcohol in the central nervous system.” Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience, July 28, 2003. Within 5 minutes, you’ll receive an email with these details – free of charge. John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE is board-certified in addiction medicine and preventative medicine. For over 20 years Dr. Umhau was a senior clinical investigator at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
How To Make an Alcohol Tapering Schedule
If you’ve decided to quit drinking, and tapering seems like the right approach, we’ve got you covered. Here’s how to wean off alcohol—including useful strategies, how to create a tapering schedule, and how to stay safe throughout the process. In some cases, medical supervision is strongly recommended—if not essential—when quitting an addictive substance.
A substitution taper involves replacing alcoholic beverages with less potent alternatives. A substitution taper can also involve switching alcoholic beverages with non-alcoholic beverages. Diluting alcohol with other beverages is another option people may use.
Mental Health Resources
Your risk of certain diseases decreases, you will begin sleeping better, and your overall health can significantly benefit. It can help you reach goals and can minimize some of the unpleasant and severe symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. Depending on how much alcohol you drink to start with, the amount of time an alcohol weaning schedule takes may vary. For example, those who drink more heavily may need more time to taper than those who drink less alcohol.
Clonidine for Drug and Alcohol Withdrawal Treatment
- Besides its positive health benefits, it can help you quit drinking after weeks or months.
- You’ll likely face the urge to drink more than you’ve planned each day, but there are some good tricks to help you delay that next serving and keep yourself honest.
- Stopping alcohol use can be a big step and, once alcohol dependence develops, a difficult one.
- To avoid this, a plan for how many units you want to cut every day can be helpful.
- Gradual tapering, also known as weaning off, involves slowly reducing the dosage or frequency of substance use over time.
They can help you decide if tapering is the safest option for you. Tapering gradually lowers the amount of alcohol that you use over time. This lessens the severity of withdrawal symptoms, as Sober House Rules: What You Should Know Before Moving In 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. Sydney Tubbs is a driven and compassionate Operations Director at The Freedom Center.
Cold Turkey Method
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. Deirdre has extensive experience in mental health and treating substance use disorder related issues. In addition, Deirdre has experience in caring for young adults, women’s health issues and adolescents with HIV/AIDS. She served as a Wellness coordinator at Search for Change, Inc and currently serves as an Independent Practice Coach from 2011 to present. As the Family Nurse Practitioner, Deirdre performs history and physical exams, and works with clients to diagnose and treat dual diagnosis clients. In addition to the title of Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Kevin is also licensed by the state of Maryland as a Clinical Drug and Alcohol Counselor.
Severe withdrawal symptoms, called delirium tremens (DT) can be fatal. Once the patient has scored over 15 points and is at risk of DT, medical professionals will carry out additional evaluations. Medical professionals will assess any electrolyte nutrition and fluid abnormalities.
Minimized Risk of Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
Many insurance companies will help pay https://northiowatoday.com/2025/01/27/sober-house-rules-what-you-should-know-before-moving-in/ for some or all of your treatment costs. Start by estimating how much you drink on a daily basis—and be honest with yourself. It can help to make use of standard drink measurements, as mentioned above.
This condition is frequently fatal without treatment and requires hospitalization. Ria Health offers several FDA-approved medications for alcohol use disorder. When combined with counseling, this approach is proven highly effective. Alcohol disrupts the important REM stage of sleep and may interfere with your breathing and cause you to wake up multiple times during the night. Quitting drinking can lead to more restful sleep, improving your productivity, cognitive function, emotional regulation, and behaviour.
Support groups, from Alcoholics Anonymous to SMART Recovery, are one free way to find a community of people on the same journey. There are also a number of anti-craving medications to help you avoid drinking again, or even help with your tapering process. Finally, finding a therapist or a recovery coach can help you develop new coping mechanisms and move forward in your life. Alcohol plays a significant role in accidents, injuries, and deaths from various causes, including trauma, burns, drownings, and homicides. Quitting drinking or even reducing your alcohol intake can significantly lower the risk of accidents and injuries, improving your overall safety. Tapering under medical supervision can also involve guidance on how to reduce dosages safely over time.