This can help your body adjust, and it can be easier to manage than quitting cold turkey. Alcohol withdrawal is potentially fatal, especially for people with an alcohol addiction. Sometimes, they may experience seizures and delirium tremens (DTs). Although you can use methods to taper off alcohol at home, the best way to taper is to talk to a doctor.

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Talking to a counselor or joining a support group can help you stay emotionally balanced as you learn how to taper off alcohol. Even with tapering, you may still experience some withdrawal symptoms. Common signs include anxiety, irritability, sweating, and trouble https://northiowatoday.com/2025/01/27/sober-house-rules-what-you-should-know-before-moving-in/ sleeping. Knowing how to wean off alcohol safely means being prepared for these symptoms and having strategies to manage them.

We do not offer specific health advice, nor are we a remote clinical advice service (RCA). We can, with your consent, pass your details to our partners that can offer this. We receive a commission if you begin treatment with a fee-paying provider.

I don’t recommend tapering yourself at all, and I especially don’t recommend doing it rapidly, but it has been done. Some people have done a rapid taper in which they go from their baseline to zero in a weekend or so. This is why many people dependent on alcohol will choose to taper down their usage rather than stop drinking altogether.

It’s A Slower Detox Process

You may need to do a slower taper than someone else who was drinking the same amount as you. Remember, you can always slow your taper, drink more alcohol, or seek medical help if needed. If you’re lucky enough to have a supportive friend, a roommate, or a family member that lives with you who can assist, that is ideal. Tell them what you’re planning on doing, give them a copy of your planned taper schedule, and have them hold all the alcohol to portion out and give to you as needed. Ideally, pick someone who doesn’t also have a problem with alcohol.

However, it still poses some serious risks, especially for individuals with long-term and/or severe alcohol problems. It is of the utmost importance that anyone considering tapering off alcohol first consult with a medical professional to determine their treatment needs. Although tapering down has many advantages, it is critical that you consult with a medical or addiction treatment professional first. In many cases, medically-supervised alcohol detox is the only safe way to stop drinking, especially if you’re suffering from AUD.

ways to curb your drinking

It’s a significant step towards recovery, and while it may be challenging, it’s a journey worth undertaking for improved health and well-being. Outpatient treatment can be an option for individuals with mild-to-moderate alcohol withdrawal symptoms. If you start to experience significant withdrawal symptoms when you stop drinking, a taper can provide a much safer method to detox from alcohol.

This factor puts many people off the tapering method, especially if they think the process will take a while. The standard tapering process should start by increasing the time between drinks, before either drinking less or reducing the alcohol percentage present in these beverages. While not fully relapse-proof (because nothing truly is), tapering down your alcohol intake rather than going cold turkey can reduce your chances of drinking again. In essence, tapering, or “weaning off” of alcohol means gradually reducing regular drinking habits.

• With this in mind, slowly reducing the number of drinks you have will reduce the chances of developing this life-threatening condition, as the body is put under less stress.
• But if you start having major withdrawal symptoms like bad shakes or pulse over 100 or high blood pressure you are tapering too fast and should slow it down.
• The medications with the best efficacy and safety are the benzodiazepines, which enhance the effect of the neurotransmitter GABA on the brain.
• You might be surprised to find that you don’t need alcohol to enjoy certain events and previously would drink out of habit.
• The amount of alcohol it takes to cause withdrawal symptoms can vary from person to person.
• It is important to note that prescription medication should not be used for a substitution taper unless it has been prescribed as part of a medical detox program.

Decreased Risk of Alcohol-Related Death

If you are looking for how to taper off alcohol, you can follow these steps. Triggers such as certain people, places, or situations can increase the urge to drink. When planning how to wean off alcohol, it’s important to identify and avoid these triggers whenever possible. This might mean skipping social events where alcohol is present or finding new ways to cope with stress without turning to alcohol. Establishing new habits and routines, and dealing with the underlying causes of your drinking habits, are essential to lasting recovery.

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You may even ask your friends and family not to drink while around you. As such, there is only limited guidance available about the best ways to taper. 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. Then come up with a reduction rate you think will be safe, and that you can stick to.

You can use an app like AlcoTrack (Android) or DrinkControl (Apple) to keep a log of your daily drinking and see your progression. You can enter in the type of drinks you consume and when you drink them to determine the total amount of alcohol you consume each day. The idea is to religiously take this like medicine for the next week or two. For instance, many people binge drink on the weekend without drinking during the week.

• Tapering can be an excellent way to prevent harmful withdrawal effects after ceasing alcohol intake.
• Tapering off alcohol helps some people start their recovery journeys.
• Because symptoms such as seizures and delirium tremens can be fatal, reducing alcohol consumption can be dangerous for some.
• A slow, controlled reduction allows your body to adjust to lower alcohol levels without triggering severe reactions.
• In other words, they slow down chemical communication in the brain and body.

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This could include engaging in new hobbies, exercising, or seeking support from friends, family, or support groups. Additionally, understanding and avoiding personal triggers can help prevent relapse. Alcohol tapering, the gradual reduction of alcohol intake, presents several challenges, each requiring strategic solutions to ensure a safe and successful journey towards sobriety. Tapering off alcohol is a method of reducing your alcohol intake gradually. This process can help your body break its dependency on alcohol with minimal side effects.

Tapering Off Alcohol

It requires a lot of willpower and you will be uncomfortable, but it can be done. Whichever method you choose, what is most important is to commit to your alcohol tapering schedule, so you can be sure that you have avoided the Living in a Sober House: Fundamental Rules symptoms of alcohol withdrawal as much as possible. Furthermore, in certain cases, a healthcare professional may suggest a benzodiazepine regimen to replace the body’s alcohol needs during tapering. This strategy can help manage withdrawal symptoms and facilitate a safer and more comfortable tapering process. For example, individuals who drink fewer than 20 standard drinks a day might reduce their alcohol intake by two drinks each day until reaching zero drinks.