Reducing the amount of the chosen substance consumed daily is known as a direct taper, but it may not be effective for everyone. It is only advisable to direct taper if the preferred drink is beer with a low alcohol percentage. Tapering off alcohol can lead you to feel emotionally and physically healthier. With professional help, you can increase your chances of tapering successfully.

• Mild anxiety, for example, can turn into overwhelming agitation or even hallucinations.
• For example, healthcare providers usually don’t take patients off antidepressants suddenly; rather, they gradually reduce the dosages.
• Whether you’re a daily imbiber, heavy drinker, or frequent binge drinker, you’re likely to experience withdrawal symptoms when you quit.
• Educate your loved ones on dangerous symptoms, too, so they can look out for you and get you medical attention if you need it.

As you begin your alcohol tapering process, talk to someone you trust about your plan. Consider sharing your process with a friend or family member so they can offer helpful support. 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 how to taper off alcohol 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.

Direct Taper

When people who are dependent on alcohol drink, they feel normal. If you want to change your relationship with alcohol, it’s important to have an honest conversation with a doctor about your drinking habits before you start tapering off. They’ll be able to help you create a tapering schedule that won’t only raise your chance of success but also avoid severe symptoms. Alcohol tapering is a way to quit drinking while reducing your risk of withdrawal and complications. Making a plan for tapering alcohol is a crucial part of the process to ensure a healthy outcome. Talk to a doctor to see if it’s safe for you to taper from alcohol or drugs on your own.

Quitting binge drinking may require different strategies than either tapering or cold turkey. 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. But most people do not need inpatient care, and for them, a variety of outpatient options exist.

Alcohol Withdrawal Timeline

It’s always best to consult a physician on the best strategy, especially if you drink heavily. That said, tapering off alcohol doesn’t completely eliminate withdrawal symptoms. Alcohol withdrawal is dangerous and it’s important to be careful throughout the process.

• If you drink heavily, your doctor may recommend quitting with the help of a medical detox center.
• It is important to note that alcohol tapers are generally not recommended as the best way to stop using alcohol.
• Alcohol detox isn’t easy and not everyone can do it on their own.
• If you notice an urge to use other substances, observe your feelings and consider talking to a counselor to help navigate the emotional impact of tapering your alcohol use.

This process is called dependence because your brain depends on alcohol being present to function normally. If attending a service isn’t possible, perhaps because you are isolating, you can use this advice on safely detoxing from alcohol at home. Normally, we would recommend getting professional support before you try to cut down your drinking. If you or someone you know needs help detoxing from alcohol, The Recovery Village Ridgefield Drug and Alcohol Rehab is here for you.

Reduce Your Number of Drinks Per Day

As mentioned above, many people will still experience some level of withdrawal, just to a lesser degree. The main difference between tapering and quitting alcohol cold turkey is how fast you quit. Cold turkey is a common slang term for quitting alcohol (or any substance) all at once. Tapering or weaning means ramping down your alcohol use until you get to zero—or to a more moderate level of drinking that you prefer. Some people are facing problems with their health or personal lives which require them to quit immediately.

Studies show support groups play an instrumental role in helping people develop healthy social networks that result in continued sobriety. There is no exact timeline for alcohol withdrawal, and individual factors, such as the level of dependence on alcohol, will influence it. Over time, however, the body builds a tolerance to alcohol, and a person may have to drink more and more to get the same feeling. Meanwhile, the brain is producing more and more neurotransmitters, making a person further imbalanced. Dietary guidelines recommend that if you drink, men limit daily drinking to two drinks or less per day and women limit their drinking to one drink or less per day. Consuming more than that can lead to liver damage and heart disease, and increase your risk for some cancers.

Behavioral Treatment

If you are tapering off of alcohol, the time it takes depends entirely on how long the taper is and how well you adhere to it. One of the reasons that medical professionals tend to avoid tapers is that they can be difficult to follow and may be more likely to be unsuccessful than faster options. 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.

Since alcohol depresses central nervous system activity, quitting drinking can cause an imbalance of an excitatory neurotransmitter called glutamate. This excess glutamate triggers alcohol withdrawal symptoms, which can sometimes be dangerous. When you taper your alcohol, you slowly reduce your alcohol intake over time. By gradually drinking less instead of stopping cold turkey, your body has a chance to adapt to smaller and less frequent drinks.