How To Taper Off Alcohol At Home? Effective Strategies

Our state-specific resource guides offer a comprehensive overview of drug and alcohol addiction treatment options available in your area. Research has shown that professional help improves your ability to overcome an addiction to alcohol or cut back if you have found it difficult. The most common research technique among those surveyed is an internet search (61%), followed by asking a doctor or medical professional (55%).

Medications Used When Tapering Off Alcohol

• It can be tempting to just “rip off the Band-Aid” when getting sober, but tapering off alcohol is often much safer—and much less stressful.
• Another more serious condition that develops during alcohol withdrawal is delirium tremens or the DTs.
• Is alcohol beginning to take up more and more of your time, budget, and life?
• The problem is that this can drag your taper out for several weeks or even months, depending on how slowly you’ve tapered and how much you’ve been drinking to start.
• Tracking also allows you to notice any patterns that may lead to increased drinking, such as stress or social situations.

Attending a residential rehab or outpatient program gives you coping mechanisms and life skills that can help you for years to come after treatment. You can strengthen your emotional and communication techniques to help you work through any tough situations that may arise in the future. Delamere describes the different stages that you go through while detoxing from alcohol6. Your body has become used to, and dependent on, certain levels of alcohol. Alcohol depresses your nervous system2, so your body creates more receptors for neurotransmitters, or messengers, to stimulate the nervous system.

Remember to consult with a healthcare professional or addiction specialist to determine the appropriate reduction rate for your circumstances. Before you start your detox, ensure you have enough alcohol on hand to last you a few days. Always keep some extra alcohol available in the event you experience severe withdrawal symptoms. The last thing you want is to run out of booze at three in the morning thinking you’re about to have a seizure. Without alcohol, the body may be flooded with excessive levels of glutamate, an excitatory chemical.

Insurance May Cover Alcohol Detox

This method is safer than abruptly stopping alcohol consumption, especially when switching from hard liquor to beer. Drinking beer can also help maintain hydration throughout the taper. 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. Detoxing from alcohol at home is not a one-size-fits-all solution.

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While these strategies won’t stop withdrawal, they can potentially lessen its intensity. Tell your close friends and family before you begin your detox, and ask them to support you. Consider creating a visiting schedule so you are never alone https://soberhome.net/maverick-house-overview/ during the first week of detox. A supportive friend or family member can help you in many ways during withdrawal.

How Dangerous is Self-Detox?

• However, the efficacy of tapering alone without medical supervision is questionable, as studies show that withdrawal symptoms can persist despite the gradual reduction of alcohol use.
• Some withdrawal is normal, and some symptoms can be potentially life-threatening.
• 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.
• The long and the short of it is–tapering off alcohol with medical support can help you quit drinking.
• Because he is a member of a support group that stresses the importance of anonymity at the public level, he does not use his photograph or his real name on this website.

As a step down from residential inpatient treatment, PHP allows participants the flexibility to balance the demands of both their personal and professional lives. Is alcohol beginning to take up more and more of your time, budget, and life? You may be wondering how to begin the process of ridding yourself or your loved one of alcohol use once and for all.

Who is likely to have significant alcohol withdrawal symptoms?

• These alternatives can be a psychological aid, making it easier to stick to your tapering plan.
• Watch movies, binge on television series, have a hot shower, listen to audio books, play music, go cloud watching, or do whatever else comes to mind.
• A popular way to taper off alcohol is to gradually reduce the number of drinks you consume over a period of time.
• The best and safest first step is to consult with a medical professional to determine the best treatment plan for you.
• Your addicted brain may use this as an excuse to increase your dosage.

At Ria, Maverick house sober living we offer weekly meetings with certified counselors to help members stay on track and build skills for long-term change. Quitting alcohol completely can be a challenge, but there are more ways to do it than ever before. Alcohol withdrawal can cause many symptoms, some of which can be fatal. Many insurance companies will help pay for some or all of your treatment costs.

The amount of alcohol it takes to cause withdrawal symptoms can vary from person to person. For this reason, you should always talk to your doctor before attempting to quit drinking. Getting curious about a life without alcohol is already an incredible step, and a healthier lifestyle is within reach. This is a highly personal decision, which can be made through self-reflection, and with the support of a medical professional and your peers. If it’s safe for you to quit cold turkey, you may find that cutting alcohol out entirely from the start helps you clearly uphold your boundaries. Or, you may find that quitting all at once is too drastic and decide to start by practicing harm reduction.

Delirium tremens is also more common in people of older age, those with a history of seizures, and people with co-occurring illnesses or disorders. Symptoms of delirium tremens can develop within 48 hours and, in some cases, have fatal consequences without proper treatment. The amount of time it takes for alcohol detox to begin—in other words, for withdrawal symptoms to kick in—will vary from person to person. Contributing factors are the duration and severity of prior alcohol use, personal metabolism, body weight, and similar traits.

Tapering off alcohol is the gentlest approach to discontinuation. Alcohol addiction poses significant risks, and the optimal approach to mitigate these dangers involves abstaining from alcohol altogether. Gradually reducing your alcohol consumption, a process known as tapering, can help prevent severe withdrawal symptoms. For people with moderate to severe alcohol addiction, utilizing an alcohol detox center is always the safest option. Alcohol detox centers have professionals trained to recognize and treat complications caused by alcohol withdrawal.