How to Safely Taper Off Alcohol Safely Quit Drinking
Treatment is the best way to ensure long-term abstinence from alcohol. This is especially true if you are suffering from an alcohol use disorder. Addiction alters the chemical balance in a person’s brain, making it extremely difficult to quit drinking alcohol on one’s own. Maybe they don’t have peer support or maybe their alcohol addiction is too severe. Being surrounded by triggers can make it extremely difficult to stay on track and avoid overdoing it on alcohol. Alcohol detox medications can make the process safer and more comfortable.
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Besides its positive health benefits, it can help you quit drinking after weeks or months. It’s always best to speak with a healthcare provider when changing your relationship with alcohol. Every person has unique needs, and how to taper off alcohol tapering off may not be an adequate solution to reduce or stop drinking. The time it takes to taper off alcohol varies based on how much a person drinks. Regardless, The initial detoxification process may take several days.
What does drinking alcohol do to your body?
- If you start to experience significant withdrawal symptoms when you stop drinking, a taper can provide a much safer method to detox from alcohol.
- If you taper off alcohol slowly or with medical supervision, the brain has time to adapt without causing severe side effects.
- It can also be a good idea for people who don’t want to, or can’t, attend any type of full detoxification program.
- Alcohol can stay in your system for several hours depending on how much you drink.
- 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.
Alcohol withdrawal often involves restlessness, anxiety, and insomnia, among other symptoms. Someone who drinks heavily for many weeks or months is likely to develop a dependence on alcohol. Alcohol is likely the most widely used recreational substance in the world.
- Deciding to quit drinking and following through isn’t just about willpower.
- If you have a severe alcohol addiction, it might be best to seek professional addiction treatment.
- Tapering off alcohol, rather than stopping all at once, is the most effective way to avoid serious withdrawal symptoms and other problems such as dehydration.
- In turn, you can suffer from increasingly severe withdrawal symptoms every time you try to stop drinking.
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The consequences of quitting alcohol cold turkey can be serious and lead to alcohol withdrawal syndrome, which can be fatal in severe cases. Along with withdrawal symptoms, it may be even more difficult to cut back or taper your alcohol use if you struggle with an alcohol use disorder (AUD). AUD makes it difficult to control alcohol use — it may seem like the alcohol is controlling you. A taper may not be right for you if you frequently drink more than you intended, try to cut back but cannot or feel that your alcohol use is affecting your life. People with AUD may be unable to quit drinking alcohol on their own or have attempted to quit before and relapsed. Long-term alcohol use can lead to alcohol use disorder (AUD) and physical dependence.
Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal tend to peak 24 to 72 hours after your last drink. It affects about 50% of people with alcohol use disorder who stop or significantly decrease their alcohol intake. AUD is the most common substance use disorder in the U.S., affecting 28.8 million adults. Before you begin an alcohol taper, a little preparation can go a long way, especially when it involves handling your triggers and tracking how much you drink. Remember your motivation for cutting back and set realistic goals. If you find it difficult to cut down on your number of drinks per day, try making your drinks weaker by using less alcohol per drink.
- Here you can find useful links and phone numbers to get the support you need.
- Whatever your reason to quit drinking, know that you’re doing yourself a favor.
- For example, those who drink more heavily may need more time to taper than those who drink less alcohol.