The taper schedule below is slightly less aggressive than that. In this schedule, the biggest drop occurs during the first couple days. During this time you’ll likely experience the worst portion how to taper off alcohol of withdrawal symptoms. You then get a couple days where the drop is not as much to stabilize. If you drink heavily on a regular basis, it can be dangerous to stop alcohol cold turkey.
- 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.
- If you are considering at-home detox, speak with your doctor before beginning the process.
- This excessive glutamate level can lead to alcohol withdrawal symptoms, which can be dangerous.
- Tapering off alcohol can lead you to feel emotionally and physically healthier.
You should not begin a tapering plan before talking to your doctor. Based on your medical history, your doctor can advise you about the safety of the taper. Follow your patient contract as well as your provider’s medication regimen and treatment recommendations. Alcohol withdrawal causes a variety of different symptoms including fatigue, anxiety, depression, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting.
Challenges of Quitting Alcohol
This is because drinking heavily over a long period can cause your body to become physically dependent on alcohol. With physical dependence, your body becomes used to the presence of alcohol in your system and begins to adapt accordingly. The length of the tapering process can vary based on the needs of the person. People with a greater dependency on alcohol may need to stretch out the process to gradually reduce their alcohol intake. Seizures can also occur within the first 24 to 48 hours, although these are less likely to occur in people with less severe alcohol dependency.
Generally, alcohol-free days are better towards the end of a gradual reduction, not towards the beginning. Talk to a doctor to see if it’s safe for you to taper from alcohol or drugs on your own. For many types of addiction, you need supervision from medical and addiction professionals to taper and stay clean. In some cases, quitting on your own can cause life-threatening complications. With the right help and some lifestyle changes, you can successfully taper off from a drug or alcohol addiction.
How Do You Safely Taper Off Alcohol?
These strategies work in different ways to help you quit drinking, and one or the other may be appropriate for you based on your needs. People tapering off alcohol may begin experiencing early withdrawal symptoms within 6 to 12 hours after their last drink. Over the next few days, additional symptoms may also appear. Tapering alcohol is beneficial because you can avoid alcohol withdrawal symptoms. This is because when you drink heavily for months or years, your body can start to depend on alcohol to function normally. When you are physically dependent on a substance like alcohol, your body adapts accordingly.
