If you were to suddenly stop drinking alcohol, your receptors would become hyperactive because they are no longer being depressed. This is why you should taper off alcohol, or use a prescribed medication like benzodiazepines, during detox3. It’s vital to do this under the supervision of a medical professional to ensure the process is safe and smooth. Choosing to taper off alcohol is an admirable decision and a step in the right direction.
Treatment Programs
- Emotionally, you may feel some anxiety or sadness about ending a chapter of your life and nervousness about the future.
- When you call our team, you will speak to a Recovery Advocate who will answer any questions and perform a pre-assessment to determine your eligibility for treatment.
- Your doctor can determine if tapering alcohol is safe for your unique situation and help you create a plan to quit drinking alcohol.
- A direct taper means you continue to drink your regular drinks but slowly decrease the amount over time.
Did you know most insurance companies will cover the cost of drug and alcohol detox? For some drinkers, cutting down on the amount of alcohol they drink simply does not work. They may cut back for a short period of time, but soon find themselves back to drinking at their usual level. This is especially true of heavy drinkers who are surrounded by the triggers that encourage drinking and lack the support needed to encourage change. Delirium tremens (DTs) can begin 48 hours after your last drink and last up to five days.
Reduce Your Number of Drinks Per Day
The process of tapering yourself off alcohol begins with planning. From here, you can plan a schedule for gradually reducing how much you drink per day. Ideally, this schedule will be determined with the assistance of a doctor or addiction treatment professional. The most severe form of alcohol withdrawal is known as delirium tremens, which how to taper off alcohol at home develops in about 3 to 5% of people with severe alcohol addiction. 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.
Alcohol Detox at Home
This excess glutamate triggers alcohol withdrawal symptoms, which can sometimes be dangerous. Quitting abruptly can be dangerous without medical supervision due to potential withdrawal symptoms. Gradually https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/alcohol-intolerance-symptoms-and-causes/ decreasing alcohol intake through supervised tapering can make quitting safer and ease withdrawal severity. However, it is important to be aware of the risks of attempting a taper on your own.
Saved Costs and Time
- For example, some people choose to write a list of reasons why they want to stop drinking alcohol, and revisit the list to remind themselves after a relapse.
- The degree of these effects will depend on your beta blocker use, dosage, indication, and how much alcohol you drink.
- The thought of abstaining from alcohol completely can feel daunting, and in some cases, it can even be dangerous without medical supervision.
- In addition, social pressures can make it hard to quit drinking, especially if your friends or family also drink heavily.
- Alcohol also changes your brain chemistry, which can result in higher levels of anxiety and depression for the first several months.
- Medical detox programs for alcohol dependency commonly offer medications to ease the discomfort or pain of withdrawal.
- Here are some tips and strategies for how to taper off alcohol safely.
- Contact a medical professional immediately if you notice any withdrawal symptoms.
- Following medical detox, individuals are typically encouraged to enter a comprehensive addiction treatment program, which may include therapy, counseling, and other therapeutic modalities.
- Whatever schedule is chosen, it’s important to commit so you can build upon your progress and avoid withdrawal symptoms as much as possible.