An alcohol taper is a way to wean yourself off alcohol and avoid withdrawal symptoms. Although all forms of alcohol cessation should be done with medical guidance, tapering your alcohol intake may allow you to self-wean from drinking at home. People tapering off alcohol may begin experiencing early withdrawal how to taper off alcohol at home symptoms within 6 to 12 hours after their last drink. You may decide to seek medical treatment for your withdrawal symptoms or make the choice to enter a professional detox or rehab center. Even if you don’t succeed the first time, there are still plenty of treatment options you can turn to.
Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms, Timeline, and Detox
For many people, tapering alone is insufficient to help heal their addiction. It’s always best to speak with a healthcare provider when changing https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/alcohol-vs-drugs-comparison-of-addictions/ your relationship with alcohol. Every person has unique needs, and tapering off may not be an adequate solution to reduce or stop drinking.
Tapering and Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
- Your insurance plan may cover some or all of the cost of medical detox for drugs and alcohol.
- That’s why many of us wonder if a month of avoiding drinking is enough to “reset” your liver back to normal.
- If you and your healthcare professional think you have an opioid use disorder, voluntary groups such as Narcotics Anonymous are structured support groups.
- These strategies work in different ways to help you quit drinking, and one may be more appropriate for you based on your needs.
However, understanding how an alcohol taper works and what the process is like can help you prepare yourself and find the support you need. However, certain food groups also have benefits when it comes to helping with the discomfort of withdrawal symptoms and detoxification. You can also get help by reaching out to a professional rehab facility directly, like The Recovery Village.
How to safely taper off your alcohol consumption
- 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.
- Attempting to quit all at once can lead to severe symptoms that can be difficult to manage safely outside of a detox setting.
- By Buddy TBuddy T is a writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism.
- Consuming a lighter alcoholic drink like beer also makes it easier for someone to stay hydrated throughout the taper.
- Alcohol causes serious changes in the brain, and prolonged symptoms such as sleep problems, mood changes and fatigue may take months to overcome, according to the U.S.
While vomiting may make you feel awful for a day or two, prolonged exposure to excess toxins have long-term effects. When you consider how to go about giving up alcohol, account for factors like how much you drink and your reasons for drinking. Dependence is often accompanied by tolerance, which is when it takes more and more alcohol for you to achieve the same effects that you experienced when you first started.
Tapering vs Cold Turkey
