Bespoke addiction and dual diagnosis recovery with personalized treatment programs, holistic therapies, and upscale amenities with sweeping mountain views. Alcohol also inhibits the glutamate receptor–which is the cause of staggering, slurring, and general interference with muscular coordination. Glutamate receptor rebound also appears to contribute to the withdrawal symptoms described above.

Slowly tapering your alcohol use can help you manage mild withdrawal symptoms and decrease the risk of AUD. However, you may experience withdrawal symptoms or relapse if you’re not tapering correctly and safely. People who try tapering off alcohol won’t have the guided support of medical professionals that they would at inpatient treatment. This can make it more challenging to stick to a long-term plan. In contrast, in-patient care can be more beneficial and less expensive in the long-term. Although you can use methods to taper off alcohol at home, the best way to taper is to talk to a doctor.

What Is Alcohol Tapering?

Going from 750ml liquor per day to lite beer is a big cut down and not a taper. For one thing, it creates tangible goals for the person tapering to reach, helping to build their confidence in themselves and the belief that they can eventually stop drinking completely. The typical warning signs that someone is going to experience Delirium tremens include tremors, an extremely elevated heart rate, and a drastic increase in body temperature.

• If you repeatedly cannot cut back on your drinking or otherwise cannot get lower than a certain point in the taper, this might not be the right method for you.
• You could probably also make this work by just mixing your liquor drinks weaker and weaker.
• Diseases like pneumonia and tuberculosis are more frequent in individuals who chronically drink.
• Alcohol tapering is definitely possible, but the question of whether or not it works is not quite as straightforward.
• Generally speaking, alcohol home detox is neither the most effective nor the safest method of quitting alcohol.

If you are experiencing withdrawal symptoms like tremors, anxiety, irritability, or sweating when you stop drinking, it’s a good indication that you should consider tapering off alcohol. If you think you’re tapering too quickly, it’s okay to slow down. Just because you had 8 drinks instead of 6 one day doesn’t mean you’ve failed, especially if you still drank the same or less than the previous day. Maybe you just need to set more realistic goals for yourself and slow your taper. I’ve also heard of people successfully stopping by reducing their moderate drinking (8-10 a day) to 5-6 a day for a couple days, and then quitting entirely. Although I didn’t experience any seizures, I certainly wouldn’t recommend it.

Can You Taper Off Alcohol Safely At Home?

They may have trouble relating to you and you could feel out-of-place talking to them about your problems. A printable worksheet with tapering information and a blank schedule you can work out. If you have a history of seizures, or have had seizures while detoxing in the past, do not, under any circumstances, attempt a self taper.

Reduce Your Number of Drinks Per Day

So I mixed a small drink and was able to sleep for somewhat 2 hours. Information and support for those affected by alcoholism/Alcohol Use Disorder. If you are concerned about alcohol’s effect on your life or a loved one’s life, please feel welcome.

I’m specifically talking about things like weed, cigarettes, and vaping. This might be a pretty safe way to taper, as long as you’re not decreasing by over 20-30% per step. I’ve heard of some people doing 10% a week and having success that way. Pick a drink that goes down easy and has a high concentration of water so you don’t get too dehydrated. I would go with hard seltzers because they have a decent amount of water in them and I don’t really enjoy drinking them, so I drink them more slowly.

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These schedules are largely based on my experience of self tapering, what I’ve read on r/dryalcoholics and HAMS Harm Reduction Guide to Tapering. Withdrawal symptoms can be uncomfortable and even dangerous. People attempting to quit may turn to drinking again to prevent withdrawal symptoms.

Taper off alcohol with alcohol?

You can try out any of the things in my guide on Alternatives To Inpatient Drug Rehab. Some individuals find church and reconnecting with God to be helpful. You could post about your experiences anonymously online in r/dryalcoholics, they’re a fairly open and supportive group of people. When I was down and super depressed, talking about my experiences on there helped get me through and made me feel less alone. If you’re cross-addicted to harder drugs like stimulants or sober house opiates, you need to stop using those.

If you must get drunk during your taper, do yourself a favor and just get buzzed, not completely trashed. You may need to do a slower taper than someone else who was drinking the same amount as you. Remember, you can always slow your taper, drink more alcohol, or seek medical https://www.inkl.com/news/sober-house-rules-a-comprehensive-overview help if needed. The idea is to religiously take this like medicine for the next week or two.

• Support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous can help reinforce your goals and boost your spirits.
• Slowly decreasing the amount you drink over time can spare your body from withdrawal symptoms.
• Each person’s alcohol metabolism is different, and even though a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .085 is considered legal intoxication, a BAC lower than .08 may adversely affect some people.
• Tapering off alcohol is a step in the right direction, but there’s more to the story.
• Remember to stay hydrated and drink lots of water or juice.

I know because I’ve done it and I’ve met others who have done it. For many other drugs, tapering is actually a standard treatment during medical detox. For people who depend on opioids, benzodiazepines, or antidepressants, it is typical to slowly reduce someone’s dosage as opposed to immediately cutting them off completely. Weaning off alcohol in a safe way can help reduce the severity of some withdrawal symptoms. Orlando Recovery Center says that when you taper your alcohol intake over time, you reduce the likelihood of withdrawal symptoms7.

They can monitor your intake and adjust it accordingly to reduce the risk of withdrawal symptoms. 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. Depending on the amount and length of time someone drinks, they may experience symptoms when tapering. Symptoms of tapering are similar to mild or moderate withdrawal symptoms, which include the following. This should, of course, still be done under the care and supervision of a medical professional at a treatment center specializing in medical detoxification.

You Have a High Risk of Addiction or Complications From Drinking

For example, if you normally drink 6 glasses of wine each night, you can try reducing that to 5 glasses of wine a night. After several days of 5 glasses of wine, you can reduce that down to 4. Eventually, after a period of time, you will have tapered down to zero drinks. If you’re interested in medication-assisted treatment, medication to curb cravings can be a helpful tool for reducing your consumption. Deciding to taper off alcohol is a slower process that requires planning, but it can decrease both the chase of experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms and relapse.

It’s important to understand what to look out for and what to expect. Some withdrawal is normal, and some symptoms can be potentially life-threatening. If you decide to taper with benzos, don’t mix them with alcohol. Mixing alcohol with benzos is very dangerous and will land you in the hospital really fast.