Those with a wider circle of support have a better chance of staying sober. There are many support options available that can help guide you through alcohol withdrawal, as well as abstaining from alcohol after withdrawal. However, try not to have too many firm expectations, as symptoms can continue for multiple weeks in some people. During the 12- to 24-hour time frame after the last drink, most people will begin to have noticeable symptoms. These may still be mild, or the existing symptoms might increase in severity. Tapering can be a long process that takes weeks or even months to finish.
- That’s why it’s vital to have support while tapering off alcohol.
- Tapering off alcohol involves gradually reducing the amount of alcohol you drink.
- Sometimes, they may experience seizures and delirium tremens (DTs).
It can take different people varying amounts of time to taper off alcohol. How long it takes depends on factors like how much you typically drink. A person who drinks more alcohol will probably have a longer taper than a person who drinks less alcohol.
What Are The Dangers Of Stopping All At Once?
Slowly decreasing the amount you drink over time can spare your body from withdrawal symptoms. 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. Laying it all out in black and white can take time and some serious self-examination. Understanding your habits and your motivations to quit drinking can help you understand the change you’re making in your life and reinforce why it’s important. The experience of withdrawing from alcohol can be uncomfortable and difficult.
The most common research technique among those surveyed is an internet search (61%), followed by asking a doctor or medical professional (55%). If you’re relying on internet searches to find potential treatment centers, make sure to ask these ten questions to find a licensed facility that can meet your needs. If how to taper off alcohol you’ve been drinking for a long time, you may experience withdrawal symptoms when you quit drinking. Some find tapering is not a suitable option to stop drinking due to various factors such as social responsibilities or peer pressure. For many people, tapering alone is insufficient to help heal their addiction.
Pros and Cons of Tapering Off Alcohol Intake
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. Quitting with proper medical supervision may be more important than whether you stop gradually or all at once. Tapering off alcohol at home versus under medical supervision can also lengthen the process, for the sake of safety.
Essentially, tapering provides less intense withdrawal symptoms but over a longer amount of time. As a Certified Professional Recovery Coach, I often speak with people who want to wean off alcohol. The thought of abstaining from alcohol completely can feel daunting, and in some cases, it can even be dangerous without medical supervision. Below I share some key information so you can determine if weaning off alcohol is right for you.
How To Taper Off Alcohol: Key Strategies and Tips
While a taper may seem appealing to some, it is not a medically recommended method of detoxing from alcohol due to the increased risk of not completing it. Medical detox involves stopping alcohol all at once and managing withdrawal symptoms through medications and other treatments instead of reducing them with a taper. The guidelines for tapering from alcohol are generalized; you may need to modify the tapering schedule if you have difficulties with the original plan. The risk of tapering too quickly is potentially dangerous withdrawal symptoms, and the risk of tapering too slowly is a decreased probability of completing the taper. Only people who are tapering down from very large quantities of alcohol such as a liter of vodka per day will need to start drinking in the morning in order to taper. If you are tapering from smaller quantities and feel no withdrawal symptoms until afternoon or evening then you can wait until then to consume your taper beers.
As mentioned above, we strongly recommend speaking with a doctor to ensure your plan is a safe one, and won’t cause dangerous withdrawal symptoms. You don’t have to let the fear of alcohol withdrawal stop you from cutting back or quitting. You may decide to seek medical treatment for your withdrawal symptoms or decide to enter a professional detox or rehab center. It depends on your individual metabolism and withdrawal symptoms. The purpose of alcohol tapering is typically to avoid some of the more dangerous symptoms of detox. The length of time for alcohol tapering depends entirely on your baseline of use.
Tapering off Alcohol vs. Going Cold Turkey
The main downside of cold turkey is how unpleasant and risky it can be. If you drink heavily, alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be harsh, dangerous, and even fatal. For this reason, it’s generally best to avoid quitting abruptly, or at bare minimum speak with a doctor first and have someone looking out for you. For others, simply cutting back the number of drinks can bring on alcohol withdrawal symptoms. This is the most commonly accepted method of stopping alcohol by the medical community. Quitting cold turkey allows the shortest detox period and a rapid transition into the next recovery stages.
- This means there are many social groups in which alcohol consumption is not the norm.
- This can cause seizures and delirium tremens, a severe form of withdrawal marked by tremors and hallucinations.
- This includes early symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, such as mild tremors and anxiety.
- Also known as DTs, an estimated 2% of people with alcohol use disorder and less than 1% of the general population experience them.
- Remember your motivation for cutting back and set realistic goals.