Tapering Off Alcohol How To Wean Off Safely

Factors such as pattern of alcohol use, other medical conditions, genetics and how your body responds to alcohol can play a role in withdrawal symptoms. The amount of time it takes to taper off of alcohol can vary greatly how to taper off alcohol from person to person. Some people can taper quickly and quit alcohol completely, while others may take longer. But deciding to cut back on drinking is much more important than the length of your alcohol taper.

• The support of medical professionals and psychologists can help you in this process.
• In this schedule, the biggest drop occurs during the first couple days.
• For over 20 years Dr. Umhau was a senior clinical investigator at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
• Medical detox programs for alcohol dependency commonly offer medications to ease the discomfort or pain of withdrawal.
• The success of these strategies will depend on how much you drink and what you drink.

If you begin to experience serious withdrawal symptoms, drink enough to make the symptoms subside. 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.

Drug and Alcohol Addiction

Once they appear, acute symptoms may continue for around a week. 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.

It may be best for you to enter a medical detox program for support while you go through withdrawal. Fortunately, deaths resulting from alcohol withdrawal are a rare occurrence. If you are tapering off of alcohol, the time it takes depends entirely on how long the taper is and how well you adhere to it. One of the reasons that medical professionals tend to avoid tapers is that they can be difficult to follow and may be more likely to be unsuccessful than faster options.

What Happens to Your Body When You Stop Drinking Alcohol?

They may cut back for a short period of time, but they 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. Generally speaking, alcohol home detox is neither the most effective nor the safest method of quitting alcohol. However, it is inexpensive and may be suitable for someone whose job, relationships, and well-being are not in jeopardy.