How To Taper Off Alcohol Risks of Quitting Alcohol Cold Turkey

Tapering alcohol may be uncomfortable, and there may be subconscious triggers that stimulate the desire to drink alcohol. Stress is a common trigger that makes it hard to modify your alcohol intake. Finding a different, more healthy way to unload stress may go a long way in helping someone succeed in cutting back on their alcohol use.

An effective tapering schedule may include cutting out one drink at a time at regular intervals. It might help to set goals and reward yourself when you reach them. As the Medical Director, Mark works with the staff to coordinate the appropriate level of care for each individual client. What he has found to be most rewarding about working in the addictions treatment field is being able to help suffering addicts and alcoholics to realize their fullest potential. He earned a Bachelor’s degree at Lincoln University of Pennsylvania while pursuing his CAC-AD.

What is Quitting Cold Turkey?

When the alcohol is completely taken away then this adrenaline and its cousins are left to run rampant in the brain. This leads to raised blood pressure, raised pulse rate, rapid breathing, fever, hallucinations, seizures and D.T.s. However, it’s important to note that people with moderate to severe alcohol addictions may struggle with sticking to a taper schedule and end up relapsing to heavier alcohol use. The purpose of tapering off alcohol is to avoid major withdrawal symptoms so you can achieve sobriety safely. The time it takes to taper will depend on how long you’ve been drinking, how much you’ve been drinking and a variety of personal factors. You may be able to detox at home and still attend outpatient therapy or support group meetings.

• The best recommendation when struggling with alcohol misuse is to seek medical and mental health professional consultation as soon as possible.
• Making a plan for tapering alcohol is a crucial part of the process to ensure a healthy outcome.
• The best and safest first step is to consult with a medical professional to determine the best treatment plan for you.
• While you may crave a few drinks here and there, it’s important to remember that you are working towards complete sobriety.
• Serious symptoms caused by delirium tremens include hallucination and seizure.

If you only drink two to three drinks per week, you can easily quit cold turkey without experiencing major withdrawal symptoms. However, tapering off may be the way to go if you drink heavily or have more than six drinks per week. Serenity Lane offers rehabilitation for alcoholism, or alcohol use disorder. Our hope is to create the safest, most comfortable environment for you to begin your treatment journey. Another strategy for a successful taper is to drink just enough to keep withdrawal symptoms at bay. If you find it is difficult to prevent yourself from drinking too much and getting drunk, locking your alcohol up in a cabinet and giving your friend or family member the key can help.

Related Articles About Alcohol Abuse

This is what causes many of the positive and negative effects of drinking, and it causes the effects of prescription depressants. Alcohol tapering is definitely possible, but the question of whether or not it works is not quite as straightforward.

Early symptoms include headache, sweating, tremors, vomiting and difficulty concentrating. The transition back to life outside of rehab is fraught with the potential for relapse. Aftercare resources such as 12-step groups, sober living homes and support for family and friends promote a life rich with rewarding relationships and meaning. One of the best ways to stop drinking and get on the road to recovery is to taper off your alcohol how to taper off alcohol consumption. It is worth noting that the effectiveness will differ from person to person, so this is why it will be important to get professional treatment advice. To learn about how our substance abuse treatment programs address alcohol dependence and withdrawal management, please contact us today. In most cases, the longer you take to wean off the effects of alcohol, the less severe your withdrawal symptoms should be.

Practice Mindful Drinking

If you’re unable to reduce how much you drink, you may have a disease called alcoholism that requires professional addiction treatment. Alcohol rehab helps you taper off alcohol, and it treats other side effects and causes of alcoholism. Even though tapering off your alcohol consumption is one of the best ways to stop drinking, it’s important to note that this will need to be done with professional help. This can ensure that you are more likely to succeed with getting on the road to recovery, and that you are less likely to relapse. This condition most often occurs when someone who has long-term alcohol dependence stops drinking cold turkey.

Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. In animal studies, CBD has been shown to be an effective tool against some of the characteristics of alcohol use disorder. Research demonstrates that CBD helps to reduce alcohol intake, motivation for alcohol and relapse. 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.