This excessive glutamate level can lead to alcohol withdrawal symptoms, which can be dangerous. If you want to cut back your alcohol consumption or stop drinking alcohol altogether, tapering may help. Tapering is the process of gradually weaning off alcohol rather than quitting cold turkey. The long and the short of how to taper off alcohol it is–tapering off alcohol with medical support can help you quit drinking.
Medical Disclaimer
Whether you’re thinking about tapering off or going cold turkey, it’s crucial to understand the implications of both approaches and which strategy is likely the safest and most effective. The Recovery Village Indianapolis offers comprehensive addiction treatment for drug and alcohol addictions and co-occurring mental health conditions. If you choose to taper off alcohol, it is crucial to create a plan with medical guidance. Remember, it’s not just about drinking less; it’s also about taking care of your overall health. This is because medical professionals don’t recommend tapering. But if you do plan on using this method, it is wise to establish a specific, measurable tapering schedule with a doctor and stick to it.
- If you go through alcohol withdrawal multiple times, a kindling effect can occur.
- AUD makes it difficult to control alcohol use — it may seem like the alcohol is controlling you.
- Studies show that those who receive some type of formal treatment after detox are more likely to maintain sobriety8.
- These can indicate a life threatening condition called delirium tremens.
For Treatment Providers
- If you choose to taper off alcohol, it is crucial to create a plan with medical guidance.
- If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol addiction, contact us to learn more and get started with alcohol addiction treatment.
- If you’re not sure if cold turkey or tapering is right for you, you can join the Monument Community to hear from others who have confronted similar questions.
- Your insurance plan may cover some or all of the cost of rehab.
- These complications can develop within a few hours or days and appear in the form of seizures, delirium tremens (DTs), and hallucinations, sometimes even leading to death.
“Management of moderate and severe alcohol withdrawal syndromes.” September 15, 2023. Your insurance plan may cover some or all of the cost of treatment for https://ecosoberhouse.com/ drug or alcohol addiction. Our online health insurance verification system will estimate your in-network and out-of-network deductibles, coinsurance percentages and out-of-pocket maximums.
Challenges of Tapering Off Alcohol
These can indicate a life threatening condition called delirium tremens. It’s important to seek urgent medical care if you experience any of these symptoms. Learn more about alcohol withdrawal here and, once again, speak to a doctor first. For some drinkers, cutting down on the amount of alcohol they drink simply does not work. They may cut back for a short period of time, but soon find themselves back to drinking at their usual level.
Decreased Risk of AUD
We support both moderation and abstinence as goals and, although we cannot provide medical detox remotely, we can help you design an effective tapering schedule to reduce your drinking. If you’ve decided to quit drinking, and tapering seems like the right approach, we’ve got you covered. Here’s how to wean off alcohol—including useful strategies, how to create a tapering schedule, and how to stay safe throughout the process. However, help and support aren’t just something for when you finish detoxing; it is also important while initially stopping alcohol. The Recovery Village at Baptist Health can help you start your recovery with alcohol addiction treatment — safely, comfortably and with your future in mind. Reach out to one of our Recovery Advocates and begin the healing process.
Generally speaking, alcohol home detox is neither the most effective nor the safest method of quitting alcohol. However, it may be suitable for someone with a lower risk of experiencing alcohol withdrawal, or a person who has access to medical professionals at home. If you’re struggling with severe alcohol addiction, a medical detox program is your likely best option for tapering off alcohol safely. But if you still have control over your drinking and want to drink less, you may be able to self-taper. Depending on how much alcohol you drink to start with, the amount of time an alcohol weaning schedule takes may vary.
Calculate a Healthy Tapering Plan
The goal of tapering down is to make a gradual change while causing less stress on your body, both physically and emotionally. Withdrawal symptoms can vary in severity and depend on many factors, such as drinking history, metabolism, age, medical condition, what other substances or medication you take, and more. Because everyone’s body reacts differently, there’s not a lot of research that proves tapering can decrease the effects of alcohol withdrawal. It depends on your individual metabolism and withdrawal symptoms. The purpose of alcohol tapering is typically to avoid some of the more dangerous what is alcoholism symptoms of detox.