Alcohol Tapering How to Taper Off Alcohol Safely

Learn more about alcohol withdrawal here and, once again, speak to a doctor first. Holding a nonalcoholic drink can keep you occupied and make it easier to delay the next serving of alcohol. Quitting alcohol can be dehydrating, and they don’t call it detox for no reason. From day one, Ria Health has offered support for the Sinclair Method—a medication-based approach to moderate drinking or abstinence with a 78 percent success rate. Excessive drinking has numerous impacts on your body and mind, ranging from mild to severe. Learn which signs to look out for, and how to care for your well-being. Dependence is often accompanied by tolerance, which is when it takes more and more alcohol for you to achieve the same effects that you experienced when you first started.

You may be able to detox at home and recover from alcoholism with the help of support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous. However, medically supervised detox and professional rehab are more likely to help you maintain long-term sobriety. Once your alcohol tapering schedule is complete, the work of maintenance begins. Continue to abstain from alcohol and monitor cravings or urges to drink. Don’t try to go through the recovery process alone — reach out for help and support.

Tapering off Alcohol

Some small studies have found that meditation techniques, such as yoga, may help treat alcoholism when used with other therapies. However, more research is needed to prove that yoga is an effective complement to treatment. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.

• It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers.
• Providers may prescribe medications such as benzodiazepines to reduce the effects of alcohol withdrawal.
• Sometimes, people think that if their symptoms are mild, they don’t need medical help.
• The good news is that recovery from addiction is possible for those who seek help.
• It can take different people varying amounts of time to taper off alcohol.

This is why many of the alcohol withdrawal symptoms seem to be related to overstimulation, like shaky hands, racing thoughts, and insomnia. The main neurotransmitter system involved in alcohol withdrawal is the GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) system. Simply put, GABA receptors cause a person to feel calm, relaxed or sleepy. This is why when people drink alcohol they will feel calm, relaxed, or sleepy. However, when the GABA receptors are exposed to alcohol over a long period of time they struggle to overcome the effect of the alcohol and to return to normal functioning. This is one reason why drinking alcohol has less and less of a payoff when consumed constantly over a long period of time.

Tapering Off Alcohol vs. Going Cold Turkey

By looking at your medical history and alcohol intake, your doctor can determine whether you need to taper in a medical detox facility or can safely detox at home. When talking about tapering or gradually reducing alcohol use, it is important to have awareness of possible withdrawal symptoms.

Vince received his bachelor’s degree in Family Science from The University of Maryland, and received his master’s degree in Social Work from The Catholic University of America. He provides individual therapy, group therapy, how to taper off alcohol and assessments for clients in recovery from substance use and any related mental health issues. Vince is passionate about the work that he does, and approaches therapy through an empathetic and motivational approach.