You can use an app like AlcoTrack (Android) or DrinkControl (Apple) to keep a log of your daily drinking and see your progression. You can enter in the type of drinks you consume and when you drink them to determine the total amount of alcohol you consume each day. This will help you figure out a baseline to start your taper. My first recommendation is to seek professional help at an inpatient rehab facility, a dedicated detox center, or, in severe cases, the emergency room. And after cutting down slowly, you’ll find it much easier to stop drinking when you’re ready. Overstimulation in your nervous system can affect important unconscious functions like your heart rate, blood pressure, and electrical impulses.
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. A medical professional can help you determine if a fast or slow taper, or quitting altogether, is appropriate based on a thorough medical assessment and evaluation of your withdrawal risk. When someone stops drinking, they must decide whether to quit “cold turkey” or taper their alcohol use. Quitting cold turkey involves suddenly stopping all alcohol use, while tapering involves slowly decreasing the amount of alcohol a person drinks daily.
Begin your journey to recovery.
Give your loved ones as much information as you can about your self-tapering strategy. Let them know your plan, your progress, and how withdrawals are going for you. Another clue that can be an indication of an unhealthy relationship with alcohol is if you make “rules” around drinking.
- Your doctor can determine if tapering alcohol is safe for your unique situation and help you create a plan to quit drinking alcohol.
- This is why you should taper off alcohol, or use a prescribed medication like benzodiazepines, during detox3.
- If you’re sweating, place a cold towel on your forehead or on the back of your neck.
- Alcohol rehab helps you taper off alcohol, and it treats other side effects and causes of alcoholism.
Do not stop drinking entirely if you have previously experienced seizures (fits) or hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there) when you stop drinking. When you’re drinking less than 10 units a day, you can try to stop drinking altogether. Without changing your drinking habits, try keeping a drinking diary for one week.
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Then continue to taper down by reducing the amounts by two beers per day until you are down to zero. Quitting any addictive substance can be extremely difficult, but quitting alcohol is often especially so. Many people fail to successfully quit drinking at least once before managing to attain sobriety. Another significant factor in how long a taper lasts is alcohol withdrawal symptoms. After all, the point of a taper is to minimize alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
Every person has unique needs, and tapering off may not be an adequate solution to reduce or stop drinking. Talk to a medical professional if you have any concerns about tapering off alcohol. They can provide recommendations to help you avoid harmful side effects. Weaning off alcohol gives your body chemistry a chance to adjust, reducing the shock to your system.
Don’t Quit Weed or Cigs (yet)
Don’t just give up and drink a fifth because you had your 6 drinks before noon when you meant to have 6 drinks over the whole day. If you must get drunk during your taper, do yourself a favor and just get buzzed, not completely trashed. Keep drinking how to taper off alcohol at this reduced level for four days, then try to cut down by another 10%. Normally, we would recommend getting professional support before you try to cut down your drinking. Proper nutrition and hydration are essential components of medical detox.
- There are also a number of anti-craving medications to help you avoid drinking again, or even help with your tapering process.
- It’s a good idea to talk with a medical professional before you begin a taper.
- Although you can use methods to taper off alcohol at home, the best way to taper is to talk to a doctor.
I’m not saying smoking weed all day is a healthy coping skill. But from a harm reduction standpoint, it’s much less likely to get you into trouble than alcohol, pills, or harder drugs. If you’re cross-addicted to harder drugs like stimulants or opiates, you need to stop using those. Experience has shown me most people who continue using other hard substances simply get high and then continue drinking. Don’t quit other lighter substances while you’re detoxing from alcohol.
Direct Taper
While this process isn’t enjoyable, there are so many benefits in the new sober life that you’re creating for yourself. You’ll look and feel healthier, have more energy, and save money. Attempting to stop drinking “cold turkey” is not only dangerous, but could also cause serious implications or be fatal. About 10 percent of people experience more severe symptoms, such as fever, fast breathing, and heavy sweating. Here are some tips and strategies for how to taper off alcohol safely.
