Planning ahead for these obstacles greatly increases your likelihood of success. Prescription-based substitution must be done under a doctor’s care, particularly if a medication is being used to replace alcohol. This ensures you’re taking the correct dosage and receiving proper supervision. The HAMS Taper is a harm reduction strategy designed for individuals who want to reduce or quit alcohol consumption in a controlled and safe manner. Because tapering is not the recommended way to stop using alcohol, there is no recommended tapering schedule.
A healthcare provider can give you a better idea of the timeline for your specific situation. The tapering approach may minimize withdrawal symptoms’ severity and reduce the risk of life-threatening complications. However, if you experience severe withdrawal symptoms, seek medical attention. Treatment may involve medications to control symptoms and supportive care such as fluids and electrolytes to prevent complications. In some cases, hospitalization may be necessary to ensure safety and well-being.
Tapering off alcohol at home versus under medical supervision can also lengthen the process, for the sake of safety. Unlike a home environment, medical detox services have the professional support and resources necessary to treat severe withdrawal symptoms. This medical supervision allows for some patients to quit drinking cold-turkey without compromising safety. Gradual reduction strategies include slowly decreasing the amount of alcohol consumed over time and extending the time between drinks.
Either option can help you limit severe withdrawal effects, but which method is right for you can depend on personal factors like your typical drinking habits and health needs. Tapering involves gradually and progressively reducing your alcohol consumption over time. This method can lessen withdrawal symptoms, allowing your body to adjust to decreased alcohol levels slowly. It does, however, result in any withdrawal symptoms that do occur being prolonged over the entire period of the taper. Still, it has a decreased level of success when compared to the alternative and requires discipline that can be difficult for those with an addiction. If you’re struggling with severe alcohol addiction, a medical detox program is your likely best option for tapering off alcohol safely.
The kindling effect is an aspect of alcohol withdrawal that makes repeated attempts at withdrawal less safe. If you go through alcohol withdrawal multiple times, a kindling effect can occur. With kindling, the brain becomes increasingly sensitized to stopping alcohol. In turn, you can suffer from increasingly severe withdrawal symptoms every time you try to stop drinking. 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.
Rather than quitting drinking abruptly (or “cold turkey”), many professionals recommend gradually reducing your drinking (or tapering) over time. This can give your body the chance to adjust, helping you avoid the worst of withdrawal symptoms. Because alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be life-threatening in some cases, safety is crucial when you work towards sobriety.
Why Tapering Off Alcohol Matters
So while we don’t have studies on this, it stands to reason that having healthy relationships generally puts you in a better position to transition off medication, Dr. DeYoung says. For every past depressive episode, the likelihood of having another one goes up. So in general, the more severe or debilitating past bouts of depression have been, the riskier it is to go off medication, Dr. Siegel explains. If you have a longer and/or more severe history of depression, the goal is typically to wait for a longer period of remission before considering tapering. The main calculation they’re trying to make is the likelihood that you’ll continue to do well in the absence of medication, Dr. Siegel says. If you’re one of the millions of Americans taking antidepressants, then you know how helpful—even lifesaving—these medications can be.
Personalized Treatment Plans for Alcohol Withdrawal
A substitution taper involves replacing alcoholic beverages with less potent alternatives. A substitution taper can also involve switching alcoholic beverages with non-alcoholic beverages. Diluting alcohol with other beverages is another option people may use. This is because it allows for a more controlled reduction in alcohol. However, it increases the risk of not completing the taper or relapsing afterward.
- Weaning off alcohol gives your body chemistry a chance to adjust, reducing the shock to your system.
- Tapering also provides an opportunity to develop healthier coping mechanisms and prepares you mentally for a more sustainable recovery.
- It also enables you to return to some of your outside responsibilities with family and work.
- We can make you more comfortable with around-the-clock care as you go through alcohol withdrawal in a supervised setting.
Mild to moderate symptoms may include anxiety, shaky hands, sweating, nausea, and insomnia. More severe symptoms can include hallucinations, seizures, and delirium tremens, characterized by confusion, rapid heartbeat, and fever. In 2019 the Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health Services Administration reported that 14.5 millions of americans suffered from Alcohol Use Disorder. Treatment is the best way to ensure long-term abstinence from alcohol.
Or, you may find that quitting all at once is too drastic and decide how to safely taper off alcohol to start by practicing harm reduction. Some alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be so severe that they can lead to death. Contact a medical professional immediately if you notice any withdrawal symptoms. Sunshine Behavioral Health strives to help people who are facing substance abuse, addiction, mental health disorders, or a combination of these conditions. It does this by providing compassionate care and evidence-based content that addresses health, treatment, and recovery. The direct taper is the first and most obvious method to stop drinking heavily.
Understanding How Addiction Affects Relationships with Friends
This can involve switching to a different alcoholic beverage or replacing alcohol with a prescription drug, but the latter should only be done under the guidance of a medical professional. Gradually reducing alcohol intake can lead to various physical health benefits. These can include improved liver function, better sleep quality, enhanced cognitive function, and a lower risk of developing alcohol-related diseases.
Tapering vs Cold Turkey
Getting curious about a life without alcohol is already an incredible step, and a healthier lifestyle is within reach. A popular way to taper off alcohol is to gradually reduce the number of drinks you consume over a period of time. For example, if you normally drink 6 glasses of wine each night, you can try reducing that to 5 glasses of wine a night. After several days of 5 glasses of wine, you can reduce that down to 4.
- As a Certified Professional Recovery Coach, I often speak with people who want to wean off alcohol.
- Alternatively, it can be as simple as switching from liquor to a less potent drink, such as beer.
- The material is not a substitute for qualified medical diagnoses, treatment, or advice.
- Here’s how to wean off alcohol—including useful strategies, how to create a tapering schedule, and how to stay safe throughout the process.
Deciding to taper off alcohol is a slower process that requires planning, but it can decrease both the chase of experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms and relapse. Tapering is meant to reduce the withdrawal symptoms from quitting alcohol, but this isn’t a guarantee. As mentioned above, many people will still experience some level of withdrawal, just to a lesser degree.
Catalina Behavioral Health offers help for anyone who is thinking about quitting alcohol for good. We can make you more comfortable with around-the-clock care as you go through alcohol withdrawal in a supervised setting. Having a structured plan is crucial when learning how to wean off alcohol safely. Determine how much alcohol you currently consume and create a timeline for reducing your intake. A good rule of thumb is to cut back by 10% to 20% each day or every few days, depending on your doctor’s recommendations.
Despite its benefits, there are some important drawbacks when considering tapering off alcohol. That is why healthcare professionals discourage people from attempting tapers. Instead, doctors and nurses encourage them to quit cold turkey with their help.
Another advantage is that lighter drinks can help you stay better hydrated as you taper. Using a direct taper means sticking with the same type of alcoholic beverage but drinking smaller amounts as time goes on. For most people, a direct taper only makes sense if the primary drink is low in alcohol — for example, a light beer. “Management of moderate and severe alcohol withdrawal syndromes.” September 15, 2023. Recovery.com combines independent research with expert guidance on addiction and mental health treatment. Our mission is to help everyone find the best path to recovery through the most comprehensive, helpful network of treatment providers worldwide.
Reducing alcohol intake may increase positive interactions, communication, and emotional stability. Whether your doctor thinks you’re ready or not, the conversation will be clarifying. You’ll get the expert recommendations and information you need to help you make the right decision, Dr. DeYoung says. And you’ll leave your appointment with a solid plan (or at least a next step) to start tapering—or the confidence that you’re staying on your meds for really good reasons right now. You might be wondering if your doctor should be the one to bring up tapering first. The fact is, some physicians will regularly reevaluate whether a patient should continue their meds or not while others will take a more conservative approach, Dr. DeYoung says.