The problem is that this can drag your taper out for several weeks or even months, depending on how slowly you’ve tapered and how much you’ve been drinking to start. I don’t think I could go through more than a couple weeks of tapering, but you do you. Before you start your detox, ensure you have enough alcohol on hand to last you a few days. Always keep some extra alcohol available in the event you experience severe withdrawal symptoms. The last thing you want is to run out of booze at three in the morning thinking you’re about to have a seizure.
If you suddenly quit drinking, your body can struggle to catch up. Because alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, quitting drinking can cause your body to have too much of an excitatory substance called glutamate as it tries to rebalance. This can trigger alcohol withdrawal symptoms, which can be dangerous in some cases. 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.
Maintaining a Healthier Lifestyle
After prolonged alcohol use, your body can come to rely on alcohol for normal functioning, and suddenly going without it can cause potentially dangerous withdrawal symptoms. This phenomenon is often described as “alcohol dependence.” The most common more mild withdrawal symptoms include headaches, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. Some people may also find it easier to just taper off their alcohol use rather than jumping immediately into an abstinence day even if they do not have significant withdrawal symptoms. Before you begin an alcohol taper, a little preparation can go a long way, especially when it involves handling your triggers and tracking how much you drink.
As a result, Thiry says, many report improved relationships with family members, less risk-taking behavior, better energy and health, and the ability to work out. The effects of alcohol can vary depending on weight, gender, age and other factors. “Just get a sparkling water, put a lime in it, and have fun,” he says. Keep drinking at this reduced level for four days, then try to cut down by another 10%.
How to Safely Taper Off Alcohol
Although I didn’t experience any seizures, I certainly wouldn’t recommend it. Typically, alcohol withdrawal symptoms happen for heavier drinkers. Alcohol withdrawal can begin within hours of ending a drinking session. Alcohol withdrawal occurs when neurotransmitters that combat the effects of alcohol on the nervous system suddenly have nothing to counteract them. Essentially, when an individual drinks, the brain amplifies certain activities to counterbalance the depressive effect alcohol has on it. When that numbing sensation disappears entirely, the brain is left dangerously overstimulated.
- The actual percentage could be significantly higher for tapering with alcohol.
- Eating nutritious food, exercising, and getting enough sleep can help reduce some withdrawal symptoms, such as mood swings.
- The alcohol content itself is important, and it depends on the percentage of alcohol, the proof of the alcohol and the actual amount of alcohol in the drink.
- They might not mean you need to call 911, but you may need to slow your taper if they’re bothering you too much.
I’ve heard of some people doing 10% a week and having success that way. I once went from averaging 25 a day to 10 the first day and five the second day. The first night I barely slept because of auditory hallucinations and the second night I had tunnel vision and felt like a stroke victim. I took a few shots and luckily nothing bad happened, but something easily could have happened. Remember to stay hydrated and drink lots of water or juice.
7 supervision
A person who drinks more alcohol will probably have a longer taper than a person who drinks less alcohol. SELF does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Framing sobriety as a temporary challenge versus a permanent lifestyle change can make it easier to stay sober for the long haul. An alcohol taper should only be undertaken under the supervision of a medical professional.
Just don’t convince yourself that you can be a normal drinker after stressfully forcing yourself to do this a few times. You can also take break days, where you drink the same amount as the previous day to sort of level yourself off. For example, if you notice your tremors are getting pretty bad three days in, drink the same amount you drank on the third day for the following day. Try not to do this for too many days, though, or you may get stuck at that point. Pick a drink that goes down easy and has a high concentration of water so you don’t get too dehydrated. I would go with hard seltzers because they have a decent amount of water in them and I don’t really enjoy drinking them, so I drink them more slowly.
If you have a severe level of addiction or dependency, you may need a detox program. Talk to a medical professional to find the best detox how to taper off alcohol option for you. Many who try the 31-day challenge find it becomes easier with time to adopt a low- or no-alcohol lifestyle as a result.
When you quit drinking cold turkey, your body suffers from a cascade of changes caused by the sudden shift. Since alcohol depresses central nervous system activity, quitting drinking can cause an imbalance of an excitatory neurotransmitter called glutamate. This excess glutamate triggers alcohol withdrawal symptoms, which can sometimes be dangerous. For a safe recovery from heavy drinking, have a plan in place. Quitting abruptly can be dangerous without medical supervision due to potential withdrawal symptoms. Gradually decreasing alcohol intake through supervised tapering can make quitting safer and ease withdrawal severity.
When you drink heavily over a long period, your brain and body adapt to expect this. The experience of withdrawing from alcohol can be uncomfortable and difficult. Some people may relapse, or drink alcohol again, to relieve the symptoms. Avoid people who may encourage you to drink alcohol or may not support your decision to stop. It may be easier on your rehabilitation to skip visits with “drinking buddies” or avoid gatherings with a focus on drinking. Dietary guidelines recommend that if you drink, men limit daily drinking to two drinks or less per day and women limit their drinking to one drink or less per day.
