Heavy drinking can lead to a reduction in the sensitivity of your brain to the amount of GABA produced. If you abruptly stop consuming alcohol, your brain may not have enough sensitivity to GABA, which can result in hyper-excitability and withdrawal symptoms. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms range in severity depending on how extensive the misuse behavior was. The alcohol withdrawal symptom delirium tremens (DT) is estimated to kill up to 5% of those attempting to quit suddenly after chronic usage. This is a staggering number considering that many other drugs do not even have the possibility of lethal withdrawals. For this reason, experts advise that alcohol cessation be monitored safely with steady effort between oneself and a physician.

How to Taper Off Alcohol Safely?

It provides a more realistic and sustainable path towards sobriety, increasing the chances of long-term success. When considering tapering off as a method, it’s important to remember that everyone’s journey is unique. Consulting with a healthcare professional or addiction specialist can provide personalized guidance and support throughout the process. Cutting back or completely stopping alcohol consumption is challenging, even if you are not at the point of addiction. The support of medical professionals and psychologists can help you in this process.

• You can do this without entering into ICU and ER settings, but it will require a lot of self-discipline to stick with it.
• Tapering can help minimize these symptoms, but you might still experience some of them while your body adjusts to the lack of alcohol.
• The thought of abstaining from alcohol completely can feel daunting, and in some cases, it can even be dangerous without medical supervision.
• However, when you taper off alcohol gradually, you allow your body the chance to adapt to lower quantities and less frequent drinks.

How to Effectively Detox Your Body for a Drug Test

Because of the risk of a lower success rate and prolonged alcohol exposure, most healthcare professionals will recommend a professional detox over tapering. Stopping all at once can make withdrawal symptoms more severe, but it also shortens the duration of withdrawal symptoms and gives you less time to change your mind and go back to using alcohol. Quitting cold turkey under medical supervision provides the best of both worlds, allowing increased control and comfort of withdrawal symptoms while also getting you through withdrawal quickly. Only people who are tapering down from very large quantities of alcohol such as a liter of vodka per day will need to start drinking in the morning in order to taper. If you are tapering from smaller quantities and feel no withdrawal symptoms until afternoon or evening then you can wait until then to consume your taper beers. how to taper off alcohol Remember that you are not drinking for pleasure–you are drinking medicine–so only drink what is needed.

• Learn more about alcohol withdrawal here and, once again, speak to a doctor first.
• Through these interactions, you can gain insights, learn from others’ journeys, and find encouragement to stay sober.
• Generally, alcohol-free days are better towards the end of a gradual reduction, not towards the beginning.
• Remember, tapering off alcohol is a highly individualized process, and what works for one person may not work for another.
• If you’re interested in medication-assisted treatment, medication to curb cravings can be a helpful tool for reducing your consumption.

Tapering off Alcohol vs. Going Cold Turkey

Researched, fact-checked and transparent articles and guides that offer addiction and mental health insight from experts and treatment professionals. Join our global mission of connecting patients with addiction and mental health treatment. Organs like the kidneys and liver are a big part of the process of eliminating alcohol from the body. Those who drink enormous amounts of alcohol each day can expect withdrawal symptoms to be worse. Developing a proactive plan for tapering alcohol is an important step.

• People looking to quit drinking may consider either tapering or going cold turkey, meaning they abruptly stop all alcohol consumption without weaning.
• A standard drink is a term used because different alcoholic beverages have different concentrations of alcohol, giving you varying amounts of alcohol depending on the fluid you drink.
• Medical professionals can provide the necessary support and supervision throughout the process, especially if severe withdrawal symptoms arise.
• This approach can help prevent or minimize the potentially severe physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms that can occur when stopping suddenly.

Dr Lee explains that choosing a non-alcoholic beer or a caffeinated beverage can help provide a small buzz. “The role of GABAA receptors in mediating the effects of alcohol in the central nervous system.” Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience, July 28, 2003. Plus, we’re always introducing new features to optimize your in-app experience. We recently launched our heroin addiction in-app chatbot, Melody, powered by the world’s most powerful AI technology. Melody is here to help as you adjust to a life with less (or no) alcohol. Alcohol proof is the amount of alcohol found in distilled spirits or liquor.

Effective Monitoring Strategies During Alcohol Tapering

For example, reducing intake by one drink per day can help ease withdrawal symptoms. Having a structured alcohol tapering plan can make the process more effective and sustainable. A beer taper is a common strategy, where a person gradually reduces beer consumption instead of quitting suddenly. Quitting alcohol cold turkey can be dangerous and should only be done under medical supervision.

Self-Care Alternative – Medically Monitored Detox

Many insurance companies will help pay for some or all of your treatment costs.