Advice for You

Rather than beginning your sober life drained and dazed from a week of feeling ill, you can already be getting on your feet. Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant that affects your brain. When you quit drinking or wean off alcohol, your body will adjust to the lack of alcohol in your body. Moreover, substituting one kind of beverage for another does not help you taper off alcohol if you consume the same number of standard drinks as you usually have. For example, one 12-ounce can of beer contains the same amount of alcohol as a 5-ounce glass of wine or a mixed drink containing 1.5 ounces of alcohol.

Support Groups

They can monitor your intake and adjust it accordingly to reduce the risk of withdrawal symptoms. The time it takes to taper off alcohol varies based on how much a person drinks. Regardless, The initial detoxification process may take several days. 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.

• If you plan to taper your drinking in order to stop, make sure that you limit your intake consistently, avoid fluctuations, and adhere to a weekly reduction schedule with a set date to stop.
• Studies show support groups play an instrumental role in helping people develop healthy social networks that result in continued sobriety.
• One of the keys to a successful taper is taking gradual steps that will cause as few side effects as possible.
• Avoid taking prescription drugs that your doctor hasn’t prescribed to you.
• Tapering can be a more manageable method of cessation for those who might find abrupt discontinuation overwhelming or medically unsafe.
• Alcohol withdrawal can produce both physical and psychological symptoms.

Tapering Off Alcohol: Weaning Off Alcohol to Avoid Withdrawal Symptoms

For adults, this is five or more drinks for men and four or more for women in two hours. Binge drinking and heavy drinking can increase your risk of an alcohol use disorder. Some people choose to taper more quickly by Sober House cutting the amounts in half–for example 20, 10 5, 2, 0. But if you start having major withdrawal symptoms like bad shakes or pulse over 100 or high blood pressure you are tapering too fast and should slow it down.

Alcohol Withdrawal

This is because drinking heavily over a long period can cause your body to become physically dependent on alcohol. With physical dependence, your body becomes used to the presence of alcohol in your system and begins to adapt accordingly. Tapering is the practice of slowly reducing the regular consumption of a substance like alcohol. Tapering can sometimes help a person avoid uncomfortable and sometimes deadly symptoms of withdrawal. Another alternative, especially if you have experienced severe withdrawal in the past, is to check yourself into a professional detoxification facility.

Withdrawal usually begins 6 to 8 hours after the last drink and peaks within 72 hours. People attempting to quit may turn to drinking again to prevent withdrawal symptoms. Alcohol is the third-leading preventable cause of mortality in the United States, with approximately 95,000 people dying from alcohol-related causes each year. By gradually https://thebostondigest.com/top-5-advantages-of-staying-in-a-sober-living-house/ tapering off alcohol, you can lower your risk for alcohol-related accidents or death. There are multiple health benefits you can experience when you start drinking less alcohol. The exact benefits will depend on how much alcohol you were drinking and on factors such as your genetics, overall health, and how your body responds.

Withdrawal and Safety When Tapering Off Alcohol