You’ll also want to measure spirits intake to see how many average drinks you take. Expert strategies to address substance use and spring break concerns with your college kid. Eating well and ensuring you are staying hydrated can stop dehydration and some of the nutrient deficiencies that come from prolonged alcohol use and withdrawal. “Using a medication such as naltrexone increases the overall chances that people can cut down or quit,” Lee said. Below are some of the most commonly asked questions about our services.

Treatment Programs

If you choose to drink water make sure that you get enough salt for electrolyte balance so that you avoid water intoxication. Our mission is to help as many people as possible overcome their addiction or mental health struggles. We do this by offering evidence-based and individualized treatment programs to each person who enrolls in our facility. If you’re going with a substitution taper, you may substitute one drink each day for another each day. As you replace all of your heavy drinks with less potent options, you’ll slowly start to cut them out the same way you did with a direct taper. By this time, you may be committed to the idea of tapering because of the potential side effects if you suddenly quit drinking.

The Role of Stress Management in Sustaining Sobriety

This can taper you off alcohol while still helping you keep up with your normal drinking routine, making the process easier. Get professional treatment and Halfway house long-term support to prevent relapse. Set up therapy, counseling and support groups, a plan for sober living, and follow-up medical evaluations. A doctor can supervise your tapering progress, helping you manage your cravings and prevent relapse. Overall, getting professional help can improve your chances for long-term sobriety. There are two ways to taper off alcohol⁠—a direct or substitution taper.

Why Alcohol Withdrawal Occurs

However, alcohol withdrawal syndrome is dangerous and requires supervision from medical professionals. It’s physically dangerous, and it may also cause emotional instability. Discussing these issues with a loved one can help you avoid relapse.

• Of course, there are times when you may require an alcohol detox to manage withdrawal symptoms in a more intense way.
• In conclusion, safely tapering off alcohol is a process that requires careful planning, professional guidance, and strong support.
• If it’s too hard to control how much you drink each day, weaning might not be the right strategy.
• It’s vital in this process to have professional help, so you can stay safe and as comfortable as possible.
• If you want to know the important takeaways, alcohol detoxification starts by reducing alcohol intake through the substitution of less potent options.

Alcohol tapering is definitely possible, but the question of whether or not it works is not quite as straightforward. Detoxing from alcohol at home or self-detox isn’t universally recommended because the withdrawal process can be dangerous, especially for people with alcohol use disorder (AUD). Oftentimes, you’ll need medical support and supervision for a successful recovery. This prescription medication may not be a long-term solution for your substance use, but it can be very valuable to you in the early days of alcohol withdrawal. According to research, MAT reduced hospitalization for mental health issues and ER visits. Of course, there are times when you may require an alcohol detox to manage withdrawal symptoms in a more intense way.

Professional guidance is often necessary to navigate the complexities of alcohol tapering. A healthcare provider can tailor the tapering schedule to the individual’s needs, considering factors like dependence and overall health. They can also provide support and resources to manage withdrawal symptoms and address any complications that arise. The tapering down process can take place for the first several weeks or even months of the alcohol recovery timeline. There are many factors that can affect how long weaning off alcohol will take. Other people use medication-assisted treatment, which can help reduce alcohol cravings as you cut back.

If you have 20 or more drinks per day, they suggest one drink per hour the first day, every hour and a half the next, then reducing by 2 drinks per day after that. If you’ve decided to taper off alcohol, you’ll need to be prepared with some strategies to make the process easier. You’ll likely face the urge to drink more than you’ve planned each day, but there are some good tricks to help you delay that next serving and keep yourself honest.

Tapering off Alcohol: What You Need To Know

• Tapering is the practice of slowly reducing the regular consumption of a substance like alcohol.
• Essentially, tapering provides less intense withdrawal symptoms but over a longer amount of time.
• These are more likely if you’ve been abusing alcohol for a long time at higher volumes.
• However, if you don’t taper properly, you may experience withdrawal symptoms, especially if you have severe alcoholism.
• This leads to raised blood pressure, raised pulse rate, rapid breathing, fever, hallucinations, seizures and D.T.s.

They can assess your individual situation and help you create a personalized tapering plan. A doctor can provide advice on how to wean off alcohol safely, monitor your progress, and suggest medications or therapies to manage withdrawal symptoms. One approach to tapering off alcohol is to gradually reduce the amount consumed over time.

Your ongoing care team for mind & body.

Unfortunately, tapering does increase the duration of the detox process. But it might be better for you in the long run and increases your chances Halfway house of a successful recovery. Our enrollment team can answer any of your questions about tapering and detox, verify your insurance benefits, and walk you through the process of enrolling in our program.