How to Wean Off Alcohol Safely and Effectively

The individual’s support system also plays a significant role in monitoring progress and encouraging adherence to the tapering plan. Adjustments should be made in consultation with a medical professional, particularly when medication-assisted treatment is indicated. Many treatment professionals recommend using standard beer (about 5% ABV) for use when tapering off alcohol. While the choice of drink is up to the individual, beer is considered the safer option, and no measuring is needed – one standard can or bottle of beer is the correct amount to use. Gain the perspective of those who have attempted tapering off alcohol.

OTHER MEDICATIONS

If your BASELINE ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION is less than 20 drinks per day then we recommend reducing consumption by two standard drinks per day. For example, if you have been drinking an average of 12 drinks per day then your taper schedule can be 10 beers the first day, 8 the second, 6 the third, 4 the fourth, 2 the fifth and 0 the sixth day. Likewise if your average consumption is 6 standard drinks per day you can set a taper schedule of 4, 2, 0.

How to Taper off Alcohol

The material is not a substitute for qualified medical diagnoses, treatment, or advice. It should not be used to replace the suggestions of your personal physician or other health care professionals. A final strategy to assist with an alcohol taper is to get a good network of peer support. The best way to taper off alcohol is to find healthcare professionals who can assess one’s current intake. This will be the basis of the protocol to taper off the substance to increase the chances of success.

• The second situation involves counting the daily drinks and switching them to a beverage with lower alcohol content, such as beer.
• Each of these challenges requires a unique approach and often the support of professionals, loved ones and support groups.
• Whatever method you use to taper down, your plan should also be approved and monitored by a healthcare profession to ensure your safety.

Symptoms Of Alcohol Withdrawal

• Contact us today to learn more about the insurance we accept and find an alcohol addiction treatment program that can work well for your situation.
• After several days of 5 glasses of wine, you can reduce that down to 4.
• The guidelines for tapering from alcohol are generalized; you may need to modify the tapering schedule if you have difficulties with the original plan.
• Through these programs, our caring and dedicated staff can help you on your road to recovery.

These include direct tapers, where you regularly decrease the amount of alcohol you consume, and substitution tapers, where you replace alcohol with another substance. These strategies work in different ways to help you quit drinking, and one may be more appropriate for you based on your needs. Depending on how much you drink, https://marylanddigest.com/top-5-advantages-of-staying-in-a-sober-living-house/ tapering off alcohol can take one to several weeks. It’s best to reduce your drinking by a small amount each day to avoid the shock to your system. So, if you normally have 6 beers a day, you could be done tapering within one week. It’s always best to consult a physician on the best strategy, especially if you drink heavily.

Tapering off alcohol can be a reasonable strategy for anyone who desires to stop drinking. A taper might be helpful for those who find they cannot stop drinking without experiencing negative symptoms. Medical professionals will often, however, recommend a professional detox in which withdrawal symptoms are treated instead of avoided so that you can get off of alcohol as quickly as possible.

How to Gradually Stop Drinking

Patients who do not respond adequately to benzodiazepine therapy, who miss an appointment, or who resume drinking should be referred to an addiction specialist or inpatient treatment program. In particular, it alters neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors. When you drink a lot over a long period, your brain reduces sensitivity Sober House to GABA. This means that if you quit drinking cold turkey, your brain will not be sensitive enough to GABA. This can cause your brain to become hyper-excitable and leads to withdrawal symptoms. In 2019 the Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health Services Administration reported that 14.5 millions of americans suffered from Alcohol Use Disorder.