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For this reason, it is best to seek medical advice on whether you should taper at home or under medical observation. 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. For others, simply cutting back the number of drinks can bring on alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
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. Alcohol withdrawal can begin within hours of ending a drinking session. That is why alcohol detox and alcohol withdrawal treatment is administered by medical professionals. 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.
Challenges of Tapering Off Alcohol
About 10 percent of people experience more severe symptoms, such as fever, fast breathing, and heavy sweating. Judy is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in the State of Maryland, and a National Certified Counselor. She earned her Master’s Degree in Clinical Counseling https://www.healthworkscollective.com/how-choose-sober-house-tips-to-focus-on/ from Johns Hopkins University with an undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Maryland. She has served in both clinical and leadership positions in a number of roles, in inpatient and outpatient settings, as a Primary Therapist and Clinical Supervisor.
- If you stop drinking, your body needs to rapidly adjust to the absence of alcohol, leading to withdrawal symptoms.
- Alcohol comes into contact with every major organ, including the heart.
- If you have an alcohol problem of a long duration, you should undergo a monitored medical detox.
- However, some conditions may require treatment beyond our capabilities, and we reserve the right to medically discharge a patient for a higher level of mental health care.
- Aside from unavoidable triggers, tapering off alcohol can also have side effects which can be difficult to manage at home.
It can also involve substituting the drink of choice with another drink; for example, a person may taper off hard alcohol with beer. Tapering off alcohol is a reasonable strategy for anyone who desires to stop drinking. A taper can be especially helpful for those who find they cannot stop drinking without experiencing negative symptoms. sober house However, certain food groups also have benefits when it comes to helping with the discomfort of withdrawal symptoms and detoxification. You can also get help by reaching out to a professional rehab facility directly, like The Recovery Village. We can leverage our resources and team to help you reduce and eventually end your alcohol use.
The Potential Harms of Going Cold Turkey
She served as a Wellness coordinator at Search for Change, Inc and currently serves as an Independent Practice Coach from 2011 to present. As the Family Nurse Practitioner, Deirdre performs history and physical exams, and works with clients to diagnose and treat dual diagnosis clients. These symptoms can last for several days or weeks depending on how much alcohol you drink regularly and the length of time you have been drinking excessively.
Similarly, it responds to the decreased glutamate by producing more glutamate. You can receive 24/7 text support right away and at your convenience. There is no obligation to enter treatment and you can opt out at any time. Antidepressant medications are not meant to be used for treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder unless there is evidence of a co-occurring disorder for which an antidepressant is an indicated treatment.
How To Taper Off Alcohol: Key Strategies and Tips
Little data is available about the safety and effectiveness of alcohol tapers. In contrast, robust evidence supports quitting alcohol while under medical supervision. Quitting alcohol cold turkey is not recommended and can be dangerous. Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant that leads to an increase in brain neurotransmitters that slow down your brain’s functions, such as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). When you drink heavily over a long period of time, your brain and body adapt to expect this. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms usually occur within 6–4 hours6 after stopping alcohol and can last for 2–10 days11.
An alcohol addiction is dangerous, and the best way to reduce the risks of drinking is to stop using alcohol. Tapering your alcohol intake, or slowly reducing it over time, can help you avoid severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Safe alcohol withdrawal is an important part of starting a recovery process. For this reason, you should not abruptly stop alcohol use after a long period of heavy use without medical supervision. Instead, slowly cutting back on your drinking, or using an alcohol tapering schedule, is a safer method to become sober.
We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers. Working with a medical professional to taper your alcohol consumption can help the likelihood and severity of alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Instead of quitting alcohol cold turkey, you can steadily reduce your consumption so that your body has time to gradually readjust to absence of alcohol.
