Tapering Off Alcohol How To Taper Wean Off Alcohol Safely

In turn, you can suffer from increasingly severe withdrawal symptoms every time you try to stop drinking. Tapering alcohol is beneficial because you can avoid alcohol withdrawal symptoms. This is because when you drink heavily for months or years, your body can start to depend on alcohol to function normally.

The Recovery Village Palm Beach Florida at Baptist Health can help you get started on your recovery with alcohol addiction treatment how to taper off alcohol — safely, comfortably and with your future in mind. Reach out to one of our supportive professionals and begin the healing process.

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If you drink frequently, you can become physically dependent on alcohol, meaning that your brain needs alcohol to function normally. If you stop drinking, your body needs to rapidly adjust to the absence of alcohol, leading to withdrawal symptoms. In addition to the title of Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Kevin is also licensed by the state of Maryland as a Clinical Drug and Alcohol Counselor. He holds a Master of Science degree in Counseling and has over 26 years of experience as a substance use/mental health counselor with the Montgomery County Government. Whether he’s leading groups or providing individual and family therapy, Kevin’s passion for serving those suffering from substance use disorders is always on display.

In autumn and winter, the days get shorter, and skies are often cloudy, depriving us of natural sunlight and unleashing all sorts of mood disturbances in many people. This is often known as seasonal depression, winter depression, or seasonal affective disorder …. 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. Continued alcohol use despite having persistent or recurrent social or interpersonal problems caused or exacerbated by the effects of alcohol. At Ethos Recovery, we know that overcoming alcoholism is a life-long journey. Our goal is to equip you with the knowledge and support you need to become a thriving recovering alcoholic.

How to Modify the Alcohol Tapering Schedule Over Time

When attempting to taper off alcohol, it is recommended that an individual should substitute these stronger options for wine or beer — or at least hard liquor with a smaller proof. People struggling with alcohol may choose to progressively taper off alcohol rather than quit abruptly. With these things in mind, you need to weigh the pros and cons of tapering your alcohol use—ideally with someone you trust—to make a fully informed decision. For example, if you typically drink five glasses of wine every day, try cutting back to four glasses for several days. If you’ve taken opioids for less than two weeks, you should be able to simply stop these medications as soon as your prescribed course of pills runs out, if not before.

• People who try tapering off alcohol won’t have the guided support of medical professionals that they would at inpatient treatment.
• This form of tapering would likely involve medications to eliminate withdrawal symptoms.
• 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.
• Providers may prescribe medications such as benzodiazepines to reduce the effects of alcohol withdrawal.
• Alcohol withdrawal can cause something called kindling to occur in your brain.
• Alcohol, or ethanol , is an intoxicating or strong ingredient found in beer, wine, and liquor.

The limits of the recommended guidelines may be too high for people who have certain medical conditions or for some older adults. From the stomach, most of the alcohol travels to the small intestine. In the small intestine, alcohol is easily absorbed into the bloodstream. The circulatory system, which is made up of the heart, blood, and blood vessels, spreads alcohol throughout the body. Alcohol comes into contact with every major organ, including the heart. Stay hydrated with sports drinks like Gatorade to replenish your electrolytes.

Recognize Dangerous Withdrawal Symptoms

Taking a shower that is too hot or too cold can cause dangerous changes to body temperature, but a lukewarm shower may distract you from some minor withdrawal symptoms. Controlled Breathing Breathing deeply can relieve stress that accompanies alcohol withdrawal.

However, tapering off may be the way to go if you drink heavily or have more than six drinks per week. Another strategy for a successful taper is to drink just enough to keep withdrawal symptoms at bay. If you find it is difficult to prevent yourself from drinking too much and getting drunk, locking your alcohol up in a cabinet and giving your friend or family member the key can help.