You might reach for alcohol when you’re really just thirsty, says Crews. Drink a cup of soothing tea or a tall glass of water before you imbibe—once your thirst is quenched, you may not feel the need for as much—or any—alcohol. If you turn to alcohol to ease anxiety, try exercise as a healthy alternative. Stopping alcohol can be rewarding, but it’s not without challenges.
Delirium Tremens
Medicines can be used to reduce nausea, severe anxiety, other flu-like symptoms, and treat seizures. Substituting a prescription drug for alcohol should only happen with the help of a medical professional. No one should ever attempt a substitution taper with prescription medication unless their doctor specifically prescribed it for that purpose in a medical detox program. Alcohol addiction can be difficult and sometimes dangerous to handle on your own. If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol addiction, contact us to learn more and get started with alcohol addiction treatment.
Symptoms timeline
If you’re living with alcohol use disorder (also known as alcoholism), you’ll likely benefit from additional medical interventions. The main downside of tapering off is that it requires discipline. You’ll need to stick with gradual reduction every day and not revert to previous levels of consumption, otherwise https://ecosoberhouse.com/ it won’t work. If it’s too hard to control how much you drink each day, weaning might not be the right strategy. That said, there are now several medications that can help reduce your cravings and make weaning off alcohol easier. When you quit alcohol cold turkey, you quit drinking completely and suddenly.
Risks of Alcohol Withdrawal
Within 5 minutes, you’ll receive an email with these details – free of charge. However, even the best-designed tapers can put you at risk for alcohol withdrawal syndrome. For this reason, you should never start an alcohol taper before clearing with your doctor.
- This is because drinking heavily over a long period can cause your body to become physically dependent on alcohol.
- Luckily, there are ways to safely reduce your alcohol consumption and get your life back on track.
- Remember, it’s not about achieving immediate perfection but about making steady progress towards your goal of sobriety.
- Another clue that can be an indication of an unhealthy relationship with alcohol is if you make “rules” around drinking.
- The time it takes to taper off alcohol varies based on how much a person drinks.
When you quit drinking or wean off alcohol, your body will adjust to the lack of alcohol in your body. Inpatient treatment may be an expensive option in terms of time and money. Unlike inpatient treatment, tapering allows people to maintain their lifestyles while improving their how to taper off alcohol drinking habits. If you’re struggling to wean off alcohol, it might be best to seek addiction treatment. Various treatment programs are available to help you recover from addiction. Tapering is also a strategy used by people with a substance or alcohol use disorder (AUD).
Alcohol Detox Treatment Programs
