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. The main difference between tapering and quitting alcohol cold turkey is how fast you quit. Cold turkey is a common slang term for quitting alcohol (or any substance) all at once. Tapering or weaning means ramping down your alcohol use until you get to zero—or to a more moderate level of drinking that you prefer.
Does Alcohol Tapering Work?
Many people attempt to self-detox at some point, and it’s often a string of failed attempts of self-detoxing that lead an individual to enter rehab in the first place. That’s not to say, however, that people haven’t successfully self-detoxed from alcohol on their own. If you have a severe level of addiction or dependency, you may need a detox program. Talk to a medical professional to find the best detox option for you. Within just a month of not drinking, your body can begin to reap the benefits.
Alcohol Tapering Methods
Alcohol rehab helps you taper off alcohol, and it treats other side effects and causes of alcoholism. It can help you reach goals and can minimize some of the unpleasant and severe symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. These symptoms can happen even if you used to drink at relatively low levels, if you were drinking regularly. For most people they pass quite quickly, and are just a temporary blip before they start to feel the benefits of cutting out alcohol.
Avoid loneliness.
- If you plan to taper your drinking in order to stop, make sure you limit your intake consistently, avoid fluctuations, and adhere to a weekly reduction schedule with a set date to stop.
- According to a national population-based survey, a significant proportion of individuals with unhealthy alcohol use experience withdrawal symptoms.
- It can help you reach goals and can minimize some of the unpleasant and severe symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.
- Alcohol withdrawal is potentially fatal, especially for people with an alcohol addiction.
- Whatever schedule is chosen, it’s important to commit so you can build upon your progress and avoid withdrawal symptoms as much as possible.
- The reason for this is that alcohol withdrawal symptoms can quickly snowball and worsen.
However, understanding how an alcohol taper works and what the process is like can help you prepare yourself and find the support you need. Detoxification (detox) from alcohol is often the first step in treating alcohol use disorder (AUD). Your insurance plan may cover some or all of the cost of alcohol detox. Our online health insurance verification system will estimate your in-network and out-of-network deductibles, coinsurance percentages and out-of-pocket maximums. Within 5 minutes, you’ll receive an email with these details – free of charge.
Set Aside Time to Focus on The Detox
- If you are detoxing at home, anything beyond mild symptoms should trigger you to seek medical help.
- Within just a month of not drinking, your body can begin to reap the benefits.
- Many people with addictions convince themselves that they are alone and are the only ones going through their experiences.
- Some people may relapse, or drink alcohol again, to relieve the symptoms.
It can mean more time for your other interests, and even new interests. More time to meet new people, catch up with https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/the-5-risks-of-drinking-after-work/ old friends and try new things. Many insurance companies will help pay for some or all of your treatment costs.
Tapering Down vs. Quitting Cold Turkey
Some find tapering is not a suitable option to stop drinking due to various factors such as social responsibilities or peer pressure. For many people, tapering alone is insufficient to help heal their addiction. how to taper off alcohol at home 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 drinking habits.
DTs can be fatal, and a person going through them should have medical support in a hospital or rehab facility. During this initial appointment, the provider will assess your level of alcohol use and do a blood test to check liver function and nutrient levels. There is also the matter of the specific type of alcohol in question.