Can Tapering Off Alcohol Reduce Withdrawal Symptoms?

As a licensed clinician, Cheryl stands ready to diagnose and treat a wide spectrum of mental, behavioral, and personality disorders that sometimes present alongside a substance use disorder. Fortunately, deaths resulting from alcohol withdrawal are a rare occurrence. Alcohol withdrawal symptomsusually occur within 6–4 hours6after stopping alcohol and can last for 2–10 days11. 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. Slowly decreasing the amount you drink over time can spare your body from withdrawal symptoms.

Alcohol, or ethanol , is an intoxicating or strong ingredient found in beer, wine, and liquor. Alcohol is produced by the fermentation, or the breakdown, of yeast, sugars, and starches. You can receive 24/7 text support right away and at your convenience.

The Truth About Liquid Courage: Finding Confidence Without Alcohol

taper off alcohol 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. When you are physically dependent on a substance like alcohol, your body adapts accordingly. Ria Health offers access to many of these tools, including prescription medications, recovery coaching, and online support groups—all through a HIPAA-compliant smartphone app. We support both moderation and abstinence as goals and, although we cannot provide medical detox remotely, we can help you design an effective tapering schedule to reduce your drinking. Depending on how much you drink, tapering off alcohol can take one to several weeks.

For starters, withdrawal symptoms can be highly uncomfortable. Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal include nausea, vomiting, shaking, headaches, and insomnia. Tapering is meant to reduce the withdrawal symptoms from quitting alcohol, but this isn’t a guarantee.

How to Wean Off Alcohol & Safely Taper Drinking

As you know, https://ecosoberhouse.com/ does not provide actual relief from the difficulties of life; instead, drinking often makes our problems worse. Drink slowly, and drink nonalcoholic beverages.Sip your drink slowly. When you stop drinking, fat will stop building up in your liver, and damage will heal. As long as you aren’t suffering from end-stage liver disease, your liver can recover from alcohol use. Ethanol, the chemical name for drinkable alcohol, can also bind to GABA receptors. It doesn’t take GABA’s place; rather, it binds to a different site on the receptor and makes GABA even stronger.

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. Research has shown that professional help improves your ability to overcome an addiction to alcohol or cut back if you have found it difficult. The most common research technique among those surveyed is an internet search (61%), followed by asking a doctor or medical professional (55%).

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Consuming a lighter alcoholic drink like beer also makes it easier for someone to stay hydrated throughout the taper. If the drink of choice is liquor, it is difficult to measure amounts and easy to binge drink.