Weaning off alcohol in a safe way can help reduce the severity of some withdrawal symptoms. Orlando Recovery Center says that when you taper your alcohol intake over time, you reduce the likelihood of withdrawal symptoms7. This is because this process gives your brain more time to get used to the changes and damage that alcohol originally created. If you were to suddenly stop drinking alcohol, your receptors would become hyperactive because they are no longer being depressed. This is why you should taper off alcohol, or use a prescribed medication like benzodiazepines, during detox3. It’s vital to do this under the supervision of a medical professional to ensure the process is safe and smooth.
How To Detox from Alcohol Safely
Advice on how to tell someone about your alcohol or drug use, including what to say, what reaction to expect and the upsides of being open and honest. “The role of GABAA receptors in mediating the effects of alcohol in the central nervous system.” Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience, July 28, 2003. 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. We have taken the necessary precautions to minimize the risk of exposure and transmission of the Coronavirus to those in our treatment programs, allowing them to focus on their recovery. Remove all alcohol from your home or ask a friend or family member to do it for you. This includes beer, wine, and liquor, as well as products that contain alcohol such as rubbing alcohol and vanilla extract.
- And in general there is sufficient research to suggest that moderation-based programs can be an effective alternative to traditional treatment.
- Rather than beginning your sober life drained and dazed from a week of feeling ill, you can already be getting on your feet.
- Since 1967, Duffy’s has helped over 38,000 people by providing clinically excellent care in a friendly, relaxing atmosphere among the serenity of Napa Valley.
- Glutamate receptor rebound also appears to contribute to the withdrawal symptoms described above.
- If you are detoxing at home, anything beyond mild symptoms should trigger you to seek medical help.
- Just for reference a 12 ounce regular strength (5%) beer is one standard drink.
Pros and Cons of Tapering Off Alcohol Intake
Keep a list of emergency phone numbers on hand that includes contact info for your doctor, the police, a nearby hospital, and someone you trust. And consider joining a support group such as Alcoholics Anonymous. That said, it’s also important for your well-being https://thetennesseedigest.com/top-5-advantages-of-staying-in-a-sober-living-house/ and personal health is to set clear boundaries. There are groups, such as Al-Anon and SMART Recovery that can help you navigate this challenge. If you have a loved one who struggles with alcohol, the best way to help them may not always seem obvious.
- A good diet won’t lessen withdrawal effects but will support your body’s ability to deal with them.
- Try setting non-drinking days, keeping a diary of how much you consume, or even getting your own digital breathalyzer to help you track how much you’ve been drinking.
- The exact symptoms you experience will depend on factors such as how much alcohol you’re consuming, other medical conditions you have, medications you take, and your body’s response to the taper.
- The best way to taper off alcohol is to find healthcare professionals who can assess one’s current intake.
What does drinking alcohol do to your body?
We want to give recovering addicts the tools to return to the outside world completely substance-free and successful. To learn about how our substance abuse treatment programs address alcohol dependence and withdrawal management, please contact us today. Medically assisted detoxification (detox) is an inpatient program that keeps you stabilized during alcohol withdrawals. Staffed by medical professionals, these programs offer 24-hour monitoring so you always have support if any complications arise. An effective tapering schedule may include cutting out one drink at a time at regular intervals.
- Each person will need to consider their specific goals, and find a combination of the above methods that works well for them—ideally after consulting a doctor.
- Some people are facing problems with their health or personal lives which require them to quit immediately.
- When done under medical supervision, tapering off alcohol has few downsides.
- Another sign that you might need to taper is morning alcohol cravings.
- There are also a number of anti-craving medications to help you avoid drinking again, or even help with your tapering process.
Our admissions specialists will help you find the facility and treatment program best suited to the recovery needs of you or your loved one. Our knowledgeable and compassionate team is available 24/7 to help get you or someone you care about into treatment and answer any questions or concerns you might have. Central nervous system depressants are a class of drugs that includes several Top 5 Advantages of Staying in a Sober Living House prescription medications like benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and sedative-hypnotics. Depressants are so-called because they depress activity in the central nervous system. In other words, they slow down chemical communication in the brain and body. This is what causes many of the positive and negative effects of drinking, and it causes the effects of prescription depressants.
Zachary Paul
Zachary Paul is an independent investigative journalist living in New York City. |