The imbalance in GABA that occurs when you suddenly stop drinking is what causes withdrawal symptoms. By slowly reducing your drinking over time instead of stopping suddenly, you allow your brain to change its GABA production. I’ve https://ecosoberhouse.com/ also heard of people successfully stopping by reducing their moderate drinking (8-10 a day) to 5-6 a day for a couple days, and then quitting entirely. Although I didn’t experience any seizures, I certainly wouldn’t recommend it.

Once it begins to leave your body, early symptoms of withdrawal begin. When you are detoxing from alcohol at a rehab center, nurses and doctors monitor vital signs, provide adequate nourishment and treat complications if they occur. Some individuals find church and reconnecting with God to be helpful.

How Long Does It Take to Detox from Alcohol?

Slowly, to reduce the discomfort of withdrawal symptoms, you will come off the medication with the goal being complete abstinence from alcohol. When coming off drugs or alcohol tapering is the best way to prevent severe withdrawal symptoms. Tapering is the act of gradually reducing alcohol use until completely abstinent. By creating a schedule to monitor your alcohol use you can see just how much of the substance you are drinking. Because alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be life-threatening in some cases, safety is crucial when you work towards sobriety. Little scientific evidence exists regarding tapers, but medical detox has been proven to be a safe and effectiveway to quit drinking.

how long does it take to taper off alcohol

Because alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, quitting drinking can cause your body to have too much of an excitatory substance called glutamate as it tries to rebalance. This can trigger alcohol withdrawal symptoms, which can be dangerous in some cases. https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/how-to-taper-off-alcohol/ When an individual has developed a substance use disorder or dependence on alcohol, stopping its use outright can seem virtually impossible. On top of this, quitting immediately — or “cold turkey” as many users and professionals call it — can be dangerous.

Support This Site

“With hard work and vigilance, I am pleased to be getting more sober time in. I am exercising more and starting to decrease the number of herbs and vitamins I have been taking daily.” “I was feeling great having got over the nausea, shaking etc. within the first week ,but now I am beginning to have what I can only describe as partial withdrawals all over again.” “I could easily sleep 12 hours a night and still feel tired the next morning.” “I can’t believe the luxury of sleep! After a really hard time, I slept for two nights! Not all night, but great sleep.” “The recent nine months’ sobriety [has] done great good for my body. That said, I hope never to forget how much damage I felt in four days of drink.” “Lightheaded, dizzy, no sleep, pale, weak, and it feels like electric shocks shoot through my body every so often. Crazy anxiety.”

  • This is because, for a lot of people who experience some kind of liver dysfunction, it makes them at risk of not getting enough proteins, calories or vitamins.
  • This is offered to patients with moderate to severe Alcohol Use Disorder, having the goal of achieving abstinence.
  • Because tapering can be tricky and alcohol withdrawal syndrome can be dangerous, you should never start a taper before talking to your doctor.
  • In addition to the sober individuals, many people among the remaining two-thirds are also drinking less and experiencing fewer alcohol-related health problems after one year.
  • I don’t think I could go through more than a couple weeks of tapering, but you do you.
  • Everything you say is confidential and you’re paying them to HELP you.

It requires a lot of willpower and you will be uncomfortable, but it can be done. I know because I’ve done it and I’ve met others who have done it. More serious alcohol withdrawal symptoms may require medical attention. If you have a friend or family member who knows that you’re trying to taper off alcohol, you shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help. They can take you to the hospital or help you get medical support.

Home
Kontak
Blog
About US