This includes early symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, such as mild tremors and anxiety. The reason for this is that alcohol withdrawal symptoms can quickly snowball and worsen. Mild anxiety, for example, can turn into overwhelming agitation or even hallucinations. When symptoms become that serious, it can be difficult to seek help. Seeking help as early as possible during the withdrawal process is the best way to stay safe as you cleanse your body of alcohol.
- If you have any of these risk factors, it’s important that you withdraw from alcohol at a medical facility that’s equipped to prevent and treat alcohol-related complications.
- “My worst symptoms so far seem to be lightheadedness, minor irritability, and insomnia.”
- “Most of my withdrawal symptoms are gone, but I still have sharp pains in my head, can’t sleep, and get night sweats.”
- When they suddenly stop giving the body the substance it has become dependent on, it can send the body, brain and neurotransmitters into shock.
Who Can Benefit From Tapering Their Alcohol Intake
Contact us today to learn more about alcohol addiction treatment programs that can work well for your needs. If patients return to drinking, however, they are at risk for developing serious health conditions like liver, heart and nervous system disease or damage. 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. If you’re used to drinking less than 20 beers per day, HAMS recommends reducing your alcohol consumption by two beers per day until you achieve sobriety. The alcohol content in specific beer, wine and liquor products differs.
Symptoms timeline
You may also find it easier to stick to your taper schedule if you avoid certain places and situations. 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. A direct taper means drinking the regular substance of choice but lowering the amount consumed daily. Someone should typically only direct taper if their drink of choice is beer with a low alcohol percentage. “I read other people’s withdrawal symptoms and how they seem to be over in a week, but mine are still hanging on … Just stomach problems and anxiety, mostly.”
What are the first signs of liver damage from alcohol?
Figuring out where to start your alcohol taper schedule can be challenging. Counting each drink you consume may seem simple, but all drinks are not created equal. The alcohol content itself is important, and it depends on the percentage how to taper off alcohol of alcohol, the proof of the alcohol and the actual amount of alcohol in the drink. If you find it difficult to cut down on your number of drinks per day, try making your drinks weaker by using less alcohol per drink.
- Factors such as pattern of alcohol use, other medical conditions, genetics and how your body responds to alcohol can play a role in withdrawal symptoms.
- What matters most is your ability to maintain an open, curious outlook as you learn what does and doesn’t work for you.
- It affects about 50% of people with alcohol use disorder who stop or significantly decrease their alcohol intake.
- For instance, many people binge drink on the weekend without drinking during the week.
- The alcohol content in specific beer, wine and liquor products differs.
When To Seek Help for Alcohol Addiction
