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Tapering off is a standard medical practice for many other drugs. For example, healthcare providers usually don’t take patients off antidepressants suddenly; rather, they gradually reduce the dosages. Alcohol is a central nervous tapering off alcohol system depressant that affects your brain. When you quit drinking or wean off alcohol, your body will adjust to the lack of alcohol in your body. It’s a good idea to talk with a medical professional before you begin a taper.
If the withdrawal symptoms persist for five days, many give in and take a drink to get some relief. That’s why some people can say they quit for three or four days 100 times. Licensed medical professionals review material we publish on our site. The material is not a substitute for qualified medical diagnoses, treatment, or advice. It should not be used to replace the suggestions of your personal physician or other health care professionals. Always remember that if the taper is not working for you or if you are having major withdrawal that it is safest to check into a medical detox because alcohol withdrawal can kill you.
Outpatient Treatment
We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers. Working with a medical professional to taper your alcohol consumption can help the likelihood and severity of alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Instead of quitting alcohol cold turkey, you can steadily reduce your consumption so that your body has time to gradually readjust to absence of alcohol.
- My first recommendation is to seek professional help at an inpatient rehab facility, a dedicated detox center, or, in severe cases, the emergency room.
- It is important to only attempt a taper while under a doctor’s care.
- Various treatment programs are available to help you recover from addiction.
For this reason, it’s generally best to avoid quitting abruptly, or at bare minimum speak with a doctor first and have someone looking out for you. However, for some, the physical symptoms will continue even after seven days. If you’re still experiencing physical alcohol withdrawal symptoms after a week, you should contact your healthcare provider immediately.
Why Alcohol Withdrawal Occurs
If you begin to have withdrawal symptoms during your taper, this is a sign that your taper may be going too fast, and you need to slow it down. When you drink heavily, your brain changes its sensitivity to GABA. The imbalance in GABA that occurs when you suddenly stop drinking causes withdrawal symptoms. Slowly reducing your drinking over time instead of suddenly stopping allows your brain to change its response to GABA.
- If you’re living with alcohol use disorder (also known as alcoholism), you’ll likely benefit from additional medical interventions.
- A counselor can help someone prepare for life after withdrawal and provide support as they navigate quitting drinking.
- In medical detox, doctors and nurses provide around-the-clock care while helping you detox from alcohol.
- “I feel great. To all those that are ready to give up because of withdrawals, hang in there! It does get better.”
- But, as many in recovery will tell you, it is only the first chapter in a long process.
Note that Disulfiram it is not a cure to alcoholism, and a full therapy must be used. Alcohol also inhibits the glutamate receptor–which is the cause of staggering, https://ecosoberhouse.com/ slurring, and general interference with muscular coordination. Glutamate receptor rebound also appears to contribute to the withdrawal symptoms described above.
Cravings, Stomachache, and Anxiety
But, perhaps most importantly, understand that setbacks happen and that progress takes time or may look different than imagined. Even if you fail, there are still plenty of treatment options you can turn to. John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE is board-certified in addiction medicine and preventative medicine. For over 20 years Dr. Umhau was a senior clinical investigator at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Many insurance companies will help pay for some or all of your treatment costs. Alcohol withdrawal can cause many symptoms, some of which can be fatal.
