The rest of this guide addresses pre-planning, withdrawal symptoms, planning, creating a taper schedule, and next steps after a taper. I’d encourage you to read them all, but at the very least please read the sections on withdrawal symptoms and the schedule itself. By entering an alcoholism treatment program, you’ll benefit from medical care that addresses alcohol withdrawal and any underlying co-occurring disorders you have. Additionally, if you used other substances while drinking—such as heroin, prescription medications, cocaine, or meth—withdrawal symptoms may be worsened or unpredictable. Many people are under the impression that detoxing from alcohol isn’t as dangerous as detoxing from other drugs.

If you’re self-tapering, I assume you don’t want to go to rehab. You can try out any of the things in my guide on Alternatives To Inpatient Drug Rehab. If you’re cross-addicted to harder drugs like stimulants or opiates, you need to stop using those. Experience has shown me most people who continue using other https://ecosoberhouse.com/ hard substances simply get high and then continue drinking. If you’re making mixed drinks, only use half a shot instead of a full shot, and turn it into two drinks (still count both as one combined). It’s okay to have a little drink, set it down, leave it for fifteen minutes, and come back to it later.

Table of Contents

The fundamental aim of detox is to medically manage the impact of alcohol withdrawal. A detox programme will monitor your symptoms and may include medication and other treatments. Detox programmes are generally short, typically between 7 and 10 days. Because detox is a medical intervention, you should always check the qualifications, experience and registration status of anyone who provides this service.

Keep in mind that for people with AUD, sleeping issues may persist through the withdrawal phase. As you approach the end of the process, it’s time to think about what happens next. Simply walking back into your life unprepared is a recipe for drinking that will get quickly gets how to taper off alcohol at home out of hand. Its only benefit is delivering the daily amount of alcohol you need to ward off withdrawal symptoms. Whether you take a cautious or more aggressive approach, you will continue drinking for some time. It might take two to three weeks or more to reach zero alcohol.

Medications Used During Alcohol Detox

Tapering off alcohol is unpredictable, and you may need to pause if you experience withdrawal symptoms. Letting go of the idea of a stop date takes the pressure off you so that you can prioritise your health and wellbeing. If you haven’t been tracking your drinks, now is the time to start.