How to Reduce Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms | Alcoholism

Try these helpful products to give you some relief during alcohol withdrawal!

Isopropyl Alcohol For Technical Use:
Set of 4 Italian Wine Glasses:
The Original Drop It Wine Drops:
Wine Savoring Experience with Cordless Electric Wine Opener:
Full Bottle Wine Pitcher:

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I often get calls from people who would like to stop drinking, but really are afraid of having withdrawal symptoms. When that happens, my main recommendation to them is that they come in and they see an addiction specialist to be evaluated. But I often get calls from people who aren't in my local area and may not have access to a medical professional. In that case, there are two ways of minimizing the problems that may be associated with alcohol withdrawal.

The main one, if you can see a physician, is to do so and you can be prescribed different medications that will be prescribed over the course, of usually 4-7 days that each day, the dose is lowered, until you're off the medication and then you'll be safe. And you'll be secure that you're not going to experience withdrawal symptoms. At least in it, you're certainly not going to experience any withdrawal symptoms that might be medically dangerous. When I say that, even when one gets off it, they may still experience some anxiety.

However, if people do not have access to a medical professional for whatever reason, then the way to withdraw from alcohol, is to taper down the amount of alcohol that you are drinking. So if you're drinking extremely heavily, you may want to, over the course of . . . depending on how much you're drinking, it may be over the course of a few days. It may be over the course of a few weeks. Each day, reduce the amount of alcohol that you're drinking and keep tapering it down until you're not drinking at all. By doing so, you will not necessarily have any withdrawal symptoms. If you don't do that, it's very dangerous and sometimes it seems like counter-intuitive, that you want to stop drinking, that well, I should just stop drinking. But in fact, I never want people to do that because that can be medically dangerous.

So again, you want to, each day, reduce the amount you're drinking until you've stopped, or get medication from a physician, which you taper down until that stops. And then you'll be safe and secure. So those are the two techniques that you can use to stop drinking and avoid any withdrawal symptoms.

[howcast]

Try these helpful products to give you some relief during alcohol withdrawal!

Isopropyl Alcohol For Technical Use:
Set of 4 Italian Wine Glasses:
The Original Drop It Wine Drops:
Wine Savoring Experience with Cordless Electric Wine Opener:
Full Bottle Wine Pitcher:

[dustinclouse]

I did it the dangerous way, cold turkey. I had lost my job and didnt have insurance so a doctor wasnt an option for me. I honestly thought I was going to die. I was literally scared for my life. I tried tapering off, but i couldnt do it. As soon as i would get a buzz and feel good, I just couldn't stop drinking. Also, I couldnt just get a limited amount of beer so that I didnt have more to drink, because my sober self knew my drunk self would just drink and drive to get more. So I just had to take it on the chin and stop. Which I did, but it was miserable. Couldnt sleep, couldnt eat, cold sweats constantly, shaking so bad I could barely get a glass of water to my mouth, walking to the toilet was so exhausting that my heart would be pounding and I would have to sit down to piss. People who havent been through it just dont understand, and if you're reading this and you havent been through it, I hope you never do. And please, dont ever tell someone "just dont drink" or "just stop" because you dont understand. When you are dependent on something, you get to the point where you arent drinking to feel good, you're drinking to not feel bad. That's when you know it's a real problem.

[TiresAreForCars]

This comment section makes me feel so much less alone

[bladefire]

I'm so happy to know that I'm not alone in this struggle.. thank you all

[Mr_Facts]

Remember, the taper method doesn't mean get drunk again. It means slowly sip on beers to keep the shakes down. If you do wake up shaking/sweating/dotoxing sip on a beer and go back to bed. I've had detoxes that took two days before the shaking and sweats went away. Just taper slowly and don't get "noticeably drunk." Also get some vitamins in your system and food. I like to drink a ton of Kombucha while I'm detoxing off alcohol also. It's normal to feel anxious/scared/nightmares all that FUN STUFF! that comes with being an alcoholic. Good luck.

[bobbystewart]

Day for me to start tapering. God knows I need the Prayers

[vegan_cocks]

This worked for me. Bought some Bud Ice and slowly took sips until symptoms diminished.... Once they started again I just took small sips over a longer period until gone. It's a slow process but it works and is much much better than quitting cold turkey. You just have to be disciplined or it won't work.

[gaittr]

I found a changing what I drink was also a help. I went from hard liquor to strong beer to low ABV beer. Also increase the time between drinking.
My only advice to people is that once you do stop stay stopped. Each time you go back and try to stop it gets harder and harder. Don't convince yourself that just because you were able to quit once before that you'll be able to easily quit again.

[tobiuchiha]

I cold turkey recently and started having withdrawals. I started shaking and ate nearly an entire bag of grapes. I noticed if you eat something… it’ll help with the withdrawals. Eat something and just rest.

[mellow.dramatic]

I did the cranberry juice method of slowly drinking and adding more cranberry juice overtime to a water bottle basically watering down the alcohol, not my humblest moment having to take it with me everywhere. I'm currently on my 3rd try with this method however. Having relapsed very bad recently. Recovery isn't linear my friends.

[TheRabidPosum]

I swear by Librium. Best thing for alcohol withdrawal. The taper down method does work, but it takes a lot of discipline to stick too. You have to be really committed to it because it's so hard not to go for the next.

[ladygee]

Anxiety is the worst part. The panic attacks are endless. I quit but did not do this. I went straight to the psychiatrist and got clonazapan (klodopin) and took 2 mgs every 6 hours. Slept it all away and drank a gallon of water every 8 hours. It would take me 2 days to come down like this from a binge. And finally after the last one I decided why am I doing this knowing the aftermath.

[ar]

I have not drank last 3 day and have slept awful, I feel my brain and body shaking...it’s been awful... 😔

[microbios]

I can deal with the effects of withdrawal...the extreme anxiety, cold sweats, heart palpitations, as I've been through this countless times. However, I'm worried about seizures this time around as I've been drinking for the past few weeks and now sobered up about to go to work. I guess if something happens, at least I'll be surrounded by people at work.

[allstars]

Taken me a long time to admit I am an alcoholic. I'm 32 and everything in my life has fallen apart. I'm living in a squat, can't quit drinking and contemplate suicide a lot. I want help but I don't even know where to begin. My family is sick of me and all of my friends are alcoholic or dependent on various different substances. It sucks. I wish there was a place I could go.

[Barcelona]

Tried to quit cold turkey. 1st day was fine. 2nd day I couldn't sleep. Woke up 6 times during the night drenched in sweat. Lower back hurt in my kidney area. Urine was a deep dark yellow. 3rd day I was having what felt like heart palpitations. All of that went away after I drunk 2 beers. Going to try the tapering method. Hopefully it works.

[stopbunsen]

Be careful everyone if you are quitting alcohol cold turkey. You are at risk of experiencing seizures. That's what he means about it being medically dangerous. It's a good idea to speak to a doctor who can give you meds to avoid this

[bladefire]

My problem is beer.. I love the feeling and euphoria it brings I've noticed I've made my way up to stronger beer. I've even begining to get heavy into liquor. This is not where I want my life to be. I want to be sober and I know I have to do something because I'm not who I use to be and I'm ashamed

[JohnSmith-urmr]

IMHO if one needs to withdraw, sleep is already a BIG problem. NEVER stop suddenly. Ensure your doctor understand not just the withdrawal/detox issues but also understand how sleep is impact. Being sober is a job that we all experienced in youth. Just do it!

[ShowerOnceYearly]

Im so mad at myself because I didnt think I was an alcoholic and then it became not think I am one yet. But here I am realizing today Im getting withdrawal symptoms and have to taper off.