Tapering?
 

Hi everyone - while I've googled a bunch and think I have a good idea of what a safe taper is like, can anyone supplement with personal stories? I finished a bottle of vodka earlier this afternoon and the shaky hands are already setting in. I know I should taper with beer - and I don't even particularly like beer so it should be easier - but any tips or success stories would be very helpful.

note also i have a benzo prescription which i think ought to help and also make things a bit safer.

thank you all so much already i can't say how much better it's making me feel to be able to keep clicking refresh here and not feeling so alone.

I was only successful at tapering once, then went back to drinking anyway...:( I would think you wouldn't need to taper if you have a scrip for benzos. That should take care of many withdrawal symptoms itself. And I hope you're not taking them while you're still drinking.

no, definitely not - if i have so much as half a klonopin when drinking i black out immediately in ways that are too scary for me to continue.

i also know that i'm self-medicating anxiety with the booze when i'm supposed to just take a klonopin each morning. so i'm AVOIDING TAKING THE STUFF I'M MEDICALLY PRESCRIBED FOR MY ANXIETY for the sake of alcohol. even though i know the kpin actually helps more with the anxiety than my getting trashed all the time. sigh. i feel like such an idiot

Tapering never worked for me, at least not for long. It was always one step forward and two steps backward. I truly believe it is far less painful to stop drinking than to taper off.

i'm legitimately concerned about dangerous withdrawal symptoms though - and don't have any clue as to what risk i'm actually at for that, and am too embarrassed / don't have good medical access or support to go through any sort of detox or medical process. i feel so stupid and ashamed.

I'm not sure you will find any successful tapers around here. Why are you tapering anyway? You have the stuff to avoid the worst of the withdrawals, now stop drinking. Why are you fooling around with this Megan?

I tapered off a bender a few times to ease the withdrawal symptoms. But, I was still an alcoholic and couldn't completely stop. Within days I was back to drinking like I was before. I needed professional help to really get sober.

Hi Megan

I'm going to give you the same advice again I'm afraid.

There's no safer option that seeing your Dr. See a different one if it's that embarrassing for you.

I could never taper - how do you find control over the very thing you can't control?

I know tapering is a favoured method of various harm minimisation sites. I also know that some Drs prescribe tapering especially in the UK...but honestly if you don't know what you're doing, it may be no safer than cold turkey.

D

i don't know, i've never tried to stop drinking before and i'm concerned, which is why i'm genuinely asking for advice :(

Why not ask your (a) doctor for advice? It's the safest way.

Embarrassment shouldn't prevent you from seeking medical assistance if you are concerned.

Tapering worked only once for me. I celebrated my success by having a few extra drinks. Talk about stupid...

Tapering never worked again. I went to the doctor and was prescribed benzos. They got me through the withdrawals and eliminated the madness of trying to taper off an addiction with the very substance to which I'm addicted. I would advise taking the meds you've been prescribed to do this the smarter and safer way.

ok, thanks all. i'm prescribed the klonopin for anxiety and am supposed to take one daily, but haven't taken it in weeks because i've been drinking too much. will it really help with the withdrawals? i'm sorry for being such a stupid baby but i'm genuinely worried as i've never done this before.

I would be very careful Friend……….I was a heavy drinker, tried tapper off with little beer and benzos (Xanax) after 3 days of nothing I had a seizure. Shake and bake for a few days and be done with it or go to a detox. I do realize it’s easier said than done. Hang in there you can beat this..

Klonopin is a benzo, but I would definitely check with your doctor as to its effectiveness for alcohol withdrawal, and to see if the dosage you've been prescribed is appropriate for that purpose. I was prescribed Librium, which worked very well.

But please do stop calling yourself names. Your fear is not unwarranted. Addiction can scare the crap out of you. Ending it can be equally scary. That's why I finally went for help. Go easy on yourself, OK? You're gonna be alright. :)

Benzos are commonly prescribed for w/d to ease the anxiety and the risk of seizures. Can you call your doctor - or any doctor - and ask them how to take the klonopin to treat alcohol w/d. Tapering is useless. Not to mention very difficult.

I have used KPin for withdrawals. Detox was a breeze.

thank you so much for this. it's so hard to break the cycle of shame and self-loathing, let alone convince myself that it'll all be okay.

I tried to taper but the withdrawal symptoms wouldn't stop. I couldn't taper. I ended up going to the ER. They gave me fluids and a script for enough Librium to get me through. The Librium worked so well!

Good luck

Talk with your doctor for a proper detox.

:)

Ive never had any luck tapering. Always ended up drunk again. IMO i would see your doctor if your worried about withdrawals. They are nothing to mess around with. Good luck, stay strong and do this.