Tapering
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 5
Tapering
Hi, I was drinking 8oz vodka everymorning and 8oz again in the evening. Decided to taper off. Had 8oz in the morning and nothing in the evening. 3rd day now and I'm planning on doing 4-5 oz in the morning and nothing in the evening and tomorrow just 2 and then stop. Is this a good idea? Will I have bad withdrawal?
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Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: MN
Posts: 8,704
Its hard to tell whether you will experience withdrawals or how serious they may be. Tapering is not encouraged on this forum but I will say that I succesfully tapered a couple times in my life. It requires extreme discipline and you still will go through some uncomfortable times. I drank the least amount possible to keep my heart rate , blood pressure and shaking under control.
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Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 8,674
Ditto the above- we cannot tell you what your experience will be.
This is a common topic - debate- on here and I am squarely in the camp of cold turkey. I had a VERY serious vodka habit by the end and went through extreme withdrawal, symptoms, etc.
IMO tapering is most often a mental game an alcoholic can play with themselves- the final quit always being a moving target.
Perhaps go see your dr?
This is a common topic - debate- on here and I am squarely in the camp of cold turkey. I had a VERY serious vodka habit by the end and went through extreme withdrawal, symptoms, etc.
IMO tapering is most often a mental game an alcoholic can play with themselves- the final quit always being a moving target.
Perhaps go see your dr?
Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 25,373
Yeah, I did a taper.
August, while I agree with your points, you did cold-turkey with medical help, right? You didn't just quit without medication after a handle of vodka every two days, did you?
I was drinking a fifth every 2/3 days. I went to two drinks on my first taper day. Second taper day I went to one drink. Third day, about a half shot of rum. Then I poured the rest down the drain and suffered the rest of the withdrawals without medication. I was just dumb and didn't know it could have been dangerous.
I decided I was ready to stop and then treated symptoms for those three days (extreme heart racing and anxiety.) I figured if I was gonna be done, best make it quick. I guess it could have gone badly for me. I'm just glad to never have to do it again.
August, while I agree with your points, you did cold-turkey with medical help, right? You didn't just quit without medication after a handle of vodka every two days, did you?
I was drinking a fifth every 2/3 days. I went to two drinks on my first taper day. Second taper day I went to one drink. Third day, about a half shot of rum. Then I poured the rest down the drain and suffered the rest of the withdrawals without medication. I was just dumb and didn't know it could have been dangerous.
I decided I was ready to stop and then treated symptoms for those three days (extreme heart racing and anxiety.) I figured if I was gonna be done, best make it quick. I guess it could have gone badly for me. I'm just glad to never have to do it again.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 5
[QUOTE=biminiblue;6807712]Yeah, I did a taper.
"August, while I agree with your points, you did cold-turkey with medical help, right? You didn't just quit without medication after a handle of vodka every two days, did you?"
Yes I did it cold turkey without knowing at all what alcohol withdrawal is. I just thought I would quit. Went a whole month without it but had a panic attack and sleep paralysis every single night. Btw I also suffer from clinical depression and she (my therapist) said it might be alcohol withdrawal and to try to taper by half instead of go cold turkey and said that If I experienced bad symptoms to come back.
After she made me aware of what alcohol withdrawal ive just been kind of scared of possible seizures and things. It so easily relieves me from depression that it is very addicting, somehow I managed to half it everyday but I need to know if actually works to keep going
"August, while I agree with your points, you did cold-turkey with medical help, right? You didn't just quit without medication after a handle of vodka every two days, did you?"
Yes I did it cold turkey without knowing at all what alcohol withdrawal is. I just thought I would quit. Went a whole month without it but had a panic attack and sleep paralysis every single night. Btw I also suffer from clinical depression and she (my therapist) said it might be alcohol withdrawal and to try to taper by half instead of go cold turkey and said that If I experienced bad symptoms to come back.
After she made me aware of what alcohol withdrawal ive just been kind of scared of possible seizures and things. It so easily relieves me from depression that it is very addicting, somehow I managed to half it everyday but I need to know if actually works to keep going
Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 25,373
Originally Posted by Alc123 
Yes I did it cold turkey without knowing at all what alcohol withdrawal is. I just thought I would quit. Went a whole month without it but had a panic attack and sleep paralysis every single night. Btw I also suffer from clinical depression and she said it might be alcohol withdrawal and to try to taper by half instead of go cold turkey and said that If I experienced bad symptoms to come back.
If you would have stuck with the sobriety the symptoms would have died down in time, not necessarily in a month, though. I had a lot of discomfort, anxiety, jumpiness and fear in the first few months. The panic attacks are pretty common, I had to talk myself off a few ledges in early days. I've heard others talk of the sleep paralysis.
I'd say get off as soon as possible and then keep coming to this site or go to AA or some other meetings or counseling in order to get through the next difficult few months.
It's not easy and there are dues to be paid in the way of sleeplessness, increased anxiety, depression, and other symptoms - BUT that will get better with continuous sobriety.
No Dogma Please
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: SoCal
Posts: 2,562
I did a medical detox using diazepam tapered over a period of two weeks, as strongly suggested by my doctor (psychiatrist trained in substance abuse and mood disorders). Tried self tapering, and at-home benzo taper. Both failed. Complete cold turkey was considered very risky in my case, and as I had the resources to do my detox as the start of inpatient rehab, I saw no reason to go pure cold turkey. However, people have done this successfully as in Augusts's post above, although I believe she was monitored or at least had access to doctors during her detox.
I was at 15-25 standard drinks per day, around the clock, which I'd been doing for months. You were at about 10-11 standard drinks a day, which is definitely significant. How you will react and what sort of symptoms you will have cannot be predicted with a reasonable amount of precision. At the very least I believe you should let a doctor know what you are attempting to do.
Tapering didn't work for me, and per the experiences I've read on this board, rarely works for others. For my big quit I used medical detox, the times I had significant abstinent periods previously in my life I cold-turkeyed.
I also suffer from bipolar disorder, which would have exacerbated withdrawal induced anxiety and mood swings, although I hadn't been taking my medication for a long time. Once sober, I got back on it and it's working wonders.
I was at 15-25 standard drinks per day, around the clock, which I'd been doing for months. You were at about 10-11 standard drinks a day, which is definitely significant. How you will react and what sort of symptoms you will have cannot be predicted with a reasonable amount of precision. At the very least I believe you should let a doctor know what you are attempting to do.
Tapering didn't work for me, and per the experiences I've read on this board, rarely works for others. For my big quit I used medical detox, the times I had significant abstinent periods previously in my life I cold-turkeyed.
I also suffer from bipolar disorder, which would have exacerbated withdrawal induced anxiety and mood swings, although I hadn't been taking my medication for a long time. Once sober, I got back on it and it's working wonders.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 5
"Are you in the UK? In the US I don't think tapering is recommended.
I'd say get off as soon as possible and then just keep coming to this site or go to AA or some other meetings or counseling in order to get through the next difficult few months.
It's not easy and there are dues to be paid in the way of sleeplessness, increased anxiety, depression, and other symptoms - BUT that will get better with continuous sobriety."
I am in the US. I did my 4 drinks in the morning. Guess I will do my 2 tomorrow morning and then stop and hope my sleep and panic is better. It could just be my clinical depression but I hope you are right. I was just terrified of having a seizure in the night (cant afford a doctor) and living alone and having no friends.
I'd say get off as soon as possible and then just keep coming to this site or go to AA or some other meetings or counseling in order to get through the next difficult few months.
It's not easy and there are dues to be paid in the way of sleeplessness, increased anxiety, depression, and other symptoms - BUT that will get better with continuous sobriety."
I am in the US. I did my 4 drinks in the morning. Guess I will do my 2 tomorrow morning and then stop and hope my sleep and panic is better. It could just be my clinical depression but I hope you are right. I was just terrified of having a seizure in the night (cant afford a doctor) and living alone and having no friends.
Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 25,373
Originally Posted by Alc123
I am in the US. I did my 4 drinks in the morning. Guess I will do my 2 tomorrow morning and then stop and hope my sleep and panic is better. It could just be my clinical depression but I hope you are right. I was just terrified of having a seizure in the night (cant afford a doctor) and living alone and having no friends.
I needed to be around people to quell my fear in the early months, and AA meetings helped. Call the local number and talk to someone. Don't let this fear of a seizure and fear of anxiety stop you from getting help. They've seen it and heard it all before.
We are here, but if you want to be around people and can't afford a doctor, that's what I would do.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 5
My depression was for several years before I started drinking. So, I doubt it will get better with sobriety. It might though, who knows. I will try the AA thing. Thanks for the help. I still hope this relapse causes no withdrawal, after that I can find ways to distract myself having done it so far in life.
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Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 8,674
Originally Posted by biminiblue
Yeah, I did a taper.
August, while I agree with your points, you did cold-turkey with medical help, right? You didn't just quit without medication after a handle of vodka every two days, did you?
I was drinking a fifth every 2/3 days. I went to two drinks on my first taper day. Second taper day I went to one drink. Third day, about a half shot of rum. Then I poured the rest down the drain and suffered the rest of the withdrawals without medication. I was just dumb and didn't know it could have been dangerous.
I decided I was ready to stop and then treated symptoms for those three days (extreme heart racing and anxiety.) I figured if I was gonna be done, best make it quick. I guess it could have gone badly for me. I'm just glad to never have to do it again.
August, while I agree with your points, you did cold-turkey with medical help, right? You didn't just quit without medication after a handle of vodka every two days, did you?
I was drinking a fifth every 2/3 days. I went to two drinks on my first taper day. Second taper day I went to one drink. Third day, about a half shot of rum. Then I poured the rest down the drain and suffered the rest of the withdrawals without medication. I was just dumb and didn't know it could have been dangerous.
I decided I was ready to stop and then treated symptoms for those three days (extreme heart racing and anxiety.) I figured if I was gonna be done, best make it quick. I guess it could have gone badly for me. I'm just glad to never have to do it again.
Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: California
Posts: 1,428
Cold turkey can be very dangerous. First withdrawal I did not have DTs but protracted
horrible symptoms including high blood pressure. Next time around I took benzos. I have been sober at least a year now. If I had to do it over again I definitely would have done a medical detox from the get go. Please check in with a Dr. for guidance
horrible symptoms including high blood pressure. Next time around I took benzos. I have been sober at least a year now. If I had to do it over again I definitely would have done a medical detox from the get go. Please check in with a Dr. for guidance
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,432
Hi Alc
No one here can tell you what your withdrawals will be like because it's such an
individual thing - depends on a lot of variables.
If you're concerned about it, the best thing to do is see your Dr and have them check you over.
D
No one here can tell you what your withdrawals will be like because it's such an
individual thing - depends on a lot of variables.
If you're concerned about it, the best thing to do is see your Dr and have them check you over.
D
D♭7♭9♯9♯11♭13
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 336
Originally Posted by August252015
Ditto the above- we cannot tell you what your experience will be.
This is a common topic - debate- on here and I am squarely in the camp of cold turkey. I had a VERY serious vodka habit by the end and went through extreme withdrawal, symptoms, etc.
IMO tapering is most often a mental game an alcoholic can play with themselves- the final quit always being a moving target.
Perhaps go see your dr?
This is a common topic - debate- on here and I am squarely in the camp of cold turkey. I had a VERY serious vodka habit by the end and went through extreme withdrawal, symptoms, etc.
IMO tapering is most often a mental game an alcoholic can play with themselves- the final quit always being a moving target.
Perhaps go see your dr?
What does a doctor give an alcoholic who wants to stop drinking? Benzodiazepines because they are cross tolerant to alcohol and can remove alcohol right away without dangerous withdrawals. What does a doctor suggest to a benzodiazepine addict? A taper of benzodiazepines, the very substance they're addicted to.
I've tapered 5-6 times successfully (that is, breaking the physiological dependence with no withdrawals at all). It's not a mental game of shifting the quit day; it's a specific schedule mapped out to zero that's real ****ing hard to stick to in the early goings, but hey, so is abruptly stopping.
The reason why tapering of alcohol is no longer the medical preferred inpatient treatment of quitting alcohol is because benzos are not as harmful to the liver and kidneys, so they're removing the most toxic chemical immediately.
Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 980
I’ve had to taper a few times, but you have to REALLY be committed to the taper. The taper to me meant being able to move, eat healthy, drink tons of h20, smoothies etc. Without the taper I could be in bed dry heaving and throwing up every ounce of hydration (water, juice) I tried to get.
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,432
Both cold turkey and tapering can be risky without professional supervision.
The best advice for anyone worried about withdrawal is still to see their Dr.
Most of us here are not medical professionals, and even those few members who are, should not be recommending any courses of action.
We are a peer support group here.
We simply cannot give medical advice. You need to see a medical professional for that.
Thanks for your understanding
Dee
Moderator
SR
The best advice for anyone worried about withdrawal is still to see their Dr.
Most of us here are not medical professionals, and even those few members who are, should not be recommending any courses of action.
10. Medical Advice: No Posts giving medical advice, medication advice, or psychiatric advice. Do not use the forum to give or ask for professional medical or psychiatric advice. If you are a medical professional, please remember the forums and chat are for peer support only and not to be used for distributing professional medical advice and/or using the forum to represent your professional services. Medical and Psychiatric advice includes giving a diagnosis, treatment plan, medication advice and dosage suggestions, over the counter and natural home remedies that should be approved by medical professionals. Detox can be dangerous and life threatening at times. Please consult with your physician.
We simply cannot give medical advice. You need to see a medical professional for that.
Thanks for your understanding
Dee
Moderator
SR
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Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 8,674
I always caveat my cold turkey choice with "IME and IMO" and such. It's certainly not the choice for many. For ME, I was DONE with alcohol and could not stand the thought of another drop into my body. Yes, I suffered greatly- but again, I would do it the same way- the suffering i went through AFTER quitting is not something I am ever willing to go through again. It was also a small price to pay for what I did to my body. Perhaps I sound pugilistic or such to some folks, but again....this is just what I chose.
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