Alcohol tapering

[CindyinCR]

Hello,

I haven't been here for awhile. I am so happy that bluelight.org is still here!

I am beginning an alcohol taper. I plan to drop from 6oz of vodka a day to zero in a kind way. No cold turkey.

I have supplies if needed. I am prescribed .5 clonazepam and 20mg furosemide if I have high BP, HR or jitters. And I am on regularly prescribed high dose gabapentin for a crushed sciatic nerve so I have that buffer on board.

Is dropping an ounce ok every two days or is this too aggressive? Suggestions are appreciated.

 

[Jung and Stoopid]

Are you male or female? Have you already tapered down from a larger amount? 6oz of vodka per day shouldn't cause significant withdrawal, but might for a petite female.

Have you tried to cold turkey?

You can really tackle this in many ways without the much looming danger.

Personally, I find it damn near impossible to taper below 6 drinks, I just cold turkey at that point. But everyone is different.

 

[CindyinCR]

I am can elder female. I weigh about 168lbs. Please help me understand why taper below 6 hasn't worked?

 

[Jung and Stoopid]

I am can elder female. I weigh about 168lbs. Please help me understand why taper below 6 hasn't worked?

Considering you are bother elderly and a female please disregard my initial post. Both of these factors increase the complexity of the situation and dependency on alcohol.

Have you talked to your doctor about this? Or is it something you are keeping close to the chest? This is really something that needs doctor's supervision, particularly in your case.

However, you do have the tools needed to detox relatively safely at home, but I can't conscientiously encourage you to to that without consulting a doctor first. Some other things you are going to want are B complex vitamins (especially thiamine), and antioxidants.

Personally, I cannot taper below 6 because I have been a severe alcoholic in the past. If someone gave me 3 or 4 beers then cut me off I would punch them in the neck. But that's just me, it's a psychological thing. That doesn't mean you can't successfully taper. It's just something I can't do.

 

[CindyinCR]

I do have b complex and additional thiamine. Thank you. I live in the remote mountains of Costa Rica. And I am poor, and would need cash for medical support - so that's not happening.

I understand that you or others are not Drs. here.

What I am trying to get to is the absolutely safest taper cycle that we know of: 1/8, 1/4, 1/2 oz every three days or some suggestion like that. I have withdrawn easily before but I am now 71 (which isn't old, old), and want to be careful. My biggest concern is managing fluid retention. The rest I know how to do, like BP elevation which never happens to me. Because of fluid retention my BP can actually trend low. Aldesterone. So I want to go snail slow with this.

So if anyone knows what a clinic might advise, and feels ok with loose suggestions I would appreciate it.

 

[Jung and Stoopid]

I do have b complex and additional thiamine. Thank you. I live in the remote mountains of Costa Rica. And I am poor, and would need cash for medical support - so that's not happening.

I understand that you or others are not Drs. here.

What I am trying to get to is the absolutely safest taper cycle that we know of: 1/8, 1/4, 1/2 oz every three days or some suggestion like that. I have withdrawn easily before but I am now 71 (which isn't old, old), and want to be careful. My biggest concern is managing fluid retention. The rest I know how to do, like BP elevation which never happens to me. Because of fluid retention my BP can actually trend low. Aldesterone. So I want to go snail slow with this.

So if anyone knows what a clinic might advise, and feels ok with loose suggestions I would appreciate it.

I am going to PM you. I can help you through this.