Tapering Alcohol

[StayStrong]

I knew I shouldn't drink and went to see a girl I loved and had a great time. It was sensitive because if I screwed up again she was done with me. Well I thought I could but on the last night I had 2 pints vodka when she didn't know and things blew up. Was upset that I did that after and basically went on a 2 week bender having around 30 beers per day. Long story short knew I had to taper, yet again. So this has been my taper schedule and where I'm at now. Question is, do you think it's ok to go CT today or should I have 1 beer at the end of the day?

Day 1
Beer 1 - 10:10am
Beer 2 - 11:21am
Beer 3 & 4 - 12:23 pm
Beer 5 - 2:18pm
Beer 6 - 3:16pm
Beer 7 - 4:22pm
Beer 8 - 5:39pm
Beer 9 - 7:13pm
Beer 10 - 8:26pm
Beer 11 - 10:34 pm
Beer 12 - 12:30am

Day 2
Beer 1 - 9:07am
Beer 2 - 11:10am
Beer 3 - 1:12pm
Beer 4 - 3:33pm
Beer 5 - 5:50pm
6,7,8 quickly at 6pm - attack
9 at 6:10 - attack
.25
Totally by 6:10 is 9.25 beers
Had ~ .75 to equal 10 at 10:23pm
10.25 at 11:07pm

Day 3
3/4 beer - 10:08am
1 full beer 10:17am
1.75 beers by 10:17am
2.75 beers by 10:37am
Beer 3.75 - 1:23pm
Beer 4.75 - 4:15pm
Beer 5.75 - 7:06pm
Beer 6.75 - 10:15pm

Day 4
Beer 1 - 11:56pm
Beer 2 - 2:54pm
Beer 3 - 5:59pm

Day 5

 

[T. Calderone]

In my opinion, it's too difficult to taper alcohol due to it's short half life. How long have you been drinking heavily? Or was it just that one time with 2 pints of vodka? That taper schedule looks hard to follow and that's coming from an alcoholic like me.

If you can adjust it so you're not drinking so many beers, that might be helpful. You don't need 12 a day. You could start the taper later during the day instead of first thing in the morning. I don't know how frequent you drink or the quantity of your typical day so I can only guess.

 

[StayStrong]

My apologies. That is my ACTUAL taper schedule. It represents what I have done and where I am at. Today is day 5. I had those 2 pints and then lost track after because I got on a plane and kept drinking more all the way home. Them spend a little over 2 weeks at approximately 30 beers a day. This represents after that point and what I have done the past 4 days. Hope that helps

 

[Abject]

I doubt you'll get withdrawals if all you had were three beers.

 

[T. Calderone]

How do you feel now? Any shakes, sweating or gastrointestinal symptoms? I've been through alcohol withdrawals and it was awful.

 

[blahman8000]

What is preventing you from going to the hospital to detox? It's just such a delicate health situation to do this alone, and there is help available. I wouldn't wish the withdrawals I've been through on my worst enemy. Whatever you decide, I wish you luck. I admire your decision to stop drinking, but please take care of yourself.

 

[PriestTheyCalledHim]

I used a tapering technique that frequently gets posted and linked here on bluelight.

I did not die or have health problems from tapering, or even withdrawal but I would not recommend DIY (do it yourself) tapering to anyone. People have died from DIY alcohol tapering and alcohol withdrawal. Looking back I was very foolish not to have told anyone like my parents, friends, or even a doctor what I was doing or that I had a problem with alcohol. My mother and one other relative knew I had an issue with it but they did not say anything to me since it just would have made me angry at the time, and I would have kept drinking which is what I did when someone else said this to me.

I also believed or thought at the time that in order to be an alcoholic you had to be physically addicted to alcohol. I still would drink and abuse drugs and drink way too much alone, on weekends, on vacation, or when at a party.

I did realize I have a problem with alcohol and if I did not stop it would just get 1,000X worse. It's been two years this month. Good luck.

 

[dankplantgrower]

Hospitals dont automatically accept you and detox you just because youre withdrawing from alcohol. I was shaking like a Parkinsons patient at the county hospital and after a saline IV the doctor just gave me tapering instructions and moved on to the next patient.

 

[blahman8000]

Hospitals dont automatically accept you and detox you just because youre withdrawing from alcohol. I was shaking like a Parkinsons patient at the county hospital and after a saline IV the doctor just gave me tapering instructions and moved on to the next patient.

Sorry to hear that. That must have been terrible. I've been to detox several times, in different hospitals, and they always admitted me in and kept me for a few days. First thing they always do, if I'm in withdrawals, is that they inject me with Ativan to relieve withdrawals and prevent seizures.

I suppose I'd suggest to the OP of this thread to find a hospital that does offer detox. Make a quick phone call if you have to. People in withdrawal are most definitely sick, and should not be sent away after simply being given fluids. It requires medical supervision. Trust me.

Anyway, if you're still tapering, I hope it's going well. Keep us updated.

 

[dankplantgrower]

Did you have insurance though Blahman? Unfortunately many people dont have it. I imagine a medically supervised detox in a hospital for several days with a medication schedule is going to cost a lot of money. I hope all is well with you bud.

OP are you shaky or showing any signs of DTs? How much were you drinking before the 2 pints that one night, and the 2 weeks of 30 packs daily? Thats a helluva bender but 2 weeks is a relatively short duration in the big scheme of things, I imagine you can work through it without too much trouble/danger.

Ive tapered several times, usually from a 5th a day (750ml) vodka habit. I cut it by 2 shots every day (a 5th contains about 18 shots), I imagine you can do the same with cans of beer and complete a successful taper. Let us know what happens.

 

[blahman8000]

Did you have insurance though Blahman? Unfortunately many people dont have it. I imagine a medically supervised detox in a hospital for several days with a medication schedule is going to cost a lot of money. I hope all is well with you bud.

The last few times I didn't have medical insurance at all. And yes, I have a pile of medical bills. I do know that one of the first things a nurse will ask you in an emergency room is if you have insurance. Even if you say no, you ought to be treated. That is standard but I can't speak for where you've been. If you are not treated, then they are not doing their job.

I owe money, yes, but it will have been worth it. Health comes first. We've all heard that before, but it's important and it's true. I have had seizures, I have been near death. All through withdrawal. At an emergency room, and at a hospital, their job is to help you.

Again, OP, I hope you're doing okay.

 

[dankplantgrower]

Much love Blahman it feels so ... complete? relieved?.... to talk to someone who has been through what Ive been through with alcohol dependence and knows what Im feeling. Thank God Ive never had a seizure or stroke but only because Ive managed to either taper for a family member or lucky enough to find a benzo addict who could share for a week or so. Also did 2 inpatient rehabs that sadly didnt last. I still live in fear of seizure or stroke when I run out of money, in fact I can bonafide say I am holding down a job right now for the sole purpose of not just paying nominal rent, but moreover being able to afford the vodka to keep me straight and worry free. I slug a half pint (or about 4 shots, almost a coffee mug full) to get the shakes off first thing in the morning and Im drinking roughly a 5th or more lately to get through the day. I had drank a 5th before noon today and close to another pint this evening and I havent even got buzzed . Got another half pint left but I have to save it for when I wake up in the middle of the night shaking and hating life. Pathetic really. Hit me up bro Im always here.

 

[blahman8000]

Much love Blahman it feels so ... complete? relieved?.... to talk to someone who has been through what Ive been through with alcohol dependence and knows what Im feeling. Thank God Ive never had a seizure or stroke but only because Ive managed to either taper for a family member or lucky enough to find a benzo addict who could share for a week or so. Also did 2 inpatient rehabs that sadly didnt last. I still live in fear of seizure or stroke when I run out of money, in fact I can bonafide say I am holding down a job right now for the sole purpose of not just paying nominal rent, but moreover being able to afford the vodka to keep me straight and worry free. I slug a half pint (or about 4 shots, almost a coffee mug full) to get the shakes off first thing in the morning and Im drinking roughly a 5th or more lately to get through the day. I had drank a 5th before noon today and close to another pint this evening and I havent even got buzzed . Got another half pint left but I have to save it for when I wake up in the middle of the night shaking and hating life. Pathetic really. Hit me up bro Im always here.

We don't have to treat ourselves this way, man. None of us do. We're dealing with our own lives now. And it's scary as hell when your life is on the line. Anyone who says anything else has no idea what we've been through. The other day I was ready to quit my job, or at least ask for a leave for until Monday, so that I could detox. Instead, because of my family's opinion on the matter, I went into work with shakes, sweats, all of that. We can't keep doing this. I hope that the OP is doing well, also. This is a tough addiction to conquer. Addiction itself, in any form, can be horrific. Like you said to me though, dankplantgrower, message me whenever you'd like.

StayStrong, I hope you'll revisit us and let us know how you are, but if not, I just hope you're doing well. Good luck with everything.

 

[forestskog]

How exactly I tapered off alcohol

After inspiration from you and this forum, I recently completed a successful taper. Quick background, I have been drinking every day, about 75cl of whiskey plus a few beers on average. Last 8 months have been bad. Drinking afternoons and evenings, often mornings. Main physical downsides were morning shakes, until recently started getting what I can only assume is peripheral neuropathy, which was terrifying and spurred me to this.

My taper: I procrastinated a lot, saying I would start the taper "tomorrow" for 3 months straight. So in a way my taper was over three months. I'd "taper" a day and go back up. BUT I did eventually do it. I Googled "how to taper off alcohol" and found the minnesota alternatives site gave the clearest taper schedule.

I ignored the advice to move to beer for the taper and failed every day. I only made it when I moved to beer.

My baseline was 20 drinks a day. My PLAN was:

Day 1: 16 beers (1 every 1.5 hrs)
Day 2: 10 beers (every few hours)
Then reduce by 2 beers a day, so Day 3: 8, then 6, then 4, 2 and 0.

This plan was taken from the Minnesota site for people who drink 20+ drinks per day.

What ACTUALLY happened:

Day 1: 15
Day 2: 10
Day 3: 12
Day 4: 16
Day 5: 11
Day 6: 22 (!!!)
Day 7: 16.5
Day 8: 7
Day 9: 6.5
Day 10: 5.5
Day 11: 6.5
Day 12: 4.5
Day 13: 6
Day 14: ZERO and have been clean for 23 days.

As you can see it was messy. BUT I did make it and very glad that I chose this route. My last quit I had wild hallucinations.
Key points for me: Finally switching to beer for the taper really did help a lot and may help you if you're more used to the hard stuff.
I did start drinking in the morning at first. I did also concentrate my drinks (not evenly spaced) to get a bit of a buzz. Risky and it made me slip (like the sudden jump to 22 beers).
After the 22 beer incident, I made sure to ONLY buy the amount I was allotted for the day, not have a 24 pack and ration it over days.

Day 23 since I quit. Main benefits: EXTREME anxiety from last months 75% better. Not convinced I'm about to drop dead every second. Feeling vastly better physically. Neuropathy symptoms gone 90% (they were terrifying). I hope this may help someone. last time I quit cold turkey and went into serious hallucinations so overall I am happy I did this. Plus took the fear of DTs away.

 

[bobby1978]

I don't understand how people can taper off alcohol, it just seems so difficult. I had to quit altogether and go on benzos.

Don't get me wrong, if someone can do it, great, I actually admire the tenacity. I just can't see how I could do it.

 

[T.E.D.]

Tapering alcohol is really difficult to do. If you can get some 1mg Ativan stop drinking and taper from4 mg on day 1 down to nothing by day 6 that's what detox did for me. A five day benzo taper. Also a blood pressure cuff and some clonidine can keep you safe if your blood pressure starts to spike. Better yet go to detox. Sometimes this best solution is the most simple one. Detox is not that bad.