I would like to reduce or even stop my alcohol consumption. What advice do you have for success and what are the withdrawal symptoms?

Question

Hello, I started drinking alcohol regularly a few years ago due to family and personal issues. Now I feel ready to cut down and eventually stop my drinking. This is the first time I've tried to quit and I want to do everything I can to prepare myself and succeed. What tools or advice would you give me?

Thi Lan Thi Duong · Accepted Answer

Hello First of all, I would like to congratulate you on your desire to stop drinking and educate yourself about it. The first thing I would advise you to do is to set your goal regarding alcohol consumption and then plan your strategy to decrease consumption in the next few days to meet your goal. In addition to goals, you can also identify your reasons for wanting to stop drinking, the advantages and disadvantages of drinking or not drinking, to keep you motivated throughout the process. You can use this alcohol withdrawal guide to inspire you.   Suddenly stopping alcohol use can cause withdrawal symptoms. Mild symptoms include nausea, tremors, anxiety. Moderate symptoms include visual or auditory hallucinations and seizures. The most serious and fatal symptom (especially if untreated) is delirium tremens (confusion, disorientation, fever). It should be noted that a small portion of patients experience delirium tremens. To minimize withdrawal symptoms, it is safest to taper off. I recommend that you (check out this patient guide for more details): Drink glasses of sparkling or flavored water between alcoholic drinks Space as much as possible between alcoholic drinks Eat when you drink to slow the absorption of alcohol Finally, it's important not to do any of this alone and to talk to your doctor or pharmacist, who can walk with you.  It should be noted that there are drug treatments to help you as well. True to your heart, Lan Thi Duong, pharmacy student (supervised by Alexandre Chagnon, pharmacist)