1. Community
  2. Mental health
  3. Alcohol Consumption

Tapering off from a bottle of red every night

Posted , 9 users are following.

g40203
g40203

Hi all, I currently drink a bottle of red wine each evening and perhaps 1.5 bottle each Saturday & Sunday and have done so for many years. Now and again I will take Mon-Thur off but not often, so i know I can do it but lack the willpower to do this each week due to habits.

I really want to cut down or ideally cut it out altogether but have read about possible dangers from just stopping outright so thought I could taper it out over a weekend or so. I thought of changing to Guinness this weekend, doing 3 cans tonight, 2 cans tomorrow and 1 can Sunday, is that a sensible approach for a wine drinker?

I wouldn't worry so much but this winter and for several years now, each time I catch what appears to be a cold, I stop drinking. The following nights are always terrible with night sweats, confusion and racing mind, I wonder if its not the actual cold at all but withdrawal from the alcohol?

Any advice much appreciated, I've tried hypnotherapy downloads such as Georgia Foster and more recently Alcohol explained by William Porter, but not with much success. I'm looking at Give Up Alcohol by Mark Bowden but hesitant due to failure previously..

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • Joanna-SMUKLtd
    Joanna-SMUKLtd g40203

    Posted

    It certainly doesn't hurt to try, but if you find yourself struggling so much that you can't stay away from the drink, or that your brain obsesses and won't leave you alone even though you are trying hard to forget about drinking, then you may want to consider the medication nalmefene (if you are somewhere across Europe).

    If you google NICE Guidance TA325 Nalmefene and then scroll to a short section called 'Information for the public', then you can read who it is for and see if you think it might help you to reduce your drinking.

    • g40203
      g40203 Joanna-SMUKLtd

      Posted

      Thank you Joanna, really appreciate your advice. 4 days later and I've done ok...ish. Have had no wine at all, 8 cans of Guinness and a small single malt as a night cap.

      Still have cravings though but where possible wanted to avoid the prescription drug route, since having an ulcer many years ago I haven't taken anything from doctor or indeed over the counter, just don't get along with them for whatever reason.

      Read your information, very interesting and something I didn't know about so I am armed with that method going forward if needed.

      Again many thanks for your support, I'm going to attempt to keep busy after work to avoid the temptations of cracking a bottle open due to habit..

  • Guest
    Guest g40203

    Posted

    Only thing that will work is TSM (The Sinclair Model)...you drink to get sober. Go to the C Three Foundation website and check out the youtube videos. I'm amazed at how well this is working for me after just 1 month. I actually have hope now! The documentary ONE LITTLE PILL is outstanding and is free on amazon prime.

    • Robin2015
      Robin2015 Guest

      Posted

      Free is great ref one little pill on Amazon! Good advice again😁

  • JulieAnne101
    JulieAnne101 g40203

    Posted

    Hi G4

    Joanna has given you some excellent information there. My OH is following this course and is doing very well.

    Having seen my OH withdraw from alcohol many times, although I am not a Dr I would say you have experienced withdrawal symptoms. Please be aware if you withdraw too quickly you can have a seizure. It is life threatening. We were always advised by the docs to reduce by no more than 10% a day. You need to count how many units you are consuming in 24 hours. It won't make any difference swapping from wine to beer, although beer does tend to have a lower volume.

    I still believe you should follow Joanna's advice, it is very difficult to reduce by 10% a day. OH failed many times, he was so very ill

    Kind Regards

    JulieAnne x

  • Nat666
    Nat666 g40203

    Posted

    Hi g40203

    Often with the best will in the world it is hard to taper back as JA said but there are people who can and do do this successfully .So as Joanna says it may be worth a try. I wasn't one of those people who could cut back my brain would niggle at me to keep drinking and as soon as the alcohol touched my lips I was on my sad way again with the powerful urge to carry on regardless !

    I would urge you , if tapering isn't successful, to Google the information that Joanna has provided. Nalmefene or Naltrexone used with the Sinclair method has helped so many of us on here to cut our drinking back successfully and gradually to very safe levels with the desire to drink becoming less and less. Many people becoming completely abstinent . Wishing you the very very best , keep coming back :-)

  • Robin2015
    Robin2015 g40203

    Posted

    Good reply from Nat and Joanna. Medication is the way forward for certain. I stopped 5 years ago without medication but this is very dangerous and medication is safer. I always suggest to seek medical advice 😁 I drank A LOT and for 30+ years and know that I could not trust myself to have just one or two drinks socially. We would love to guide and assist you and gradual reduction with medical advice and medication is the way forward. Regards Robin

  • g40203
    g40203

    Posted

    Thank you to everyone who replied for your support and advice, really very much appreciated. The tapering seems to be going ok, no wine imbibed and can honestly say for whatever reason don't feel like it either, my partner has had a couple of bottles over the weekend and I wasn't tempted by a glug or two..

    Felt out of sorts all day Monday but that has now gone too, hoping today will be an alcohol free day, Ive had a few cans of Guinness to taper so here's hoping smile 

    Again thank you for your advice, nice to have that as back me up should I need it

Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.