Is It Safe to Quit Drinking Cold Turkey?


Key Takeaways
- Stopping alcohol suddenly can cause life-threatening conditions.
- Withdrawal occurs due to the brain’s adjustment to long-term alcohol use.
- Gradual reduction of alcohol intake under medical supervision is safest.
Alcohol is one of the easiest substances to become addicted to. It’s also one of the hardest to quit due to being widely available.
Many alcoholics try to stop drinking abruptly or “quit cold turkey.” However, this often puts them at risk of serious consequences.
Is it Safe to Quit Drinking Cold Turkey?
No, quitting drinking cold turkey can lead to potentially life-threatening withdrawal symptoms. These can often result in metabolic problems or cardiac issues.
Additionally, there are various risks associated with quitting alcohol cold turkey. One of the most serious is alcoholic ketoacidosis.
Alcoholic ketoacidosis can result in heart problems like arrhythmias and sudden heart attacks. Although the condition can be life-threatening, it is treatable.
What is Delirium Tremens?
Delirium tremens (DTs) is a rapid onset of confusion usually caused by alcohol withdrawal. It’s characterized by shaking, confusion, hallucinations, and seizures.
DTs occur when the brain can’t readjust after someone stops drinking alcohol. This produces a state of temporary confusion that can lead to dangerous changes in how your brain regulates circulation and breathing.
This causes the body’s vital signs to shift dramatically, increasing the risk of heart attack, stroke, and death. Symptoms of DTs include:
- Trembling
- Headaches
- High blood pressure
- Anxiety
- Increased heart rate
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Why Do People Experience Alcohol Withdrawal?
Alcohol withdrawal happens when a person suddenly stops drinking after an extended period of heavy alcohol abuse. Many people with alcohol use disorder (AUD) experience withdrawal symptoms.
Alcohol slows down the central nervous system (CNS), so regularly exposing your brain to alcohol changes your brain chemistry. Your brain eventually stops creating certain chemicals that it receives from alcohol, leading to alcohol dependence and addiction.
If alcohol is suddenly withdrawn, the brain has to readjust to the lack of alcohol in your system. Mild to moderate withdrawal symptoms include:
- Trembling
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- Other physical and mental health problems
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Can You Stop Drinking Alcohol Safely?
If you try to quit cold turkey without any form of medical advice or assistance, the symptoms could become severe or dangerous. So consider seeking medical help.
However, one of the simplest ways to reduce alcohol consumption is to gradually lessen the number of drinks consumed with medical supervision. This is known as tapering.
For example, if you consume five glasses of wine daily, try cutting back to four for several days before reducing it to three, and so on. If tapering doesn’t work, you should consider a medical detox.
Why is Professionally Monitored Alcohol Detox Necessary?
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can appear quickly and aggressively, which is why it’s essential to detox with medical help. Detoxing is the beginning of any alcohol addiction treatment, and it involves flushing alcohol out of your body.
A detox should always be medically supervised to minimize the effects of alcohol withdrawal and help you feel comfortable. Withdrawal symptoms usually subside within 2 weeks of starting the detox.
However, they may persist longer depending on the severity of your addiction. Once your withdrawal symptoms subside, you can focus on other areas of recovery, such as therapy, counseling, and support group sessions.
How Can I Find a Good Alcohol Detox Program?
Finding an excellent treatment center for alcohol addiction is one of the best steps for a successful recovery. Look for high-quality rehab facilities that suites your needs to help you along your recovery journey.
Consider looking for treatment centers based on:
- Their accreditations
- The level of care they provide
- The awards they may have received
- Facilities and amenities
- Number of centers
- Substances and mental health conditions treated
- Insurance policy
Tips to Stop Drinking Safely
Some people are nervous about quitting drinking because they worry about the withdrawal symptoms during alcohol detoxification.
Here are 5 other tips to stop drinking safely:
- Change your environment: It may be that stress or peer pressure is influencing you to drink excessively
- Find new hobbies: If you drink alcohol for recreation, consider replacing that with healthier alternatives like exercise, sports, or volunteering
- Reach out to family and friends: It’s vital to have a support network to help you during your recovery journey
- Consider addiction treatment: The inability to control alcohol use is a sign of AUD which requires medical attention.
- Medication-assisted treatment (MAT): Drugs such as Naltrexone, Acamprosate, Metadoxine, and Disulfiram have been approved by the FDA to help reduce drinking
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- Canver et al. “Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome.” Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, 2024.
- Wilson, E. & Lader, M. “A review of the management of antidepressant discontinuation symptoms.” Ther Adv Psychopharmacol, 2015.
- Rahman A. & Paul M. “Delirium Tremens.” Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, 2024.
- Jesse et al. “Alcohol withdrawal syndrome: mechanisms, manifestations, and management.” Acta Neurol Scand, 2017.
- Kattimani, S. & Bharadwaj, B. “Clinical management of alcohol withdrawal: A systematic review.” Ind Psychiatry J, 2013.
- Day, E. & Daly, C. “Clinical management of the alcohol withdrawal syndrome.” Addiction, 2022.

