Question about tapering off.

[JuniorNA]

Hello all, had a quick question that i wanted to run by all of you. My friends and I were talking about the tapering off process...and we ran into a head butt that none of us could agree on.

Example. If you are taking 6-8 10/325 Percocet a day.

Friend A. Said to wait until 6pm to take your first 2. And only take 4 instead of six. Stay on 4 for a few days, then dwindle down to 3, then 2..etc. But start your first no earlier than 6pm.

Friend B. Said instead of waiting until 6pm. Take 2 at 2pm, and 2 at 6pm. That way you are satisfying your craving, but not actually feeling anything...and giving yourself time to space it out.

Friend C. Also said to take 2 at 2pm and 2 at 6pm...but in addition to that statement. They said to try to hold out as long as possible. Example. Take 2 at 2pm ,then wait as long as you can to take the other two. Closer to 8pm was his example.

Friend D. Said to take them all at once. So if you're going to take 4, choose a time to take them all, and thats it. It would be your choice to take them either at 2pm, or 6pm. However, if you do take them at 2pm...when the feeling goes away...you are NOT to take any more since you already had all your eggs in one basket .


This is what I need all of you for! I have a friends group to discuss these things, while we play cards and smoke cigars..and of course, this website has helped me in many ways, and educated me in even more ways.

what are youre thoughts on these 4 options?

thanks in advance!

hope everyone is having a good night!

[best]

My opinion...

Take none and go as long as you can and then take only one and go as long as you can. Get a lower limit of what you can tolerate as a start point and then taper down from there. If you are doing 10 now but find you can get through a day on 3. let 3 be your start point. Spread the 3 out through the day. "Opinion" as I am not a Dr.

There have been a few here at SR who have worked a tapering off. Maybe they will stop by and post what worked with them.

Cold turkey, done and over with is how many go through getting clean.

[JuniorNA]

Good post. That was not of the options they mentioned...which is great! I will keep them informed on all the great help I get from here.

I like the point that you go until you cant any longer, then give yourself 1 to help...

Thanks best.

[Phinneas]

I wish I could help, JRNA, but for me, it was all or nothing. I never had the strength to taper so I suffered CT. But I got through it.

Best advice about tapering of all? Go see your Dr. - one who is a trained addictionologist - for help.

Best of luck to you all.

[Chance]

My name is Vic and I am an addict! Very glad that I actually accept that and know that today. Probably dang lucky to be here and what a privilege it is. I haven't had to take a Drug (alcohol is a drug) since May 25, 2006 and for that I am extremely grateful.

I have yet been able to experience any kind of tapering off method. I have tried every way, just use twice a day, just use every other day, not drinking whiskey, doing only pot, etc. But each time that I try that I get deeper and deeper into everything.

The only way that WE have been able to do it is just to do it. Tapering off just prolongs everything in my opinion. The last time I was using, I was using a 8 ball of ICE and 5 - 8 balls of crack/coke a day. Now that alone should have killed me. There is a reason that I am still alive. I should be here that is for sure. Now today I believe that I have like 45 days clean. I haven't been to treatment although I treat my disease everyday with a meeting. Now if someone like me can put down that much dope in a day, and stop it all Just For Today, then anyone can get clean if they want it.

Hope you the best in whatever you decide.

Love Vic

[cain11]

Here's what my doctor suggested...
Create a plan where you are taking the pills on a regular timeframe, reducing by a pill every 3-4 days. So if you're on 6 pills per day, start by dropping to 5. 24 hours divided by 5 is every 4 1/2 hours. Do this for 3 or 4 days, then drop to 1 pill every 6 hours. Then 3-4 days later, drop to 1 pill every 8 hours. Then every 12 hours, then 1 per day. Of course, you could stretch it out even further my dropping the dose from 10 to 5, by doing half a pill. According to my doctor, so long as you give yourself a couple (he said 3-5) days in between drops, it will minimize the withdrawal effects. I did this and it did help. You will still feel like crap, but it should be tolerable.

The only alternative is cold turkey, which promises to be hell on earth for several days. Much like the worst flu you've ever had...only worse.

[amymarie]

I did what Cain said...
I was at around 25 - 30 per day and I (and my ex) dropped down to 20 per day for day one...I was in pain, but nothing like detox before. I then went 2 days at 20, 2 days at 18 etc....I knocked them down by 2's until I was left with 5 pills...and I flushed those 5....
Good luck.

[GeorgiaPeach]

This is a very good question and it is very helpful for me with my AH!! Thanks again!!!

GP