Fioricet taper - down to 1/2 pill, now what?

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MvingForwrd

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For the last year I have been taking both Vicodin and Fioricet daily for chronic pain, migraines and a neck injury. I want off this stuff - easier said than done with a pain condition - but I can't stand what the drugs are doing to me, and I want control of my life back.

I decided to get off the Fioricet first. For some reason, seemed like that one would be easier. I was taking three a day, and have tapered down to 1/2 a day, where I've been for a week. What I'm wondering, is at what point can I just stop? Should I taper a little further, and try breaking the pills into 1/4 for a week? That's kind of hard to do with Fioricet, as the pills are very thick, and very hard, and even a pill slicer has trouble making a decent cut.

I'd like to to try stopping now. I'm not afraid of the classic withdrawal symptoms (shakes, sweats, etc), but worry about seizuring. I've read so many horror stories about people who seizure after stopping narcotic pain meRAB. Is that something that is more likely to happen to someone who quits while at a higher dose? I'd like to say "No More" starting today, but don't want to do anything that could be dangerous. I've been trying to move slowly on this, but at some point, I HAVE to pull the plug altogether.

Thanks for any advice you might have. :)

Kathy
 
Thanks Secrets. Yeah, I am SO ready to flush these things. Tapering from the Vic will be harder, because I'm having rebound headaches (as well as the other pain), but I'm willing to give it a try. Even at low doses, these drugs can really mess up your head.

Kathy
 
You are correct, they really do mess with your head. My head still isn't completely straight since I have been clean. I know I will fight this addiction for the rest of my life and that sounRAB so overwhelming so I break it down to each day.. or if you have to...each hour or minute. There are some very wise people on this board who are a GoRABend... Listen to their worRAB of wisdom and they will steer you in the right direction. Then it's up to you to walk the walk! I believe in you!

You are worth this fight. No one deserves to be a slave to a bottle of pills! Keep posting! We will be here for you!
XOXOXOXOOX
 
sounRAB like the low dose taper is going to work. like you said its at higher doses . it seems the wd would be worce . so hang in there when in dout call you doctor. the mental addiction will be the worst. the feeling better again or craving it or something else. but you can do it .at about 2 weeks for me . its tough but getting better:)
 
Taper... taper... taper... That was what this group bashed into my head until I finally understood it and I tapered down to 1/4 pill a day (Percocets 10/325's) and jumped off. I should have tapered further. Maybe try tapering a little longer and don't take such big jumps (going from 1/2 pill to 1/4 pill is a 50% decrease - that's a lot for the body to handle). See how your body handles it, but try decreasing in the 10% - 20% range and see how you do. You'll still probably have some withdrawals eventually, but then lower you go before jumping off the slighter they should be.

Yes, now that I'm off the Percs, all of my old aches and pains are back and I just tapered off of the Cyrabalta last week (for nerve pain - neck injury also) and I have nerve pain in my hand and fingers now. I can live with it instead of having the personality of a wet mop while on the pain pills.

Good luck getting off of the drugs. I can honestly say that the feeling is wonderful and I'm enjoying life so much more now (I'm two months off now). Keep us informed and ask all of the questions you want here - someone will have an answer for you.
 
Thanks for the advice, Denon. I have plenty of pills left still, so there's no reason to hurry (other than mentally, wanting off). I'll try to keep taking it slowly. I also take Klonopin for my anxiety, and when I wanted to go down to a lower dose, my psych gave me similar advice, to go VERY slowly.

Thanks everyone for your help. I still have the vic to contend with after this, but, baby steps. Freeing myself of the Fioricet will be HUGE for me. One less bottle that I have to carry around, one less drug that I'm a slave to . . . it will be a major victory.

Kathy :)
 
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