It's been a long time and I want to stop!

[bbrian123]

I want ot stop taking opiates for back issues/failed surgery. I have been on them for 7-8 years. I currently take 15 mg oxycodone three times a day and 30 mg oxycontin at bedtime. Years ago, when I took less, I could taper off on occasion. After a theft of pills by a family meraber who was over to visit, I have looked back and realized that these drugs control my life. I do have legitimate back pain that is relieved with the meRAB, but could probably get by on less. My goal would be none at all and maybe try alternative therapies that have failed in the past, or relent and get that surgery the neurologist insists will do the trick. That's what she said last time though, and things were worse in my opinion,after she was done.
I tried to taper back a couple of times now, but I am experiencing anxiety and depression that go away when I take my regular dose. After searching about the topic, I find I may be in for a battle unlike any I have ever taken on before. I can handle the physical symtoms, but the emotional ones caught me off guard. Very powerful. I want to find if anyone has a taper down suggestion from the 75 mg/day oxycodone I currently take. I really want to turn this around. I never thought about this until my niece stole my pills. I don't want my own to have this opportunity when they are older. I also realize I have come to depend on these meRAB in a way that is beyond what I ever intended. I am very intimidated by this whole situation. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thank You!

 

[Rosebuddy]

I was taking 15 mg of percocet 4 x a day and 5 mg at night. I am now down to 10's because i am about to run out because my husband took too many of my percocets. I have never taken oxycontin. I have tapered off twice and went to 0. i cut by 1/4 pill until i was down to 1/8 four x a day and then to 0. I know how you feel, the percocets do control my life too and i justify taking taking them because i have a painful illness. but i don't need to take them all the time. and i can only admit that when i a m running low. otherwise i want to take 15 every 4 hours. it is a battle. but it can be done. i know that l-tyrosene helped my mood a lot when i tapered. it is from the thomas recipe. i hope you feel better soon and that you are ok with tapering.

 

[56789]

my buddy said it saved his life an helps his terrible back pain also, read my reply to, i have to taper husband wont stay out of meRAB , 56789 or scott good luck , the mental part is intence , read it oh my responce to rosebuddy, it will explain more , my friend was leary about subsatuting , but the side effects are lots better , i see it in my friend , some call it a miracal pill, i call it a tool , from what i have read , an where you both have chronic pain , i suggest you check it out

 

[mel486]

Hi BBrian - Welcome to the group. I tapered from 60-80 mg/day of Oxycodone (Percs). The first thing I would say to you is talk to your doctor about alternate therapies and medicines.

When I first started doing research on Oxy and talking to the people in this group, I thought they were crazy when they said it would take at least two months to taper off. Well, they were right - even though I tried numerous times to speed up the process, I found out the best method was to taper slowly. Allow your body to adjust to the lower dose before moving any lower. I was able to go from 60 mg/day to 10 mg/day in about a month, but I had withdrawals during the entire time. Going from 10 mg/day to my final Cold Turkey was even worse. I'm not trying to scare you, I'm just telling you what to expect.

In your case, you may find that tapering off Oxy is not the solution because your back pain is real and every ache and pain in your body will come back and haunt during your tapering process. That's why I say to consult your doctor to find out what is right for you. Suboxone is a solution, but you are substituting one addictive drug with another. Some people in this group will say never to take suboxone and they are here because of it. That should be between you and your doctor to discuss the advantages and disadvantages.

I decided to check into detox (which would have been Subutex and then suboxone), but because of an insurance problem, it was delayed and I ended up working through the withdrawals and finally went cold turkey when I was down to 2.5 mg/day. I'm now glad that I did not go into detox and experienced the withdrawals to remind myself today what they were so I never have to go through that again. I also was dependent on the Percs for a neck injury and stopped taking them when my pain went away. If I was still in pain, I would probably still be on the Percs. What you are deciding is a brave step, but I completely understand it. I didn't know how the Percs were destroying, not only my life, but affecting my family, until I was off of them. You have to do what is right for you and your body.

Keep us informed how you are doing. Good Luck to you!!