question about getting off

Hi,
Trying to taper off loratabs since July. I will do really good for about a week then start going back into the other direction, only to catch myself again. Like a seesaw.

When you have cut back for several days do you get very very tired as in no energy? That is what seems to get to me and eventually break me.

Also when you are "on them" do you sometimes feel anxiety the next day? That seems to be happening me a lot lately. It may be because I have successfully cut way back on smoking so that might be it, not sure.

I may check in tonight perhaps it will help me stay on track.

Thank you.

[gnarly_1]

HI//......ALLthe things your saying make tapering hard to do....for 1 you caant yo/yo your dose up and down you got to stick withy the taper many of our members use the envelope system just take your dayly dose put it in an envelope take them when there gone there gone its a lot ez then holding a whole bottle and the temptation of just one or 2 more in your hads this system has worked for many of our members as for the anxiety and general crappy feeling it is normal tapering dose not get you around withdrawals just sorta soften the blow but stretches it out over a few mo try what I have suggested and see if it helps good luck and God bless.....Gnarly  

[spanky595]

         If you cant stop using get help keep posting go to NA they will help you get in treatment or you can just sit in and listen to there stories.  you can do it.

[spanky595]

        Anxiety is a withdrawal from pain meds.

[hawke101]

Well I have had a lot of it here recently. Makes me not want to leave my house on the weekends. Makes me fearful of all kinds of weird things so I started figuring things were probably as bad as they seemed but it was something else going on. Does this sound like withdrawals?

I did very good tonight - only 2 which is a new low for the weekends.

Anyway thanks for the advice..will keep checking in.

[dedicatedtostop]

Perhaps the anxiety comes from you knowing that you want off the mess as well. I know in my final days I was full of anxiety, fatigue frustration etc. Mine stemmed from wanting to stop so bad but terrified to take the plunge. That's just my own personal experience that i wanted to share with you. When you do decide for yourself to give it up, you have came to a wonderful place for support

[Newuser7777]

I'm the same and for me to quit its gotta be all or nothing... Even for my pot smoking habit... If I have, I will use until there is none left.

[dedicatedtostop]

Typo... I meant off the meds

[dedicatedtostop]

All or nothing.... I like that frame of mind! Really just stop and think about how bold that statement really is!!! IT CAN BE DONE, if you want it bad enough

[donewitis]

Now that I can look back (21 days opiate free) I have no doubt that my anxiety levels had to do with my staying at the same dose (my script) and not continuing to go higher on the mg and my body wanting more. That said, when I tapered my anxiety was way up there and of course moreso when I jumped...I know all about not wanting to leave the house..noise making ya jump. That has to do with brain receptors misfiring. I recall going c/t last year and I would try to close my eyes and I was seeing behind my eyelids these flashes of light..blue and white..feeling the misfires, electric shocks..can hardly explain it..but I thought I was losing my mind. Obviously, this is in layman's terms..thankfully by reading so many posts here..I have begun to understand something about brain receptors..endorphins, dopamine, seratonin etc.., and the lack thereof due to my long usage.

[gnarly_1]

HI//......ALLthe things your saying make tapering hard to do....for 1 you caant yo/yo your dose up and down you got to stick withy the taper many of our members use the envelope system just take your dayly dose put it in an envelope take them when there gone there gone its a lot ez then holding a whole bottle and the temptation of just one or 2 more in your hads this system has worked for many of our members as for the anxiety and general crappy feeling it is normal tapering dose not get you around withdrawals just sorta soften the blow but stretches it out over a few mo try what I have suggested and see if it helps good luck and God bless.....Gnarly  

[hawke101]

At 21 days has the anxiety gone? Can you describe how you feel now as compared to 21 days ago?  yea you hit it on the head with your description. Another poster said you will crave sugar and starch and man that has been true for me at times.
I got to walk the tight rope here as it is starting to effect me too much, but at the same time I must taper to remain functional

[hawke101]

How long did it take for the anxiety to go away? Are you off now? If so how long till you felt normal? I had tapered to 1.5 a day and was actually starting to feel better in the am after about a week. Thanks.

[hawke101]

Thank you Gnarly, I have not heard of that system before. I did think of using a time release safe but of course that is too complicated and I am sure expensive. I am going to search for tapering threads to see how others do it