Does tapering actually work

[tired5]

I am new to all of this, I took Vicodin for a while for knee surgeries.  4 in 3 years.  I am completely fine now, I mean that I have no pain.  However, I do have a 10-12 pill a day Norco habit.  I have convinced myself many times that I can wean myself off of the meds.  Does this work.  I am thinking about getting some more to try and wean myself off.  I had 4 Vicodin this morning @ 730 and I have had nothing else all day except Motrin.  It is now 450am and I have been awake since 2am.  I feel restless as hell, I can not relax.  I am scared.  I don't know if I can do this.  Can I wean myself, does cold turkey work better.  I have children to take care of, I go to school part time, I need to be available during the day.  Please help I am feeling so helpless and tired.  I am also on Wellbutrin for adult ADD.  However, it is not helping with the quitting of the painkillers.  Thank you for any help that you can offer.

[wait2long]

yes it can, as long as your committed and stay strong, and most of all have a plan and stick to it.  a lot of people here have tapered, i am sure someone will answer and help.

[mom2amj]

Norcos are 10mg

[VicUser]

I am sure that if you reduce slowly you would get to a point that you could quit cold turkey. I stopped take 3 vicodin a day 38 days ago with only minor withdraw. not being able to sleep well and being restless for a couple nights was the biggest problem. I didn't taper, but you might try cutting back one every few days until you get to one or two a day then quit. Psychologically I found it the same as dieting or quiting smoking, the couple weeks is the worst and then it starts to get better. Keeping the I WANT TO QUIT attitude will get you throught it.

[mom2amj]

I am on day 7 of going cold turkey of 12 Vicodin ES per day.  It was easier for me to just quit, that's what I did when I quit smoking. JUST DO IT.  There are other things you can take that will help, I take gabapentin which is a pain reliever non-narcotic, also used for nerve (sciatica) will help with the twitching.  I still have insomnia and I am taking 50mg of seroquel at night with one benadryl.  If I wake up I can't get back to sleep.  It is not easy, it will be the hardest thing you've probably ever done...I have three kids and my hubby is in Iraq.  But each day I look at the calendar and know that's one more day that is making me a better person and mother.  Tapering works for some, but try to just go c/t. Keep a few around if the withdrawals get really bad.  Take VERY hot baths before bed and try to get some exercise each day.  Daythree was my worst...I was so depressed and I just cried all day.  But after that each day has gotten better.  I also just switched to Wellbutrin and am very dizzy did you have that side effect?   sorry so long winded, when all you think about is detoxing it's all you talk about ! :)

[bmc1976]

Tapering does make the withdrawals much easier. You will be a little uncomfortable but can go on with normal daily activities. If you go cold turkey the worst of the withdrawals will last around 5 days. I have done both. If you have the willpower to taper I would go that route. I would cut back by 1 every few days until you are down to about 4 a day. After that cut them in half and drop the dose by 1/2 a day for a few days. Just get a strong mindset and you can do this. If you need anything, let us know. Make sure you stick around the forum because there are some wonderful people and they are great support. Best of luck!
Brian

[broknbck]

alot of people say the withdrawl from C/T is alot worse than tapering. i couldn't handle cold turkey. i tapered and my withdrawl was like nothing. i felt it when i was tapering though. it isn't easy, but alot easier than cold turkey. could someone help youwith the kids for a couple weeks? do you have some time off school coming up?

[oxyaddict420]

What mg is the vicodin you are taking? 5mg 7.5mg 10mg?

[oxyaddict420]

Well, it sems that you are wanting to quit and admitting there is a problem is the first step..  Tapering workds better for some than others, but plain and simple for your scenerio with busy luife and kids.. I say to a very very slow taper!  This will allow you to continue to have something in your system to be able to function on a reasonable level.. at the same time you have to really stick with it and not say" oh im really busy today so ill go ahead and take an extra 1" cant do that!!  10-12 per day then I suggest you start at 8 per day for the first 4 days then go down to 7 for 4 days then 6 for 4 days, and then so on until you get to 3 or 4 per day.. Then make sure to cut them into halves.. Then go from 3 1/2-------3-------2 1/2 ETC until you get to a half of a pill each day for say 3 or 4 days.  after that it should be way easier than if you went cold turkey!!

NOW-- IF YOU HAVE NO PILLS RIGHT NOW, AND TAPERING MEANS GOING AND GETTING MORE PILLS-- PLEASE *DO NOT* GO GET MORE PILLS!!  Try the cold turkey if you are totally out.  If you only have a few left then try breaking them into halves or even quarters.. Then taper using those!!  

I DO NOT SUGGEST YOU GO GET MROE PILLS!