Feasible taper from 200mg mscontin

[ShoShoSaysNo22]

Hi Everyone

I want off a six year addiction/dependence on mscontin....doctor prescibed....I was originally on 300mg/day but was able to get down to 200 by decreasing 10mg/month....I want to do it a little quicker now.....It has been 2 years now since I have been maintained on 200mg....My biggest problem with this other than the physcial side effects is the emotional.  That feeling of being tied to my doctor and pharmacy...I want to move as soon as my house sells and I want to be able to without having to find a doctor to continue prescribing....I want to move to Ontario and the doctors there are way sticker than the dr's in Nova Scotia...This has gone on so long I am really at the end of my rope....I did try the suboxone, and it was successful in that I could function, but I know my body was telling me this is a really strong, and strange drug....I was hoping the sub would be the answer, but to move the Sub would be even harder to find the mscontin...it's new to Canada, and very tightly regulated....they have added it to the Methadone clinics here, and one has to go in daily to get it....which means daily dispensing charges.....

I just want my life back...me back...to know what I think about isn't being affected by the morphine...basing my decisions in reality, and not through the haze of morphine....I'm 56, and I have to smarten up....for hte first time in my life I am suffering from financial problems...credit card debt....and I know it was the dullness the morphine produces that I allowed this to happen....The credit card has gone to a collection agency, and they are threatening a law suit, and lein on m y house....geeeshhhh....this has been stressful...I live in a very rural area, no jobs, except minimum wage....because of injuries, and dependence on morphine I have been able to get  provincial disability assistance, which helps, but not enoguh to pay c.c.debt.  Gee the past 6 years have just flown by, and not in a good way....

I have two great daughters, and a new baby grandson, and I want to be able to move closer to them, and not need a doctor....

So I have thought and thought and prayed and prayed and I don't see any answers....I am a whimp when it comes to w/d's symptoms, and I expierence so much fear over this...I think all I can do realistically is do a slow taper....10-15mg/month or maybe every 2 weeks....it will take nearly a year to do it......even it was down to 30mg/day I would do a complete withdrawal or if that didin't work I could with more assurance find a doctor in Ontario who would prescribe 30mg cmpared to 200mg.  

I am 56 and I have to plan this next year very carefully.....I'm battling some depression too...that is because I have so little social life....I spend so much time alone, and all I do is worry about what happened to my life....My life changed completely when I had this stupid injury 6 years ago, and got started on morphine......I wouldn't have beleived where this has led me.....All I know is that if I stay here, and just go on with the morphine without a feasible plan to change my life, I will die....

I need support....I know from reading a lot of posts some of you don't agree with tapers...but I cant' go through a w/d.  I live alone, have lots to do with a country property, and with winter ccoming I heat with wood...so I couildn't be feeling awful and do those things.. Plus I am going after some grant money to start a small business....writing: Brochures, speeches, Product info. etc....so I have to be functioning.  

Will the people here support me with this slow taper.....I would rather taper off mscontin than suboxone...with the long half life....

ShoSho

[daisy699]

I can't personally give you first hand advice for tapering BUT..I think you have the wrong idea about ppl on here not supporting that! i went to a program for my wd from opiates but there are a TON of ppl on here that have alot of experience w/ tapering and I'm sure will answer your post soon!! Just keep checking you came to the right site for support w/ ur taper TRUST AND BELIEVE!!!

[troubleinohio]

you can do it..many a time i had to drag my butt outside to throw heavy logs into the woodburner (it was an outdoor boiler system hitched up to heat the house) and had to do it in WD. It suckked bad and i hurt so much i wanted to about blow my head off, but i got through it, and you can too. Your addiction is already trying to rationlize things for you... "i wont be able to take care of the country property etc".  Hogwash! you can and will, honey.  I know its not easy, trust me, ive been down this ugly road of addiction many years but it can be done. I have 2 small children which made it even harder to go through but im still alive. you will survive this too.   your post also really strikes a cord with me today because as you already saw (and responded to, thank you) on the social side... my sister in law is dying today because of an overdose of the same drug you are taking...MS Contin.  She probably wont live through the night. Please dont let the same thing happen to you as well..
Write me later if you can..I have to go now and get ready to go to the hospital to see her before she passes..
take care..

[buprenex]

Well,you really seem to be paying attention and are thinking far ahead. This should help you. You do have practical problems. Sounds like a nice cozy place. You will get support from this site. You get all the support you need for your taper. Some have opinions on c/t versus taper. I think they are both valid. Nothing wrong in my eyes in tapering. It is maybe possible to go down quicker until you get to lower doses. But when you get lower you have to go slower, because the percent reduction get greater. But have you factored in time for the end which will be slower. I in the same place I want off and I have to work etc, all alone.