Switching Pain meds to begin a taper

[clheithoff]

My husband has a dependency on dilaudid and is  getting ready to start a slow taper off of 12-14 mg he has taken daily for 16 months.   The doctor is switching his dilaudid for perocet starting Sunday.  He will take as much as he needs to seek releif for two days and then visit the doctor.  Then the doctor will have a taper schedule and will see him weekly or bi-weekly. So what does switching from one pain med to the other do?  Will he notice a big difference in the way they work or do not work...or I guess I am asking does the brain want the specific drug.  He is hoping to work throughout the slow taper.  Thanks
Chris

[worried878]

sounds as if this dr knows what he is doing...really does..trust him...dilaudid is not a huge doc for oral use..it is a drug IV users seek on the street as it is not absorbed well orally....i think u need to go with the dr..he has a plan....hold the pills for him..and he is lucky to have u

[mr.lucky66]

oral dilaudid is not that potent as compared with IM or IV. The switch to percs really doesn't change much and he may get more of a buzz from the percs. Does he need continued narcotics for pain? When the doc really wants to step him down he will get hydrocodone like vicodin then maybe codeine or darvon. all the best

[BIKERDAD1963]

Sorry meant 4-6 hrs not 3-4hrs

[BIKERDAD1963]

The percs will cover up the wd from the dilaudad. Just keep tabs on how much perc he takes and make sure you keep the bottle. Dont give him free will with it. He shouldnt need more than 1 to 2 pills evry 3-4 hrs. Start with 1 at a time and see if he can get by. Remember this is just to get by while the dilaudad gets out of his system not to make him feel good. The less he can use the better the out come will be. And remember you need to keep the bottle. You may not think he is an addict but he is. He likes the way it feels and the percs may make him feel even better than before. Good luck with this and give him all the support and encouragement you can mustard up.. Also get educated on the withdrawal symptoms and length of time it takes. Be prepared for all the symptoms so you can help him releive some of them. He needs to do this also.

[CATUF]

He'll be OK.  I'm thinking that your husband is dependant, but noy addicted -- there's a big difference (Google it),

The fact that he's doing this with the knowledge and assistance of you and his doctor is HUGE and bodes well for his success.  

Dependance is a medical problem that requires a medical solution.  Addiction is dependance, PLUS a serious spiritual problem that requires a spiritual solution.

Just my thoughts.

CATUF
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