Taper Success and HAPPINESS

[willyjones]

So-I started this a few days ago-
I was taking up to 420 mg of oxycodone/day. I have tried to keep a variety in my reduction, and it seems to be working. all i know is that today, i woke up and took 30mg oxycodone at 8am. then 10mg of methadone around 10am, At 12pm I took 5 mgs of valium. I lasted all day until now. I just tool 20 mg of oxycodone. All in all--after only 3 serious days with a strong mindset--i have cut my dose beyond half and feel considerably good.( I HAVE ONLY TAKEN A TOTAL OF 70 MG OXYCODONE & 10 MG METHADONE. ALL DAY...THIS IS A BIG DEAL TO ME!!!) I feel like i am in the home stretch. I went to work today without taking any back up meds so I would not have the option of "giving in"....and I made it!! I feel like I am getting my life back. For some reason, I thought I was going to be much sicker, but I have noticed that mind control plays a big part in this game. I am no longer scared. Yes, I am still on meds, but my plan was to slowly taper, but it happened way quicker than I ever imagined. This site was part inspiration and motivation, so thank you to all. I appreciate all the kind and truthful words.

[willyjones]

thanks man.congrats to you! your words are much appreciated. im leaving the forming, but it was nice to have the final words from a considerate person.
take care-and be strong.

[broknbck]

I tapered from 90mg hydrocone a day to 10. Then I quit. I'm on day 7 and have had one of the best weeks of my life! Not much withdrawl at all.

I didn't just quit though. First I listed all the reasons I would take pills in the first place and made some serious changes in my life. I want to stay OFF.

You have made a big accomplishment! I remember the first day I only took 2 pills and thought I was a hero. LOL  But seriously, it is hard tapering and you deserve a pat on the back. GOOD JOB! and be careful.

[willyjones]

ok-i feel the need to clarify.methadone has a much greater halflife than roxicodone. in an attempt to reduce my intake of roxicodone-i was using minimal amounts of methadone to stretch my doses of roxicodone. in no way am i condoning methadone, i was simply saying that it has helped me taper down. i was not, nor have i ever been dependent on methadone. i used it to ease my withdrawal symptoms as a quick approach. I used it( between 5-10mg) every other day for a week. I successfully dropped from taking approximately 12 roxicodone (30mg)/day to now currently taking four a day-no methadone included. i know that everyone finds something that works for them, i was just sharing. i am giving myself a few weeks to stabilize and secure my 120 mgs of roxicodone per day, and will then do the same thing again, reducing my dose in half. my goal was to eliminate any euphoria from whatever i was ingesting, and just trying to ease withdrawal, which i managed to do. i have legitimate pain, and what i am taking currently is sufficient at keeping my pain level low, while still maintaining control over my medication. i feel stronger now than i have for the last year, and i imagine it will only get better when i reduce again.i hope to be off them completely in the near future, but i am  just ecstatic to be where i'm at at this point.
i apologize if my method has offended anyone in anyway- best of luck to everyone on here.

[NautyOne]

try cutting out the methadone entirely for a few days and see how you really feel.  yes, you did make a huge drop, but ......dunno thats a nasty cocktail you are messing with.  I am no expert, but you need to get rid of one of them and try to taper from there.  I would get rid of the meth.  Good luck.

Nauty.........

[willyjones]

At one point I was precribed methadone and roxicodone(for breakthrough pain)to take concurrently. I never took the methadone, because of all the addiction aspects of it, but i have read poasts about people usung it in small amounts to get off of oxycodone. The reason for my post was that I am tapering down-with mild withdrawals to get off of the roxicodone. Many detox plans use methadone as a replacement, just like suboxone. I don't take methadone regularly, I've just started using a few mgs.every other day to stretch the few roxicodones I am now taking since i have drastically reduced my "normal" dose. Do you know the difference between taking 420mg of oxycodone vs 70mg- in one day?  So you are saying that you don't think that 70mgs of oxycodone is low from someone that was on more than 4 times that much? I am confused, so if you could clarify i would greatly appreciate it. Are you someone who has experienced this-or recovered?

[mrpat]

kudos to both of you! Also to anyone else out there who is having some success,and to those of you who are still fighting the battle, well kudos to  to you to for fighting the good fight!!!!!!

[willyjones]

Thats awesome man! i know that even when I get my tolerance even lower, and finally cut off all meds, i'll still experience forms of withdrawal, but there was a point when I was terrified that I knew I didn't have ten blue tablets a day for a month. now, i don't even really care anymore. i'm starting to remember important things in life, and what it feels like to have money again..lol.
well done my friend;)
be strong.

[Zurich42]

I was taking 10-12 Vicodin 5/500 mg tablets a day for over 8 months and went through the tapering process over a two week period of time.  I am now on my 6th day of sobriety and feel fine.  I did, however, had a couple rough days around Day 5 & 6 - mostly depression and anxiety.  The physical withdrawal symptoms hit more on Day 3 & 4.  Since I started the withdrawal process, I have only experienced 3 cravings - 2 of which during withdrawal and a tiny 1 this morning on my 6th day of sobrity.  I have not used any Vicodin - not sought anything else besides a strong cup of Starbucks coffee.  
I'm glad we're both surviving this.  It's good to see others finding the same success I have had - KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!