Taper or cold turkey

What is better to taper or cold turkey with hydrocodone?

[lzndn]

well ive been taking vic 7.5mg up to 15-20 a day for the last 6 mths. i never tried to taper cause i feel i wouldnt have control in doing so, so today is my day 2 c/t. it is horrible but i feel not having around me will not make me think about wanting it. i think both ways are just as hard the only thing that kills me going c/t is at night and anxiety........... GOOD LUCK

[The_Sandman]

I could not handle anxiety and sleep issues either. I C/T for 5-6 days and could not handle the cravings.....decided to start a 2 a day taper schedule and it's been 12 hours plus since last med....and no issues....I will prolly drop to 1 a day.....if I can get to that level and MAINTAIN IT for a week.....then I could prolly drop or go to 1/2 a pill a day and then drop.

I've been using norco 10/325 for about 2-3 months.

That's my experience.

Sandman

[FLaddict]

There has always been the "great debate" of which is better... Some people belive cold turkey is the only way and that addicts cannot taper if they have pills.. They will gobble what they have and not stick to a schedule.  This is true to a degree.. But some people if they set their minds to it and have help from a friend to hold their pills tapering is possible.. and definatly helps the brain and body adjust to having no pills.. With a proper taper symptoms can be lessened at the end and depression and anxiety can be also lessened since there is not as much shock to the system.
All and all you need to do what you are capable of doing.. If you feel you can do a proper taper then try it.. Myself and a few others tapered and had success. But if you feel like you are the type that will "borrow" pills from the next day or tell your self that you will taper starting tommorrow and that day doesn't come then just go cold turkey you can waste alot of time trying to taper.. It is not a short process.. to be done correctly..

[jon0806]

how many pills did you taper a day

[FLaddict]

Well how many are you taking?? How often do you take them? Every 4 hours?? 6?? Let me know and I can help you come up with a plan.. A proper taper has you dropping doses not every single day. Your body needs time to adjust to the lower dose between drops.. Otherwise you will have Withdrawl (withdrawal) symptoms.

[jon0806]

I am taking 10/325 every 4 hours ahich comes to approx 5 per day

[FLaddict]

Ok this is what you are gonna do... This is a very easy taper.. and is slow enough that you should have little to no withdrawl (withdrawal) symptoms during tapering..
Start tommorrow by taking your doses every 4.5 hours.. just 30mins longer.. Then the next day same thing.. so every 5 hours.. Your body will adjust slowly to taking them farther apart.. Within a few days or a week you will have then far enough apart that a whole dose is eliminated from your daily intake.
I suggest when you get to 3 pills a day.. you break them in halves so 6 halves.. and go back to taking them every 4 hours and start the process of spreading them out over.. every day 30mins longer..
Does this sound like something you can do??  this is the easiest least painful way.. there are other ways if this doesn't sound like your cup of tea.. If you choose to do it this way I would keep a journal or when you are taking them and stay on the strict schedule..

[jon0806]

thank you