Update on taper vs. CT

[Ariel0894]

Hi guys,

  So I have decided I am going to do a 6-week taper.  Today is day 5 of my first drop, as I started this last week, and it's the first day since that I have actually felt pretty good.  Cravings are down and physical withdrawals are much fewer and further between.  I couldn't get to sleep until 3am but after that I did get a solid 5 hours and felt okay when I woke up.  The two days prior had been pretty rough in terms of cravings and withdrawals, I'm wondering if that's because those would have been days 3 and 4 of the dropped dose?  I know those are supposed to be the worst withdrawal days, didn't know if this was also the case when tapering.  Anyway, I am feeling very optimistic today.  I'm at 30mg of oxycodone per day and will drop again on Friday.  My boyfriend will continue to monitor my pill intake, however, we are thinking of getting a locked box.  It's just tough because even though he is technically holding them, I can get to them wherever he puts them because there aren't a ton of "hiding" places in here....so I'm thinking a locked box might be the way to go.  Anyway, I'm feeling good about my progress, this is the first time I have ever kept consistent at a dropped dose for 5 days straight.  Thanks again for all of the support, and I'll continue to post updates. :)

[PurrfectlyKrazy]

Get a safe!  The locked box didn't work for us.  There is one at Walmart that is only $25 or $30 that would suit your needs.  Just make sure that you don't have a key OR know the combination.

I agree with the above assessments that you may be tapering too fast...slow it down just a hair.  You should be able to taper without a lot of symptoms until you do the final drop...and then the symptoms you get should be mild compared to cold turkey detox.

Congrats to you!!!

[Ariel0894]

The support I've gotten on this site, in just the past 24 hours, has been amazing.  

And the way I'm looking at it is, no matter how I come off it's going to be uncomfortable.  However, I feel like if I go CT without making at least one really solid effort at a taper, I'm going to be miserable in withdrawal and fixating on the idea that "I should have tried tapering" or "I need to taper".  This is the first time I've enlisted the support of someone else to hold my pills, stayed down on my dose for more than just a day or two, and really planned it out weeks in advance.  So this is going to be my "solid effort" and then if it doesn't work, mentally I will have an easier time accepting that CT is the only way.  Also, when I get down low enough, I may just jump at that point.

Congratulations on Day 30!!!!!

[Ejm7263]

I'm amazed by anyone who could taper. Once I found this site I had to jump. However I was on a much lower dose & mine is methadone. I'm very proud of you. I to would be tearing the house apart for the pill I remember dropping months ago, lol.
I'm on day day 30 clean & sober. Still dealing with wd but it's so worth it. I'm amazed.
So glad your here.

[Ariel0894]

Thanks, I think the initial mistake I made was definitely attempting too big of a drop.  It would send me into withdrawal, freak me out, and I'd go back to where I was, this has happened a bunch of times within the past few months.  Anyway, this is the first time I actually feel pretty good after coming down, so I'm going to give my body a bit more time to adjust to this dose and then be a lot more conservative from here on out with how much I drop at a time.  It will take much longer than I initially wanted, but if it makes the process less traumatic and disruptive to my life then to me it's worth it for sure.

[Pat1956100]

Sorry Ariel, I should have said, you shouldn't feel the withdrawals as bad as your first attempt at tapering because your taper was too much too fast.
Again, the slower the better.

[Jinx_777]

lock box or a small safe is a good idea.  safe is better, those boxes are pretty easy to get into.
you will feel withdrawals while tapering.  they just won't be as intense as they would be cold turkey.
wait until you feel 'normal' or 'good' before dropping again.
if withdrawals start to get bad, i would just drop ct and deal with them just once instead of several times.  that is if you are healthy

[Pat1956100]

Hi again Ariel,
Just make sure you don't drop too much at a time.  You really shouldn't feel the withdrawals like that when doing a taper.  It would be too hard on your body.  Slow and steady wins the taper race.
I think a lock box is an excellent idea.  I would be ripping the house apart looking if I knew there were some hidden.
Keep us posted and Good luck.
You will do this.

[lindaloutara2]

yeah and with time it will all rebound.  I'm not too worried about it.  I am strong, I can recover my smarts by studying and keeping my brain active.  This methadone has me so tired all of the time.  I am already falling asleep and I dosed only about 6 hours ago.  I cannot wait to be done with it.  Are you going to be completely clean and sooner after your taper?  Thats the plan for me.  The methadone worked for me.  I haven't even wanted anything, not even booze.  I did drink 3 mimosas about 10 days ago.  My BF and I got into a fight and I decided to do a little day drinking.  I had 3 mimosas and then worked out for 90 minutes.  That is they only substance that I have put in my body for 4 months.  The methadone works for sure, but the bad is outweighing the good.  All I am getting are horror stories about coming off of this stuff.  Once I get down to around 30mg I am going to do a 6 week saboxone taper off go the methadone, supposedly its not as bad.  I still need to be able to function. The methadone has given me a panic disorder.  Just the though of being stuck on it has thrown me for a loop.. I can't just stop taking it, so I am forced to do it slowly which six because I want it out of my system NOW!  Anyway,  we are going to make it threw this.  Write me when ever you like.  It helps me to have someone to chat back and forth with.  Bless my boyfriends heart, he is a godsend and there for me to the fullest but he is a normie and has NO CLUE what i'm going threw and has never had to with drawl from anything in his life.  So, I need friends who I can relate to who have either been where I am or are going threw the same ****. Have a beautiful day.

Lindsey

[Ariel0894]

Thanks! :)  It's been such a relief to find other people who can relate to how hard it is to come off of this stuff....it's been such a process just to mentally prepare for the taper and then sticking to it is a whole other adventure....certainly a process.  Good luck to you and great job with your drop, each one puts you one step closer.  I don't know too much about the long term effects of opiates but I'm just hoping that over time the body, mind, and spirit will all rebound.

[lindaloutara2]

HI,

   I too am in the beginning of a taper.  It's Methadone for me. it was on 85 mg and now I am down to 60 until tomorrow.  I am then dropping to 54.  I don't really feel anything yet.  Last friday night my blood pressure was elevated and I couldn't sleep.  I took around 10 mg of my take home and fell right to sleep.  Other than that, I'm not really feeling to much.  I am more scared than anything.  Scared of the long term effects of the Methadone after I am finished with it.  I can already feel that I have gotten a little slower which I am hoping comes back.
I just wanted to let you know that you are not alone! Let me know if you need anything My name is LINDSEY.

HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DAY!