Tapering Hydrocone

[Jennifer Cole]

First off, let me say I have exhausted the obvious.  The answer to my question is not to "ask your doctor", been there/done that.

Has anyone out there successfully tapered back their dosage of Hydrocone without unmanagable withdrawal symptoms?  If so, what increments worked for you?    I can't find the reduction that works, it seems when I scale back even by relatively small increments, the pain and withdrawal symptoms are too much.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

[Tuckamore]

Jennifer,

I apologize for my tardiness in responding to your question. I am normally on this forum for the better part of the day and evening. My mom had Open Heart surgery a bit ago I have been taking care of her and I had to take her to her cardiologist today.

You have to just make up your mind you are going to quit and do so. There is no simple or easy way to go through withdrawal. I don't understand why a reputable physician would not assist you with this process if they ordered these meds for you.  And I agree with Mollyrae the Substance Abuse Forum will be much more helpful that the Pain Management Forum in this instance.

Good Luck, Tuckamore

[Spright1]

Hi Jennifer!

This forum may be a little slower than some other forums- speaking just for myself, I know I have to pace myself sometimes due to the pain I am feeling on any certain day.

I understand your worries though- I tapered off myself after my first accident to stop and it wasn't what I would call fun.

What helped me was- 1) I Really Wanted to stop (NOT Saying that you don't!!), and prepared for the symptoms.
2) I pretended to myself that I had a pretty bad flu and that it had Nothing to do with medication at all. (That was what seemed to help most of all)

I can tell you that it gets worse before it gets better for a few days, but it Does get better.

Mollyrae has a Very good suggestion as you will probably get a lot of valuable advice in a forum such as that.

Some doctors in pain managment have programs to help you get off of the medications after you don't need them anymore- have you spoken to them?  Even if it isn't your doctor or if they don't, there are usually pain clinics who will give you help with this as well even if they were not the prescribing doctor. I know you said you spoke to Your doctor, but maybe they aren't educated in the field of coming off this kind of substance? There are some that are. Just a thought.

I understand and empathize with your frustration and pain.

I was taking 4 - 7.5's a day for over 2 years when I quit. I didn't have help, and I just pretended I had the flu (Which is what it feels like). There's nothing you can really Do for the flu but get through it, so that helped (for me). Just do what you would do for the flu ...keep hydrated, manage the symptoms as well as possible and if you can, try and sleep through as much as possible as well as just taking it easy and keeping your mind off of it as much as possible with tv reading or whatever takes your mind off of things when you are ill.

There will be more help in the SA forums, I'm sure.

Good luck, and let us know how you are doing!

We're rooting for you!!!!


All the best,

~Spright

[Mollyrae]

Jennifer, Sometimes you may ot get a response right away. Please be patient as members come on at different times. Your best bet would be to go to the Substance Abuse forum. There are numerous ppl who have gone through the taper. The forum is not just for addicts but others asking advise like yourself.
As for me, I have never tapered.
Take care, Mollyrae

[Jennifer Cole]

Okay, thanks.