Hydro vs. Oxy question

[catburgler]

Hello, I am tapering off of a 2 year habit that got up to 9 30mg roxicodone a day.  I am six months in to a slow taper and had gotten down to 3 15mg roxicodone a day.  That is I am down from 270mg a day to 45 mg a day.  I have decided to switch to Hydrocodone (this was what I was originally prescribed 5 years ago).  Here is my problem.  I cannot get through the day on 45 mg of Hydro quiet yet.  I feel like I have back slid but the hydro just feels useless to withdrawal compared to the roxi.  I am taking between 40 and 60 mg a day of the hydro.  Started 2 weeks ago with 80 and down to that.  Am I still making ground by going up a little on the hydro or was I doing better with the roxi.  I know that the oxy (roxi is percocet without the tylenol) is a stronger drug than the hydro but I was hoping to stick to 45mg or lower the rest of the way out.  I almost feel like I am withdrawing off of the oxy and in a few days of medicating with the hydro could quit cold turkey as even thought the hydros keep me sain, I am still withdrawing pretty bad from oxy.  I am wondering if since I quit the oxys, I could quit the hydros CT in a few days and be better off for it since maybe I haven't gotten to addicted to the hydros.  That may sound stupid but I am just throwing that out there.  By the way I hope to be done by Sept.  I am expecting a child with my wife.  Thanks for any help.

[worried878]

well....both are similar narcotics and chances are if u r addicted to one u r addicted to the other as well...to me hydros feel stronger but oxy is classed stronger...so u r down to 45 mg of oxy...why not continue to taper with the oxy?   i agree taking more pills even it is classed a weaker drug/debatable/i would not want to up my dose...or perhaps level out on the 45 mg of hydro for a few days then drop down from there....u need to write out ur taper,,,it needs to be structured with a QUIT day on it...tapering is not pain free...many such as i would jump off at a 45 mg dose iand get the wd over instead of dragging it out with more tapering...when u quit, r u hanging on to ur pills?

[worried878]

oh////the cut u have made already is remarkable...took alot of gumption to get down to where u r..keep moving forward

[extrmeski]

basically hydrocodone is close to 1/2 the strength of the oxycodone so use that as a guide when tapering.  LOL sounds like you hae access to a lot of stuff.  Sorry just hit me as funny.

[GoingToMakeIt]

You have done very well on your taper. Good job! I agree with extrmeski, you would need about twice as much hydro as oxys. The only reason I could see doing that is hydros may be easier to finally get off of.

[catburgler]

Thanks guys for the comments.  Yeah I do have access to alot of stuff as I do suffer from a very serious back problem but I have begun a serious exercise program and suffered through the beginning but now I am feeling so much better with stretching instead of pills.  Also my taper plan was a little different than most.  My idea was to back out of the addiction the same way I came into it.  In other words, I started with hydros for pain and worked my way of the roxi later from 45 mg, so now that I have climbed back down the roxi ladder to the 45 mg I have began the hydros and hope to get back to one a day and quit.  I do have the willpower now to do this.  Obviously I have proven that somewhat by tapering slowly as I have.  I have read where it is very difficult for some to taper slowly.  The only difference in me and them is I am READY to quit.  The reason that I want to slowly taper is that the less I can make the discomfort at the end the less I must put my wife and kid(s) through due to anxiety and irritability.  I know I will still face withdrawals but with my proven taper thus far why not go through with the plan.  Why jump now if I can continue to win this fight.  I mean will I not have fewer withdrawals if I do jump from one hydro a day rather than where I am now?  I can still be a fairly decent human being to my family by going slow whereas they don't deserve a month or two of me being a complete butt.  I love my new family and I am going to do this.  I think I will stick to the hydros as my head has really felt clearer on them at this level than the oxy at the 45 mg level.  Thanks again for the post.  Also I hold my own meds.  I figure either you have willpower to resist now or you never earn it.  later on I will have the chance to take a pill at some point and I want to say no thanks.

[catburgler]

I re read your question.  No once I am done I am dumping all of the remaining pills in the toilet.  

[GoingToMakeIt]

If you continue at this slow pace. I think your w/d will be minimal.