Help With A Taper Program? PLEASE...

[MaryGoRnd]

Can someone PLEASE send me a possible taper program? I've been taking ~7 10/325 hydros per day for the last month and have been taking 120 - 150 5/325 per month for 1.5 years prior. I have tried to CT in the past but depression and insomnia has always beaten me down after 5 - 10 days. Its pathetic to say but at this point in my life I have no family or friends to motivate me to quit. My only motivation is that I feel lousy all the time and am sick of feeling sick. I know my health is starting to fail and if I'm going to live a nomal, independent life - I need to do something or I'm not going to be able to take care of myself 10 years from now.
I will have anti depressants available to me in 7 to 10 days and honestly think that if I can get (say) 5 days minimun of that into my system before I start serious WDs, it will help make a difference in getting to the back side of detoxing.  I am willing to try aftercare, but want to get to the point of ~7 - 10 days clean and feeling like I still have a desire to continue living (don't know if that makes sense to anyone).  Like I said - (know its not much to work with) I have 100 pills left, I've started aminos, have some clonidine, am stocked up on valarian, meletonin, imodium, ibuprophen etc. and am serious about giving this a try. I get the impression that the type of information I am asking for is not suppose to be posted here but if anyone could send me some personal information/adivse I'd REALLY appreciate it - I will check back tomorrow!  Thanks in advance...

[MaryGoRnd]

I'm going see how to "attend" an online meeting (for now) and continue to seriously look at other options over the next week or two.  Let you know how it goes - Later...

[vicki595]

That sounds good to get started and familiarize yourself.  Right now this has to be the most important thing in your life!!   Good luck!!
Vicki

[MaryGoRnd]

Thanks for the feedback.  Right now the only thing holding me back is work conflicts with meeting schedules (not a lot of options out here). I will find a way to make "up close and personal" happen when I get closer to finishing my taper,  I was just thinking it might be a way to - how would you say - get initiated...  Again, Thanks!

[IBKleen]

Hi Mary,

The online meetings are fine if you are stuck in a foot of snow but there is nothing like "up close and personal". In meetings you get to know people and make new friends. Clean friends. And then there are the hugs. It's hard to get a hug on line.

Give it a try. What do you have to lose?

[vicki595]

Mary~   If you're thinking about NA,it's really better to physically attend meetings. When you go you'll understand why.

V.

[MaryGoRnd]

I just got home from work and saw the replies to my request for help.  I want to say thank you for taking the time to respond (and Gnarly thanks again).  I am starting a taper program today and hopefully will soon be able to start getting an anti-deppresant into my system.  Maybe after that gets working I will be at a low enough dose and encouraged enough to just CT.  I am also looking into NA/AA meetings in my area and saw that they have NA online. Has anyone ever tried that?  Anyway, thanks again for the replies - it means a lot!

[sway1]

i don't have advice on a taper, but let me say that just because it's called aftercare, you don't have to wait. the desire to stop using is the only requirement for membership in NA or AA. these are the most successful therapies available to us as addicts. check the statistics. if you can get a 12 step program in place before you begin w/d's it will give you the added strength you'll need as well as people to call when you feel like ripping your hair out. people who have gone through it. i hate that i have gotten so preachy about this but the power of one addict helping another truly is without parallel. it has also been my experience that people who resist  a 12 step program are the ones with reservations who are not ready to get and stay clean. and so....i preach. you are in my prayers. peace, sway

[gnarly_1]

check your E/mail

[avisg]

We dont have any doctors here so we can not give you a taper program .The basics are that you lower your dose slowly so the wd is milder it will not get rid of all of the wd but it will help . Some people go as slow as one pill a week . I would dicuss this with your doctor ....Hang in the keep posting.

[vicki595]

Hi~  You really could just stop these now.  Or you could go down to six per day and gradually decrease that dose.   It's very hard for a lot of people to taper that's why I suggest just stopping.   You are not at a very high dose and tapering pretty much just
prolongs the inevitable.
If you just gradually decrease your daily intake until you get on the antidepressant and  then just stop you'll be a little ahead. Just plan on being sick for a few days and be okay with that. It's really worth it. I promise you.
Some folks take Nyquil for a few days to help the insomnia etc..   You can do this!!
You don't mention having pain so I'm guessing you take the hydro for pleasure. But it's stopped being fun,right?  It's time to stop. You will feel so much better. You also may want to get with a counselor to talk about why you take pills in the first place. You need to get to that reason in order to recover.
Keep posting and good luck!
Vicki