Tapering off Oxycontin

[cetiya]

Now that I am off the Fentanyl patch, I am left with an addiction to Oxycontin.  I am taking two 20 mg oxycontin twice a day.  I would like to switch that to taking one every six hours for a while, and then try to drop one here and there.  These are capsules so I can't cut them in half.  Is this the best way to taper myself off these?  I found out if the opiate level in my blood gets too low, I start to feel anxious, but have to get off these one way or the other.  I still have some oxycodones left, maybe I can substitute some of the SR's for the shorter acting stuff and cut back that way.  I can't take any more time off work, and I am finally feeling good, so I don't want to screw things up, but how else am I going to get off the oxy's?  My doc knows I am taking them to ward off the withdrawals, I was honest and told him my pain isn't that much, I just can't stop the oxy or I'll get sick. He gave me lots of Oxycontin, so maybe I can taper off one way or the other. He was just gonna leave me on this for a couple months, but don't know what his plan is from there, maybe go down to Vicodins instead of the heavy stuff.  Thanks for any suggestions you may have.

[PGhelpme]

This is my first on this forum. I', so depressed and scared. I have been on 30 mg oxy 2 times a day. I have to try to taper. Going CT is not an option becauseI can't yet share this with my husband and kids, take off work, etc. Please help me. I'm going to get the vitamins and other things described above. I have clonidine for BP and clonazepam. I take an OTC natural sleep med. At this point I am so ashamed and worried I can't do this.

[singintheblues]

Thanks so much for all of your encouragement.  I cant believe i am writing this.  I started like everyone else..chronic back pain..and did not know these demons were addicting.  I kept telling my Dr. I did not want to increase my dosage.. He finally  had a heart to heart talk with me and said...YOU HAVE TO TAKE YOUR MEDS. So ..i broke down and he had me at 80mg 3x day with IR's to help out.  The thing that weirded me out was..why..when he increased my dosage..did the pain not go away? Still dont know why. He informed me one month ago..that he was getting out of the pain med bus..I didnt think he meant me.  I have been on them for 5 yrs. Out the door I was sent. He gave me a paper with other drs. on it.  It took me a week of constnt calling..but finally  got a dr.  Had to wait a month...then...she calls me and tells me ...i am not a good candidate..what the hlllll does that mean.> No ans. Went to my GP..and told them...and left their office and decided i was getting off...(after they told me i had a kidney problem).  I had tapered before ..but the pain was so bad.. i slowly went back...(like you all say)..I dont think i am mentlally addicted..I might be fooling myself..But when i went off before ..i dropped 5mg a week..did great..didnt know any problems..I am determined now...i have no dr. and am not a street person..In one month i have cut my dosage in half..iam on 3 40's a day,, No sleep ..and i have ambien.  still no sleep.. Leg cramps are the worst...i thought to myself.i would try the hot water...i could barely make it into the tub  they are so bad.  I have been dropping 20mg a week...till last week...and the leg cramps were so bad..i am such a bi.....that i hate my husband has to put up with me.i thought ..i will stay here another week or so. Well reading your website.has made me know...to go on down tomorrow. i didnt know about thomas recipe..i will get it tomorrow. I could not do the flush thing..no way..God bless you..I am afraid of some accident happening and not having anything.  I still have stuff from my double knee replacement.  I had a lot of vicaprophen..and gave to an ailing friend that can hardly walk..Read part of your site.and thought i should have kept them..No way..as you say..just exchanging one for the other.  It is hard to imagine only being on for such a short time as many of you have..I wish it were me. I have considered suicide....but as you say...i have a wonderful husband..and so supporting of me... i just hate myself..i dont have the diareaha..i am still on benefiber to go.  but the stomach cramps and legg things..  are bad.. just dont mean to whine..but it does help to vent...you remind me of myself..your good life..i am not wealthy..but am in another way..with my husband.  I pray..i can make it.. I tried ct for one day...was all excited...and could not do it.Bless you all that can..I have had thougths of this or that..I honestly do not get a buzz.  There was a time yrs back i did. Stupidly..my brother told me...crush em up..they will work better...Now.....that feeling...was  good..but i really did not know I was buzzed.  I guess because i was doing them all of the time...The thing i miss the most is i never laugh any more..I am a very funny person..It has stolen my humor...and life...It is over..no more..I never thought I could get "normal" until reading your stuff.  I so look forward to it.Thank you ...all of you....

[Thomas050]

Hi Doner,
I wanted to post this in the other thread "depression from w/d" but it was closed.
I just want to say that you tapered down from 80mg of methadone to 10, that you deserve an medal of achievement. I can't give you that but I will give you a virtual high five and hug :)
I was with someone who went on methadone to get free of her pain pill addiciton. Then she could not get off methadone and decided to just stay on it. So I know (in my experience in a relationship with someone on it) how hard it is to get off. I just wanted to say congratulations to you. I have seen a few success stories of people who were able to get off methadone and I believe they are inspiring in that they show it is possible.
I may be trying methadone to get free of my my pain pill use and will know first hand what it is all about. We'll see.

But anyway, thank you for sharing your story. I admire your strong will.
Sorry to interrupt this thread.

Best
Thomas050
(The other Thomas :)

[Jemmi]

Hi everyone. I'm 10 days off of an Oxy CT. Has anyone else experienced numbness/tingling as part of wd? Twice in the past 3 days my arm and leg have gone numb for about 20min.(first time the right side, second time the left.) Haven't had this in previous wd, but nothing would suprise me at this point. Appreciate any help.

[rush2danger]

i wish i believed in the tapering method.  i should state that i was NEVER prescribed oc's, they sell them on the same block they sell crack and heroin here in sf (well.. one of the blocks) so i was always aware of what i was doing i guess..
so tapering got me into trouble that way.. copping in an urban area holds so many negatives..
i know the pain will go away if i do "a little".. but man, i went from 400mg of morphine and 160mg of oc to just 20 mgs of oc and that **** took 3 months! it was like hell the whole time.. kinda like this.. i felt that it only prolonged the kick..  although i'm sure i would use if i could convince myself i could taper ( funny, even now my little junkie mind trys to allow myself a taper)..
maybe we could hear about some sucess stories from people who tapered and are now completely OFF..
people that abuse, without chronic pain..
i don't mean to come on here and say there is only one way.. if i knew ****, i wouldn't be on here, only 6-7 days clean.. i just know once i got over the fact i was a junkie and i needed to STOP.. i started getting better.. at least i made what i consider leaps and bounds.
things like admitting to people i was using, ending all the lies, getting a job (great sitting in a cubicle while you sweat it out) so i could stop a life of crime to support myself.
i guess i'm jealous of the taperers..
..cuz it would be alot easier with a taste.
btw, people who use valium, or the other benzos.. how do you function? don't they knock you out? i tried this and started straight up passing out at work! they are addictive too arent they? shouldn't i be worried about picking up this habit too?
once again, thank you all for your help and advice

[cetiya]

I am still unsure if tapering the way I want to will work.  What I'd like to do is, instead of taking 2 20 mg oxycontin twice a day, to take one every 6 hours.  Then drop one.  Is dropping a 20 mg oxy too much?  I know with tapering other drugs you have to do it a tiny bit at a time. I thought if I started to get anxious I could take 5 or 10 mg of the shorter acting stuff, at least I would still have cut down a bit anyway.  I am quite anxious to get off these things and dont want to waste time.  Can someone give me an idea how to take less of this stuff? without freaking out too much?  I don't have any Valium or other benzo's to take if I get anxious.