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.

[sandstorm]

Jack,
You have made my day.  Again, I am so proud of you.  I don't know why, but when I read your very first post, I pictured you all alone in a 1 bedroom apartment going through hell.  I have never felt so bad for anyone as I did for you and I know a lot of people. I am so happy to hear you have a wonderful famiy, big house, and etc. I am glad you are not alone.  I'm like Kim I don't know how you had the strength to throw those pills out. No way, I would have, they would have gone down my throat and  then I would have started the next day.  You have such strength and I think you survived it all so you could share with all of us.  I wish you and your family the very best. Keep sharing!

KimH,
I cannot believe what you have been through.  You also have so much stength.  I can tell it comes straight from your heart. I enjoy all of the stories you share with us.  It gives me a lot of motivation and inspiration to never ever go back to that ****!
Everyone have a great day!
Sandy

[doner]

Thanks for the encouragement as I needed it for this terrible depression.Since I started to taper I never really craved because it was methadone I was running from. No buzz. This is the first day in 5 months that I actually wanted to take a handful to chase the blues away.I dont know how much more of it I can take,you can only be this bummed out for so long ya know. Its like my mind is in overdrive. Thanks for bein there,Melissa

[skipper]

rush2danger:
thankyou for your post...so very few who post here have ever 'detoxed" themselves in jail! the last time i did was in 1975 in
the johnson couty, iowa jail. i had been arrested filling a "midnight" Rx. see i was a drugstore thief back then...went for
over 10 years without getting caught...about the time i thought i never would get caught i did...karma?

when it comes time to kick, (and every junky will) pick the time and place yourself...DON'T let someone else pick it for you. the relative safety of home or hospital sure beats county lock-up where they "allow you" one roll of toilette paper every other day and 2 showers a week.

i was clean off heroin and morphine for 17 years when an old spinal injury litterally came back to haunt me. now i 180 mg. of oxy/a day that is Rx by a kindly old pain doc who is quick to remind me his job would be a lot easier if i had been a junky (clean or not) to begin with! all that dope into my arm and i never even thought about what i'ld do if i ever needed it! i think a lot about it now!

best of luck and keep an angel on your shoulder
kip

[truehead]

FYI:  I feel good today.. I am anxious and my legs are restless but it feels good.. it feels real.. i love it.. i will be clean.. i swear.. i have never felt better..

jack.. i am with you.. this will be the single greatest thing i have ever done in my life..

one love.. to all..
-true..

[mrmichael67]

I know anytime I detoxed, smoking pot didn't alleviate the symptoms.  It just helped put my mind in another place, so to speak.  Unfortunately, nothing much is going to alleviate the symptoms besides another opioid.  Certain things like clonodine might help, but you are still in for a ride.  I have honestly never heard of switching opioids to escape addiction.  I do see many say they were addicted to oxycontin and now they are addicted to duragesic or fentanyl or whatever.  The bottom line is you are addicted to opioids, period.  The key word is cross-tolerance.  If you are out of your oxycontin and get, say, dilaudid.....you are going to feel better.  If you are on heroin and are kicking and have to "make do" with oxycontin, you are going to be fine....as long as it is enough of it.  Of course, tolerance will play a roll.  But, if you take an equivalent dose, it will work.  If you are addicted to heroin, or oxycontin, you are addicted to opioid agonists....period.

[doner]

Hello,My name is Melissa.I just read your post towards the top and wanted to drop you a pleasent and innocent reminder that people can taper successfully.I am in the process and am doing very well. I realize and APPRECIATE some people cant taper and must go CT, but tapering can be successful as well.My point(no offense)is everyone has their own way and to hear that tapering cant be successful is discouraging to a person who is trying wholeheartedly to taper off thier DOC.As I mentioned before,everyone has their own way.Best of luck to you,Melissa