taper?

[macksabratt]

what is  the difference between tapering and cold turkey?I quit cold turkey back in the end of may and started again on july 4th(dumb me)I was taking 120 to 140 mg of hydrocodone back then when I quit cold turkey and had bad bad w/d's for 2 weeks or more.Now i take about 40 mg a day and want to stop before it gets worse.I can not take off 2  weeks of work this time,so I was thinking of doing a taper but not sure how and want to know what the difference in w/d is.I didn't sleep for over 2 weeks cold turkey and want to know if I do a slow taper and stick to it will I still not sleep at all for weeks?Can someone help me?
Thanks

[macksabratt]

I know what you mean,on how you can get out of control very fast.When I quit cold turkey off of the 140 mg I went through a living hell.I first had really bad body pain (1st week)then in the second week My mind would not stop,it was like I had ADHD mind and therefore couldn't sleep.I took time off of work so I could deal with the w/d's.I can deal with the rls,hot and cold feelings,sneezing,and the bathroom issues,but I can not deal with the not sleeping because I have to be able to function.I am afraid if I quit cold turkey off of the 40 mg(which yesterday I only took 30 mg and did ok)I will have problems with my sleep.Yesterday at 30 mg I was ok but I was a little shakey,had some anxiety and was some what cranky.I slept fine last night.I drank a cup of sleepy time tea and took a sleeping pill that has valerian root and melatonin (sp?) in it.I woke up this morning and feel ok other than the shakeyness,some bathroom issues and I am cold.Nothing I can not deal with.I know what you mean about getting out of control because when I was going through hell during cold turkey I promised myself I would never ever do it again and here I am.I know now that I am going to have to get some help,maybe aa or na.I hope I can keep at 30 mg today or maybe try 25 for today.I am going to do my best.How much immodium do I take?Will that help my anxiey any?

[worried878]

temazepam is a benzo..short term use only..tapering can work if u are disciplined enuf to stick to it...most have to hand the pills over to someone to dole out....it can help...at 40 mg i would jump off as it is not like the higher dose u were on...but if u want to taper then get ready to stick to ur plan..write it out and stick to it..pick a QUIT day and that is it!  the end whether u have cheated or not...just coming off a high use addiction ur best bet may be to get off quickly before u get into bad shape again...and it can happen so quickly..even with a taper...u will feel it tho

[novics]

I used Temazapam sleeping pills every night during my first 9 days of withdrawals and had no trouble sleeping whatsover and I could not have made it without them (Have slept fine the last 21 days without them!) Any way you can get a prescription for this before the next time you try to quit?

[macksabratt]

Thanks so much for the advice and support eagle,it means more than you know.I am just so worried that I am not going to be able to sleep and I have to work which makes this even harder.If I could get time off I would have cold turkeys and went through hell again.Thank God I didn't get back up to 120 or 140 mg like before.I have been using (after my last cold turkey )on and off for almost 2 months.There were a few days that would pass where I didn't do any and I didn't feel to bad,but not great.I can deal with all of the w/d except the not sleeping.If I can sleep then I will get through this.I do have sleepy time tea.Do I just drink one cup and then try a tylenol pm maybe?I feel tired so I just may drink a cup of tea take a hot shower and try to sleep.

[122 Tactical Fighter Group]

The idea of a taper approach is to miss the withdrawal symptoms as much as possible. Check out how today goes. I might suggest benadryl - or melatonin - or sleepytime tea (celestial seasonings) - and a hot shower before bed. You shouldnt have nearly the problem that you did cold turkey. Try some of the OTC remedies if you don't sleep well tonight. It sounds to me like you are on the proper path. And good luck to you. Keep posting for further info and support.

[macksabratt]

No back in May I cold turkeyed off 120 to 140 mg,I am now taking about 40 mg a day.So far today I took 1/2 of a 10 mg hydro at 6:00 am then another 1/2 at 10:00 am another 1/2 at 2:00 and then 1 and 1/2 at 6:00 and that is all I am going to take today.Will I have the same insomnia problems tapering as I did when I went cold turkey?When I went cold turkey I didn't sleep for 15 days.I need to sleep because I have to work and can't miss.I don't mind any of the other symptoms like the bathroom issues cold and hot all the time sneezing.So far today I have not been bad at all.well so far.

[122 Tactical Fighter Group]

If you are doing the taper correctly - the idea is to let your body adjust to the reduced dose before you reduce yet another time. In theory this will allow you to withdraw but miss the majority of the symptoms. Most who fail trying this method just plain dont have the discipline it takes to have pills around, but not take them all. The answer for this one is to have someone else hold them and issue them in a one day supply.....good luck to you and keep posting .....I think I am reading that you are taking 12-14 hydro's per day? I would drop one pill per day - one week at a time. And adjust as necessary if that is uncomfortable...................................