Fioricet tapering

[Alwaysneedhelp]

I am looking for anyone with experience on a good taper, considering the half life of fioricet is 36 hours.......

[EllaBlue]

I have a general question.  My ins. Is not going to cover my fierocet much longer. Living alone, well, ANY money saved is really helpful. My question is this. I have no addiction issues, just suffer chronic sinusitis, and migraines. I was at 6 per day for 3 years.  And this month, I dropped myself to two a day, and saved one a day for the last 10 days of this month, hoping to be done. Before I ask my final medical question, please let me say although ai am blessed with no addiction issues, my heart has no judgement. I have lost loved ones due to that, and well, I  pray every day for a cure. I have read awful things could happen, but so far, I feel good. E
Caffeine and a few extra Tylenol ( I usually drink decaf only). Seems to be warding off rebound headaches. I mean is it possible, that I will finish my one per day and be OK?  Thank you. I was not clear on some things. Oh I have to take ativan daily to treat my severe vertigo, so is that helping? Anyone that can answer me, thank you. Even my cable jumped another 10 dollars this month...no raise in my disability.  

[vicki595]

Yes, the Ativan is helping. You could probably continue at the pace you describe and be fine but we're all different so check with your prescriber.  The Ativan will prevent any risk of seizure, in case you're worried about that.
Good luck!

[Alwaysneedhelp]

You really give great advice, particularly because of your experience with this medication.  I don't recall how high your daily count was when you started to taper, I am guessing about 10-15 daily?  I am exercising, trying to stay busy, watch out for anything that brings me down, or causes anxiety.  Because, in my case, that is when I needed the fioricet to cope.  It did help smooth out rough edges, right?  I took your advice, have not gone up in dose, but keep a daily log and journal, and am going to stay at 5 longer.  Going from 10 to five in this short time was hard.  That is why I feel I have hit a plateau., so a time to just take things a little slower.  As you have said, no one wants to go back and re-live all of the negative consequences of being a slave to a drug.  Thank you for being there when I need help, too!

[vicki595]

I chose to go a month at a time but you don't have to. There's not really a hard and fast rule. And, yes, I tapered for almost a year. It's what worked for me because of how much I took and how long I had taken it.  I didn't go back on the taper but it was hard mentally so I understand...I also had a lot of help, changed up my daily routines, added some exercise to the day...I should have gotten involved in recovery care then though.

So, you don't have to drop your dose every week. Wait to be physically comfortable and not anxious and shaky. There's not a time limit; you can create your own pace. You can also drop less than you have been. Just never go back up.    

Have I answered your questions?   You're doing a great thing here and you're going to feel a lot better, I promise.

[Alwaysneedhelp]

You are kind to help with my questions....... It is most appreciated, and likely helps other too that are reading and needing support.  If you tapered down one pill less per month, were you tapering for a long time?  For some reason I thought you dropped down by one each week.  Its tough, and that's why I wonder if you during the tapering, had times where you slipped backwards a bit?  I do not want to regress on my tapering, but hitting plateaus and feeling anxious and shaky at times.  Nothing, though, was worse than the first week....

[vicki595]

Hi!  You're doing a good job but maybe a little too fast and cutting too much at a time...When I tapered, it was once per month...which is excessive but that's how I am!

The next time you drop the dose, try dropping less than you normally drop. It's really a fine line when tapering from this stuff and there's not a strict rule. It's whatever you're comfortable doing and what causes the least discomfort. Our make up is different but obviously you need to adjust something. So, play around with the taper a little but don't ever go back up on the dose once you've dropped it, okay?

You can do this!  Keep in touch!

[Alwaysneedhelp]

Thanks Vicki, I have been waiting to hear from you, as your posts have been so helpful.  For 10 years, I have been prescribed fioricet, but only in the last 3-5 years has it gotten excessive., where until I started a taper plan, I was at 10 a day.  Some days only 8, a bad day with rebound headaches could exceed 10.  I have been on a taper for approx a month., first week was tough as you know.  I am tapered now to 5/day, but I seem to need to stay at this amount, and until this week, really started feeling better.  In your taper plan, did you hit plateaus, where you were not ready to lower each week?  I keep a journal, and right now I am a bit out of sorts.....the drug wants me back!    Perhaps I cut back to aggressively....?

[vicki595]

Hi there!  Yes, slowly tapering the daily amount over time is the way to taper. How long have you been taking Fioricet and how much do you take per day?

Tapering is only part of the battle though. You need support and a plan; you must cut off the supply; and it's best to have your doctor involved.

Keep posting; there's a lot of support here-

[ariley13]

Hi there. We are not allowed to give out specific taper plans since we are not doctors. I can tell you that Fioricet should not be stopped abruptly. There is a risk of seizure. Slow and steady is going to be the way to go. Are you getting these through a doctor? If so, your best bet would be to consult him/her and have them set up a taper plan. There is a long time member on here, Vicki595 that has pretty extensive knowledge about this drug.Hopefully she comes along soon. Please stick around and keep posting. This is a great place for support and advice. Good luck to you!