Best way to Taper

[Bon12345]

I'm trying to get some info on the best way of tapering down off hydrocodone. I have 30 pills, and want to taper the best way, with minimal WD's as possible.  I was taking suboxone for 2 yrs and quit cold turkey....HELL!...still felt bad after 3 weeks, and stupidly went and got some pain pills to try and feel better...I'm so sick of pills. I've been taking them (4-5 daily @ 5mg) for about a month. ANY advice on best use of the 30 I have will be GREATLY appreciated.

[Bon12345]

Hello to everyone,
And Many Thanks to all of your replies. I really appreciate all the encouraging words.
By the Grace of God, I have been sober for almost 4 years. Now I really want to completely rid my life and body of any and all drugs. Caffeine, nicotine.....after I get through this, I want to eliminate those as well. One day, and one thing at a time though, right! :-)
Again, many many Thank You's!
I wish you all a Blessed weekend!!

[conhall]

I did the same thing toothfairie did I flushed my remainder of pills because I knew myself i could not do a taper I would just keep taking them, You can do this yes WD does suck but you do get thru it 3 important things that helped me  Eliminate your pill source and Get into an aftercare program and get support(tell your secret to your spouse or a friend)
Good Luck and for me I am almost at a year clean now and everyday life is better and I do have ups and downs But I am clean and able to get thru it all . You can do this!

[TruckersWife18]

Hello and welcome to the site
I have to agree with the above two post that if your wanting to taper you should have someone hold your pills and dose them out to you. Or one you will just either take them cause you have them or two you might take more then your taper if the WD gets very bad.
I CT off Oxycontin and did a taper off Hydro ( Norco) a little more hen your takig daily
I didn't have a problem sticking to my taper but I was not addicted just my body was dependabt on them after takig them so many years

IMO a taper is best and make WD much easier but if you don't have someone you can trust to hold your pills you may not be able to stick win your taper The CT off the Oxy was very doable but wasn't the best thing I have even went thru in my life
Ether way the choice is yours to make
It's great that your wanting to get off the pills
But you will experience WD to some degree either by CT or Taper

If you haven't already check out he Thomas Recipe on the site. It has a lot of great info and tips to help wih withdrawal.
Drink lots and lots of fluids to flush out the toxins and get plenty of nutrients and vitamnes. I lived in VitaWater and GaterAid, still do LOL
Also get you some nutritional Fri kw like Ensure or Carnation InstantBreakdast drinks they both are loaded with the vitamintes your body is needing. And eat what ever you tho k you can keep down. Also Imoudimn if you have bathroom issues
Also eat lots of bananas as many as you can keep down. It really helps with the RLS
If you would like to read my story of how I did my taper it is in my journal on my profile
And if your needing someone to talk to I am here for you

Good luck on ether way you decide
You Can Do This
Oh and did I mention I did WD in a Big Rig 18 wheeler on the road
If I can do it I know you can do it

Peace
Lesa

[kyle505]

Great story, great result. Many congratulations.
Bon - I too flushed the last of my Norco because I knew that I'd take them if I didn't. In fact, after I flushed them I waited to see if any floated to the top - I would have popped those without question.

[toothfairie]

i agree with Kyle....it might be easier if you hand them over to someone....i had about the same amount when i stopped....but i knew i couldn't taper, so i flushed them....but that's just my story.  you do what you need to to get this done.  I just wanted it to be over with so i jumped off from about 12+ a day of Norco 10's.
and now i'm 6 months clean...got my chip today,.  :)  life is so much better off the horrible things.  

[kyle505]

First of all, you'll need someone you can trust to help you. Most of us can't taper on our own...On about the second or third day, as things get more difficult, if we know a pill is down the hall we'll take it. So, get someone who understands what you're doing and who will help/make you stick to your taper schedule. If you don't you'll probably relapse fairly quickly. Another thing - tapering does allow your body to adjust (not as immediate as going cold turkey) BUT it extends the mental battle of withdrawal, and that, in my opinion, is harder to deal with than the physical symptoms. I can offer you something positive - I had a long history of med use. I could never even consider life without my meds. Fast forward 15 months; life is wonderful. And that's a promise.