starting a taper

[augustwest1975]

So, after 7 years of taking Norco, I am starting a taper plan.  I am taking 40 mg a day ( I know it isnt much) but the mental part of it is still there. I decided to taper down, since I started messing with oxycodone 40 mg for a few weeks and liked it way too much. Haven't taken the oxy in 3 weeks and started my taper today at 30mg. I am already cranky and have anxiety. I guess its mostly mental of me just used to having pills to wadh down before a ballgame or movie, but I don't even get high anymore and im quitting before I get worse and up the dosage. This group looks cool and I hope my taper goes well. Wish me luck, cuz I just want to be sober and happy. PS I also take 2 xanax a day low dosage of .5.. just want the moodiness to go away.

[augustwest1975]

Thank you. I just decided to quit, because I found someone who have oxy and I found myself at a crossraods where I wasn't getting high of the norcos anymore, so it was up the dosage, start taking oxy or quit. I chose to quit. I am over this opiate thing,  I am sick of the burnout feeling amd looking at my watch for next dosage time. I do need to quit the xanax also, but I meed to getthe Norco out first. I was thinking of ggetting down to 20 mgs a day and then just jump ship CT. How long did it take you to adjust after doing the CT route?

[WalkTall]

Congratulations on your decision!  A few thoughts:

1). Kyle is correct. It's difficult to taper, because we are typically powerless when we have exposure to our drug of choice. I managed to taper from 30 norcos per day, to "only" 7 per day, then jumped cold turkey.

2).  7-years of usage is a long time.  What motivated you to quit?  The only way to quit, I mean REALLY quit, is to have a determination unlike any other.  You've got to be ready to look cravings and triggers directly in the eye, and have the strength to dig-in your heels, to renounce the poison.

3). With your dosage and taper, I don't think your physical symptoms of withdrawal will be your nemesis.  It's the mental battle afterwards.  It's the logical you vs. the addicted you.   Prepare yourself for this battle, otherwise you'll relapse.

4). Follow the advice you'll find on this board.  You can take meds and supplements to ease your withdrawal and facilitate your transition into the fantastic world of sobriety.  And follow Kyke's advice:
- Share your secret with your support system, so you don't hide behind that secret to relapse;
- Flush all pills immediately, and cut your sources;
- Prepare for recovery by going to meetings or communicating with people, like us, that understand.  We have been there.

Best of luck, my friend.  You'll have a LOT of support and encouragement from the good people on this site.

[kyle505]

Welcome. I will offer some general information/advice. Keep in mind that we are all different...
Most of us (98%) can't taper - WITHOUT HELP. As the dose gets lower and lower we start craving pills (you got it - mostly a mental thing), and knowing that more are just down the hall is too much - we give in and go off of our plan. That means cold turkey. So, if you want to be successful tapering, you should probably get someone you can trust to give you the number of pills, per the plan, and then hide them. Also, tapering does make it a bit easier on you physically, but really draws out the mental side of detox.
Using xanax, I really wouldn't recommend continuing to use anything (except blood pressure meds, etc.) if you're trying to rid your system of crap. Crap is crap, even though it may not be your drug of choice.
I'd also recommend that you get a recovery plan in place...Cut all of your sources, tell your secret and get to meetings. If you don't plan for recovery you will relapse.
K

[freedom371]

Congratulations on your decision. The moodiness will ease up in time. Yes you are right...addiction gets worse and your tolerance gets higher as time goes on. So, its smart of you to realize this and start tapering now. Ten years ago, i started by taking 2 lortab tens a day. After awhile, it didnt do the trick anymore, so i took more and more...then i graduated to morphine because the lortabs stopped working. Needless to say, now im trying to kick a methadone addiction...and its hell. Its good that you've had this realization now, and that you are ready to do something about it. Dont get discouraged. Detoxing is not pleasant, but it gets better. It dont last forever. Good luck to you!!!