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tapering off painkillers

can anybody out there give me some info on tapering off percoset?  i am down to 3and one half a day, but don't know how long to wait before cutting dosage down and how much to cut down.  please, i need advice.
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Avatar universal
Kinda curious on if any of you guys actually did taper off and how you guys are doing today almost 7 years after the original post
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Avatar universal
Going thru the same thing only this is the second time for me to do this. Last time i was taking 20 percocet 10s a day and 10 roxi 30s a day which is way to much if you ask me. What i did last time is taper down 1 pill a day on both meds after 10 days i was only taking the percocet. Then i continued to cut back 1 pill a day until i was down to 2 perc 10s then i broke them 2 in half and took a half in the morning and a half at night. I did that for a week then cut that into a half all day for a week then i would take only a half every other day. This method left me without hardly any withdrawalsymptoms. Now  8 years later i find myself back to 80mg of oxycodone a day and trying to taperoff again. I find that doing pushups sets of 25 helps the withdrawal symptoms a little. I hate living being dependant on pain killer i am about to start a new business and i dont want to start this new adventure being the same old me. I am trying to quit smoking and quit the pain killers at the same time. New year new me but its alot easier said than done. Good luck to you guys
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Avatar universal
Hello Brian, My name is Rob,Im 47 and iv been taking 4 to 6 narco 10/325s for about one year and before that I was taking lorcet 10/650s for about 12 years. My question is can you taper off without any withdrawal at all ? because I want to try it but am pretty scared.And if I have withdrawal how long will I have to go through it and also what kind of things happen with the withdrawal? I have went without 1 only one time in a 24 hour period. Thank you for any info and GOD bless.
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Avatar universal
Iv never felt so aone on this my wife dont get it  I try to stop slow down  then when I think I got this im back were I started   the morning cup of coffy is how I fell about them dont want to go no were until I get a few in me , on the pluse side I give my bottle to my wife so I dont abuse them so bad  but then I find myself looking for the bottle and where she might hid them, then I'm back to where I started she does not understand that is ruining my marriage
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Avatar universal
Iv never felt so aone on this my wife dont get it  I try to stop slow down  then when I think I got this im back were I started   the morning cup of coffy is how I fell about them dont want to go no were until I get a few in me , on the pluse side I give my bottle to my wife so I dont abuse them so bad  but then I find myself looking for the bottle and where she might hid them, then I'm back to where I started she does not understand that is ruining my marriage
Helpful - 0
3655415 tn?1352837277
what is Ultram? So you're saying they are highly addicting? I have pain also. I can't stand living in pain everyday if I don't have my pain medicine from the doctor. But they are highly addictive and I always want more. 40mg per day isn't a lot.
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3655415 tn?1352837277
I couldn't have said it better myself! It seems like I could have wrote the post you did. I'm so sick of this crap. Worrying everyday about running out. I'd love to be down to 2 a day. How do you feel the rest of the day if you don't take any until the next morning?
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Avatar universal
2000, long time ago. I was and still am an addict. For fifteen years now I get my scripts and go off for two weeks. The next two suck. Like today, number two with nothing. For about three years I got into coke and meth. Jail got me off that ****. And a job that tests me. You can't test me fo perscriptions that I have though. I can't stop shaking, sweating, and ********. Yes really, really, hot showers help, not for ever though. O my God this ***** why can't I quit. By the time I feel good again here comes my new scripts. O well.
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Avatar universal
Hello, I am a 39 year old male and I need some help with my addiction to pain killers.  It started off with a visit to the doctor for a herniated disk and from then on it has grown out of control.  I am currently taking about 20 pills of hydorcodone 10 mgs and I want to QUIT.  I went without them for a day and a half and he side affects were killing me.  What can I do to stop the addiction and get back to the life I had before them?  I would greatly appreciate any suggestions that you may have.  PLEASE HELP!!  I don't know what else to do.  
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1979803 tn?1326227009
I feel the same way Lynn, your story stood out to me. my problem is i am taking 10 vicodin 10's a day. I am suppose to take no more than 5 a day. I want to do this I just dont know how to. anytime something happens i run to the pills to numb my feelings. How were you able to ween yourself down to such a low amount? I really need help and advice but treatment is not an option!
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Avatar universal
THE BEST WAY TO BEAT A HABIT IS IFMYOU ARE ON PERCOCET LIKE OXYCODONE START AND SWITCH UP TO A HYDROCODONE ITS A DIFFERERNT KIND OF PAIN MED DO THAT FOR TEN DAYS AND YOU SHOULD BE PRETTY GOOD. IT HELPED ME ALOT AND I THINK IT WILL HELP OTHERS IT WILL TAKE THE EDGE OFFAND STILL KINDA HELP WITH THE PAIN
Helpful - 0
401095 tn?1351391770
The health pages are full of great info

good luck to u
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Avatar universal
i just wanted to share my story. I have abused percocet now for nearly 4 years. When i realised i had a problem a friend told me about suboxin. I bought them off the street and they kept me good and solid for about a year. Now i want to stop taking anything and i want my life back. I had no idea how addictive subs are and man the last 6 days have been brutal. I own a business have a wife, and 2 kids and all i want is to be there for them. with a clear mind and body. Well, it's day 6 and it still sux but it is getting better. I have been reading posts on this site all week and I want to tell everyone here thank you. without the advise and nameless support i dont think i could have made 6 days. I'm almost there and when i get there another pill will never touch my lips again. Thank you to you all you have been like my family on this site. I know it sux guys and if your hurtin now believe me it gets better.
Helpful - 0
1406964 tn?1283203866
David,

I'll start off here anyway, to give you time to start a new thread.

When you decide it's time to come off the pills, you will suffer from a withdrawal syndrome. That's like a really bad dose of flu so your parents are going to notice. Do you feel able to tell them so they can support you through this.

You could also think about going to your doctor and asking him/her for help with writing up a tapering plan. Again your parents would probably need to know.

If you decide to go cold turkey, you should plan in advance because there are things you can get to ease the withdrawals:-

1.) A good vitamin supplement.
2.) Tonic water to ease leg cramps and also some fresh orange juice.
3.) Simple pain killers like paracetamol and ibuprofen
4.) Travel sickness tablets to ease nausea
5.) Imodium capsules to stop diarrhoea
6.) 5HTP, a natural amino acid to help with the withdrawals and calm you down.
7.) Valerian tincture to help you sleep.

The last two can be bought at any good healthfood shop or online.

Take a hot bath every day and again when you get the sweats.

You should lay in a good stock of DVD's to distract yourself with, and lying down listening to music helps too.

You'll need to get out for a walk in the fresh air at least once a day.

Can you handle all that. Do you have a brother, sister, partner or close friend who can support you through all this?

You can expect the worst of the withdrawals to be over by day 3, but you'll still feel crappy up to day 10.

I'm not sugar-coating this for you. You need to know to suss out whether you have the determination to succeed.

Think it all over and we'll be waiting for your questions and comments. There is plenty of help, advice and support for you here on the online community.

Take care

Helpful - 0
1406964 tn?1283203866
David,

There is lots of  great help and advice that the folk on the list can give, but you'd be much better to ask this as a new question to the forum. This thread is years old and your question is at the very bottom of hundreds of replies so not many people will see it.

Meantime, we need to know how long you've been taking the pills for this time, exactly what, and how much you take each day. Do you always take pills every day?

It would also be helpful to know what made you come to the decision that now is the time to stop, and let us know how serious you are about wanting to stop.

Thanks.
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Avatar universal
I'm still a teenager and I found about pain killers my senior year in high school I use to take them from my dad.. I stopped cause they found out I was taking them. I didn't feel the addiction then but I got back on them an it's horrible I have taking everything thing from vicoden percs tramadol to oxy I'm at a bad stage I'm taking up to an average 6 tamadol or 3 in a half percocet a  day does anyone have a good way to get off these pills
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'm also going through a similar battle.  I'm lucky in the respect that I was able to quit smoking after 10 years or so.  I may be just a mental thing for me but I feel in my brain I have the power to quit anything if I can quit that.  
That said I don't remember it giving me the physical affects like Oxy 15mg 6 X day does.  Ouch....  I have found that doing a tapper really worked for me.  It's tough don't fool yourself but you can do it!!!!  I cut from 6 to 5 for 2 days, dropped to 4 and stayed there for 3 days, then I went to using a perc 10/325 and mixed the oxy 15mg by breaking it in half but being careful not to make a higher does than using 3 1/2 of my original pills oxy15's.  I actually had to keep working and I'm IT so it is tough to sit at the computer and Craaaawwlllllll.....   By Friday I was ready to take some more pain and knock this crap out....   I went to 2 1/2 of the 325's, and I think the next day went to just to of the 10/325's.  Oh yea and then I added Excedrine.   Careful you don't want to take to much of this either due to liver issues.  It also has 65 mg of caffine so take early for your morning perc... it helps a little.  I went through another week at work this way...sucked a little but was doable for sure.  I knew the next weekend was going to be it....scared for sure because I thought I might be in trouble at work..... I was so I called in for Monday and Tuesday.....in process of forclosure too so wow stress is maxin............   God will make things work!!!  Give it up to him....  you can't controll all of it....
So Wed went back and wow it was not as bad as I thought.  I actually had some good stuff happen and I felt more alive... hair kind of stood up on neck (good thing not the creepy feeling) and got pumped up.  okay now it's been 6 days and nothing other than Excedrine and ibuprofin.  Don't forget when you get all the aches and pains to use ibuprofin with excedrine.  Not large amounts.  1 excedrine couple times a day and 3 ibuprofine 2 to 3 times a day as long as your liver can take this.  If you have other problems for sure get the doc involved.   Just letting everyone know my experience.  I've been on these things for over 10 years now and I'm so over it.  There is more to life.
Cheers and good luck!!!!!!  I will keep watching this post
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
was reading a post that someone asked if we knew they were addictive... the answer yes and so does the doctors. yet when you have chronic pain...you take them for the pain not the high! then there comes a times after 1, 2, 3...years you get tired of just taking pills. and that is where i am - i guess i am deciding i would rather just live in pain, I know the Lord will help.  i am going to wean down, and going to have the Thomas recipe help me.  if anyone has any idea's how i should wean... would love to hear them.
i take 10mg of Percocet and in between 7.5 vic. ---3 to 4 times a day, sometimes depending on the pain i will mix but still not taking any more than 3 or 4 a day.  i  have ultram but usually do not take, doesn’t help. also doc just prescribed something for nerve pain.  
thank you for all the info i have read
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Avatar universal
I had a hysterectomy about 2 and a half weeks ago.  I was taking 5/325 perks for fun for a week before.  Then my boyfriend got  10/325 so I took about ten of those spread out about a week.   So, I was taking percs before my surgery.  Then came the surgery.  My Doc gave me 10/325 about 30 of them.  then He gave me 30 more.  My pain had gone away but I was taking them because I liked the way they made me feel.  I took one of my last 10/325 on sunday night about 7 oclock.  I had one left, I figured i better save one.  Monday was the worst day of my life.  I figured I had become addicted to these things.  I was so upset that I let myself get this way.   I called the doc that night , of course the office was closed, so I asked the doc to call me.  He told me to take the last 10, but split it in half.  I was to take one that night and one in the morning.  Thats what I did.  That night I flipped around in bed like a fish out of water.  Now a friend gave me 5 5/325.  I split that one in half and took a lorazapan and actually slept without flipping around.   I'm feeling a little shakey right now, but my question is should I take a 2.5 this morning and cut that in half for tonight before bed??  How many days should I take 2.5 before cutting that in half?  When this is over I will never take another pain pill ever again!!   Will  Someone let me know the correct way to wein?
Helpful - 0
323551 tn?1255174750
Denise, you may want to start a new thread since this one is several years old and could easily be missed by those that might be able to help!

-Vic
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Avatar universal
I started taking Vicoprofen in 2004. By 2007 I was taking 10-15 per day, then I used tramadol 7-8 times a day when i ran out of vicoprofen.  I got my scripts the next month and started the cycle all over again.  
By 8-2007  i was so ashamed of my life i saw a doctor who helped me with Suboxone.  January I quite Suboxone, and I did have withdrawals, sleeplessness, anxiety, diarrhea, anxiety, SEVERE depression, etc.  Probably 6-7 days later it started to get better.  I slept 2-3  hours for a couple of nights, then 4-5 for a couple of nights.  My depression was getting a little better each day, though I didn;t notice it, I would tell my self I made it another a day, and the sadness will be a little better.  From mid February until November of 2007, I stayed clean.  I have 5 herniated discs in my back (thats why i started pain management on 2003) but eventially my pain stopped with Physical Therapy.  Back to my sober days, I never felt the same though.  The drugs were out of my system and I didn't even think about them.  I always felt tired and fatigued throughout the day.  I am 32 years old and I felt like I was 70 years old.  I had a minor injury  and i am back on vicoprofen.  I want to stop because i have been on it for 2 months but i am afraid of what i went through to get off.  My doc has switched me to darvocet and want to wean my self off.  Can anyone recommend how to wean off so I dont go into withdrawals again.  I didnt wean off suboxone correctly so I went through it pretty severe.  Please help!!! what should I do
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401095 tn?1351391770
Old post...posting a new question will help u get more answers to ur needs...cool thing tho is IBKLEEN is on ur psot...she no longer posts but she was a forum leader when she did post...read her posts..listen and absorb...she is a very good down to earth poster....thinking she must be an earth sign in the zodiac  LOL
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Avatar universal
What is the Perc Experiment? Where can i find it? My husband and myself are addicted, and we are wanting to get off them. We need to know what our chances are and what we will be facing as far as withdrawls?
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Avatar universal
I've been doing almost every painkiller known to man.oxi,percs,vics and hydrochloride also known as ultram my first love.After being discharged from the service with a 3 mo refill on ultram 50 mg i built a tolerance to them.A friend of mine noticed,and gave me this little pill with 40 on it so i took it, and god bless America it was kick *** no pain no nothing!! so the next day i went back and got one that had an 80 on it Wow!santas elves are working overtime(Christmas everyday)then one day my wife asked me what was wrong.I didn't think it was bad so i told her,have you ever seen a Tasmanian devil?Well i didn't know it was illegal i said.then she asked me how long on been on them and how much do i take.Well everyone i should be dead,for 4 years on at least 3 8o's of Oxycontin a day so she took me to see a doctor and he wanted me in treatment asap!!so i went,Mind you i have never been without,and this **** sucked night sweats,diarrhea,shakes,insomnia,racing thoughts and cravings.(twelve days) of this reaping hellish introspective nightmare.After i left the hospital they put me on suboxone.I stayed on it for a year got off of it and more withdrawals!my wife was there through the toughest times.i was clean for a month until on a random occurrence i saw the guy i got my first oxi from.and before i could say no he gave me 20 40s.I stared at them for three days until i got in a fight with my wife and did two of them through a straw,and the devils grip had me again .but this time i was to ashamed to tell her cause i was doing so damn good!After about a week of doing them in secret my daughter came up to me and told me she was proud of me and she was glad i was her daddy.I gave her a hug and cried till i couldn't any more and told her thank you for being there and i loves you very much.well guys and gals god has a funny way of telling you he's there even if he or she  doesn't talk back.i don't do oxi anymore or anything for that matter.the love of a child is a wonderful thing and a blessing.the physical addiction is nothing compared to the love of a child.Some of you are going through the same and some may even be worse,but honestly from my heart to All ,you know whats important in your heart.and if you ever need someone to talk to my E-mail address is ***@****.  

     sincerely lee h johnson recovering addict
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