Tapering vs. Cold Turkey

[Iwantanewlifenow]

Does tapering really only prolong withdrawal...Is it best to just stop CT ..and like ripping a band-aid off..just getting it over with? Would love to hear everyone's opinions and/or experience. I'm trying to taper and it seems all I do is clock watch..and the next dose doesn't rally seem to help all that much with withdrawals anyway..Anyone ever experience that..Thanks.

[Iwantanewlifenow]

Guess I was just down on myself cuz I CT Fentynal..Morphine and Soma..I don't know if it's Percs that are hard to get off or if it's just because this is the last Pain Med to go...I would of thought it would be easy since I'm off the "Major" ones.

I just took the AD..I know they take time to Kick in...If I feel better I'll try CT again off this last med..if not..My slow taper will have me off by Mid August...AND it IS a very SLOW taper! If I hadn't been so obsessed with going CT off this I would have been off it on a Slow taper 2 months ago..Won't make that mistake again..If I have to slow taper to come off this last one then I have to slow taper...Thanks for the support.

[dominosarah]

Many people here go on AD meds during this time.  Cant hurt to try them.  I would rather have you take that than the other pills.  Dont beat yourself up cuz you couldnt go CT.  That isnt for everybody.  The important thing here is you are working at getting off these.  Now be a good girl and take your AD med!!!     sara

[Dane74]

Hang in there girl!!!! I too went into depression mode i am still there just not bad.  As for the anti depressant, if the doc says take it why not?  Just think about it and do some research on it.  Actually, they are saying now that an anti depressant is actually helping with pain as well, so why not be happy and have less pain?  Please dont get yourself alll worked up over not being able to go CT it's not for everyone, i mean, shoot, i couldn't do it for more than a day. I also went CT on Diluid and Oxy and tram, then i tapered just percs thanks to all on here who guided me through that entire ordeal.  Kepp your chin, and try your best to stay postive, YOU CAN DO THIS......Dane

[Iwantanewlifenow]

Tried CT and went into a deep depression...Such a Blackhole that I was afraid I wouldn't come out of..Anyone else experience this? I do suffer from depression..Have for 20 years..Dr. Gave me an Anti-Depressant but not sure I want to start taking another pill..but then afraid I won't be able to come off these Pain Meds if I don't..Slowly Tapering..Wrote out a schedule..so far sticking to it..I really wouldn't mind the Physical Pain of going CT...but the Depression.....Scary..Not a place I want to be. Kind of beating myself up for not being able to just CT...(I did CT the Somas..now it's just one last med to rid myself of...Percs).

[hiskidd]

Yikes. Your chunk of writing in the middle is me to a "T." It's been an 18 month journey with about 75 sporadic clean days for me. Still dealing with pain doc, MRI's, etc. It royally *****! I wish these drugs weren't so bad coming out of you/us. But I guess that's the tell. Something that we are afraid to stop taking and hurts that much coming out of us, can't be good for us in the long run.

Take care! Open up to those around you like you did on here. They will help you. Flush the pills if you're decide to go CT.

David

[timetoclean]

I am a health care worker also it seems a common problem. Hang in there anj i guess we will be going through this together. Over 20 hrs now defiantly not feeling as good as i was a while ago

[vicki595]

LOL...I'm an RN...go figure!!   Pitiful,huh?  Listen,addiction doesn't define who we are as people and many of us have been skunked!  We don't dream of becoming addicts when we grow up!  We can sure fix it,though.

I'm thinking maybe you can try it both ways. There's no taper or c/t police here...at least I don't think so! Try one way and see how that goes...as long as you keep moving forward it doesn't matter,right?   You know, I was addicted to a barbiturate FOREVER and I swear it was the first dose that hooked me!!  It loved my brain too much!!

So,stick around!!

[Iwantanewlifenow]

You betcha...You really don't know or appreciate someone else's plight until you walk in their shoes...Doesn't matter how much "Book Knowledge" or degrees you have!

[dominosarah]

We learn something new everyday dont we!!

[Iwantanewlifenow]

Side note: I wasn't going to mention this but I'm an Addiction Specialist...Worked 10 years in the field..WOW!!! You truly never know what HELL a person is going thru til you go thru it yourself. I used to think..."Just stop? What's wrong with you?" Wow..Now I know and see everything in a whole new light...I will never, NEVER, make snap judgements again!

[Iwantanewlifenow]

I just want this done and over with so I can have my life baack..Mt Pain Mgmt Dr. has not been helpful because my MRI's show Stenosis..which is painful..and he believes I should be on something.When I mention Holistic or alternative approaches he just balks..I'm looking into Acupuncture...(Already doing PT). .But you have to pick your poison..I think I can handle the pain..I was the type who wouldn't even take Tylenol or Aspirin for a headache or pain...hate putting bad things in my system...I eat very healthy and it's almost contraindicative....I just don't want to jump the gun and set myself up for failure...I still have two children at homeand want to be fully there for them...I was so naieve whan I first took them at the tender age of 40 something..It made me feel so calm, peaceful and relaxed like I've never felt before..and I've never done a drug before..Legal or otherwise..Scares me that I likes that feeling right off the bat..Who knew you coould get hooked later in life by just taking a prescription as prescribed..but I won't lie..I liked the feeling I got better than the relief I received for the pain...I definitely have a respect for drugs..They, IMHO, can take anyone down if taken long enough..My Dr's view is that you'll be on them for life, you don't misuse them...so why do you want to quit???  Because I'm afraid no one is immune to addiction/dependence and I don't want to be a slave..I know it changes my personality..and I know I like the way it feels...Very scary to me.

Thank you all..I'll let you know what I decide..I've been on mega doses of all the right vitamins so I'm hoping I'm a tiny bit ahead of the game..Plus I have one week off with no responsibilities...Wondering if I should just take the"Bull by the Horns" and get it over with..Do you think I'll be over the worst in 7 days? I know everyone is different. I'm more afraid of the depression and anxiety more than any physical pain...Anyone ever concerned about that aspect?

Thanks again...You all are truly my lifeline..I don't know but it just helps reading these posts.

[avisg]

It seems to be diffrent for everyone .some can taper some have to cold turkey .rehab is the best if its an option but for most it isnt . I have done both ways for me tapering did made it eisier . always if you can have a doctor help is best then finding a recovery care program . There are many diffrent chioces I see a theripist in addiction but she helps me get threw the things could set me into a relapse seen its getting to the root of why u used is really important .

[Dane74]

I do think a taper does prolong the WD, but it does make the WD less severe.  It sounds like you might want to just bite the bullet and go CT, if you do decide to go CT it will be over and done with allot faster.  For me i tapered for 4 weeks, and felt like crap during those 4 weeks and then i had to jump off after the taper and then the WD's got worse for like 4-5 days.  So really, it's like a 5 week period of not feeling good and WD as oppose to maybe 2 weeks of stronger WD's.  Good news you have options, good luck to you.    

[dominosarah]

I went ct and got it over with but that was my choice.  For some that just doesnt work, may be a work schedule or small children at home.  As vicki said the best taper is done under the supervision of a doctor.  Let us know what you decide.....sara

[vicki595]

Hi-   I tapered and it worked very well for me but I didn't have a choice. I had to taper!

The thing is, a proper taper is a taper planned out by your physician. He/she is the person who knows you the best in this arena.  The premise of a taper is to decrease small amounts of the drug very slowly over time. If it's done properly, the withdrawal symptoms will be much less and more easily managed with some OTC's.  With opiates it's a personal choice. If you're finding the taper is controlling your life and you're just watching the clock, then you may want to just quit and get it over with. A taper IS more gentle, if it's done properly but the choice is still yours. I'm thankful for YOU that you have a choice!!

Let us know what you think...have you done this before??