taper

[wannabclean241]

I seem to be having trouble posting tonight. I hope this hasn't already went through and I just can't find it, but I am going to try again. I posted a couple of days ago about starting a taper. Had some things to get in order first. Ready to start. I have 58, 7.5's left w/ one refill for 120 in 10 more days. Plus I do obtain them other ways also to get the amount I need until the next refill if I can, sometimes just have to tough it out a day or two. Typically have been doing 12-15, 7.5's per day. Sometimes 10's sometimes more than 12-15 aday. Here is the deal I was thinking about just going down to 6 a day knowing there will be some w/d's until I can get the script refilled and then finish tapering from there. Or should I just start a 12,11,10, etc. type taper now and try to obtain some to get me through until my refill. I know this is probably just preference. But I just keep trying to calculate all these ways of tapering and I just can't seem to make the math work. I have someone who has agreed to hold the pills and has also agreed to kick my a%& if I try to get any more from them than we agree to. I'm just about at the end of the line. I really can't take off work, but I am about to the point of just finishing these things off and then going ct and just take off about 10 days that I can't afford for the "flu". If this doesn't work I am about ready to confess to employer, family and all and just go to rehab.
Thanks

[wannabclean241]

Thanks so much for the help. I just needed some help, as one said spelling it out. Out of all the replies I have found one I am going for. I'll keep everyone posted as much as possible.

[dogneedshelp]

From everything I have gathered here and from my personal experience I offer the following to taper:
It can be done with a minimum of side effects but do not get in a hurry and push it or YOU WILL be setting yourself up for failure. I would start at you regular dose and stay there until you feel good again. After that I would start on Friday around noon and start my first cut. I say start at noon Friday because you will have a couple of tough days and you would want those to be on a weekend so it does not affect your work. If you start Friday noon then you will not start to feel bad until later in the afternoon, but, you will have started to quit earlier in the day then if you had waited until Friday night so that gives you a 4 hour jump on quitting. So, first cut on Friday, which can be no more than 20%, although 15% would be better. The subsequent cuts should be NO MORE than 10%. You will feel bad for the first 4 days but day 5 will turn the corner and then day 6 & 7 you will feel fine. I suggest you enjoy the two days of feeling good because it gives you the mental strength to make the next cut. I think it is best to give you mind the two day rest before going to battle again. So here we are at the second week on Friday at noon and you make a 10% cut. The wd's start all over again but remember it is just 4 days before your body adjusts to the new dose and you feel good again. That is pretty much it. You cut 10% every week until you are taking no more than 1.25mg of the hydro per dose. Then take out a dose until you get down to only twice a day allowing a week between each dose removed. Remember to allow the week between any time you adjust your dose. The best thing I have ever heard refering to dosage and time is "the lower, the slower" Meaning the lower your dose is the longer you should wait to cut your dose. Maybe you will have to wait two weeks to adjust your dose on occasion.

Now we are down to a dose that it will mostly be psychological when you quit, 1.25mg 2x/day. So now it is time to make the leap and quit completely. After that you quit... sure 4 more days of wd's but they will be considerable less severe than if you tried c/t right now. The only thing I might suggest to have around as a crutch is some Valium or Xanax. Not BOTH, just one or the other. The wd's you suffer will be cold sweats and some anxiety. Either of those two drugs will absolutely wipe out the wd's that you may feel. I don't think cutting such a small amount each time will cause you any restless or achey legs. Although if you only cut 10%, you may feel little to nothing. If you do have to take the valium, take the absolute smallest amount possible to give you relief and take NO MORE than every 6 hours, and not longer than 2 weeks. If you can just take the valium off and on and onlt when you need it for instance just take it days 1-4 after each cut then that would be better than on a regular schedule - less chance of building up a resistance and then a dependence on it. You do not want to substitute one addiction for another. This is just a crutch to help you... please don't start down the road to another addiction just because the valium helps you relax and helps you sleep.

Well that is pretty much it. I wish I had someone spell it out for me last year when I was just taking 6 a day. I could have EASILY kicked the habit then. Now it is a real SOB trying to kick this, but, like you, I have at least realized I have the problem and I HAVE to put to put my life back on the rails. My ability to feed my family and OUR very future depend on this ONE thing; Daddy has to get clean, and I will do it.

If you need more info I will gladly share anything I have gleaned from this forum and the internet. We all need help through this and leaning on each other is the best thing I have found, beyond my wife, that gives me the strength to keep pushing forward. I actually left 5 pills on the counter so every time I walk by, I look at the enemy and it keeps my resolve high. I hope this is just a physical dependence for you so that you will not have to fight the emotional attachment to the damn little bottle. I thankfully am only fighting the physical side.

Well hit me up if you need anything. I will try to stay online more often as I work through this. Best of luck to you. I'm pulling for.

[oxyaddict420]

My opinion based another person who posted about a similar taper plan.. Same mg and everything..  You do not want to go from 15 to 6 just like that.. From what he said, and plus based on my experience.. If you can just each day go down 1 pill until you get to about 6 or so.. Then cut it into going down halves each day until you get to abotu 3 or so.. Than cut them into quarters and then only go down 1 quarter less per day.. Until you have say 1 pill left.. then take 4 quarters in four days.. Meaning take 1 quarte reach day for 4 days until they are gone.. Then I wouldnt even get your refill if that is possible.. That should be a good taper.. Also you will still have w/d just not NEAR AS BAD!!

YOU CAN DO IT

I HAVE FAITH IN YOU

YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES

I AM HERE FOR YOU

[FAITHFUL74]

If you want to try tapering... get up your willpower, it will take it! The only reason I even considering taper is because I was running out without the option of getting more! It is hard without options much less if you can turn right around and get some more. I would suggest you have a friend or spouse keep them for you and give them a taper regimen... just remember, don't be upset with them when they stick to it and you insist you have to have more. It is for you and you can do it, YOU HAVE TO WANT TOO!

[IBKleen]

If you ready to confess and go to rehab, then why torture yourself with a taper, but oft en times--that is what it is. It is very hard to do.

Just a thought......