Can I wean down to 2-3 percs a day if I'm addicted

[Eebb26]

I currently am weaning down from 2-3 10/325 percs every four hours (10-15 a day) is it possible to just go down to 2-3 a day like I started? I take it for 3 herniated discs but obviously have taken more then needed. I've been regularly taking them for a year and taking more then I should for the last few months ( since I lost my father)  I use to enjoy taking one at bedtime and one when I woke up cuz the back pain is the WOrste in the am. Just asking u guys from experience if I will or has anyone been able to lower their dose once they've become addicted n dependent. Ty in advance for your help ;) scared mother of 2 amazing n beautiful kids! And please no religion pushing or praying pushing. I need to find my own strength. Don't be offended, just want to stay on subject

[Eebb26]

Thank you. Can u tell me once I wean down and hopefully stop without the use of suboxone , will I still have WD symptoms?

[J T Junig, MD PhD]

It is difficult to answer your question, since I don't know anything about your motivation level, your history of dealing with challenges, and whether you have an 'addictive personality'-- i.e. your tendency to get attached to behaviors in order to change your emotions.  Some people can control their use of pain medications, and would be able to taper to a lower dose.  Most of the people I know through my practice would not be able to do so-- but by the nature of my practice, those are the people I tend to see.

The problem you face is that during the tapering process, you will be in a state of 'hyper-algesia'-- you will be more sensitive to pain.  I would expect the pain to be the worst around the day that you take a step lower, and then level off after being at the same dose for a week or so. It is difficult to go hour after hour, day after day, always saying 'no' to the desire to take another pill.  You are stressing that you need to find your own strength, but that is asking for an awful lot of strength-- an amount that I was never able to find, when I searched for it.  My recommendation is 'recovery-based', but not necessarily religious--   in my experience people do best with controlling addictive behaviors when they realize that they do NOT have any power over the substance or behavior-- and THAT is the reason they must avoid it.  If I believe I can control something, I have no reason to stop it!

The general philosophy behind 'powerlessness' is that 'since I cannot control my use of this substance, I must do everything in my power to fear it and avoid it-- or it will kill me.'  That is MY favored approach.  But even that approach, frankly, does not make your challenge easy.