Need tapering guidelines (please!) - Addiction & Recovery Message Board

1goodgirl · 10-02-2003, 08:53 PM

Currently I am taking Hydrocodone which is compounded to avoided too much Tyelnol. Each capsule is 10 mg. Hydrocodone and 50 mg Tyelnol.

upon awakening (anywhere from 5 to 6 am) 8 capsules
2 1/2 hrs. later 8 capsules
about l:00 pm 7 capsules
about 5 to 6 pm 8 capsules

I have morning withdrawals, hence the second dose so soon.
If I take my last dose much later than 6 pm it tends to keep me awake.
I do not get any "highs"

This was originally given for chronic pain, which isn't very chronic anymore. Started about 10 years ago with a total of 20 mg per day. Have built up a tolerance.

lisaaahubb · 10-03-2003, 05:34 AM

hmmmmmmmmm....i know phil is better at this than me, but i wanted to try to help til he can check in. So you take about 30 pills a day, i think you are supposed to either increase your time in between dosages or reduce your intake by 10 percent every 3-5 days.... you are on a high amount so i don't want to give you the wrong info....or there is a taper schedule that is done round the clock, i am kinda new to tapering myself....it is very difficult, because when you start feeling like crap it is easy to rationalize taking one or two more to feel better. I am down to about 3 a day....and feel awfully sweaty and yucky today. It is a constant struggle, but i am sure with the right schedule you can do it. try using the search and put in taper schedule ....hopefully something will come up....I am pulling for you, you can do this, it takes some discipline, the main thing is to stick to it and keep as busy as possible....Hang in there...i will try to find the schedule under search for you...and let you know...HANG IN THERE!!!!
lisa

Philster2003 · 10-03-2003, 07:00 AM

Goodgirl:

I’ll try and help and given the info you supplied give you a taper schedule that I would use if I was in your situation. Sound OK?

First we need to get your erratic pill intake schedule stabilized and consistent. To do this you need to start taking the pills on say a 3 hr interval. So if you go to 3 hr interval, take 4 pills every 3 hrs. That totals 32 pills per day, close (31) to what you take currently. Hopefully going to consistent interval will not cause any level of withdrawal. If this schedule works without withdrawal then we can start a taper schedule from the baseline. We doing OK so far?

Here is the schedule I’d use to taper from 32 10mg pills per day:

You will need an interval timer like a kitchen timer or medication timer. The Timex Iron Man watch has auto repeat interval timer built in. In this taper the time between doses is increased each day with occasional dose adjustments. You really have to make sure you hit the times dead on thus the need for the timer. You have to wake yourself up in the middle of the night.
Initial dose, 4 pills each interval
Day Interval Dose
1 3:00 4 pills
2 3:15 4 pills
3 3:30 4 pills
4 3:45 4 pills
5 4:00 4 pills (25% reduction)
6 4:20 5 pills
7 4:40 5 pills
8 5:00 5 pills
9 5:20 5 pills
10 5:40 5 pills
11 6:00 5 pills (50% reduction)(16 pills per day)
======================================== ==========
now reduce the dose to 2 pills at each interval and begin with day 12 below having a 75% reduction at the end of 22 days and only taking 8 pills per day.
Day Interval Dose
12 3:00 2 pills
13 3:15 2 pills
14 3:30 2 pills
15 3:45 2 pills
16 4:00 2 pills
17 4:20 2 pills
18 4:40 2 pills
19 5:00 2 pills
20 5:20 2 pills
21 5:40 2 pills
22 6:00 2 pills (8 pills per day)
======================================== ============
now reduce the dose to 1 pill at each interval and begin with day 23 below. At the end of the third period you will be down to 4 pills per day and 88% reduction.
Day Interval Dose
23 3:00 1 pill
24 3:15 1 pill
25 3:30 1 pill
26 3:45 1 pill
27 4:00 1 pill
28 4:20 1 pill
29 4:40 1 pill
30 5:00 1 pill
31 5:20 1 pill
32 5:40 1 pill
33 6:00 1 pill (4 pills per day)
======================================== ==========
now reduce the dose to 1/2 pill at each interval and begin with day 34 below. At the end of the fourth period you will be down to 2 pills per day and 94% reduction
Day Interval Dose
34 3:00 1/2 pill
35 3:15 1/2 pill
36 3:30 1/2 pill
37 3:45 1/2 pill
38 4:00 1/2 pill
39 4:20 1/2 pill
40 4:40 1/2 pill
41 5:00 1/2 pill
42 5:20 1/2 pill
43 5:40 1/2 pill
44 6:00 1/2 pill (2 pills per day)
======================================== ==========
now reduce the dose to 1/4 pill at each interval and begin with day 34 below. At the end of the fourth period you will be down to 1 pill per day and 97% reduction
Day Interval Dose
45 3:00 1/4 pill
46 3:15 1/4 pill
47 3:30 1/4 pill
48 3:45 1/4 pill
49 4:00 1/4 pill
50 4:20 1/4 pill
51 4:40 1/4 pill
52 5:00 1/4 pill
53 5:20 1/4 pill
54 5:40 1/4 pill
55 6:00 1/4 pill (1 pill per day)
======================================== ============
for the final taper down, take 1/4 pill taking the interval from 6 hours to 12 hours by 1/2 hour increment a day.
day interval Dose
56 6:30 1/4 pill
57 7:00 1/4 pill
58 7:30 1/4 pill
59 8:00 1/4 pill
60 8:30 1/4 pill
61 9:00 1/4 pill
62 9:30 1/4 pill
63 10:00 1/4 pill
64 10:30 1/4 pill
65 11:00 1/4 pill
66 11:30 1/4 pill
67 12:00 1/4 pill
DONE (no more pill taking hooray!!!!!)