Help Philster - Addiction & Recovery Message Board

rockstar · 10-01-2003, 05:11 PM

Hi just wanted to check in. I'm still trying to tapper I am alittle scared on Tuesday I go in for breast surgery to fix the problem.I want to know will I go in to withdrawls on my surgey day beings I can not take anything the morning of.I will be given pain meds and I will be careful.I WANT TO COME UP WITH A PLAN PHILSTER BEFORE I come home.Thanks Tina

Philster2003 · 10-01-2003, 07:29 PM

I can't remember how much and how often you were taking your pills? They usually say don't drink or eat after midnight. I'd take some at midnight. The day of your surgery they will give you pain meds most likely, the problem is they may not give you the qty you were taking on your own and if not you will probably have some level of withdrawal. You may need to have your hubby or doc help you out on this if possible. This is a tuff one. I thought your hubby was a Dr, can’t he help out with this one?

phil

rockstar · 10-02-2003, 05:26 PM

I ask him he only wants to tells me to take them the wy precribe.FOUR TIMES DAILY he will not help me taper at all.I ask my medical question and he tells me he is not my docter.I was taking 18 a day and over the course of three weeks I have been taking any where from 6 to 8 mostly 6 in the last week. I think tapering is a very hard mind control thing and I have been working hard on it.I called and canceled my
surgery today and want to concentrate on getting off this drug so Philster if you could come up with a better taper plan I would be very happy.I have myself down to about 6 pills 2 in the morning 2 in the afternoon and two in the evening around 8:00PM AND HALF Xanax .05mg before bed.I have look at some of your plans you have done for other people and do not understand them.Thank You Tina

Philster2003 · 10-03-2003, 04:06 PM

Tina, you need to get on a more timely schedule. So if you can move to 1 pill every 4 hrs that will get you to 6 pills in a 24 hr period. Get stabilized at this rate for several days (2-3) Then we can begin to introduce time and reduced qty.
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, 1 pill each interval
Day Interval Dose
1 4:00 1 pill
2 4:15 1 pill
3 4:30 1 pill
4 4:45 1 pill
5 5:00 1 pill (20% reduction)
6 5:20 1 pill
7 5:40 1 pill
8 6:00 1 pill (33% reduction)(10 pills per day)
9 5:20 3 pill
10 5:40 3 pill
11 6:00 3 pill
======================================== ==========
now reduce the dose to 1 1/4 pills at each interval and begin with day 12 below having a 75% reduction at the end of 22 days and only taking 5 pills per day.
Day Interval Dose
12 3:00 1 1/4 pills
13 3:15 1 1/4 pills
14 3:30 1 1/4 pills
15 3:45 1 1/4 pills
16 4:00 1 1/4 pills
17 4:20 1 1/4 pills
18 4:40 1 1/4 pills
19 5:00 1 1/4 pills
20 5:20 1 1/4 pills
21 5:40 1 1/4 pills
22 6:00 1 1/4 pills (5 pills per day)
======================================== ============
now reduce the dose to 1/2 pill at each interval and begin with day 23 below. At the end of the third period you will be down to 2 pills per day and 90% reduction.
Day Interval Dose
23 3:00 1/2 pill
24 3:15 1/2 pill
25 3:30 1/2 pill
26 3:45 1/2 pill
27 4:00 1/2 pill
28 4:20 1/2 pill
29 4:40 1/2 pill
30 5:00 1/2 pill
31 5:20 1/2 pill
32 5:40 1/2 pill
33 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 95% reduction
Day Interval Dose
34 3:00 1/4 pill
35 3:15 1/4 pill
36 3:30 1/4 pill
37 3:45 1/4 pill
38 4:00 1/4 pill
39 4:20 1/4 pill
40 4:40 1/4 pill
41 5:00 1/4 pill
42 5:20 1/4 pill
43 5:40 1/4 pill
44 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
45 6:30 1/4 pill
46 7:00 1/4 pill
47 7:30 1/4 pill
48 8:00 1/4 pill
49 8:30 1/4 pill
50 9:00 1/4 pill
51 9:30 1/4 pill
52 10:00 1/4 pill
53 10:30 1/4 pill
54 11:00 1/4 pill
55 11:30 1/4 pill
56 12:00 1/4 pill
DONE (no more pill taking hooray!!!!!)

Philster2003 · 10-03-2003, 04:08 PM

Now if this is confusing let me know and I'll try and explain it better.

phil