Need My Wife To Know What To Expect

lnhguy · 11-13-2007, 05:39 PM

Hi I'll cut to the chase. I need my wife to hear from others what to expect from tapering. I've been on narcotics for about ten years along with other meds and for the last 2 years I've beeen abusing the narcotics. Percocet 10/325 5 times a day, Avinza 90 mg 1 daily, soma 350 4 times a day, klonapin .5 mg 4 daily, gabapentin 600 mg 1 daily. For the past 3 months I've been taking my meds as RX no fooling around. Had a real bad back episode and ended having to see another doc in the same office. The next visit to my pcp she informed me that she was going to taper me because she and the doc that I had to go see (who turns out to be the head of the clinic) felt that narcotics don't work for me and that I would have less pain without them. They took me off all the meds except avinza now 180 mg and the soma. Every week the meds will be reduced. Come to find out my pcp said my mistake was that I went to see the other doc and they think its too risky on my part to take the meds I was on. I just want my wife to hear from others what this process is going to be like for me, how I will feel, act, ect...

TJinPA · 11-13-2007, 06:49 PM

Hi Inhguy - well dpending on how much of that stuff you were taking and how high your tolerance levels are you can certainly expect mild discomfort at best. Pretty much full blown W/D's at worst. I sugest you look at the top of this forum for some OTC remidies you can take to help you through this change. Does your wife not believe that you have been taking very powerfull opiate's and that the sudden decrease can/will cause you to go into withdrawls? I think that when you start to manifest physical symtoms of W/D's she will believe you, can't really fake them and who would want to?
Hope this helps TJ

Philster2003 · 11-15-2007, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lnhguy

Hi I'll cut to the chase. I need my wife to hear from others what to expect from tapering. I've been on narcotics for about ten years along with other meds and for the last 2 years I've beeen abusing the narcotics. Percocet 10/325 5 times a day, Avinza 90 mg 1 daily, soma 350 4 times a day, klonapin .5 mg 4 daily, gabapentin 600 mg 1 daily. For the past 3 months I've been taking my meds as RX no fooling around. Had a real bad back episode and ended having to see another doc in the same office. The next visit to my pcp she informed me that she was going to taper me because she and the doc that I had to go see (who turns out to be the head of the clinic) felt that narcotics don't work for me and that I would have less pain without them. They took me off all the meds except avinza now 180 mg and the soma. Every week the meds will be reduced. Come to find out my pcp said my mistake was that I went to see the other doc and they think its too risky on my part to take the meds I was on. I just want my wife to hear from others what this process is going to be like for me, how I will feel, act, ect...

Typically a Dr's perception of taper is not real world reality. If the Dr tapers you at greater then 10% every 3-5 days then you will have mild withdrawal symptoms. Rule of thumb with a taper is to reduce at 5-10% every 3-5 days. Preferably 5% every 5 days would reduce WD symptoms to a very small minimum. 10% will also work but you will feel it a bit more. Anything greater then 10% every 3-5 days will be a tad painful. But its still better then CT thats for sure. Hopefully the PCP will work with you to create a rational taper schedule.

Good luck, see I just can't help but jump in here

madhatter · 11-17-2007, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lnhguy

Hi I'll cut to the chase. I need my wife to hear from others what to expect from tapering. I've been on narcotics for about ten years along with other meds and for the last 2 years I've beeen abusing the narcotics. Percocet 10/325 5 times a day, Avinza 90 mg 1 daily, soma 350 4 times a day, klonapin .5 mg 4 daily, gabapentin 600 mg 1 daily. For the past 3 months I've been taking my meds as RX no fooling around. Had a real bad back episode and ended having to see another doc in the same office. The next visit to my pcp she informed me that she was going to taper me because she and the doc that I had to go see (who turns out to be the head of the clinic) felt that narcotics don't work for me and that I would have less pain without them. They took me off all the meds except avinza now 180 mg and the soma. Every week the meds will be reduced. Come to find out my pcp said my mistake was that I went to see the other doc and they think its too risky on my part to take the meds I was on. I just want my wife to hear from others what this process is going to be like for me, how I will feel, act, ect...

I don't understand how your doc. thinks if you don't take pain meds. you'll have less pain? Anyways,If you stick to the taper plan,you still will have some wd's,but nowere as bad as going cold turkey. I wish you the best,and enjoy the holidays!

lnhguy · 11-17-2007, 03:05 PM

long acting pain meds have never really worked for me. They make me real groggy and do virtually nothing for my pain. The avinza did not work super sedaited at first. Went back to the doc the third day after they swithched me and the ended up reducing me to 120 of the avinza. Tried it sat. night and was real restless and woke up around 4 a.m. in the morning having withdarwl symptoms and after a little pondering on what to do decided to go back to the 180. At that point I took an extra 30 which brought me up to 150. That night I did not want to take the 180 again (too much) so I took a 90. Keep in mind that this is veterans day weekend. I really did not think that this would be that big of a deal, my doc doesn't get in the office till tuesday and I had an appt with her on Wed. I never called but when I went in the office I had told her what I had done. She was pissed. Completely violated everything we had set up- origanal narcotics contract. I know that I have no right for anyone to trust me for the things that I have done in the past but if their is one thing I know is true I was not trying to pull one over on anyone. Now everyone is chalking it up to the addiction with which I was strugling with (still am but I have been taking evrything as rx)and don't believe a word that I say when I tell them what happened. Now I am on the fast track so they said as opposed to the 10% 10-12 week taper. And I have'nt even done anything wrong. After talking with my pcp, wife, and therapist I realize that I have broke many parts of my contract with them but I WAS NOT TRYING TO GET AWAY WITH ANYTHING!!!!!!PERIOD!!!!!!! The Head of the clinic says thay it is a proven fact that in some people pain is actually reduced or completley gone after going off narcotics. I have accepted the taper plan but I told them upfront that I am just willing to see how low I can go. Their have been plenty of times in the past week in a half were I have been in a lot of pain but I have dealt with it.