Does cutting down gradually really help?

Question

Just wondering on what peoples views are on whether it helps to wean off opiates gradually first or just to go Cold turkey.  Does weaning off help reduce withdrawal symtoms or just prolong them? I am addicted to codeine and trying to decide whether to reduce my dose gradually first, or just go cold turkey.  Any thoughts?

Back2Me · Answer

The lower the dose you jump from the easier no doubt. But the higher the dose when you start cutting back IMO is harder to do it. When I was at a high dose of over 160mg+ per day it felt like I was constantly in WD even after like just a few hours after my last pill. So I just jumped. CT. To say It was brutal is an understatement. Unbelievable, I would have rather have died during it, my mind and body were a disaster for like 3 weeks. And even then it was a month before I was feeling better. Now (relapse number 300) I am around 12-18mg a day of oxy, just shavings really. I can go a whole day without taking one and feel ok. I only have pieces left but taking some about every 24-28 hours. Could probably jump today with some diarrhea and tiredness nut nothing like last time. But I at that high level if I did not keep increasing I just felt the WD coming faster so to even cut down a little would have thrown me into WD. So I think it depends how you feel and your level of intake. I think on lowrer doses it's easier and better to taper an on high ones I think you should just jump and suffer through it all at once. You feel like you are dying but you are not. But I cannot begin to describe the unimaginable hell I went through. I have not been perfect clean since Jan but after that disaster I can say that I have not even been close to that level again. Scarred the hell out of me.

atthebeach · Answer

hi and welcome to MH. if you wean you will still have withdrawal symptoms but they wont be as severe as ct. it does prolong the detox. tapering takes discipline most cant do it.
ct and the worst of the  withdrawal will last 3-5 days. there are things you can do to help ease the detox process. let us know what you decide to do. 
debbie

kimrenee · Answer

Let me tell you what I did.  I went C/t off taking 5-6, 10mg of lortab a day for 2 and half years.  So, I thought this is it, I am not doing this anymore, so BAM!!! I woke up one day and went c/t.  Well I ran to the emergency room 3 times that week thiking I was having a heart attack, and just feeling nothing short of "dying",  so after my 3rd run to the ER, the doctor told me to go home and start tapering down.  I came home that nite, and took one lortab and thought for sure I was "Dying", never took another one after that. Perchance is exactly right on.  It depends on the person. My opinion and mine alone is there is ABSOLUTELY  NO EASY DETOX.  
Gods Blessing to you, you can do it but you will need every ounce of mental strenght you can muster up. Just hang tuff, and prayers are sent to you now, you will make it.
Kim