Help me with a taper plan PLEASE

[bigfred4ever]

Ive been doseing 50-70mgs of percoset a day for about 2months. I did that in one shot after work. Didn't take long b4 I was not gettin high enuff, but I know the dangers of addiction I've been dry in AA for 12 years but had to out myself. Starting taking the same dose throughout the day so I could function. (I'm a foreman on a 90 millon dollar Cnst. job) I am getting 90 15mg oc's 2morrow and really need some help with aTaper plan NOW. I didn't want all the pills but it was all or nothin on the street.......PLEASE HELP! I can't c/t I'd miss too much work, and they'd replace me at the drop of a hat. HELP

[worried878]

agree...open doors to get more pills can close the door to any recovery that is possible..i know some say they do this..keep pills etc....but for how long...one day they will getcha...they will sing to u during the night...telling ur doctors is important..not all need to know all of the gory details just that u r not willing to use narcotics anymore for pain issues unless it is surgery or something....i had to tell my ortho and my GP....just said they scared me and it was not an option anymore...they both happily agreed.

there is a great article in the health pages on tapering and if u r ready..hand over ur pills to someone u trust if u need to...i did.....count them out..small doses thru the day with no large doses at once..no chewing or snorting etc....if u r taking 12 pills a day then go to 2-3 pills 5 x a day or so..then go down from there...pick a quit day and stick to it...keep posting and keep moving forward

[ochooked]

Hi Bigfred ----- Mtgoat is telling you very good information.  She is right on ----  I wanted to reinforce what she said about cutting off your supplier  ----  One of the hardest thing I had to do in getting clean was to walk into my doctor and cut off my supply of Oxy.  I found my doctor to be very supportive but at the same time I knew I had burned my bridge so there was no going back.  I made it through the W/D's and can tell you that you are in for quite a nice surprise at how much your life is about to improve -- once the W/D process has run its course.   I cannot imagine someone getting clean without telling their doctor (if that is who supplies you) ----  You just cannot leave that door open - for "just in case" --- That door has to be slammed shut----- It is so liberating when you finally take your life back.  All the best.

[mtgoat911]

During your detox you may find it helpful to read na liturature on illness in recovery
aa does address this subject in the yellow book but na has devoted an entire book on the topic
helpful hints to a successful taper
1. learn about your addiction
2. ask a friend or family member to hand you your meds at dosing time, let them hold you accountable for what you are taking
2. do not attempt to delay dosing times, this will cause a rebound affect "the jones"
3. ride yourself of dealer or pain doctor
4. throw out all the pills you wil not use during the taper
5. no snorting, chewing, shooting
5. do not view your drug od choice as mediaction, medications are supposed to be health promoting, percocet does not fall into this category
6. always run taper plan by a trained professional

As you probably know the detox facilities that are around today are promoting methadone or suboxone, but for the patients that refuse these maitence drugs, they are detoxed in patient between 3 and 7 days
i am asuming that you are wanting to get off this drug as soon as possible, but your job will not allow you to move too fast
i am also asuming that you are taking around 5 15mg percs through out the day, believe it or not this should not be as bad as one would think!!!
its about setting up a taper plan and sticking to it, no matter what happens in your life

if you can post how many mgs you take and what time, i can run a taper plan by you
my last taper plan for someone addicted to percocet will not be what you need
this women was taken a great deal more than you are, so week one of her plan was more than your average dose

i know what it is like to be in recovery, and experience illness, last summer i had to do chemo and it turned my world upside down, i did not take narcotics, but i did loose my sanity, people in the program stood beside me , i had to put my ego aside and beg for help at 4 yrs clean

i hope you feel better soon
xo

[broknbck]

You can speed up the taper if you skip a day of no pills at all. the first day is always the easiest and it drops your tolerance faster. you could do this on days that you are not working. also try to wait as late as possible each day to take any. and get down to no more than 2 doses a day right away.
It also helps to pick out a date for quitting altogether. and stick with it, knowing that you cannot get anymore pills and you will have to make them last. 1 month is a good amount of time to do it.

It is really difficult to just make a plan and stick to it. Some days are better than others and some are really bad. and you just have to take it a day at a time. and yes it is a constant struggle each day but knowing that you will be able to take some like say in 4 hours or tomorrow seems to get you through until then.

Like some days i would take maybe 1 1/2 pills once. and a really bad day like 2 pills twice. which does set you back a little but if it keeps you going on the taper.... if i didn't have to go anywhere the rest of the day, i would just take none and lay around. every big chunk of time you go without helps the tolerance to go down more.

Each time you take some pills you should not be taking enough to feel high or anything, just enough to make things bearable. This helps alot for when you quit altogether because you are not taking enough to produce endorphins and so your brain is getting use to not getting them from the drug anymore.

good luck with your taper. and remember no job is worth you being enslaved for the rest of your life.

[cathy5841]

you could start out at 50mgs and cut out 5mgs each week.  that gives your body time to adjust to a lower dose before you drop again.  you will still have some w/ds but they will be bearable.  i personally went ct at about 240mgs a day and worked everyday.  it was not fun, but i got through it.  you are on a fairly low dose so i am sure you can manage it.  if you are not strong enough to taper on your own you may need someone to hold your pills.  i tried to taper but wound up making excuses and taking to many.  keep us posted on your progress.

[worried878]

so what was ur total daily dose?  approximately