[fisherman123]

Hello,
I am a 40 year old male and have been taking oxycodone once a day, in the morning, for about 3 years.

I started taking it by prescription (5mg), raising it every few months, and now and for the past 3 months, I have been taking 90 mg (6 15mg tablets of immediate release oxycodone), in the morning, once. Nothing in the afternoon and nothing in the evening.

About 4 months ago, when I thought I wanted to stop, I went to a doctor, and we talked about suboxone (hope I spelled that right!), but he said he doesn't think I will even need it, since I only take it once per day. I also told him that in the past, I have been able to stop for 2 weeks at a time, which is the truth.

He told me to try to go cold turkey, and if it doesn't work, to come back and see him, and he will put me on suboxone.

I am ready to try to stop (for the first time), but my question is this:
Instead of going cold turkey, can I just try to ween myself off of it?

Maybe he is right and I can stop cold turkey and I will be ok. I haven't tried it, so I don't know if it will work.

He is a doctor and his practice is only for people with substance abuse, so I am pretty sure he knows what he is talking about, but I see all the stories online about how stopping cold turkey can cause death.

Would that apply to me, even though I am only taking it once a day, in the morning?

Should I stop suddenly, or should I ween myself off of it?

I am on 90mg of immediate release oxycodone (same as percocet but without the aspirin), once a day, in the AM. (actually it is 6 15mg tablets that I take at one time).

I am tired of this and want to stop it for good.

Please advise. Should I go cold turkey and see what happens, or should I try to ween myself off of it?

I have enough (approx 3 month supply) so I should have enough to ween myself off of it.

The reason I am only on it once a day is because when I first started taking it, I tried it 2 or 3 times a day, but the 2nd and 3rd dose (in the same day) did not give me the 'high' that the first dose would give me, so I have only been taking it in the morning, for 3 years.

The doctor told me that most people take it several times a day and those are the people that need the suboxone. He did say he will give it to me if I can't stop on my own, but said he thinks I should try to stop myself.

Please advise.

I don't want to bring religion into this, but I am a HUGE believer that GOD will answer my prayers, as HE ALWAYS has. I have been praying every day to stop, and it seems like GOD is telling me that I have to take the next step (which I believe is either to go cold turkey, or to ween myself off of them).

And then possibly to get on suboxone.

I have the will power to stop now. Just want to know the best method to do it, in my situation, where I only take it once a day.

He did say something about me having the runs and he told me some over the counter thing to take. Almost like Pepto Bismol but I can't remember what he said to take! He said I will have stomach disorders but said if I take this, it will help me. It wasn't Pepto Bismol, but I can't remember what it was!! Can someone tell me?

And please let me know which method I should use to get off of this.

Thank you and GOD BLESS!

Tony

[melinda7.5]

Hi Tony
I have quit cold turkey and I have done a taper for me the taper helped till I got down to a low enough dose then I stopped..
If you do a taper you will just want to take less anytime you feel like you can you wont get high anymore but you will get off the drugs..
We can make a taper schedule for you if you would like...
I'm glad you like the BIG MAN ( GOD ) he can help you ALLOT

I haven't heard of any one dyeing from cold turkey tho
you just wish you would...LOL
I would try both and if you cant make it we can get you on and off the sub's in no time...Well Robert can help you with that...
Let us know what you want to do,
Talk to you soon, Melinda

[fisherman123]

Hi Melinda, that would help me so much. Can you give me the schedule to taper it off? I will try it.

I take 90 mg per day, in the AM. My pills are 15 mg each, so I have been taking 6 at a time.

Thanks!!

Tony

[melinda7.5]

Originally Posted by fisherman123

Hi Melinda, that would help me so much. Can you give me the schedule to taper it off? I will try it.

I take 90 mg per day, in the AM. My pills are 15 mg each, so I have been taking 6 at a time.

Thanks!!

Tony

Hi Tony
If your taking 6 in the morning...

start by breaking one of them in half...
Take 5 and 1/2 for about four days

then drop it to 5 for four days

then go down to 4 and 1/2 stay there for 4 days

then go down to 4 for 4 days

then go down to 3 and 1/2 for 4 day

then 3 for 4 days

2 and 1/2 for 4 days then 2 for four days

1 and 1/2 for 4 days and then 1 for 4 days and then a half for 4 days...

The part where it gets tricky for tapering is you need to say good by to catching the buzz we all like...the taper will just help us not go thru so bad of w/d.

if you feel stable you can drop faster...It's going to be a mental game and you need to win...so keep telling yourself you don't want to take those pills any more and they are evil...even when you take your morning dose tell yourself how much you hate them...
get on here and post there are allot of people that would love to help..
and allot more that will be reading your progress...
Talk to you soon, Melinda

[fisherman123]

Melinda,
Thanks so much for the information.

I am going to start this tomorrow (Thursday).

I already took my 120mg (6 of the 15 mg tablets) this morning (Wednesday), so I will start the schedule you gave me, tomorrow, April 23, 2009.

I will keep you updated on my progress.

Thanks!

Tony

[melinda7.5]

Hi Tony
I'm going to put up the Thomas recipe for you...
I don't think you will need the benzo's but the other stuff will help..
Talk to you later, Melinda

"PLEASE NOTE: I am not a doctor, simply a long-time Rx opiate junkie who has had many opportunities to develop a way to detox. This is a recipe for at-home self-detox from opiates based on my experience as well as that of many other addicts. It is not intended as professional medical advice. It is always wise to make sure none of the recipe ingredients or procedures conflict with medications you may be taking. Likewise, if you have any medical condition, disease, allergy or any other health issue, consult your doctor before using the recipe. Thanks, Thomas

THOMAS RECIPE

If you can't take time off to detox, I recommend you follow a taper regimen using your drug of choice or suitable alternate -- the slower the taper, the better.

For the Recipe, You'll need:

1. Valium (or another benzodiazepine such as Klonopin, Librium, Ativan or Xanax). Of these, Valium and Klonopin are best suited for tapering since they come in tablet form. Librium is also an excellent detox benzo, but comes in capsules, making it hard to taper the dose. Ativan or Xanax should only be used if you can't get one of the others.

2. Imodium (over the counter, any drug or grocery store).

3. L-Tyrosine (500 mg caps) from the health food store.

4. Strong wide-spectrum mineral supplement with at least 100% RDA of Zinc, Phosphorus, Copper, Magnesium and Potassium (you may not find the potassium in the same supplement).

5. Vitamin B6 caps.

6. Access to hot baths or a Jacuzzi (or hot showers if that's all that's available).

How to use the recipe:

Start the vitamin/mineral supplement right away (or the first day you can keep it down), preferably with food. Potassium early in the detox is important to help relieve RLS (Restless Leg Syndrome). Bananas are a good source of potassium if you can't find a supplement for it.

Begin your detox with regular doses of Valium (or alternate benzo). Start with a dose high enough to produce sleep. Before you use any benzo, make sure you're aware of how often it can be safely taken. Different benzos have different dosing schedules. Taper your Valium dosage down after each day. The goal is to get through day 4, after which the worst WD symptoms will subside. You shouldn't need the Valium after day 4 or 5.

During detox, hit the hot bath or Jacuzzi as often as you need to for muscle aches. Don't underestimate the effectiveness of hot soaks. Spend the entire time, if necessary, in a hot bath. This simple method will alleviate what is for many the worst opiate WD symptom.

Use the Imodium aggressively to stop the runs. Take as much as you need, as often as you need it. Don't take it, however, if you don't need it.

At the end of the fourth day, you should be waking up from the Valium and experiencing the beginnings of the opiate WD malaise. Upon rising (empty stomach), take the L-Tyrosine. Try 2000 mgs, and scale up or down, depending on how you feel. You can take up to 4,000 mgs. Take the L-Tyrosine with B6 to help absorption. Wait about one hour before eating breakfast. The L-Tyrosine will give you a surge of physical and mental energy that will help counteract the malaise. You may continue to take it each morning for as long as it helps. If you find it gives you the "coffee jitters," consider lowering the dosage or discontinuing it altogether. Occasionally, L-Tyrosine can cause the runs. Unlike the runs from opiate WD, however, this effect of L-Tyrosine is mild and normally does not return after the first hour. Lowering the dosage may help.

Continue to take the vitamin/mineral supplement with breakfast.

As soon as you can force yourself to, get some mild exercise such as walking, cycling, swimming, etc. This will be hard at first, but will make you feel considerably better.

Thomas"