weaning off pain med..questions

Jim M2 · #1 (**permalink**) 04-07-2015, 07:53 PM

Wow! That's quite a reduction to take on suddenly. I can't imagine. I'm tapering down on tramadol and it's not fun. It's a medication that's marginally effective but if after years of high dosage it still causes problems. I went 48hrs without any and didn't sleep a wink the entire time. A doctor gave me a few more and a taper schedule. I still don't feel very well. Yesterday was a bad day but today I'm having a good day so I'm optimistic.

Maria · #2 (**permalink**) 04-08-2015, 04:30 AM

WC modified count reduction from 45 count to 60 count 5mg with no refills (from original 120 count 5mg).

I am not having a bad time with pain so reduction has been Ok but GI symptoms are driving me mad!!! The gas, bloating, nausea, etc is just all day and anytime I eat something I'm pretty uncomfortable.

I've been reading about weaning or tapering from a low dose and see that it's advisable to go down about 1mg every 2 weeks or so. I may have brought it down too fast re stomach issues. Most of other symptoms so far I've gotten thru.

I was planning on dropping it to 2.5mg after completion of the 2nd week of 5mg/day but will modify that plan a bit.

WC is ridiculous about their "taper" schedule with no "evidence" as to why to proceed as they deem necessary other than to get me off the medication entirely (why if it's working other than to get rid of me).

Jim wishing you the best with your reduction! Keep us posted if you don't mind. I'm very interested.

Maria · #3 (**permalink**) 04-15-2015, 06:12 PM

Am doing well at 5mg/day. Stomach issues finally quieted I think. I know it hasn't been much time since I started weaning or the taper but the symptoms can make it seem pretty long. It's difficult too being alone with regard to some of the stuff I have felt. I think I'm going to stay at this level for a while longer ...

Jim M2 · #4 (**permalink**) 04-16-2015, 02:14 AM

I'm really glad you're feeling better.

fuzzy · #5 (**permalink**) 04-17-2015, 02:05 AM

If you can do it in 1mg 2 week steps you will have little problems other then pain increases.

I recently did jump of the Butrans patch and the withdrawal is wicked. Rather deal with an on off oxycodone regiment. That seems to not be for everyone but the Buprenorphine (Subotex, Suboxone) in pain management quantity doesn't work. Right now I am living the life of Ibuprofen, Paracetamol with medical pot and it is the devil with the pot being the most effective. Problem with it is that when I medicate my mind doesn't work. I does still work on Oxy. But the dependance and tolerance problem and withdrawal issues make it a much worse choice other then isolated prn doses below the dependance level making it only one of many methods to control pain rather then being a primary treatment.

fuzzy · #6 (**permalink**) 04-17-2015, 02:09 AM

They do consider both my surgeries a failure but I disagree and it only shows how many doctors come to premature conclusions (including German ones!) rather then carefully study the whole case.

My surgeries are not failures as my low back moves better then it has since I was a teenager and the neck surgery took away the serious issue of loosing control of my lower half due to spinal chord compression. But the pain from the cervical myeleopathy spinal chord injury has been going UP and quickly surpassed moderate medication attempts and I do agree with the experts that opiates in my case are a total failure to actually *control* pain without serious harm to the patient.

Maria · #7 (**permalink**) 04-30-2015, 04:25 PM

5mg/day. Thinking about waiting till I see my PM to lower it more.. that's about a month away. While filling the script yesterday was told by pharmacist that now address must be local to the pharmacy in order for them to fill it. In little local paper in my 55 plus community there is information about changes in pain medicine prescribing re DEA new regulations.. appears to be getting much tougher. So seems like the mandate coming from WC is trying to get in line with DEA stuff possibly of course trying to force someone who is responsibly using and benefiting by pain meds to wean in a record time frame without any assistance at all is ridiculous in my estimation .. though for my own personal wellbeing I will at least be giving it a go even if not able to fully achieve the WC or DEA's goal for getting responsible prescription drug using people off their meds.

My GI tract is still trying to figure out WTF is going on half the time it seems..

fuzzy · #8 (**permalink**) 05-02-2015, 06:16 PM

Maria, trust me, you can do it. Don't wait 4 weeks. Break em in half and try 2.5 mg's. You should be able to make the jump from 5mg to nothing.

Regarding pain these meds actually *cause* pain on withdrawal. So initially the pain will be up but throw Ibu and Ace paracetamol on in and it should reduce somewhat, depending on your actual pain levels. 5mg of Methadone is really low and stopping that may make you feel not that well but it is worth a try in my book. If the withdrawal is bad then go back to 5mg and it should stop pretty quickly.

Maria · #9 (**permalink**) 05-04-2015, 03:18 AM

Ok that helped. Cut my little round 5mg'er in half. Then tried to cut halves in half. Sorta messy. Had half and quarter approx. Wish I still received the longer easy to cut 5mg'ers. Anyway have to invest in another pill cutter as don't want to use Lola's. The day was a wash.. will see how thing go tonight and tomorrow. Had chills and GI weirdness today. Back with fine tremors like standing on earthquake. Don't want to go to 2.5mg yet because I live alone and have to do everything for myself and my 2 pets so can't be stuck in the bathroom half the day or longer or disposed from lack of sleep, pain, etc. if I can avoid it by going a bit slower. Hence the trying to halve 2.5mg dose. This way hopefully too I won't end up bumping back up to a fuller dose. Will keep plugging away and see how it goes!!! thanks again for encouragement fuzzy!