Tapering off oxycodone and baclofen.

Hello everyone,
Since the weather has warmed up here some, I am feeling a little better. I went to the chiropractor today and he helped some too.

I am seriously considering weaning down off my oxycodone and baclofen to SEE if I could stand it without them. I know it will take a long time. Gonna wean off the oxy first.

My question is: has anybody else done this and was able to stand the pain? I've been on them for 4 yrs and only came off them one time for 3 weeks. It didn't help, but I wonder if I gave it enough time?

Thanks for listening,
Jodi

Jody, considering the length of time you have been on your pain medication, I think a slow wean would work. Keep in mind you may have rebound pain for several weeks, this is normal. Our body produces its own endorphins for pain & they have to be reset. I am assuming that you are seeing a PM dr for this.

Take care.

Jodi,
I found part of tapering these meds is mindset and knowing what to expect. I kept reminding myself that for a time my pain levels would increase, and eventually they would level off. I used topical creams and rubs, adjusted my activity levels as needed.
I was on 240 mg of oxycontin/oxycodone per day, 45 mg of baclofen, and 16 mg of zanaflex , 600 mg of Lyrica plus anti inflammatories at the time.
I stuck to each dose reduction, every 3 days, I reduced it again, til I was done.
Honestly, other than the temporary increase in pain, within a couple weeks after being off the Oxycontin and oxycodone, baclofen, Lyrica and reducing the zanaflex, my pain levels eased, stabilized, and I was able to get a real picture of where I was.
You by ave to be determined and take each day as it comes. I also found that splitting the daily total intake of oxycodone products into three doses initially, then gradually, increasing the length of time between doses helped to continue the taper.

I would never suggest that anyone taper meds without their doctors knowledge, so if I gave that impression, I apologize.
It is very important to include your PM doctor in this decision, for many reasons. Your safety is number one, always, they can guide you in reducing the meds to minimize withdrawal symptoms, coupled with the fact that if you are on both extended release and immediate release meds, eventually he/she is going to have to change your prescribed doses to complete the tapering. You also want to keep them in the loop because of the issues you could have by lowering your meds and urine/compliance testing or pill counts..
Stray is right, if you are doing this for you, that's one thing...if you are doing this because someone is pressuring you to get off the meds, then that's a whole different story.
Even the best doctors should know that getting off pain meds isn't going to magically resolve the pain.
It didn't in my case nor in many others. What it did do, wallow myself to gauge where my pain levels were without the meds and decide for myself if I could manage without them, or with just as needed basis ( prn) or if I needed round the clock pain control. It also allowed me to lower my necessary pain meds and eliminate others that worked at one time but were no longer as helpful.

Jodi, I think all of us often wonder how we would do if we were not on pain meds at times. We hate being tied to drs, the attached stigma & having to take meds to exist.

Since your PM dr has you on instant release meds, I am really surprised that he has done this with you. Because of the hype from the CDC, they tell drs long term chronic pain patients should be on extended release medications. Your dr has you on 4 a day, that is rare these days.

Another anti-inflam you could try is Voltaren. It is pretty popular, you can go to Drugs.com & read about it. I used the gel instead of oral, because I can't tolerate any of those meds orally. I used the gel on my knees & it really helped.

Thanks for the tip on the med. I had never heard of it before!