How to Wean off Opioids

That would really be up to your Dr. because because there are a lot of factors involved. How much you take, how long you've been on it, probably your weight etc.

I wish you good luck.

Hi,

I had my doctor help me get off of morphine. It took about a year to do it but I had no withdrawal symptoms. But, I had hydrocodone to help replace the effects of the morphine. Once I was off of the morphine I started to lower the hydrocodone until I'm down to 1-2 or less per day. I'm not quite as comfortable but I don't have the side effects of opioids, including dirty looks from pharmacy tech's and ER nurses.

I've always taken less pain medication than my doctor prescribed yet once when I was in the ER some idiot doctor put in my chart that I was a drug seeker since I had to make several trips to the ER for other reasons. I never asked for pain meds. In fact I usually refused them. IMHO, the media and their frenzy have taken perfectly good medications and destroyed their use for those who need them. I agree that some drug companies should shoulder some of the blame but as often happens the minority ruins it for the rest of us.

BTW, it has also affected the veterinary trade and what they can and can't use for pain medication on our pets, especially after surgery. <stepping down from soap box>

Warmly,
Chutz

Azgram,

One more experience here - just a few weeks ago I went off Oxycodone (7.5-325, x a day.) I'd been on either it or the equivalent dose of Hydrocodone for 6 & 1/2 years. I was still taking some Diazepam following surgery and my doctor says that's a bad combo long-term, so I chose to try forgoing opioids - and hoo boy, what a nightmare! The whole weaning off period was only 9 days, waaay too fast. My pain did increase some, but what really made life miserable was the diarrhea...something I almost never get. My old system is just too used to be slowed down, I guess. It was quite an eye-opener

I ended up going back on Hydrocodone and off the Diazepam for now...still want to get off of it someday but I won't do it that fast again!

Good luck!

Debbie