Hi I'll cut to the chase. I need my wife to hear from others what to expect from tapering. I've been on narcotics for about ten years along with other meds and for the last 2 years I've beeen abusing the narcotics. Percocet 10/325 5 times a day, Avinza 90 mg 1 daily, soma 350 4 times a day, klonapin .5 mg 4 daily, gabapentin 600 mg 1 daily. For the past 3 months I've been taking my meds as RX no fooling around. Had a real bad back episode and ended having to see another doc in the same office. The next visit to my pcp she informed me that she was going to taper me because she and the doc that I had to go see (who turns out to be the head of the clinic) felt that narcotics don't work for me and that I would have less pain without them. They took me off all the meds except avinza now 180 mg and the soma. Every week the meds will be reduced. Come to find out my pcp said my mistake was that I went to see the other doc and they think its too risky on my part to take the meds I was on. I just want my wife to hear from others what this process is going to be like for me, how I will feel, act, ect...

[QUOTE=lnhguy;3305119]Hi I'll cut to the chase. I need my wife to hear from others what to expect from tapering. I've been on narcotics for about ten years along with other meds and for the last 2 years I've beeen abusing the narcotics. Percocet 10/325 5 times a day, Avinza 90 mg 1 daily, soma 350 4 times a day, klonapin .5 mg 4 daily, gabapentin 600 mg 1 daily. For the past 3 months I've been taking my meds as RX no fooling around. Had a real bad back episode and ended having to see another doc in the same office. The next visit to my pcp she informed me that she was going to taper me because she and the doc that I had to go see (who turns out to be the head of the clinic) felt that narcotics don't work for me and that I would have less pain without them. They took me off all the meds except avinza now 180 mg and the soma. Every week the meds will be reduced. Come to find out my pcp said my mistake was that I went to see the other doc and they think its too risky on my part to take the meds I was on. I just want my wife to hear from others what this process is going to be like for me, how I will feel, act, ect...

Typically a Dr's perception of taper is not real world reality. If the Dr tapers you at greater then 10% every 3-5 days then you will have mild withdrawal symptoms. Rule of thumb with a taper is to reduce at 5-10% every 3-5 days. Preferably 5% every 5 days would reduce WD symptoms to a very small minimum. 10% will also work but you will feel it a bit more. Anything greater then 10% every 3-5 days will be a tad painful. But its still better then CT thats for sure. Hopefully the PCP will work with you to create a rational taper schedule.

Good luck, see I just can't help but jump in here

[QUOTE=lnhguy;3305119]Hi I'll cut to the chase. I need my wife to hear from others what to expect from tapering. I've been on narcotics for about ten years along with other meds and for the last 2 years I've beeen abusing the narcotics. Percocet 10/325 5 times a day, Avinza 90 mg 1 daily, soma 350 4 times a day, klonapin .5 mg 4 daily, gabapentin 600 mg 1 daily. For the past 3 months I've been taking my meds as RX no fooling around. Had a real bad back episode and ended having to see another doc in the same office. The next visit to my pcp she informed me that she was going to taper me because she and the doc that I had to go see (who turns out to be the head of the clinic) felt that narcotics don't work for me and that I would have less pain without them. They took me off all the meds except avinza now 180 mg and the soma. Every week the meds will be reduced. Come to find out my pcp said my mistake was that I went to see the other doc and they think its too risky on my part to take the meds I was on. I just want my wife to hear from others what this process is going to be like for me, how I will feel, act, ect...
I don't understand how your doc. thinks if you don't take pain meds. you'll have less pain? Anyways,If you stick to the taper plan,you still will have some wd's,but nowere as bad as going cold turkey. I wish you the best,and enjoy the holidays!

Agree that tapering has to be done slowly, and with both opiate and benzos being tapered - not just one, and yank you off the other. The gabapentin shouldn't be too bad. I had Soma for spasms, (just 2 at night, so not many), and I just quit taking those, with no side effects at all.

There are non-narcotic adjunct medications (like doxepin, carbamazepine, etc) that can help with different aspects of pain (like how the body perceives it) that might be of some use. Do you have access to a pain management MD who might be helpful with this? It's the pits to have pain, and then be taken off meds, that can cause pain during withdrawl.