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Suggest Ways To Wean Off Vicadin

Posted on Wed, 12 Nov 2014

Question: Hi ... i am trying to get off of a long term vicadin addiction.I have been using for a few years consistently.. I only take 40 mg a day and have tried to quit many times by either taking suboxone for a few days or just stopping altogether. It never lasts so this time i have decided to taper off. I only have 2 weeks time that i would like to do that in. I need help figuring out how to taper off them to be successful and have minimal withdrawl symptoms... Should i just take a little less everyday or how should i do it...please give me specific ammounts because im really worried im doing it wrong.? thank you

Answered by Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
taper by 25 % every 4th day

Detailed Answer:
Hello and Welcome

I appreciate your concern.

Though two weeks is not an ideal timeline and it requires a longer time, you can follow this regimen. But a minimum residual dose has to be taken for at least a week afterwards.

Reduce the dose by 25 percent every 4th day and then maintain that dose for another 4 days , so the first reduction will be from 40 to 30 mg , maintain 30 mg for 4 days and then reduce it to about 22 mg and so on. When the minimum is reached at the end of the two weeks, keep taking that dose for a week and then halve it for another week and then stop the medication completely.

By following this, withdrawal effects will be greatly reduced.

May the odds be in your favor.

Let me know if you have any query

wishing you best of health

Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (15 hours later)

Thank you so much for the help.. My first idea was just to take a little less everyday. So start at 40 then next day 35..33..30..27...35..20.. and so on until i get to 5. I think your idea sounds better though. So what your saying is once i get sown to 5mg i should stay there for a week then stop? Sorry i just really need to know im doing this right..this is my last chance i belive.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (41 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Explained

Detailed Answer:
hi,

yes 5 mg would be an appropriate minimum dose to stop with. You may even halve that and maintain for a week. But I am confident you will be stable with a 5 mg minimum withdrawal ,

I am glad I was of help.

Hope I have answered your query.
If you have any further questions I
will be happy to help If you do not have
any clarifications, you can close the
discussion and rate the answer
Wish you good health.

You may get back to me about the progress you have made, I will be more than happy to guide you along the way with respect to coping with dosage and withdrawal.

thanks.

Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar