Pain Management
West of Scotland Chronic Pain Education Group
Taper Calculator
Before using, please read the disclaimer1) Select an initial medication. 2) Select a starting 24h dose. 3) Select a target medication. 4) Select a rate of taper (higher rates result in a shorter taper period).
1) initial medication
morphine mgoxycodone mgtapentadol mghydromorphone mgtramadol mgcodeine mgdihydrocodeine mgfentanyl(TD) mcg/hbuprenorphine(TD) mcg/hmethadone mg2)
510152025303540455055mg
6065707580859095100105110115120125130135140145150155160165
170175180185190195200205210215220
3) target medication
come off completelymorphine mgoxycodone mgtapentadol mghydromorphone mgtramadol mgcodeine mgdihydrocodeine mgfentanyl(TD) mcg/hbuprenorphine(TD) mcg/h4) rate
3%4%5%7%10%15%20%25%30%40%50%wk0
85wk1
75wk2
70wk3
65wk4
60wk5
55wk6
50wk7
50wk8
45wk9
40wk10
40wk11
35wk12
35wk13
30wk14
30wk15
25wk16
25wk17
20wk18
20wk19
20wk20
15wk21
15wk22
15wk23
15wk24
10wk25
10wk26
10wk27
10wk28
10wk29
10wk30
5wk31
5wk32
5wk33
5wk34
5wk35
5wk36
5wk37
5wk38
5wk39
5
All doses are per 24h period.
Drug rotation dose changes are linear. Drug discontinuation doses are exponential.
25% total dose reduction across rotation period to allow for pharmacological variation.