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
6065707580859095100105110 
115120125130135140145150155160165 
1701751801851901952002052102152203) 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
105wk1
100wk2
95wk3
95wk4
90wk5
90wk6
85wk7
80wk8
80wk9
75wk10
75wk11
75wk12
70wk13
70wk14
65wk15
65wk16
60wk17
60wk18
60wk19
55wk20
55wk21
55wk22
50wk23
50wk24
50wk25
45wk26
45wk27
45wk28
40wk29
40wk30
40wk31
40wk32
35wk33
35wk34
35wk35
35wk36
35wk37
30wk38
30wk39
30wk40
30wk41
30wk42
25wk43
25wk44
25wk45
25wk46
25wk47
25wk48
20wk49
20wk50
20wk51
20wk52
20wk53
20wk54
20wk55
15wk56
15wk57
15wk58
15wk59
15wk60
15wk61
15wk62
15wk63
15wk64
10wk65
10wk66
10wk67
10wk68
10wk69
10wk70
10wk71
10wk72
10wk73
10wk74
10wk75
10wk76
10wk77
10wk78
5wk79
5wk80
5wk81
5wk82
5wk83
5wk84
5wk85
5wk86
5wk87
5wk88
5wk89
5wk90
5wk91
5wk92
5wk93
5wk94
5wk95
5wk96
5wk97
5wk98
5wk99
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.