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
195wk1
180wk2
165wk3
155wk4
145wk5
135wk6
125wk7
115wk8
105wk9
100wk10
90wk11
85wk12
80wk13
75wk14
70wk15
65wk16
60wk17
55wk18
50wk19
45wk20
45wk21
40wk22
35wk23
35wk24
30wk25
30wk26
25wk27
25wk28
25wk29
20wk30
20wk31
20wk32
15wk33
15wk34
15wk35
15wk36
10wk37
10wk38
10wk39
10wk40
10wk41
5wk42
5wk43
5wk44
5wk45
5wk46
5wk47
5wk48
5wk49
5wk50
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.