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)
510152025303540455055mcg/h
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
475wk1
425wk2
380wk3
345wk4
310wk5
280wk6
250wk7
225wk8
200wk9
180wk10
165wk11
145wk12
130wk13
120wk14
105wk15
95wk16
85wk17
75wk18
70wk19
60wk20
55wk21
50wk22
45wk23
40wk24
35wk25
30wk26
30wk27
25wk28
20wk29
20wk30
20wk31
15wk32
15wk33
10wk34
10wk35
10wk36
10wk37
5wk38
5wk39
5wk40
5wk41
5wk42
5wk43
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.