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
90wk1
80wk2
75wk3
70wk4
65wk5
60wk6
55wk7
50wk8
50wk9
45wk10
40wk11
40wk12
35wk13
35wk14
30wk15
30wk16
25wk17
25wk18
20wk19
20wk20
20wk21
15wk22
15wk23
15wk24
15wk25
10wk26
10wk27
10wk28
10wk29
10wk30
10wk31
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.