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
100wk1
90wk2
85wk3
80wk4
70wk5
65wk6
60wk7
60wk8
55wk9
50wk10
45wk11
45wk12
40wk13
35wk14
35wk15
30wk16
30wk17
25wk18
25wk19
25wk20
20wk21
20wk22
20wk23
15wk24
15wk25
15wk26
15wk27
10wk28
10wk29
10wk30
10wk31
10wk32
5wk33
5wk34
5wk35
5wk36
5wk37
5wk38
5wk39
5wk40
5wk41
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.