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)
306090120150180210240270300330mg
360390420450480510540570600630660690720750780810840870900930960990
1,0201,0501,0801,1101,1401,1701,2001,2301,2601,2901,320
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
120wk1
120wk2
120wk3
120wk4
120wk5
120wk6
120wk7
90wk8
90wk9
90wk10
90wk11
90wk12
90wk13
90wk14
90wk15
90wk16
60wk17
60wk18
60wk19
60wk20
60wk21
60wk22
60wk23
60wk24
60wk25
60wk26
60wk27
60wk28
60wk29
30wk30
30wk31
30wk32
30wk33
30wk34
30wk35
30wk36
30wk37
30wk38
30wk39
30wk40
30wk41
30wk42
30wk43
30wk44
30wk45
30wk46
30wk47
30wk48
30wk49
30wk50
30wk51
30
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.