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
160wk1
150wk2
145wk3
140wk4
135wk5
130wk6
125wk7
120wk8
115wk9
110wk10
105wk11
100wk12
95wk13
90wk14
90wk15
85wk16
80wk17
75wk18
75wk19
70wk20
70wk21
65wk22
65wk23
60wk24
60wk25
55wk26
55wk27
50wk28
50wk29
45wk30
45wk31
45wk32
40wk33
40wk34
35wk35
35wk36
35wk37
35wk38
30wk39
30wk40
30wk41
30wk42
25wk43
25wk44
25wk45
25wk46
20wk47
20wk48
20wk49
20wk50
20wk51
15wk52
15wk53
15wk54
15wk55
15wk56
15wk57
15wk58
10wk59
10wk60
10wk61
10wk62
10wk63
10wk64
10wk65
10wk66
10wk67
10wk68
5wk69
5wk70
5wk71
5wk72
5wk73
5wk74
5wk75
5wk76
5wk77
5wk78
5wk79
5wk80
5wk81
5wk82
5wk83
5wk84
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.