Chantrix - Quitting Smoking

[danaf]

I took my first pill today. And before anyone tries to beat me up - don't. Smoking is my demon. I love it & I hate it. I've beat myself up over it enough.

Anyway, my doc gave me a script but a friend of mine gave me his pills because he didn't go through with it. Saved me alot of money!

I've been an on again off again smoker for years. I want to quit - I have to quit. I just don't have the willpower I used to hence the needs to use meds. I have a few other friends who used these pills successfully and they were much heavier smokers than I am. So I'm trying this.

Wish me luck - please.

[Bandit]

Bad! bad! bad smoker!

I have no problem with people who smoke. I do have a problem with all the ridicluous laws treating smokers like criminals and forcing them to quit through billboards and every door you walk through today says NO SMOKING.

you have to be ready to quick smoking. There is no magic pill that makes someone quit. I smoked a pack a day for over 25 years. I did not quit for money or health reasons.
I quit because it had control over me and I could not say no or control my habit. Marlboro Lights...sounds really bad now! LOL but I love them and still do...They love me even more.

I used chantrix to help quit and it did help me. I also used fake foam cigs with cinamon flavor to cut the physical habit along with a chinese herbal that when you close your eyes and inhale gently, then light a smoke, it tastes like you just put your tongue out and licked and smelled a wet ashtray...so you put it out right away because no one likes that smell. That is really what helped get me weaned off them while the chantrix closed the receptors that makes your body crave it.

There was a retired man at the metro station just friday who said he had quit smoking for over 30 years and he still craves them.

I love cigarettes, I love the smell, the flavor, the calming effect and everything about them. I don't like the control they have over me or the headaches I got at times and I know if I EVER light one or take one single hit off of one, I will be hooked again...so I enjoy the smell from a distance. This is where I appreciate the second hand smoke

You really need to follow the instructions with chantrix and wean off of it slowly the first week but most importantly you must be ready to let go of it. You know I still have a bottle in the cupboard because I never had to go thru the second bottle and when I get a craving I take a little blue pill, maybe once every six weeks and that stops me from thinking about it all day. I did have real bad side effects like dizzy spells and one day I swear right after I took one it went right to my liver and vomitted right back up...but I still did not smoke then took the next one as scheduled.

It was kind of weird at first because it always seemed like whatever I was doing there had to be a smoke along with it, after dinner and after the gym, driving down the road, after a shower, at the bar, when gardening, on the swing, after sex, with coffee every morning, at 3 AM if i wake up, watching TV, by the fire smoking up the chimney...Nicotine had complete control over me.

Cantrix is very strong and it really does help with cessation if it is your time and you are ready. You should only need the first set of pills to quit, then get the second bottle just to be safe for the days when you crave it after you quit. It was like 90 dollars but way cheaper than smoking for a month. That is my story on that.

Good luck

[lillaimof2kids]

Best of luck to you! Start changing habits now! Find something different to do after you eat, like take a walk or bike ride, or play fetch with the dog. Start dealing with stress differently too...Now!

I know how hard it is! I used to smoke and quit cold turkey 6 years ago. I had to stop and get my kids lunch before heading out of town. I actually considered buying my cigs instead of their lunch - that was all the cash I had on me and no time to run to the bank. It was difficult! I thought my heart was going to pound out of my chest for 3 days. Some days the only reason I don't grab a pack of smokes is due to the way I felt for those 3 days when I quit...I never want to go thru that again! Oh, and the money...I'd rather put it in the bank or buy a new pair of shoes! Stress is still the worst for me! Or when DH and I get in a fight...my smokes were always my way of staying calm and keeping my mouth shut. Now the words just fly! LOL

Anyway, you can do it!

[Flamingo]

I have never smoked but have lived with smokers all my life from my mother to my second husband who has been smoking since his early teens and is 56. His brother died February 2007 (at age 60) of lung cancer and my sister-in-law, his wife, suffers from the last stages of COPD and is not expected to live another year. And yet my husband cannot stop smoking. My first husband died at age 43 of lung cancer. He was a heavy Pall Mall smoker since age 12. I still remember his fingers stained with tobacco. My current husband is starting to develop the chest noises and coughing symptoms that go along with emphazema or COPD but I don't think there is anything short of locking him in a room for several months without access to cigarettes to get him to stop. The addiction is that bad - he has been told that the addiction is worse than being addicted to heroin. He has been given prescriptions for Chantrix with big bucks off coupons but he won't get them filled. He puts off going to the doctor but he does have lab tests he has to have done this week due to a fainting spell last week. It looks like he is on the same road as his brother unless he takes action now. Unfortunately, no matter what a spouse or loved one who cares says or does, they will get that cigarette somehow unless THEY want to quit.

To the OP - If you want to live, you will stop smoking. I wish I could show you my sister-in=law, age 61, walking around with an oxygen machine hooked up to her and up her nose and the host of medications she is on. If you don't stop smoking and being a long term smoker, your odds of getting COPD, emphazema or cancer are very high.

[Footprints1973]

I took my first pill today. And before anyone tries to beat me up - don't. Smoking is my demon. I love it & I hate it. I've beat myself up over it enough.

Anyway, my doc gave me a script but a friend of mine gave me his pills because he didn't go through with it. Saved me alot of money!

I've been an on again off again smoker for years. I want to quit - I have to quit. I just don't have the willpower I used to hence the needs to use meds. I have a few other friends who used these pills successfully and they were much heavier smokers than I am. So I'm trying this.

Wish me luck - please.

Hi danaf,
I am taking Chantix too...I am on day 12 of not smoking! I've quit many times before, but I finally realized I either quit now or very likely die a slow death later.

That's cool that you were able to get some of the pills from a friend. Once those are gone, be sure to keep on it..go see your doc. Most insurance won't pay for it, but it costs about the same as smoking a pack a day. My advice is to literally stash the money you save from not buying cigarettes and use that for the prescription.

These are very stressful times for us, but if I can do it anyone can do it.

GOOD LUCK AND CONGRATS. You are on the path to freedom!

Footprints

[Over our heads]

Two years ago I was smoking 4 packs a day. I am 31, and I started smoking at 12...

My dr. put me on double dosage anti-depressant, and I went cold turkey. Amazingly enough, it went fairly well. My entire family smokes, so I missed quite a few family functions for about 6 months. I just couldn't handle being around smokers!

Today, while I still "long" for a cig in the hand, I don't seem to want a cig in the mouth.

I have also learned that my smoking masked my own ADD, which was probably one of the reasons that I smoked as long as I did and why I required heavy anti's to quit.

You can do it! Just remember that it is a constant struggle. YOU have to keep yourself in check. Initial quitting is the easy part, staying quit is a job all in itself.

[momof5]

I quite smoking in 1999, no meds, no help.... stayed a non smoker for 8 years.

Started smoking again last June. Quit in December with chantix...started smoking again in Feb... quit again using chantix in April... started again in June... awaiting another try with Chantix although I am hesitant and think I may do better with a lifestyle change(exercise).

I think you get the picture here. The Chantix is GREAT for reducing the craving but unless you can get to the reasons as to why you really smoke. Stress, boredom,social... you will start again shortly after stopping the Chantix.

Stay on it for as long as possible!!!!!!!! they say a year and I believe it. The problem with Chantix is that it will be a year of not sleeping, vivid vivid vivid dreams,mood swings and serious carb cravings. MAKE SURE YOU EAT BEFORE TAKING A PILL!!! this is soooo important. Every single person I know who has taken it gets that sick feeling for about 20 minutes. Food in your belly helps it pass faster. Also headaches can be an issue. Mine got so bad that I would just lie there and cry. Just Be prepared for these side effects.


It does work though but PLEASE keep all this in mind. Its somewhat depressing to go through what Chantix can do to the brain and then feel the relief of quiting only to start again. Most people (90% presribed)tend to stop taking it because they have quit and want to be rid of the side effects.

[FLBK7]

I took my first pill today. And before anyone tries to beat me up - don't. Smoking is my demon. I love it & I hate it. I've beat myself up over it enough.

Anyway, my doc gave me a script but a friend of mine gave me his pills because he didn't go through with it. Saved me alot of money!

I've been an on again off again smoker for years. I want to quit - I have to quit. I just don't have the willpower I used to hence the needs to use meds. I have a few other friends who used these pills successfully and they were much heavier smokers than I am. So I'm trying this.

Wish me luck - please.

Best of luck to you! I smoked anywhere from a pack to a pack and a half a day for almost 35 years and quit, cold turkey, 4 years and 2 months ago. One of my best friends was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer and I guess that was my wake-up call. After all, we HAD started smoking together while in our late teens. She passed away last year.

You can do it, with or without meds, if you make up your mind that you won't smoke today. Tomorrow you tell yourself you won't smoke either. The day after tomorrow you do the same. For me it was a day to day process where I never used the word "ever" or "never" or "always." It was just a matter of getting through one more day without smoking. I had to change my habits though. For almost 2 years I was unable to drink coffee or an alcoholic drink, because both would immediately trigger insane cravings for nicotine. See, cigarettes, coffee and drinks sort of went "together."

Four years and 2 months later I'm totally over the physical addiction, but at certain times I totally crave the emotional and psychological effects of a cigarette between my fingers. I quickly focus on something else to avoid the temptation.

Physically I feel so much healthier, although I put on 30 lbs and have only managed to lose 18 of those. I'll get there, even if it takes longer than I ever thought it would.


Best of luck, danaf. You CAN do it!

[Lacy]

I have known 4 people that have tried Chantrix in trying to quit smoking out those 4 only 1 was able to stop. I think it all depends on the person if they are really ready to quit. I know it can be very tuff to do being I am a smoker myself. I would love to break this nasty expensive habit I have. But its got hold on me that doesn't want to let go. I regret the day I even put a cigarette in my mouth. If I known what I know now I NEVER would of. Even though I cant even really afford to be buying them right now. With all the stress that I am going through right now think it be to very hard to try and quit now. I hope one day I can kick this habit though.


I wish you all the best in quitting and anybody else that is trying to quit. Keep us posted and let us all know how you are doing.

[chloe0724]

Congrats on stopping smoking!! I wish you all the luck.

Bandit, I don't have any issues with the laws that are becoming popular about regulating where smokers can smoke. I love being able to go out for a drink and not reeking of smoke when I go home!!

[Bandit]

Congrats on stopping smoking!! I wish you all the luck.

Bandit, I don't have any issues with the laws that are becoming popular about regulating where smokers can smoke. I love being able to go out for a drink and not reeking of smoke when I go home!!

I do, because smokers are not criminals and should not be treated as such. I hardly view nonsmokers as a cut above those who smoke, just over smoking. It is not the designated area that is a problem, it is the attitude itself of a law punishing people for smoking. This is the same crap we saw the seat belts and our crooked government regulating our freedom, using health & safety garbage bags to do it.

[Bandit]

I have known 4 people that have tried Chantrix in trying to quit smoking out those 4 only 1 was able to stop. I think it all depends on the person if they are really ready to quit. I know it can be very tuff to do being I am a smoker myself. I would love to break this nasty expensive habit I have. But its got hold on me that doesn't want to let go. I regret the day I even put a cigarette in my mouth. If I known what I know now I NEVER would of. Even though I cant even really afford to be buying them right now. With all the stress that I am going through right now think it be to very hard to try and quit now. I hope one day I can kick this habit though.


I wish you all the best in quitting and anybody else that is trying to quit. Keep us posted and let us all know how you are doing.

We are the same.

I wish I could go smoke a cigarette right now. If I could only smoke one and not do it again for a week then I would. If I smoke one little puff ever again or just take one little puff I will be hooked all over again.



It is a slow creeping habit like a vine and chokes that one is not aware of it taking hold of your life. Tobacco is different from any substance I have ever tried when it comes to the addiction, there is no wall. You know this monkey on the back never gets off, if only we knew that then. I remember I used to play around with it and was convinced I would never get hooked.

the person has to be ready to quit and when you are ready in your own time, you will stop in your own time. Until then, Can you blow some of your smoke into my face please?

[momof5]

If I could only smoke one and not do it again for a week then I would. If I smoke one little puff ever again or just take one little puff I will be hooked all over again.

This is exactly what happened to me last year. Just one...only one... lets see if I even remember how to smoke... mmmmm that was nice..... how relaxing....even tasted pretty good... a little tough to inhale at first but after the 3rd puff it was fine..... that will be the only one.

A few hours later....hey lets try this again. The rest is history. I quit so many many years ago and it all came back way to fast and way to easy. I know now though you CANNOT ever touch another one because the power in those sticks is so much stronger than human willpower.

[Bandit]

This is exactly what happened to me last year. Just one...only one... lets see if I even remember how to smoke... mmmmm that was nice..... how relaxing....even tasted pretty good... a little tough to inhale at first but after the 3rd puff it was fine..... that will be the only one.

A few hours later....hey lets try this again. The rest is history. I quit so many many years ago and it all came back way to fast and way to easy. I know now though you CANNOT ever touch another one because the power in those sticks is so much stronger than human willpower.

Yes it is more powerful than human will power.

I love the taste and enjoy that aroma.

I am scared to death to ever try one again. I feel I really kicked it this time (15 months) but you know there are times when I think if I could only have one pack to relax & enjoy & spread it out. It will never happen that way.


I quite once before for a year & did what you did, then ended up smoking a pack a day for another 10 years. My doctor called it the monkey that will always be on your back and she was right.

I wonder what a pipe would be like??

[danaf]

Update - I thought Chantrix sucked! After a few days I was having epic novel like dreams and I'd wake up exhausted. This is after going to bed early. Stopped taking it. Will have to go cold turkey. So glad I didn't fork out any money for this stuff.