Chantix
May 1, 2007 by Tracee Sioux
Filed under Parenting
A week ago I started taking a new smoking cessation pill called Chantix. I had heard of quite a few people who have actually quit smoking by using this new wonder drug. I had also heard it causes night terrors, but that seems a small price to pay considering that if I do not stop my life might end with the nightmarish reality of dragging an oxygen tank around everywhere I go.
My true motivation is that someone told my daughter that I will die if I smoke. While true, I think this was totally inappropriate and I feel a little bit of anger and resentment about it. Of course, what I’m really angry about is that I HAVE to quit smoking and I love smoking and don’t really want to stop doing it.
In my perfect world, smoking would not only not kill me, but it would be healthy like exercise or my daily vitamin.
But, in reality my five-year-old daughter bursts into tears and with true pain begs me to stop smoking so that I don’t die because then who will be with her and take care of her.
Who can smoke in the face of that? Apparently, I can. Not only have I expected two pregnancies to cure me of my life-long habit, but I’ve quit at least once a week for the last year since my son was born. I’ve quit so many times and tried so many methods, I’ve come to the realization that smoking is like shackles on my life and I can’t seem to find the key to get them off.
At my recent OB/GYN visit I asked about the new miracle pill and he gave me a prescription. I thought, I don’t care what it costs I’ve got to get rid of these shackles once and for all. I hated that it controlled me. Turns out it was covered by my insurance. Even better.
I nearly wept with unadulterated joy when the pharmacist told me to take off the nicotine patch and smoke during the first week of taking Chantix for the best effect. Permission to smoke for another week! YES! Without guilt or harrassment from my five-year-old conscience. Could it get any better?
I’m currently into my second week. I stopped smoking a few days early while I went on my retreat because there was no smoking allowed on the grounds. It’s going okay. I think I’ve grieved enough for my lost right to smoke, surrendered my precious identity as a smoker, broken the physical habit and addiction. Hopefully, taking this pill will help me get over my urges to cheat and have just one, just this once.
I’ll let you know how it goes. And really, you should stop smoking. If you think you’ve got it bad, you can read just how much I loved my cigarettes at So Sioux Me.
Try the Chantix. Couldn’t hurt. I haven’t had any night terrors, by the way. Thank God for that.
AMENDMENT on Sept. 27, 2007:
This is Tracee Sioux from Blog Fabulous/ Chantix, where you’ve been hanging out and getting support. Because readers are finding it difficult to navigate 700 comments, I have built a new website called Quit Coping.
Quit Coping will be using the same tone and texture you enjoy here on Blog Fabulous, but it will allow more interactivity and connection with other quitters. It won’t take so long to load up and I’ll be better able to encourage everyone personally.
Please continue our wonderful discussion at Quit Coping,com.
I am greatly honored to be part of your transformation from smoker to non-smoker.
Sincerely,
Tracee Sioux
http://www.quitcoping.com
Hi Mel,
Really wish you all the strength, peace, and grace to continue your quit. I’m on day 19 of a Chantix quit and I’m down to one 1 mg tablet because of recent lower digestive distress. I’m doing fine on my taper off but am afraid to completely stop taking Chantix. I’ve been taking the meds since about June 5th so it’s been over a month. Just recently started having some side effects but I think the reason is I usually take prilosec for my stomach and quit taking it for a while. Eating something when you take your dose is really recommended. Hang in there !!! My wife and daughter on on the meds too and have also quit.
BA
Day 1 of not smoking – I am having my coffee and – what a surprise – I don’t want a cigarette! What a miracle! Today is my first day of the blue pills… I am curious what to expect. Feel my tummy brewing, but I ate breakfast first. Can anyone tell me about their experience with the blue ones?
3 Months Smoke Free Today
3 Weeks Chantix Free Today
Little disappointed in Tracee for not posting my one post, after she scoulded me for not listening to the “advice” that the Chantix recommended when I quit a bit early, but I had talked to my doctor about going off the med, and he said do it. But anyways…….
Still look at this thread, and hope that everyone can have the sucess that I have had so far.
Just remember that the Chantrix is a tool for you to gain the habits to quit smoking, and it does allow you to do it. You have to quit the Chantrix, and then it becomes all you!
Still have days when I really want to smoke, but I tell myself that I am a non smoker now, and that I am not addicted to nicotine, and it will pass.
Been told by other quiters that it becomes easier after 6 months……
Good Luck All!
The first week with the white pills was all right for me. I allowed myself to smoke, but noticed that my smoking had tapered off to just 1-2 per day by the end of the week. I decided to completely stop the 2nd week with the blue pills. It was not bad at all but there were still some mild cravings that went away fairly easily. In my experience, the first week with the blue pills was the hardest – but it was still fairly easy. The stuff with stomach could get kind of bad at times, but still worth it to me to not be smoking. The stomach stuff went away entirely after about a month. I’m on my 3rd month and down to 1 blue pill per day. I would still give the advice that if you really really want to smoke, you allow yourself to do it. Eventually, the Chantix will outrun your desire to smoke!
Mel
I’m not sure if being bloated has to do with the Chantix or the fact that it is also a side effect of quitting nicotine. Your digestive tract slows down after quitting smoking. There isn’t much that I found that worked to alleviate that, aside from the usual remedies – eating plenty of fiber etc. But in my experience, it goes away after a couple weeks. Smoking really does a number on your whole body. I venture that a lot of the side effects we think are related to chantix are nicotine withdrawal symtoms.
Hey guys,
Made it through the 4th of July party time with all my smoking friends amazed at me hanging in there with them with the coctails and not wanting to smoke. I’m 20 days smoke free and am tapering off the Chantix. Good luck to you all.
3 weeks today! whoot! i’ve been taking all the money saved from not smoking and buying stuff on ebay. i should have my new purse’s in this week!
Good point, Mel. We all know how bad smoking is.. but we are so used to ignoring the damage it did. I guess its our pattern to blame Chantix.
Good job, Bob. I am worried about a party this Sat with many smokers here at my house. I feel fine now – but its only the 2nd day! Need to be strong.
Day 4 no smoking:) Never done this before, nicotine free! I am learning to deal with the tummy stuff, as some of you have said, this could really be nicotine withdrawal. Thank you for all your posts!!!
I just passed the 2-month mark. It feels like I never smoked at all. I’m still on one chantix per day. I’m going to give that another month before I cut down again. I asked my doc why people couldn’t just stay on Chantix their entire lives and she told me that she would rather have it that way than have someone smoke. My doc was extremely positive about Chantix. She told me she’d write the prescription for as long as I needed it.
Tracee, beloved moderator, where are you and do you have an update for us? We miss you.
Day 36 of being a non-smoker..
If you’re reading this Chantix blog and considering Chantix because you would like to stop smoking, there is one thing I must share, as I am one of you.
Chantix allowed me to quit smoking after 34 years of 1-2 packs a day and it allowed me to quit without cravings, without stress, without mental torture, without pain, without all the symptoms that I had every other time I tried to quit with patch,zyban,wellbutrin,cold turkey,etc.
Worse case, get the prescription, (double dare ya-lol)follow directions for 30 days, if you don’t want to quit after that, keep smoking..
Mel, Tina, Bob—keep it up–great job and keep posting .
Saraybe…so proud of you…doesn’t it feel great to be smoke free?
Hype-jersey…I am also going on the ‘one per day’ starting today…nice to see someone else trying that…how long have you been on ‘one per day’.
Good luck to all of you.
Graham
Hello Everyone,
One week, one day smoke free. Graham, you are correct. Chantix has allowed me to quit without stress, without the cravings, without all of the stuff that made me smoke in the beginning. It feels great and I want to tell the world about Chantix. I’m so glad that I found it….it has saved my life and many others. Smoking kills.
Hi fellow quitsters. I enjoy reading of your success stories. It gives me resolve and comfort. I’m day 22 and I took only 1/2 mg of Chantix yesterday and will do the same today. My wife has stayed quit and she stopped taking her Chantix prescription after the first 30 days. I’m not suggesting remotely anyone taper off or quit taking their prescriptions I’m just having a tough time tolerating the mild nausea I’ve started getting. I didn’t have any problem in the beginning with side effects but now it’s starting to bother me. I’m enjoying being at work watching the guys go out for thier smoke breaks and look at me like, are you serious you don’t want to smoke??? No thanks I can breath now and don’t feel like I have ashtry mouth all the time. I work in Philadelphia where it’s very normal to have a high percentage of smokers in the work place. It feels so good to consider yourself a non smoker. A real self esteem boost. Mel, Tina and Graham, it’s always nice to see your posts and hear of your continued quit. Hang in there!!
Bob
It’s good to be missed Graham, I thought for sure you could take it from here.
Just kidding. I went on vacation – in a mini-van with a baby and 5 year old – with my entire extended family for a week.
And I didn’t smoke. I didn’t kill anyone and no one wanted to kill me. I’ve made this trip before during this stage of “quitting smoking” and it’s been a literal hell on wheels. This time it didn’t even occur to me to smoke.
I think I really am a non-smoker. I haven’t even used the last month of Chantix (it’s the nausea that makes me not want to take it), but I have it just in case. I don’t know if you’re supposed to keep it around for a few years in case any cravings hit, but that’s my plan.
I wrote an article for Therapydoc’s Carnival of All Substances about my success with Chantix and how it might be foreshadowing for medical success with all addictions – preview it here: http://traceesioux.blogspot.com/2007/07/addiction-off.html .
Now that I haven’t smoked during one of my major triggers – 36 hrs in a car with a cranky baby – a week with my family – well, I really feel cured. Like I almost believe it at this point. I can say I’m a non-smoker and actually mean it.
Hallealuja!
So proud of every single one of you for changing your life. I’ve noticed that with this success it’s making me more ambitious about making changes in the rest of my life.
Tracee
Day 4 for me. I agree with all of you that said the first few days were so much easier with the Chantix. I too did not drive my husband and family crazy. I went to work yesterday and my smoking buddies were amazed I didn’t join them. Its funny how my smoking friends just don’t want to believe it works – they keep telling me I’ll be back. I guess they’re not ready. All the more reason for me to be a success and lead the way to a healthier life – maybe when they see that, they will take a chance!
Tracee, read your article. Fantastic. I truly believe that Chantix is leading the way for new drugs like this. I haven’t had the desire to have my glass of wine – in fact, it doesn’t sound good at all. Let me tell you, if this continues (and by all of your comments I have no doubt it will) Chantix will have changed my life in so many ways – and I will always be greatful. I don’t think my body could have continued for long with the unhealthy things I was doing to it. At 46, that means alot!
Hello,
Today is day #3 on Chantix. I am doing alright. Noticing today that when I smoke I feel a bit sick!
I am glad for it actually. I am a 35 year old mother of 2 and a closet smoker. Once my children started becoming aware of smoking I became one. I would stand at my stove fan and hide to smoke. I know that they have to know about it. I am sure of it.
I thought of talking to them about it and telling them about my new medicine, but the addict part of me wants to hold off in case I fail. I am also afraid to let them down. My whole family smokes and most of my friends smoke, they do know that I do, but know that I keep it from my kids. I do smoke around them when I can and especially if we go out and have a few drinks. That was one of my worries. I have a party to attend next Saturday. That is after my quit date and I am scared but also feel challenged. It’s a family member’s party so its hard to say I cannot attend. Any advice?
So, anyway-gonna take my kids for a walk now, that helps the craving.
Oh. by the way, does anyone take wellbutrin with this as well? I was put on wellbutrin 300mg, for depression as well as to help stop smoking around 2 years ago, helps the depression but did nothing for my smoking. Just wondering if anyone out there takes both and how they feel about it. Thanks
Hi all,!!!
Hope you are doing AWESOME:) Tracee makes a great point, this morning I saw the following story which pretty much aligns with her article. What do you think?
http://news.aol.com/story/_a/anti-smoking-pill-may-help-curb-drinking/n20070709203809990005
I just found another reason that I am happy that I no longer smoke. I was able to sit through a whole movie and not leave to smoke. Transformers is over 2 hours long and I was able to watch the whole thing smoke free! No more, “hey what did I miss?” So that alone is another reason we should all stop smoking, you get to watch the whole movie.
Tracee,
I’m so happy to have found your blog. I’m on Day 8 of being a nonsmoker (Day 15 with Chantix), and appreciate the open forum you and others have created here. I’m feeling good about the Chantix and am experiencing no severe side effects — just vivid dreams that I remember upon awakening (I like that!) and a slight constant feeling of queasiness in the pit of my tummy (not as much fun, but it keeps me from thinking I should be eating all the time). On the other hand, my brain doesn’t seem very focused. I feel a little like a deer caught in headlights, a little stunned really. Has anyone else felt this way? I’m on vacation from work but will be returning in a couple of weeks and will be needing my brain to be back in working order by then. Any ideas?
Oh, someone asked a few days ago about coughing up gross stuff. Once we stop smoking, our lungs begin to automatically clean themselves out. It’s a natural and good process.
Congratulations to all of you and thanks for being here!
Sherry
Hey Laura – don’t be nervous! You won’t fail! Let yourself smoke when you want to. That is one of the good things about Chantix. You don’t have to feel guilty about smoking. I let myself smoke for the first week, but after a few days, smoking just didn’t feel good anymore. I put off starting on Chantix because I was afraid I’d fail – just like you are afraid! But don’t be afraid! It will work! Just let the Chantix do the work and stop stressing over it. You’ll do great!
So far, Chantix isn’t working for me. Day 8 – no reduction in urge to smoke(not one bit lower than cold turkey), and it makes me feel like crap psychologically (all day anxiety attack). I’m glad it helps some people, but I’m really bummed that it isn’t helping me. Really had high hopes. Stopped taking it this evening.
Jerry,
I’m so sorry Chantix hasn’t worked for you. Perhaps you should call the doctor and ask if you can up the dose.
Also, Day 8 is pretty early. What if you continued to smoke and kept taking the pills for one month? Then you could really see whether the Chantix is not going to work for you or if it’s just not working yet.
I suppose it’s possible the Chantix is causing anxiety attacks. I would suggest that it’s perhaps the issue of quitting smoking that’s causing the anxiety attacks. We all have very big emotional attachments to our 20-30 year addictions. Perhaps if you truly examine what you are getting out of smoking and conscienciously let that go, then you won’t have so many attacks when you decide to quit again.
And you will. You’ll try again. And good luck to you.
Tracee
Jerry-
It took a while for the chantix to work for me. I was still smoking 8 days into it. To be honest I was smoking about 14 days into it. Then I said to myself that I was done. And I was, not a single smoke in almost a month! Part of it was the chantix, the other part is that I was more than ready to stop smoking. So keep giving it a try, you never know. You could be like me and 14 days into it before you stop smoking. So do what you feel is best and good luck!
Thank you, Tracee, for starting this blog. My doctor’s appointment is today and I will be asking for Chantix. The comments made from all you “non-smokers” has lifted my spirits about this decision. I also love smoking and have for 54 years (surprised I’m not on oxygen or dead yet) and have tried many ways to stop the cigs including hypnosis. The only thing that worked for a couple of years was nicotine inhalers. I hope I can use this site as my support group–you guys are wonderful. Thanks again for the confidence I need to follow through with Chantix!
Terry,
Thank you for saying so. You can’t imagine how proud I am to have influenced a single person in such a positive way. I feel like I have truly positively effected true change in the lives of people, and by extension, made the world a better place, through this blog. But, that couldn’t have happened if you all weren’t logging on and commenting and supporting each other – so kudos to every single one of you.
I truly am excited for every single person who gives up their old friend and finds liberation and freedom from the shackles of smoking. And how wonderful it is that Chantix made it so much easier than it used to be.
Good luck to you. I pray, God please bless my new non-smokers to help them in their quest for freedom.
Tracee
Thanks Hype-Jersey for the reassurance! I am on day 5 of taking it. I really don’t feel much different about smoking. I think it is really just my mind set waiting for that moment that I say Yuck. Just has not happened yet. I am still smoking some but am more aware of my triggers. I am bound and determined to do this for myself as well as my family. I am reading that it has taken some more than the week to finally say no more so I am gonna take the pressure off and stop worrying so much about Monday which is my “quit date” and just carry on. I know if I keep taking it that it will work. So again thanks for the words of reassurance, means alot!
Laura
Jerry,
Day 8 is where you kick in the two 1mg tablets per day….start back, you’ll be alright….and hey,
truth is, cig smoking makes us feel psychologically bad but we’ve done it so long that we think it makes us feel good..you know you’re doing something right for yourself if what you’re doing is good for you and it makes you feel bad. (read that a few times)..
I’ve personally seen a few people in the hospital with automated breathers attached to their mouths because their lungs were shot and were full of cancer….funny, never heard any of them pull the tube out and say “I can’t do this, it’s bothering me psycologically”..
I know, that’s harsh—but it’s true.
39 days -no cigs, Chantix only once every day now.
Graham
Just popping back in after awhile to thank Tracee again for such a great little place that’s going on here. I’m on my 25th day smoke free, thanks to Chantix.
I agree with everyone who has said that the 8th day on Chantix is way too soon to give up on Chantix or trying to quit. At that point I hadn’t cut down much at all and wondered if it would even work. I didn’t feel quite ready to quit until my 13th day on Chantix. The Chantix doesn’t magically take away every urge or craving and clear up a 20+ year addiction overnight, but with some cooperation on my end, it has absolutely made it way easier to handle the urges and has made me feel like I’m going into the same quitting smoking battle but with way better armor than I’ve ever had before with cold turkey or patches or sheer will. Jerry, if you still want to quit, just give it a little more time to do its thing because it still might work for you yet.
Thank you all for the support. Funny thing happened after how lousy I felt yesterday morning and afternoon. After I got home from work, had one or two cigs in the next hour and did not get any enjoyment. Around 9:30pm, I realized I hadn’t had an urge for over 2 hours, which is a long time for me when I’m at home. I decided to at least take the night dose and see if the anxiety reaction continued or if I could sleep. Slept fine, or at least as well as normal. When I got up this morning, which is the time of day when my urge is always strongest, I didn’t have that urge. Decided to go ahead and take the morning dose. No anxiety reaction this time. I did puff through a few cigs before I left the house, but there was no urge satisfaction. Didn’t buy smokes on the way to work, very happy to say that today is the first time in over 6 years at my current job that I went a whole work day without smoking. This stuff is actually working. I’ve decided to make 7:30am this morning, the time right after my useless 2 smokes, my new quit date. My goal is to get to Sunday, 7:30 am, so that my system has had at least 72 hours without a nicotine injection. If this medication keeps doing what it did today, it’s very possible. Will update and look forward to hearing others’ updates as well.
Jerry,
Hang in there and great job! I am on day 5 and still holding my breath waiting for my moment of ok, that’s it! I know it’s coming so, to see your moment of doubt before and how you are today makes me actually feel that it’s going to work. Thanks for the bit of hope
Jerry,
Wonderful! It feels amazing, doesn’t it? I’m glad Chantix is helping you.
I count from my actual QUIT date instead of the day I started taking Chantix because most people don’t really quit on the titrated doses of the first week. I didn’t quit that first week, although I found that I could go for longer periods of time without a cig.
Anyway, I’m having dreams of deeper emotional content (or they seem that way), and the brain remains a bit foggy/figgy. I’m happy to be a nonsmoker today. My appetite has not increased, but the metabolism is slowing down. I’m pretty sleepy.
Thanks for being here, everybody!
Sherry
OOh.. almost succumbed (sp?) to an urge last night. I am on day 7 smoke free – day 14 of Chantix. Everyone has been right, the urge does come to light up, but it passes quickly. When I have quit before, I would obsess about smoking for hours!
Had something at work get me riled up last night, and my pattern has always been to do the wine/cigs thing to calm down when I get home. Immediately after getting upset, I realized that the thought of smoking/drinking gave me something to “look forward to” or some type of reward for dealing with my problem. When I realized I don’t smoke anymore, and really don’t feel like drinking, I was a bit sad – like I didn’t have my best friend to talk to about my problem. I admit, a part of me was bummed I didn’t have that outlet. But I realize, as Tracee has said, that part of this quitting thing is to finding your triggers and dealing with them. The Chantix is great, but it doesn’t do all the work!
I will always have stressful moments, need to find a new outlet. I guess I can excercise… anyone else have some stress relief ideas you use instead of the old friend?
Keep up the good work!
Tina
Well, different day, different feelings. Comes with the territory. Today has been a stinker. Sitting at my desk at work trying to keep busy so that I can rid myself of a “2 hour urge”. Damn! Just achin’ for one but ain’t gonna do it. It won’t work anyway. This stuff helps, but it ain’t a wonder drug.
Hang in there Jerry, feeling kind of the same today.
doing my best to keep pushing through the urges. It’s like this little voice in your head that says go ahead it’s ok, just one little drag. sucks! moments at a time. I have tried doing the drink a glass of water or take 10 deep breaths every time I feel the urge. I find the water helps me. Try it, it may help!
Jerry—-you’re absolutely right..it’s not a wonder drug…but then, this forum wouldn’t permit me to write all the wonderful things a ‘wonder drug’ would do for me as a guy…however, Chantix will change my feeling about smoking cigs…and, as you have discovered, will modify my normal craving for cigs.
Keep it up,,you’ll have wonderful days and f’it days…if you smoke a cig, you haven’t failed…just keep taking the meds and it the
‘need’ will disappear slowly.
Not trying to target you alone, but I can identify with your cig brain…it’s like mine.
Good luck to all..
Graham
Wow, glad the work part of my day is over! I’m really up and down with this stuff. On Day 8 (quit day), my urge to smoke was the same as without the drug and I had an anxiety state all day long. Yesterday, my urges were short-lived and I had mostly a good day. Today, my “urge” was about 7 out of the 8.5 hours at work. Honestly, from other quit attempts, today would have been no worse without the drug. Maybe it’ll be better tomorrow. Maybe I should just accept the fact that quitting is going to be miserable but that it’s not as miserable as carting around a chemo bag and oxygen tank? Has anyone been told by a doctor to try a higher dose than 2mg/day? Has anyone else on here had my experience with this drug; helps a little, but it’s still about quitting a nasty addiction and it’s just plain gonna suck for a few days?
Jerry,
I’m sorry to hear your having the struggle and I hope it get’s easier real fast for you. I’m on day 26. My wife and daughter also quit by using chantix. We all had the great experience of having the ciggarettes taste bad and the buzz taken away. Also the craving were very much reduced once we decided to actually quit. The habit itself and finding a way to use gum, snacks etc as a steam valve took some real doing. I’m a former 40 year smoker with never a successful quit prior to the chantix. Another issue is that I still will drink after work. Probably not the best idea however that’s another issue.
The biggest hurdle for me know is not that i want to smoke per se. I just miss the something to do after a meal etc. I do understand that little bit of pleasure comes with a horrible pact with the addiction that is not worth going back to again. I kind of liken the temptation to what I imagine woman go through when they have childbirth. The horrible labor process and pain, but then in a year or two they will go through it again knowing full well the pain they will have.
I hope you’ll keep coming back to this blog. Also there is quitnet.com which is a really fun and informative site with nothing but quitters and their trial and tribulations, as well as success.
I do try to remember how truly greatful I was at first when I realized I really not only could, but had actually quit smoking. I’m trying to keep that mentality rather than feeling sorry for myself that I sometimes miss that horrible old nicodemon. Here’s how quitnet keeps your tally, this is mine.
Quit 26 days. $257.40 and 8 days, 1 hour of your life saved.
Hang in there everyone. It’s worth it.
Bob
To Jerry
I think that it’s only been 8 days for you. That was the hardest part for me the 8-14 days. Remember this: the chantix actually ties up the receptors in your brain such that even if you smoke, you won’t feel the effect of it. You are actually going through physical withdrawal right now. Even if you smoke, I venture it isn’t going to be satisfying to you. I did smoke on day 8 – couldn’t stand it anymore. But as I was smoking, I realized that I wasn’t getting that kick. And.. I also realized that it just didnt taste good. So I allowed myself to smoke, but I ended up putting the cigarette out about half way through once I realized that I wasn’t getting the kick and it just tasted bad to me. You have to build up a certain concentration of the drug in order for it to work – and this takes different amounts of time for different people. One of the biggest things, imo, is fighting that need to “do something” – which might be what you’re experiencing. I substituted drinking coffee (morning), chewing gum.. or even going out with the smokers and just not smoking. In ways, I think my smoking gave me an “excuse” to get my 5 minutes of down time here or there. Maybe you’re missing the ritual more than the cigarettes? Good LUCK! You can do it!
Maybe I shouldn’t have worked today, but I thought I would go crazy with nothing to do. My synopsis of this drug at the end of my 10th day; stopping the nicotine from rewarding smoking behavior: A+
lowering the severity or number of my urges: 10 days X 16 awake hours = 160 total awake hours; number or severity of urges reduced = 10 waking hours = 1/16th of the time in first 10 days; maybe my expectations of the drug were too high, but 1/16th deserves a D- or F
Jerry,
Duh, obviously you MUST accept that quitting smoking SUCKS period. You must accept that or you won’t make it. Of course it sucks. If it were easy none of us would be addicted to it. We’d just do it socially or never pick one up again after the first time they told us it would kill us on the news. Hello?
I, for one, only think it was “easy” as compared to quitting without Chantix – which sucked WAY worse and for way longer. I had been “quitting” for over two years. I didn’t smoke while pregnant and so had already gone through the terrible withdrawl of the Psychological Addiction. You know how you like to do the hand-to-mouth motions, how you like to have some excuse to take a break outside away from all your coworkers, how you like to relax while drinking beer or coffee. Since I had already been denied those things I got kind of used to that part of it.
The Chantix, for me, was really the Final link that got broken. It didn’t cure me in and of itself.
You have to find something else to celebrate your triumps and commiserate your loses. Run around the block, read a book, take a shower, eat sun flower seeds, go get a massage, drink a large glass of water.
For me that was the key – something I could do no matter what the trigger was – sex, waking, taking a break from work, rewarding myself for a job well done, relaxing – drink a 16 ounce glass of water. Dr. Oz said it is one of the 4 things the body actually craves and it’s never bad for you. You can do it in the same time a cigarrette takes and it really will “fill up” the urging part of your body and brain.
Really, it sounds to me like you’re going through the “mourning faze.” You miss your friend. You are mourning the loss of it. You miss all the things it did for you. You had put it in a lot of places. So, there is nothing wrong with mourning your friend. You probably never realized how much your friend meant to as many aspects of your life. I think mourning the friend and saying a proper good-bye is not only appropriate, but necessary if you really want to be a non-smoker.
If you just ignore the reasons you smoked you’ll just smoke again and not understand why or you’ll find a new bad habit to replace it with. Have you heard about those poor people who finally have gastric-bypass surgery, but never deal with the addiction and become alcoholics overnight because they can’t eat anymore?
We’re addicted to smoking. Chantix makes quitting easier. But, yeah it sucks. It totally sucks.
But the only way out is through.
I know you can do this Jerry. Going back to smoking just prolongs the torture. If you must, and I did need this at least twice so far, go out and smoke for a whole day and really examine what you are getting out of it anymore. Perhaps you’re frustrated by the denial of smoking, but when you do it you’ll realize you don’t even like it now.
There is a hole where smoking used to be. That’s uncomfortable no matter who you are or what medical advances are made.
Tracee
Jerry…here’s something that may make this easier…
just a suggestion…
make your ‘quit day’, day number 14….anything beyond 11 days…that’ll give you three more days
of ‘no expectations’
my ‘quit’ day was day 7, i smoked one on day 8, two on day 9, and said ’screw it’ on day 10 and smoked 3 cigs because “I could damn it”. And magically at 5:30 pm on day 10, it ‘took’ and I said…that’s it…no more. Can’t explain it, it just happened…just don’t be hard on yourself..relax.
i’m bettin on ya jerry.
graham
Damn I’m day one again……….
Not really, every day I do think about having a ciggie.
Guess that what happens when you smoke for many years………
Take the Chantix, get off of it, don’t smoke.
Graham,
I appreciate the sharing of the idea, but the problem is that this drug, on its own, is affecting my mood, and not in a fun way. Therefore, I don’t really want to waste any time while I’m on it. I don’t want to wait around for my “moment” while I’m putting up with the “adverse events” of this drug. I knew from my first dose that this wasn’t going to be a “mood neutral” drug for me. (I can’t really put it into words, but I am a bit scared of how this drug makes me feel.) Honestly, from the beginning through the night of Day 8, I never experienced a lowering of my smoking urge. Some folks did notice their urges getting lower during the same dosing days. The only point I’ll concede is that I can’t get any nicotine into my pleasure center in the brain, so cigs are useless for getting my dose. (as well as nicotine gum, patches, and lozenges)
Hangin’ in there. 11th day of Chantix. Day 9 was only relief I felt from the urge to smoke, but it helped me make it a whole work day without smoking. Made it through yesterday’s work day as well, but it was a nail biter. I’ve sneaked one each of the past 2 mornings, knowing full well that I wasn’t going to stop the morning urge. I may have to start waking up and immediately leaving my house, seeing as how wake-up has always been the strongest urge of the day. No matter what, I’m not smoking tomorrow morning.
Considering how tough this has been, I’m not going backwards because I know I will never come down this Chantrix road again, knowing what I now know. I’m gonna make it stick. I’m a little jealous, frankly PISSED, that some folks taking this drug found the quitting experience to be “easy”. If I could see you face to face, I might call “BS”. I don’t quite believe you.
Whatever. Power to all trying to quit tobacco. Whatever keeps you from using it ever again is all I want for you.
I have been on chantix for 8 days— this is my 8th day. I have noticed a little nausea and a change in my personality. In other words some depression. I also think that it is strange that there arent any advertisements on chantix. I do believe that we are the guinea pigs and that have admitted that they have not done a very long testing on chantix. Who knows what these pills will do to people in the long run? They are most likely sitting back and waiting to see what we will come up with as far a medical problems before they start advertising. The company has already been sued for a very large amount of money over the pain medication that they said was not addicting. Since they did not and have not studied the long term of chantix on if its going to do damaging things to people, they will wait and see what it has done to the people that are taking it? We will see. Medical problems may take a long while to pop up from this drug and then maybe it will turn out to be okay!
quit smokimg 3 yrs ago with zyban. smokimg now only when I drink. I read about this helping drinking issues & ordered it today . will start as soon as I get it in the mail.
Tomorrow will be 1 month smoke free! WHOOT
And just to be that person I have not taken any chantix all this week. I feel fine, no joke.
For me I had to want to quit smoking. I was a total B*tch for the 10 days or so, and one day I felt fine. There were the days I was really sad to know that I would not be smoking anymore. I was going to miss what me and that camel menthol had going on for all those years. Then I had enough, I told myself this was the last smoke for me. Then I became a Royal B*tch. But no matter how bad I wanted to smoke, I did not. I was telling myself that I should smoke for the saftey of the ones around me, I was going that nuts! I’m young, 26, and I was a smoker for a long time. 12 years to let everyone know. So just know that it was not easy for me to stop smoking. I have had 2 friends that were on chantix go right back to smoking. What a waste! They look at me with total shock when I tell them not 1 smoke in 1 month. Most of it being will power. I ate 1 pound of crablegs with 2 pounds of shrimp last night. Did I think about smoking after all that good food lovin? YES!!! Did I? NO!!! It is not easy, but would life be fun if I always took the easy way?
Despite my 23 years of smoking, I am really into road cycling. Not racing, just distance and some speed for short distances to help stay in shape. Obviously, smoking has put an artificial plateau on my maximum possible fitness level over the years. This year, instead of heart rate or legs being the “roof”, I would have to slow down so that my lungs could take in enough air to keep me supplied. That scared the crap out of me. Additionally, I’ve had an L4/L5 bulging disk issue for 1.5 years and some folks mentioned that smoking was slowing down any healing that might be occurring. (I’ve also learned that smoking is considered a contributing cause to having a lumbar problem in the first place.)
Since all I had done was bitch and moan for 2 days, I decided to take my first post-smoking ride. Wow! Better already, due simply to the Carbon Monoxide being booted out of my lungs and thus my blood. Not out of the woods yet, but I needed a positive experience with something I really like to see just how much better it’s gonna be. Cool.
Saraybe, I’m just right behind you on my 27th day smoke-free. Amazing and wonderful!
I smoked well over 20 years, quit over a year once, otherwise tried quitting several times with not even remotely as long-term success. Chantix has helped me tremendously, but I was not ready to quit on the 8th day, so I allowed until the 15th day, but quit on the 13th day when I felt I was ready. I do think Chantix kind of does hit different people differently, and that was my day. Even now, this process is still not what I would call easy. If smoking was suddenly not bad for you, contained no poison, didn’t cost alot, and no longer smelled bad, I would light up in a heartbeat because, honestly, I do still miss the things I loved about smoking those many years, but since smoking will never be any of the above, I got ready to fight and will stick with it. I’m lucky that my insurance, Kaiser, does cover Chantix, so I’ll be staying with it the whole 3 months now that any of my minor side effects have gone because it really has made the urges much more manageable. Even if it’s still sometimes tough (though getting easier overall), I don’t feel like I am actually out and out suffering as I have with past quits pre-Chantix.
Jerry, glad to see you hanging in there. I really do believe and hope that the road will get a little bit easier for you as you keep on going. Eventually it just has to, right?