Researchers looked at 252 healthy people daily cigarette smokers, with an emphasis on their urges to smoke and when they lit up their first cigarette of the day. The researchers then measured the cotinine levels in the smokers’ blood. what they found was that that the range was extremely variable – from between 16 ng/mL (mostly among smokers who waited at least a half hour before the first cigarette) to 1180 ng/mL (mostly among smokers who lit up not long after waking).

It’s not yet understood why this happens, but researchers may now be able to use this information to work on various approaches to smoking cessation tools and techniques.

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Image: PhotoXpress.com

Post from: Blisstree

Early A.M. Cigs Mean More Poison in Body

Part of the success of the nicotine as a “pre-quitting” strategy involves using the patch regularly, providing a steady dose of nicotine. Because of that steady dose, the smoker begins to cut back on cigarettes because the craving or need for nicotine isn’t as strong. So, the result is when the smoker does reach the quit date, he or she isn’t smoking as many cigarettes as before, making it easier to quit. This was the finding of a study of 400 male smokers, published recently in the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research.

The group was divided into four subgroups before the quit date: those who used nicotine or placebo patches and those who used their regular brand of cigarettes or low-tar and nicotine cigarettes. After the quit date, all men were given reduced doses of nicotine patches. This went on for 10 weeks.

The researchers found that the quit rate for at least 10 weeks among those who had the nicotine patches before the quit date was double (22%) that of those who had the placebo patches (11%). Although there was little difference in the quit rates among those who smoked their regular cigarettes and those who used the low-tar and nicotine cigarettes, the researchers stated that this may be a good approach for some smokers who could end up with too much nicotine in their system if they were to smoke their regular cigarettes while using the pre-cessation patches.

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Image courtesy PhotoXpress.com

Post from: Blisstree

Smoking Cessation Patch Before Quitting

One problem with these medications is that they seem to have an adverse effect on some people who take them and these can be quite serious. According to a press release issued by the FDA:

These symptoms include changes in behavior, hostility, agitation, depressed mood, suicidal thoughts and behavior, and attempted suicide.

Now, the FDA has told the manufacturers that they must add new warnings, called Box Warning and develop patient medication guides that outline these risks.

Here is more from the release:

Healthcare professionals should advise patients to stop taking varenicline or bupropion and contact a healthcare provider immediately if they experience agitation, depressed mood, and any changes in behavior that are not typical of nicotine withdrawal, or if they experience suicidal thoughts or behavior.

If you take any of these medications and you have any concerns, please speak with your doctor.

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Image courtesy PhotoXpress.com

Post from: Blisstree

FDA Warning: Smoking Cessation Meds

The study focused on the effect of nicotine patches on the subjects’ tendency to respond to anger provocation via video games. Nicotine was associated with a reduced tendency to retaliate, explaining how cigarettes help calm some people.

The study authors noted that the findings support the idea that “people of an angry disposition are more susceptible to nicotine’s effects, and are therefore more likely to become addicted to cigarettes.” The findings point toward anger management training as a possible aid in smoking cessation efforts.

(Image via stock.xchng)

Post from: Blisstree

Anger Management May Help Smoking Cessation

But, then you didn’t. You couldn’t. You just . . .

It’s freaking hard!

I read this article in Oprah Magazine by Stephanie Losee, titled The Willpower Myth. It was based on a book Change or Die: The Three Keys to Change at Work and in Life.

Change or Die.

When you’re a smoker those are literally your choices. You can change and become a non-smoker if you want to live. Or you can choose to keep smoking and live with the consequences: emphysema, lung cancer, chronic bronchitis, severely damaging your children. . . oh the list of negatives for smoking just never ends. They keep coming up with more and more reasons to quit smoking.

Let’s face it – this is not new information for you. What will be different this time?

Chantix: it’s a little blue miracle in pill form. It won’t make it exactly easy to quit smoking but it will take you from the depths of hell into simple doable purgatory – which changes everything. Because when it was hell, you couldn’t do it. Now that it’s only purgatory – well, now you can be a quitter.

Relationship: You need support and I’m a been-there -done- that kind of girl. I quit smoking in 2007 and I want to help you quit smoking in 2008. If you think you’ve got it worse than I did – read I Suck.  I have a whole website for people who want to quit smoking at Quit Coping. Feel free to stop by day or night for any support you need.

Repeating: this probably isn’t the first time you’ve quit smoking – so you’re going to be better at it this time. All the other times were just practice. And you know what they say about practice.

Reframing: This may be the most important thing you’re going to do for yourself. You’re going to change your thinking. You’re going to do whatever corny thing you have to in order to change your thinking. One thing that worked for me was to write I Am A Non-Smoker on my wrist and my bathroom mirror. I did it for months. Corny? Yes. But, who cares if it’s effective?

You can do this. 2008 is your year. Stop by Quit Coping and get all the support you can handle.

Be a quitter!

Post from: Blisstree

You’re a Quitter

 I’m nearing my 700th post on that one blog entry. It’s becoming difficult to scroll down and load up and more and more people are quitting smoking and wanting to share their stories. It’s taking a great deal of time for me to respond to comments.

What do you do when success is nipping at your heals? Well, what I did do is build a new website called . . .

Quit Coping 

Quit coping with smoking. Quit smoking to cope. Cope with your quit.

Chantix is a great tool. Actually, it’s a miracle in pill form if you ask me. But, without cigarettes we smokers are left with few coping skills.

Time to make some new ones some healthier ones.

If you smoke and you want to take back your life and find out what liberation and freedom from your nasty habit feels like come on over to Quit Coping and join the fun.

Post from: Blisstree

Smoker? Quit Coping.

 Totally cheated. Bought Cigarettes. Nasty. Smoked through the nasty. There was drinking involved. I went to a club, drank and smoked and it was really fun.

Plus, I left the Chantix at home on accident. Left the whole stupid suitcase at home, Chantix was in it. Craved, but only after I opened that door with a cigarette I think. Drinking is a trigger for me. Being away from my kids is a trigger for me. Feels a lot like freedom. But, not having to smoke is the real freedom.

Bad non-smoker. Lapse is not the same as a relapse, right? But, back on the Chantix. I am still a non-smoker who had a weekend cheat. No one has to ever know. Well, at least not my 5-year-old, who isn’t an avid reader of this blog yet.

Post from: Blisstree

Cheater, Cheater . . .

I am on my fourth week of Chantix, a new smoking cessation prescription drug. If you are a smoker who has ever tried to quit you know the biggest battle can be desire.

To be honest, I didn’t WANT to quit smoking because I loved nearly everything about it. But, someone told my 5-year-old that I was going to die if I continued doing it. Then every flipping time I’d step outside for a smoke break I’d have to smoke through the sobs of my child, “Mommy, I don’t want you to die! Who will be with me when you die?”

Who can stand up to that kind of torture – or even enjoy a cigarette amidst such terrible anguish?

Then, on my Emmaus Walk retreat a few weeks ago, two of the speakers were daughters of women whose mothers had died of lung cancer from smoking. Their anger and grief was palpable. No doubt they were placed on that retreat by God to give me the message, “Ainsley will hate you and grieve intensely if you continue this nasty, selfish habit to the point where you make her watch you die.”

So, obviously, parents don’t really have a right to smoke in good conscience. Not even if they are totally addicted and love nearly everything about it.

I’ve struggled terribly with quitting though. I have tried acupuncture, nasty flavorless gum that gets stuck in my teeth, nicotine patches, sunflower seeds, Pavloving myself by snapping myself on the wrist with a rubber band, cold turkey, writing “I am not a smoker” on my wrists, self-loathing, Wellbutrin, electronic solitaire, buying only single cigarillos, prayer, faith and giving myself a ton of crap for my weakness.

Through every single method I still felt like I had angry Turrets Syndrome. It just felt awful. The whole thing – the physical withdrawal, the psychological withdrawal, the missing of my best friend (cigarettes) who had seen me through every up and down, the missing of my rebelliousness in persisting to do something bad for myself, even missing my adolescent sense of immortality – all of it made me want to freak out and bitch and moan and curse.

Chantix – say it with me, chant it, and scream it from the top of buildings – Chantix! It is literally some kind of miracle for smokers. Real smokers. Not social smokers or “can I bum a drag” smokers. But, people who derive at least part of their identity from smoking, should run to the doctor immediately and demand a prescription.

Not only am I cured of physically craving nicotine and whatever other 200 toxic chemicals are in cigarettes, but I am not morning the loss of the part of me that loves smoking. I am not thinking about cigarettes in an obsessive forlorn way. I am not thinking about them at all in fact. When I am overly stressed or bored or tired or anxious or about to have a minor freak out I am not thinking, “I need a cigarette.”

I’m not mourning my loss of smoking, my loss of freedom, my loss of my best friend or my loss of identity as a smoker. I am just going about my business as if I were always a “non-smoker.”

I am a non-smoker.  

No thanks, I don’t smoke. I can seriously, for the first-time ever, see myself saying this and not falling over laughing hysterically with a smoke in my right hand.  

I feel like I’ve been set free. I feel like for the first time since I was about 13 years old those shackles have been removed. I am not chained to the idea that I must always have a pack of cigarettes with me, or that I must always have $5 on me to be able to buy some. I am totally free.

Chantix retails for about $100 a month. But, my insurance actually covered it so it only cost me $50. Considering the “sin tax” on smoking a pack a day this is a total bargain! Lots of people only need it for one month. But, I am a known cheater so I’ll take it for the full recommended three months.  

Seriously, if you’re like me and you’ve loved your cigarettes, but you feel like you must stop smoking. Try Chantix. It is a real life miracle drug.

And man, I smell so good now!

Post from: Blisstree

I Am A Non-Smoker

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

Quit Coping

http://www.quitcoping.com

Post from: Blisstree

Chantix