Addicted to nicotine lozenges

[TracyB2]

When i quit smoking this time around i decided to use lozenges. Success I have no desire to smoke. But I have an addiction to the lozenge. I tried winging myself i tried using less and less i also tried substituting with candy. I am now having issues getting myself away from them. Its suppose to be 1 an hour but i catch myself wanting one after another. How do i break free of this addiction.

[YoungAtHeart]

I think you have to just tell yourself to wait a bit and then get busy when you want one.  You can naturally reduce the amount by doing this.

Bottom line, though - you are addicted to the nicotine and you will have to break free of this addiction the same as if you were getting it from cigarettes. You put off the withdrawal when you stopped smoking by using the lozenges - but you never worked to wean yourself from them. 

It is going to be a process ----- but you need to get started.  Some might advise doing it cold turkey and using the same methods we recommend for quitting smoking.  If you are using multiple lozenges an hour, you are probably getting a pretty high dose of nicotine.  Not sure how cold turkey would affect your body.

I wish I had better info - but this is my 2 cents!

Nancy

[TracyB2]

The firstvtime I quit 5 years ago I did quit cold turkey. And i quit for four years. This time around i felt i was having more of a difficulty and thought I needed the extra help so I used the lozenges. I wish I didnt now.

[elvan]

I agree with Nancy that you have to taper off, I don't know how many lozenges you are using but you need to make a commitment to stop...a day at a time.  I  don't know the actual amount of nicotine in lozenges v cigarettes.

You can get off these things, you got off cigarettes before and you did alright...now you have to deal with the new addiction.  

Ellen

[JonesCarpeDiem]

How many are you using per day?

The nicotine will be out of your system in 3 days and you will probably have to go through the 2-3 weeks of being loopy as you adjust.

[JonesCarpeDiem]

what mg per lozenge?

[TracyB2]

4 mg lozenges i go thru a vial in 3days not sure how many in a day though there are 24 in a vial. I wake up in the morning craving those just like i used to for a cigarette

[TracyB2]

Sometimes the vial lasts 4 days

[JonesCarpeDiem]

If you are using 8 a day you are getting the nicotine equal to 32 cigarettes a day.

[JonesCarpeDiem]

so the equivalent of 24 cigarettes a day if the vial lasts 4 days.

first, you need to keep track and see how accurate your estimated count per day is.

[TracyB2]

Wow thats more than i even smoked

[JonesCarpeDiem]

this is because you simply didn't know any different.

You know you have 24 in a vial. Actually count what's left in the vial at the end of each day and what's left before you'd buy another vial.

[JonesCarpeDiem]

I wrote this 2 days ago. I don't tell people not to use nrt's but i know they have to break the connection between the physical and the mental cycle.

https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/blogs/jonescarp.aka.dale.Jan_2007-blog/2016/05/15/the-mental-cycl...

[TracyB2]

I will start keeping track

[elvan]

I am so glad that Dale saw this and started to advise you because I have every confidence that he knows what he is talking about with NRT's.  I agree that keeping track is the first step.

You really are doing yourself a huge favor by realizing this before it goes on any longer.

[TracyB2]

I never realized the addiction until I ran out and went half day with out i was going stir crazy. Also had a tension headache then i reslized I have a problem

[TracyB2]

Is it common to have an addiction to NRT

[JonesCarpeDiem]

It can be common if someone believes that is what's keeping them from smoking.

[Giulia]

The fact that you are AWARE that this has become a problem for you is step number one.  Once you know it, you can change it.  And so you will. Because you want to.  Just like you wanted to beat the smoking addiction.  And did.

I'm really curious, though, Tracy.  What made you pick up a cigarette again in 2015 after being smoke free for four years?  It's a passion of mine to try to understand WHY people relapse.  It's part of my way of keepig myself free.  Understanding why others go back to smoking.  That's why I formed the Relapse Traps Group.  What makes people relapse after such a long abstinence.  And how can I help keep others from falling into that same trap. 

So help us all here.  And tell us your story, if you will.  What made you relapse?  Was there anything that gave you a "pause for thought" before you took that cigarette that got you hooked again?  Or was it the "oh it's been so long, I'll just have ONE" scenario?  Do you think you were aware of what you were doing and the dangers of the addiction, were you simply testing the waters, or were you not even remembering any of that and the fight you went through four years prior?  If you'd care to share any of that, I'd really like to hear it.

And how long have you been smoke free now?

Dale's suggestions are really wise.  Understanding our usage of a drug helps us with the weaning process.  If they recommend one an hour and you're using more, then delay, distract, go through the same techniques that you did when you quit smoking.  A lot of people have to wean themselves off the NRTs.  You're not alone in that.  It's supposed to be an aid, not necessarily a substitute.  When it becomes a substitute - that's when the problem arises. 

You'll figure this out.  And you'll come back to a healthy quit, I've no doubt. 

[TracyB2]

My van broke down last august. I needed rides to work and my friend offered to help me. She is a chain smoker but I didnt think of anything because I had no desire to smoke. But after a couple times the craving hit me. I ignored it at first but then it became all I think about so I "bummed " a cigarette off my friend. That was all I had until a couple days later.I felt the craving so I bummed a cigarette. In my mind setting I must have forgot about the battle. I was bumming a cigarette every couple days for two weeks before I even realized it I was hooked. I was buying my own. At the time the only thing going through my mind was i quit once i can do it again. I can quit anytime. I dont intend on keeping smoking.I believe what made me relapse was suprise cravings that I would probably handled had i not been around my friend helped make the cravings worse. And was an easy way for me to get a hold of a cigarette. I started in august. Febuary 28th was my quit day I been on lozenges since

[TracyB2]

So basically I was having a suprise craving and inatead of handling it like i usually do the fact that the cigarettes were right there and thay was on my mind was the reason i picked it up. I just thought i wouldnt get back into the cycle again. Or ill stop myself before I do. Or i thought quitting would be easy since i did it once

[TracyB2]

Today i bought more but 2mg and i am gonna say ok i am only gonna have 5 today then in a few days go down to 4 then just keep going down from there. . I just didnt realize the addiction until i went a jalf day withput and felt just like it does with cigarette cravings but i dont feel the need to smoke i guess thats a plus

[Giulia]

Thanks so much for you input about your relapse, Tracy.  I'm going to add it in Relapse Traps to hopefully help others not make the same mistake.  It's amazing how easily we are wooed back into this addiciton.  Hope you're getting a grip on that lozenge usage.

[TracyB2]

Youvare welcome. I did just stop taking them. I have alot of withdrawl symptoms which recently slowed down. I just decided i need to do this cold turkey like i did the last time i was more successful then. And i am doing great

[Megbiehn]

Hello Tracb2! I was just searching the web on how to get off lozenges! I have been on them for years! They have messed my gums up and I spend a fortune to buy them. I must stop now, I think I have a worse oral fixation than a

when I smoked! I tried to break it off with the gum but have horrible TMJ joint, so I always go back. Did you do it? How? Really stay off? I need help! Thank you! 

[JonesCarpeDiem]

how are you doing? this was over 2 years ago?

[TracyB2]

I actually forgot the whole smoking thing. Inwent cold turkey kept telling myself it was a mind game and i battled through the addictions of smoking as well as lozenges all at one time. I went on a weightloss journey and channeled all my frustration into my workouts i lost 82 pounds so far. Thank you for checking up

[TracyB2]

I actually did i learned the only way to quit smoking for good isnt replacing nicotine with nicotine i knew id have to go cold turkey to quit both i just kept telling myself it is a mind gameand reminding myself thenwhole thing is just a mental issue i went on a weightloss journey channeled all my frustration in to my workouts i lost 82 pounds so far. So i quit smoking and lost weight all at the same time

[JonesCarpeDiem]

Fantastic!

It is primarily a mind game.

There is a physical withdrawal with many symptoms but doing what you did, you kept the dopamine going and got through it

I played guitar 10 hours a day my first two weeks to keep it flowing and figured out smoking was st a decision on my third day.

BIG CONGRATULATIONS!!!

[TracyB2]

Thank you

On Thu, Apr 12, 2018 at 10:23 PM jonescarp.aka.dale.Jan_2007 <

[elvan]

AWESOME!  Congratulations!

[TracyB2]

Thank you

On Thu, Apr 12, 2018 at 10:37 PM elvan <communityadmin@becomeanex.org>

[meaney]

What's the word? Were you able to quit? I'm entering my 7th year on lozenges and don't wanna do it anymore.

[meaney]

Never mind. Saw your previous response. Sorry. I'm new.

[elvan]

meaney‌ I am not sure that she is still around.  I can tell you that recovering from nicotine addiction, no matter how you administer the drug, is going to be one day at a time and sometimes, it is going to be one FEELING at a time.  Nicotine stuffed our feelings down so we did not learn how to deal with them.  Feeling is normal, nicotine addiction, whether by smoking or vaping or chewing or whatever, is NOT normal.  I had to learn that it was okay to feel sad, worried, angry, stressed, we all have to accept that feelings are meant to be felt and we are meant to learn from our feelings and our reactions.

Welcome to EX.  Read everything you can find about nicotine addiction, read blogs, stay close to the site, the support you will get here is second to none.  Reach out just like you just did...write a blog and introduce yourself, you will be amazed at the reception you get from others.  You CAN do this, we all want to help you.

Ellen

[TracyB2]

I tried lozenges myself the problem was I went from being addicted to

cigarettes to that it was my new addiction then I found myself spending

more money on that than I did on cigarettes so I knew I just had to quit

everything and go cold turkey I had to retrain myself to do everything I

did with a cigarette without it like eat or alcoholic drinks I kept myself

busy one thing I’d do was pick a book or lot of times I’d read blogs and

comments from become an ex after a while my mind was off the craving and in

the thing I was reading the most part is to occupy your mind you will still

have cravings some stronger than others there is no way to stop those you

just gotta come up with a game plan for when it does happen

On Wed, Jul 31, 2019 at 5:38 PM meaney <communityadmin@becomeanex.org>

[elvan]

TracyB2‌ SO HAPPY to hear from you and that you are still here!  Congratulations on your successful journey.

Ellen

[Addicted2Lozeng]

Hi all,

I may be an interesting subject to study or to share my experience with you. I am 63 years of age. I was a smoker for 30 some years and quit with the help of 4mg nicotine lozenges in 2007. I have since been addicted to 4mg nicotine lozenges. So it's been about 14 years and I have been chain using the lozenges at the rate of over 40 to 50 lozenges a day! I often wake up during the night to pop more in my mouth. During my waking hours I usually consume about nearly 2 bottles of 27  lozenges per bottle. I seem to have no side effects or health problems but it sure is expensive even paying only $60 for 10 bottles (tubes) of Kirkland 4mg lozenges. I spend over $200 a month. When I don't have them (which is very rare) I get very anxious and can not really function well without. Well, what do you folks thinks about this?

[YoungAtHeart]

Welcome@Addicted2Lozeng!

You will need to substitute lozenges for cigarettes in the information I will share with you.  I am so sorry you have gotten yourself in this pickle.  It is not going to be easy, but you CAN break free of this addiction.  Do the reading, get prepared, plan for your quit and commit 100% to it.

The important thing you can do right now is to educate yourself on what nicotine does to your body and mind. To that end, I highly recommend Allen Carr's “The Easy Way to Stop Smoking.”    You can search for it online or at your local library.  Here is a video to inform you further about nicotine addiction:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpWMgPHn0Lo&feature=youtu.be

You are getting the equivalent of 10 packs of cigarettes a day if you are using 50-4 mg.  nicotine lozenges each day.  From my own experience and that of others here, if you decide to use a quit aid to wean yourself from the lozenges, I recommend those that don't let the addict control the dose such as Rx drugs and the patch.  You can begin to wean yourself down off the lozenges by substituting a mint of the same flavor for every 10, then 9th, then 8th nicotine one you use.  It will take awhile, but eventually you will reduce the amount of nicotine you are getting from them.  Then you will start to sub every other one for a mint, and eventually get down to all non-nicotine mints.

It will be informative if you do the tracking and separation exercises recommended here on the site. As you track each cigarette smoked, note its importance, and what you might do instead. Put each one off just a little to prove that you don't NEED a cigarette just because you think you do.
 

The idea is to change up your routines so the smoking associations are reduced.  Drink your coffee with your OTHER hand in a place different from when you smoked. Maybe switch to tea for a bit.  If you always had that first smoke with your coffee, try putting your tennies on right out of bed, going for a quick walk, then taking your shower and THEN your coffee! .  Take a different route to work. Take a quick walk at break time where the smokers AREN'T.
 
You need to distract yourself through any craves.  You can take a bite out of a lemon (yup - rind and all), do a few jumping jacks, go for a brisk walk or march in place, play a computer game.  Keep a cold bottle of water with you. Don't let that smoking thought rattle around in your brain unchallenged. You might visit “Games”: The active ones are at the top of the list going down the left side of the page.

Here is a link to a list of things to do instead of smoke if you need some fresh ideas:

https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/t5/Journals-Blogs/101-Things-to-Do-Instead-of-Smoke/ba-p/1028319

The conversation in your head in response to the "I want a cigarette" thought needs to be, "Well, since I have decided not to do that anymore, what shall I do instead for the three minutes this crave will last?"  Then DO it.  You will need to put some effort into this in the early days, but it gets easier and easier to do.

Stay close to us here and ask questions when you have them and for support when you need it. We will be with you every step of the way!

 Nancy

[Barbscloud]

@Addicted2Lozeng  As you know, nicotine replacement wasn't meant to be used long term.    This idea was to wean yourself off of them when you quit smoking.    One of my concerns is how many lozenges your using a day.  When quitting smoking, you're talking about a max of 12 a day.

Using NRT to help quit smoking, used properly,  has led to successful quit for many.  Even though you've eliminated many dangerous chemicals from you body by quitting there can be serious side effects from using that many lozenges in a day.*  

What is your goal?   If you want to quit, using the same tools to quit smoking should apply.  Read material on the site and create a quit plan.

*"Cons

While nicotine lozenges can help you meet your goal to quit smoking, it can be tempting to overuse or misuse them.

They’re sweet like candy, and you can use them when you need them, so it can be easy to take more than you need or more than is recommended in a 24-hour period.

People who use nicotine lozenges are meant to wean themselves off the medication within the recommended period of time. Prolonged use can raise your risk of serious side effects and withdrawal symptoms, such as:

• anxiety
• irritability
• headache
• severe nicotine cravings

Like all drugs, nicotine lozenges carry the risk of adverse side effects with use. Some common side effects include:

• heartburn
• indigestion
• nausea
• sore throat
• hiccups

It’s also possible to overdose on nicotine when you’re using any form of nicotine replacement therapy. Overdose symptoms include:

• severe headache
• dizzy spells
• passing out or severe fatigue
• hearing loss or impairment
• distorted or blurry vision
• breaking out in a cold sweat
• throwing up
• stomach aches or stomach upset
• mental confusion"