Journey to Freedom

[Reclaimer]

I first posted in the Newbie Quitters thread, but going to maintain this as my ongoing experiences thread.

So I am on day 4 of a 2 week prep program for quitting. I am on Wellbutrin (Zyban in Canada) and as of today, have increased my dosage to 2 pills a day.

Today has been a little rough, I think its the pills, I felt hazy all day. But the good thing is that it didn't cause me to give in to my other cravings. As of 9.30PM, I have had 2.5 cigarettes (.5 because I couldn't finish it!).

My quit date is March 25th and I am looking forward to start March 26th as a non-smoker! I am sure many others have tried cold turkey, vaping and what not, but sometimes medication seems to help, at least it is helping in my case.

[YoungAtHeart]

Your quit is unique to you - and you know you best.  I am not sure how that drug works.  Is it supposed to block  the receptors from the nicotine effects of smoking? If you have done the reading, have identified your triggers,  made plans for each of the most difficult ones, and understand that you aren't giving anything up, I would just quit as soon as the Welblutrin program  recommends.  If it is aways off, I would hesitate to reduce the number of cigarettes to that few unless that drug program suggests it.

So glad you have decided to quit.  Let us know how we can help!

Nancy

[Chuck-2-20-2011]

So glad you're staying on track, and learning your addiction! It's important to know your enemy when quitting. Please keep us posted!

ONWARD TO FREEDOM!!!

Chuck

[JACKIE1-25-15]

Stay close, Don't give up. You are on you way to a forever quit. 

[TerrieQuit]

I am glad you are here, stay close and keep reading. Indeed you are moving in the right direction! ~Terrie~

[c2q]

I am looking forward to March 26 with you, and to welcoming you as a bonafided EX. You're gonna love it. The road getting here can be bumpy, it's true. Just hang on for the ride and keep focused on the goal: a smoke free you. The more prep work you do, the more certain it is that your quit will stick. Good for you.

[elvan]

I think Wellbutrin helps to take the edge off the craves.  I hope you are taking those two pills approximately 12 hours apart.  I don't think they are supposed to be taken at the same time.  Not sure though.

Welcome to EX and we will be here on your journey...stay close to the site, read blogs, prepare for the actual quit day and take it one day at a time.  Remember that quitting is a JOURNEY and not an EVENT.  The quit date is an event but keeping the quit requires keeping it to one day at a time.

Ellen

[Reclaimer]

Hi guys, thanks for the encouragement and guidance. Appreciate it.

To answer Nancy's comment, the Wellbutrin program works this way:

- Its not a nicotine replacement therapy

- It decreases cravings and withdrawal symptoms

- Other help (such as this forum, my quit plan, etc.) is required, Wellbutrin will not help you quit smoking all by itself.

The program is like this:

- 2 weeks before quit date, I start with 1 pill a day for 3 days

- Starting the 4th day, I switch to 2 pills a day (Like Ellen said above 12 hours apart)

- This builds up the level of medicine in your body. You take wellbutrin for 7 to 12 weeks after you stop smoking completely (quit date).

- I continue smoking as usual, and try VERY HARD to reduce the quantity of cigarettes by managing the triggers

- By the time quit date arrives, I should have managed most of my cravings and triggers, and on the 15th day after starting the program, I stop smoking completely

- The hard part here is to manage the strongest of the triggers and this is where the combined medication and outside help comes into play.

- I don't know if my reducing number of cigarettes smoked this early in the program has had any adverse effect yet, but I will keep an eye on it.

So far its going well for me, other than the side effects of the pills, especially yesterday. I have been successful in managing the easier ones (on my quit plan), so the challenge now is to manage my 3 top triggers over the next 10 days! 

Thanks again for the help and encouragement.

-Neil

[elvan]

Figure out what you will do instead of smoking when those triggers occur...I listed them before I quit and I had several different "interventions" depending upon the time of day and what I COULD do.