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Give and get support around quitting

Lesliex
Member

Day 3. I think that I cheated a little.

I swore to myself that I would follow the patch program to the letter and be off of cigarettes in 10 weeks.

Today, day 3, I felt so uncomfortable that I sucked on a 2mg lozenge for a little while. I spit it out before it was finished. It actually made me feel good. I felt a warm feeling go through my body and felt cheerful for the first time in 3 days. What the heck was that about? It was a nice relief though. The thing is that I feel a little guilty because I went off of the program. I feel like I cheated.

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17 Replies
TW517
Member

I did the same thing years ago.  I quit smoking and finally went off the patch, but got terribly addicted to the lozenges.  Ended up taking in more nicotine than when I was smoking.  When eventually I relapsed from my cigarette quit, I gave up the lozenges.  It was so strange going thru a bit of nicotine withdrawal while I was smoking.  I don't think that one you had today will hurt, but be careful!  Glad you are here!

Jennifer-Quit
Member

If you did not smoke, you are OK.  Use those lozenges with caution - no need to trade one addiction for another.  The only way out is through - we all had to go thru the withdrawals from nicotine and it is not easy but it is doable!  You got this!

YoungAtHeart
Member

You felt better because you got the "hit" you were used to getting from a cigarette.  The patch gives you a continual, even dose.  It's why I think lozenges are addictive - you get a similar  "jolt " you used to get from smoking.  If you need to use a bit extra now and then, you aren't "cheating." Smoking is cheating.  But, do be careful using the lozenges.  You might just use one for a minute or two to get past a bad crave - but then get it out of your mouth, put it in a plastic bag for the next time you feel you need a "rescue." 

Congratulations on three days WON!

Nancy

bonniebee
Member

That is  exactly how I did it Nancy  I had a little plastic med box i kept it in .I never used a whole one up at one time . It was also helpful in the early days in the morning while waiting for the patch to take effect .

JACKIE1-25-15
Member

Congrats on three days.  You will be fine. 

So first, you did nothing wrong! As long as you are aware of the possibility of becoming dependent on NRTs and use them sparingly as last resort - you did not smoke!!!!

Why did you feel so good?

"Chronic nicotine use induces neuroadaptations in the brain’s reward system that result in the development of nicotine dependence. Thus, nicotine-dependent smokers must continue nicotine intake to avoid distressing somatic and affective withdrawal symptoms. Newly abstinent smokers experience symptoms such as depressed mood, anxiety, irritability, difficulty concentrating, craving, bradycardia, insomnia, gastrointestinal discomfort, and weight gain (Shiffman and Jarvik, 1976; Hughes et al., 1991)."

"Nicotine influences mood, cognition, and body function by binding to and activating nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) located on neurons in the brain. When activated by either nicotine or the endogenous neurotransmitter acetylcholine, the nAChR opens a channel that allows ions to pass through the neuron’s membrane from the exterior to the interior of the cell and trigger changes that activate the cell. In this section, we examine the interactions of nicotine with nAChRs and the possibility of treating nicotine dependence by altering these interactions."

"Nicotine produces rewarding effects by interacting with nAChRs on neurons in the brain’s mesolimbic reward system. This system comprises dopaminergic neurons that originate in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and release the neurotransmitter dopamine in regions involved in information processing, memory, and emotions, such as the nucleus accumbens (NAc), hippocampus, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex (PFC). Increases in dopamine levels within the mesolimbic system give rise to rewarding effects. Nicotine directly enhances dopamine levels in the mesolimbic system by interacting with nAChRs on the dopaminergic neurons and causing them to release more of the neurotransmitter (Balfour, 2009; Barrett et al., 2004; Koob and Volkow, 2010). Nicotine also modulates dopamine release indirectly by binding to nAChRs located on excitatory glutamatergic and inhibitory gamma aminobutyric acid (GABAergic) neurons in the VTA. These glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons originate from a number of brain areas, such as the NAc, hippocampus, PFC, amygdala, ventral pallidum, and pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus, and regulate the activity of dopaminergic neurons."

OR to melt all that down to English - we're Addicts! Nicotine robbed our natural Dopamine process and in Recovery, we have to get it back! All that blah, blah, blah wasn't just talking tobacco - it speaks of Nicotine  - NRTs have Nicotine! They still do the same Addictive things that Sickerettes do. Slowly cutting back while doing things to stimulate Dopamine is the way out!

https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/message/77521-dopamine-the-double-edged-blade?sr=search&searchId=...

freeneasy
Member

It's ok to use a lozenge or nicotine gum with the patch. I did at times. Early in my quit, I used a lozenge when having my coffee in the morning. I always tried to be conscious of what I was doing and use the gum sparingly. You didn't cheat. Taking a puff is cheating. N.O.P.E. is the key.

Diannnnn
Member

The first couple of weeks with the 21mg patch I had to use a lozenge a few times. I still have some in my purse, but I haven't used one in weeks. I hate the taste!

bonniebee
Member

You did not cheat I used the patch for the entire time and I also kept lozenges on hand for the hardest crave times ! I just made sure that  I weaned off all of the  NRT's by the time I finished the patch so that  I would then be completely nictotine free and not addicted to the NRT's which can happen and has happened to some people . 

congrats on your awesome 3 days !!! I think the first 2 are the hardest then it levels off .Learn to ride the craves rather then fight them !quit 3 red.pngsayings quit riding the wave  3.jpg