Hi. Just joined today & found reading all your Chantix threads very interesting & helpful.
I'd like to know if any of you are long term users of Chantix and still smoking.
I have this strong conviction that if I stop the Chantix there's no hope for me. I am leaning towards continuing the medication & hoping at some point I will be smoke-free.
Here is my story:
I've been smoking most of my life so it has become my normal routine. Without a cigarette, I don't know how to begin or end any daily tasks. Okay, so now you know my #1 "trigger". I've tried every method out there except nicotine gum. I had quit about 3 yrs ago for about 9 months using Zyban, relapsed, tried Zyban again w/o success. I have been smoking 1-1/2 packs a day for many years.
I had first heard about Chantix long before it was available to the public. I work in a physician's office. When it became available, I was out the door with my RX immediately. I also told others I knew that smoked about this new product. They were all successful. I tell myself I'm having a harder time because I have more receptors than they did!
I am now into my 4th "month" pack of Chantix. At the beginning, I was down from a pack a day to 1 or 2 cigarettes some days, more when I wasn't at work. I haven't had any side-affects from the medication except slight feeling of nausea & bloating. No big deal. On the other hand, I've read the threads here regarding the new side-affect warnings & wondering how long I'll be so lucky.
I am now NOT working & find that I am smoking more often, even though I'm enjoying it less. Not smoking as much as before Chantix though.
Because of this decline, I realize the Chantix is doing something along with the fact that I'm still in the fight.
Any suggestions & personal experience would be appreciated.
I'd like to know if any of you are long term users of Chantix and still smoking.
I have this strong conviction that if I stop the Chantix there's no hope for me. I am leaning towards continuing the medication & hoping at some point I will be smoke-free.
Here is my story:
I've been smoking most of my life so it has become my normal routine. Without a cigarette, I don't know how to begin or end any daily tasks. Okay, so now you know my #1 "trigger". I've tried every method out there except nicotine gum. I had quit about 3 yrs ago for about 9 months using Zyban, relapsed, tried Zyban again w/o success. I have been smoking 1-1/2 packs a day for many years.
I had first heard about Chantix long before it was available to the public. I work in a physician's office. When it became available, I was out the door with my RX immediately. I also told others I knew that smoked about this new product. They were all successful. I tell myself I'm having a harder time because I have more receptors than they did!
I am now into my 4th "month" pack of Chantix. At the beginning, I was down from a pack a day to 1 or 2 cigarettes some days, more when I wasn't at work. I haven't had any side-affects from the medication except slight feeling of nausea & bloating. No big deal. On the other hand, I've read the threads here regarding the new side-affect warnings & wondering how long I'll be so lucky.
I am now NOT working & find that I am smoking more often, even though I'm enjoying it less. Not smoking as much as before Chantix though.
Because of this decline, I realize the Chantix is doing something along with the fact that I'm still in the fight.
Any suggestions & personal experience would be appreciated.
Having said that, it should help a lot with them. The fact that you were down to 1 - 2 per day says a lot about how well it took care of the craves. With not working, it could just be that your biggest trigger is boredom. I would suggest setting a quit date and sticking to it. Prior to that date, analyze your triggers and figure out a way to counter them.
Good luck!
Rob
If you could somehow manage to make it through a few consecutive days with no (or just a few) cigs, and get the nicotine out of your system, you'd be able to concentrate on dealing with "losing the friend" -- for me that 's the hardest long-term part. The Chantix helped enormously with the physical addiction, the psychological attachment is the other battle -- like you said (and this site acknowledges), relearning how to go through our day without them. The habit of smoking is so incredibily powerful. It sounds like you're not really getting the payoff -- do you feel any relief, any "high" from them anymore when you smoke, or is it really just going through the motions?
Thanks to all for your replies. I'm rooting for all of you!!
I smoked 39 years - Started Chantix on 2-6-08 - last cig was on Feb 13. Quit taking Chantix last Wednesday. Had several urges yesterday - have been really down about the weight gain. and felt that I needed a smoke to "calm down" . Got through the urge and am starting another day smoke free.... Good luck to us all.
Have a great day......Today is day 137!!!! WooHoo!
Good luck!
Teresa
Great job!
Chrisitne
Hello there!
It's been A LONG time since I've visited this site and I am feeling a bit like sharing/ connecting.
I hope you don't mind me adding my two cents, but saw your post and it seems as though you want suggestions... Well, I quit smoking after many years myself using Bupropion.
I will say you will always want to smoke even using the medication. I want one now! Even after being "quit" since Feb. 1, 2015! It's hard. For me the med did lessen my desire to smoke and it made them taste bad, so it truly was extremely helpful.
My tips that may be of use to you are the following: pick a date to really be THE quit date and from then on, tell yourself not ONE cigarette more (or puff) EVER again. I have allowed myself (rarely, from time to time) the use of an electronic cigarette or even a real cigar to smoke on the odd occasion. But, the trick, for me at least, was not allowing myself a real cigarette ever again. You break that nicotine addiction and then further on down the road, it's not hard to simply smoke a puff or two from a cigar and then go back to life after as a non-smoker and not addicted to nicotine! Some may say I have not 100% quit "smoking", and maybe so, but this is life and we all just do the best we can to get by. And, as more time passes I smoke less and less of anything! I wish you much luck in your quit.
Take care and be well!
S
If you are still smoking you still believe smoking holds something for you. Good luck with that.
PS one little cigar has the equivalent nicotine of a whole pack of cigarettes and it is taken in by the lining of your mouth whether you smoke it or not.
I did not realize that Chantix even existed nine years ago which is when this was originally written. There ARE no magic pills, wands, or bullets to do the work FOR you to quit smoking. If you spend time still wanting one after two years, it sounds like you need to reinforce your reasons for quitting and the things you are able to experience and enjoy that you weren't able to experience or enjoy when you were smoking.
The response above was supposed to be to shood and not the originator of this discussion from nine years ago.
Hello I've been taking Propupion for weeks. But for some reason I can't get an prescription from my Doctor. I'm thinking about asking Rite Aid for an consultation for Chantix. Don't Stop your medications. Your better with it than taking nothing. Good Luck!
I know nothing about your particular medication.
I do say, if you're listening to your body and it's telling you you don't need nicotine replacement therapy any longer, listen to it. Test it. See how you do for a day. Telling someone to continue taking nicotine is no guarantee of anything except continued use of nicotine.
tonyam.mcclain7837 Are you talking about bupropion? It's also marketed as Zyban or Wellbutrin and is an antidepressant that was shown to decrease craves for cigarettes and, in some cases, to actually make them distasteful so the person did not WANT to smoke. I am confused about asking Rite Aid for a consultation for Chantix...do they prescribe medications through a clinic? I don't understand why you would not be able to get a prescription for bupropion unless your doctor is concerned about interactions with other medications or a seizure disorder. Does the doctor want to SEE you to prescribe it, rather than call it in?
Ellen
Hi About my smoking medications It seems to me. The only way I can take a
NRTs is to buy some from my Pharmacy?? I'm eligible for Lozenges or gum
this January from The Pennsylvania Quit Line. Basically because. I had some
Chest pains!! I think gas was bothering me and I am going to be seen by
Heart Specialist A.S A.P.
So you can't get the patch?
Trusting the patch instead of popping gum or a lozenge every time you think of smoking takes the risk out of turning those pops into the same ritual as smoking and becoming psychologically dependent on them.
You need to get cleared for any medication for smoking cessation, I do agree with jonescarp.aka.dale.Jan_2007 that patches are the best NRT available. My son used Chantix in the past but had some psych reactions, he has quit smoking using buproprion and has been quit for over a month now. My oldest daughter quit with the patch.
I really hope you can get things straightened out, you certainly should not have to wait until January to quit smoking.
Ellen
Hey! I finally got an appointment to see my Primary. I have a Cardio
condtion that needs to be evaluated and treated by a Cardiologist And I
also have a Cyst. That needs to be treated. I' m thinking the Bupropion
affected my Heart. And I've been under UnGodly Stress. My Dad almost died
from a Brain Anerism and is now in a wheel chair. And my only and younger
Sister was studing for her Master's when she developed a lump in one of her
Breast. She didn't have a masectomy. But they did operate. She doesn't
Smoke cigarettes. And my youngest Sister died from a rare cancer in her
Ovarian. She didn' smoke either. She died from the Abuse of Pain Killers.
My family smokes cigarettes everyday. My Biological Dad died from Prostate
Cancer. My Grandmother smoked and Drank she died from a Stroke. So you See
there's alot on my Plate. God Bless Us!!
No question that there is a lot on your plate, at least you are informed, that makes a big difference. Please keep us informed. God bless you.
Ellen