Excellent!!! It really does get easier the longer you go :) I rarely think about it anymore. I used to have smoking dreams...you know the ones...you wake up and freak out a bit. **laughing**

Anya, I had a few patients that developed panic attacks while on Chantix . I am not sure if there was an underlying issue already or side effects from Chantix . I didn't due any research on it . did you ?

My understanding is that one does not have to have a history of depression or anxiety per se in order to have these side effects. I believe this is on their web site.

With that said, a side effect of quitting smoking is depression and anxiety, in and of itself (for physiological reasons, not psychological). That is the whole purpose of using Wellbutrin/Zyban. It has nothing to do with decreasing cravings, it is just to manage the subsequent depression/anxiety/irritability that people experience when quitting smoking.

Chantix helps with cravings, that is why it is so successful in the way that Zyban has not been.

In response to Scoobs- my side effect was stomach stuff, also. I had nausea every morning after taking it. Really felt like I was going to vomit. It last about 20 minutes and was worth it to me.

Jo that is a significant reduction! Congrats! I was a 2 pack a day smoker as well. You'll get there!

Don't kid youself.....
 

Yes, what Jo says is correct, Starbuck, they will not assist you in quitting (those were my smokes of choice, too).

I would suggest you getting back on the wagon NOW...the longer you are off, the harder it will be to get back on. It doesn't really make sense to let yourself get back to full time smoking BEFORE quitting. Does it?

I understand about depression and anxiety and what are you saying , I am a nurse clinician . I never done any research on Chantix . However, while I was working in ER, I had patients they came in they were frantic thinking they are having a heart attack at age 20-30 which is possible , but majority times it was a panic attack and just to find out they were on Chantix .

Many people refused to take Zyban due to the weight gain . My son was taking Chantix and he was still smoking . I was horrified and he is still smoking so do I . I feel as a biggest hypocrite when I am educating my patients not to smoke and then I go on my smoke break . I never done any illegal drugs and no I am not pill popper or alcoholic . Yet , my smoking addiction it's a biggest challenge for me . In ER while coding patient and loose him all of us went outside to smoke cigarette since was so stressful and emotional .

I was just curious if anybody done some research on Chantix , but now I will do it myself since I have an access to medical sites through my employer .

thanks for reply

Vlasta

been a month without smoking... first week was awful... now i wont even pick up a cigarette.

I quit smoking in 2002 just before I had a heart attack...the heart attack happened despite me quitting, I waited too long to stop; that and the diabetes, heart disease and extra 100 lbs was more than my ticker could take.

Despite that I still want a cigarette every.single. day.

Hang in there everyone, it really does get easier.:rrose:

Well my Mom was just diagnosed with non small cell lung cancer that has metastasized to the liver. She will be gone very soon. she smoked for 40 years and has COPD. And guess what I want to do? Smoke a cigarette to stuff all these feelings. I can't do this any more. I don't want my child to lose me so soon. I do not want to post this but I have to make myself accountable.

Great job! Keep it up! It is tough, but oh so worth it! (not dying from lung cancer alone makes it worth it, no?) :simplelaugh:

My mom died from smoking related (copd) issues as well as diabetes and heart disease last year. She finally quit smoking after the 8th or 9th hospitalization in which I had to watch her struggle for every breath and get worse and worse until her kidneys failed. My God I miss her, and I am still pissed as Hell at her for not quitting when it would have meant her living past 70. My sister only quit smoking 2 months ago...but quit she did.

I have nothing magically to say to you that will help you quit, but you had the best reason of all...do it for your child. (f)

I wish you and your family peace and strength during this very sad time.

Is there room for one more in here?
 

Quit date will be December 26, when I leave work. Since I don't smoke at work, that will give me a 12 hour jump on it. Already have a hike scheduled that day also, and no longer hike and smoke. Will be using nicotine lozenges this time!

Unable to take Welbutrin, or Chantix, nicotine patches remove layers of skin, and dislike chewing gum, so hoping this will work.

Never smoke in the house, I've been stuck at 1pack/day for a while, and need to do something to help with the habitual/ritual smokes. With it being winter, that might help.

I need to be smoke free before March! Ok, I need to be smoke free as soon as possible, so any help/encouragement is appreciated, and welcome!

Congratulations on making this decision! Also going public is a good thing because it helps hold you accountable. Good luck and report in often. We are here for support!

Trying to keep it under 10 smokes a day is difficult!!!!!

Maybe should just start the process early, and make the QUIT my Christmas present to myself this year...it's only a few days away.

Yuck, I hate being irritable

If you went from a pack to under 10 a day, then yes, it would be difficult, as you are going through withdrawal. It does sound like a good plan, though. It makes sense to me that when you quit on the 26th your withdrawal won't be as bad if you didn't start cutting back early.

Hang in there!

Got out the nicotine lozenges today, so far so good! I haven't had a cigarette today, and only want one when I let the dogs out. Going to try this for the weekend, if I end up smoking over the weekend, can still quit on Monday morning without kicking myself for failing.

Last smoke was at 11pm yesterday, almost 24 hours....:twitch:

Ok this sucksss!!!!!
 

Root Beer Tasty Puff
 

I used an e-cigarette and found if you also get some Root Beer tasty puff it helps with the taste.. Just a few drops in the filter will make it taste better.

If you can handle the salt, Sunflower seeds are good to eat and it keeps your hands busy like smoking.

Toothpicks, hard candy, gum???????If you have some sage to burn--this calms my nerves. You are on your way. I so admire your strength.

Way to go!!

Hi all,

I have never been a tobacco smoker but have loved many who smoked. My sister smoked for 35 year, quit about 8 times and finally broke the habit after the second time she tried it with these herbs.

For those who don't know, tobacco is a stimulant and a depressant of the autonomic nervous system. It will increase you the fight/flight and relax with dopamine the pleasure part of your nervous system. So when you stop smoking, these neuronal receptors in the brain freak out (low dopamine) and you'll twitch like a tweaker yet you'll have less energy (less of a fight/flight response).

Nicotine is actually a neurotoxin in high doses. It's used industrially as an insecticide. When one smokes for many years, these nervous systems get used to not working as well and get too used to external pressure. These herbs are to help one get over that initial 2 to 4 week period when one quits.

Keep your smoking break habits up. Put the tincture is a bit of hot water and drink it like tea. Take the 5 minutes to stop, wool-gather, reflect, chit-chat or whatever you usually do while smoking. Just don't do it with another smoker until you get off the addiction and can be around smokers without wanting a cigarette.

Basic herbs for cessation
-mullien 15 drops, 3x a day
-licorice 5 drops, 1x a day
-Siberian ginseng, 12 drops, 1x a day
take before or at the usual time you have your first cigarette. The ginseng is a stimulant and will give you a little kick. You might want to take it a few times thru out the day when first quitting.

Liver detox (almost everyone should do this every year)
-burdock 12 drops 1x day
-milk thistle 12 drops 1x a day

Muscle relaxer (for the shakes and jitters)
-passion flower 12 drops 3x a day

Sugar cravings (they put sugar on the tobacco leaf which leads some to have sugar cravings when they quit tobacco)
-panax or American ginseng 10 cc vial a day (you can break up the timing to 2x or 3 x a day if that feels better)

Emotional cravings
-skullcap 3 to 5 drops a day (some find this a powerful herb. Listen to how your body responds to it)

Emotional/adrenal (energy) fatigue
-fresh oat head 5 to 10 drops 5x a day

Nicotine cravings
-lobelia 3 drops a day

Herbs are bitter and taste nasty, if an herb tastes good to you you probably should take it regularly if not monthly.

No one likes this cold infusion tea. Let me know if you like it

Fresh comprey and marshmellow root
-place a handful of herbs in a quart jar, cover with cold, fresh water and let sit over night. Strain and drink slowly through out the next day.

Shoot...haven't smoked for a year and a half but it sounds like some of these might do a body good anyway :) Thanks!!

Be careful with the patches. If you are already down to only 5-6 cigs a day, seems as though you would actually be increasing how much nicotine you are getting by using the patches (most patches give people one pack of cigs per day).

Good luck to you. Believe you can do it, and you will!

Cheaper than smokes, though! :winky:

day 6 slowing down.