Quote:
Originally Posted by meems
Hi all, I've been googling around looking for information on chantix..from real users, not from the drug companies, I have to say I'm terribly impressed by what I've read as far as success rate goes! Anyway..that search is what led me here..I have an appt. to get a script for Chantix on Tues., currently I am using an inhaler & have cut back from 1- 1 1/2 packs to half a pack. 29 years hooked, I hope I can join the ranks of non smokers pretty soon!
|
I smoked about 10 years, but loved my cigarettes immensely. I got a prescription for Chantix and it worked pretty well. Still smoke free about 5 months now.
Random notes on the pill...
I've talked with several friends in real life, and heard about friends of friends who have all had good luck with it. Lots of peoples reaction to it seemed to be stronger, in that they would not only not crave smokes, but actually be repulsed by them... I can't say that happened with me, but it did make it so that cravings werent so overwhelming, and were easily resisted.
The pills really arent very expensive if they end up working for you.. my price (no insurance at the time) was about $150 for a monthly dose... I easily would have spent that on cigarettes. Now that I don't smoke I have an extra $120-150 dollars in my pocket every month... amazing how much cigarettes add up.
My dock gave me instructions to pick a day to quit smoking.. then start taking the pills seven days before hand... then to try and stop cold turkey on the date that I set. She said most of her patients don't even make it that long. Being the stubborn person I am, I made it seven days, and was doing good on the eighth till I went out drinking.. and smoked like a chimney. After that though, I just didnt smoke, and havent since and it really felt pretty easy.
I stopped taking Chantix after two months, instead of the typical 3 month regimen and have been ok. The side effects of the pill arent that pleasant, hence my enthusiasm to stop early, but weren't show stoppers. Upset stomach, sick feeling always a little while after you take the pills. They also give you a head rush of sorts for a while, sort of similar to what a cigarette can do if you haven't smoked for a long time... relaxed you sort of like a cigarette does. That definitely helped in the beginning.
For some reason now I am starting to get the urge a little sometimes, but it is always pretty easily dispelled.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
-----Added 3/10/2008 at 12 : 25 : 25-----
Quote:
Originally Posted by mixedsubstance
It is SOOOOOO good to hear that it is working for all of you. I just got mine today (thankfully my insurance covered 1/2) and took the first pill just a bit ago. Only thing is within 2 minutes of taking it (following directions of full meal and full glass of water), I felt slightly dizzy and short of breath, with that little ball in my throat- almost nautious feeling. Nothing major, but my boyfriend (medical guru) was here to check my pulse and look up side effects, which the pharmacist did tell me there may be dizziness with it. But I paged the on-call doctor just in case. Hopefully I will be able to get over this and keep taking it cuz I want to quit so badly! It's just weird that I felt that way so soon after taking the pill. Anyone else have that happen?
|
The head rush, and kind of mellowed out dizzy feeling went away for me (much to my dismay actually
) after a few doses. Then it came back in the second week, once the pills mg dosage increased. It happened for a longer period of time on the higher doses but eventually went away as well. It seemed to me that alcohol would accentuate it a little bit.
The nausea didn't go away... I had to make extra time in my daily routine to deal with it. It came back for me after every pill, for about 20-30 minutes... whether I ate or not.