Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Quitting smoking

ewehoo · 11-07-2008, 11:48 AM

Hi there,

Newbie here, but I wanted to offer some of my experience with Champix to this thread. Notice you're calling it Chantix... but it's the same med. Not sure why the different name.

Anyway, I was advised to look into this drug, so I searched it a bit and found another forum in England that had a thread several hundred pages long - people from all over the place were gathering there to share their experiences with this drug - the OP was actually one of the original 'test' subjects.

Anyway, I saw alot of different responses to the drug there, many successes and unfortunately, also many challenges. Some of those challenges were physical - as in poor reaction to the drug, but many more of those struggles appeared to be psychological rather than physical.

My SO started on Champix before I did. Almost 6 weeks before me. I watched him cut down, but never quite get all the way to quitting. I read about others on that forum I mentioned who seemed to take quite awhile to quit once they started the medication also. Some seemed to feel that the medication was less effective with the cravings over time.

So when I started, I had it in my head to quit as soon as possible - I was worried I might respond poorly to the medication, and that I might be one of those who couldn't quite get all the way to a total quit. After about 10 days on the medication, I was literally giddy with the realization that I was not having cravings. This still astounds me. So, by this time I had brought myself down to about 3 smokes a day with ridiculous ease. I started by eliminating the most troubling ones first. That was the first one in the morning with my coffee.... then after dinner... then in the car..... and somewhere in there I gave up going for a break at work, and then also gave up going outside at lunch for one. The cravings were absolutley nil - except for what games my head tried to play on me. Meanwhile, my SO was still puffing his 5 - 10 cigs a day, and I thought... it's now or never. I quit on day 10 with the Champix, and vowed never ever to take even a single puff again. I know that for me, one is never enough... and if I can rationalize that first puff, I'll rationalize myself back into a pack a day habit.

I cannot tell you how free I feel. Oct 13 was my last smoke, and I've not looked back. The decision seems to be what's the most important part of this process - at least for me. I say this because as soon as I started the second pack - the one after the starter pack - I was hit with some absolutely horrid side effects. I was so disappointed as up til then I'd sailed through the first couple weeks on the starter dose. I tried to cut the pills in half as I'd read some others doing, but it didn't work. The nausea was getting progressively worse. So, about 17 days or so into the Champix, I decided I'd have to quit the medication.

I was terrified it was going to be the end of my success. But no. Again, the decision to quit was stronger than any craving that hit. And I will admit, for the first week or so after I quit the Champix I did experience some minor cravings... but really - in the bigger picture they were so minor, so manageable that I can't really say I've had a serious temptation yet to smoke. I refuse to allow that thought to gather into a solid urge when it sneaks up on me.

Sorry this is so long winded, but I'm just so thrilled to have found something that helped me - I thought I would die a smoker. I'd like to encourage everyone to check out this med - if it can help me - even after only taking it for less than 3 weeks, I think it can help anyone.

I want to caution here though - this med has been linked to some very very serious side effects. Rages, depression, even suicide and suicide ideation have been documented. Please be very aware of all the side effects - do a search, get a product monograph from your pharmacist, and also - very important - discuss what other meds you are on with your pharmacist to make sure there isn't a negative interaction between Champix (Chantix ??) and whatever meds you're on.

Apart from that, I wish you all much success - and remember - conquer this bastard in your head first - be firm in your decision to overcome this - know that you mean it, and know that NOT succeeding is just not an option.

11-07-2008, 11:48 AM	#90 (permalink)
ewehoo Upright	Hi there, Newbie here, but I wanted to offer some of my experience with Champix to this thread. Notice you're calling it Chantix... but it's the same med. Not sure why the different name. Anyway, I was advised to look into this drug, so I searched it a bit and found another forum in England that had a thread several hundred pages long - people from all over the place were gathering there to share their experiences with this drug - the OP was actually one of the original 'test' subjects. Anyway, I saw alot of different responses to the drug there, many successes and unfortunately, also many challenges. Some of those challenges were physical - as in poor reaction to the drug, but many more of those struggles appeared to be psychological rather than physical. My SO started on Champix before I did. Almost 6 weeks before me. I watched him cut down, but never quite get all the way to quitting. I read about others on that forum I mentioned who seemed to take quite awhile to quit once they started the medication also. Some seemed to feel that the medication was less effective with the cravings over time. So when I started, I had it in my head to quit as soon as possible - I was worried I might respond poorly to the medication, and that I might be one of those who couldn't quite get all the way to a total quit. After about 10 days on the medication, I was literally giddy with the realization that I was not having cravings. This still astounds me. So, by this time I had brought myself down to about 3 smokes a day with ridiculous ease. I started by eliminating the most troubling ones first. That was the first one in the morning with my coffee.... then after dinner... then in the car..... and somewhere in there I gave up going for a break at work, and then also gave up going outside at lunch for one. The cravings were absolutley nil - except for what games my head tried to play on me. Meanwhile, my SO was still puffing his 5 - 10 cigs a day, and I thought... it's now or never. I quit on day 10 with the Champix, and vowed never ever to take even a single puff again. I know that for me, one is never enough... and if I can rationalize that first puff, I'll rationalize myself back into a pack a day habit. I cannot tell you how free I feel. Oct 13 was my last smoke, and I've not looked back. The decision seems to be what's the most important part of this process - at least for me. I say this because as soon as I started the second pack - the one after the starter pack - I was hit with some absolutely horrid side effects. I was so disappointed as up til then I'd sailed through the first couple weeks on the starter dose. I tried to cut the pills in half as I'd read some others doing, but it didn't work. The nausea was getting progressively worse. So, about 17 days or so into the Champix, I decided I'd have to quit the medication. I was terrified it was going to be the end of my success. But no. Again, the decision to quit was stronger than any craving that hit. And I will admit, for the first week or so after I quit the Champix I did experience some minor cravings... but really - in the bigger picture they were so minor, so manageable that I can't really say I've had a serious temptation yet to smoke. I refuse to allow that thought to gather into a solid urge when it sneaks up on me. Sorry this is so long winded, but I'm just so thrilled to have found something that helped me - I thought I would die a smoker. I'd like to encourage everyone to check out this med - if it can help me - even after only taking it for less than 3 weeks, I think it can help anyone. I want to caution here though - this med has been linked to some very very serious side effects. Rages, depression, even suicide and suicide ideation have been documented. Please be very aware of all the side effects - do a search, get a product monograph from your pharmacist, and also - very important - discuss what other meds you are on with your pharmacist to make sure there isn't a negative interaction between Champix (Chantix ??) and whatever meds you're on. Apart from that, I wish you all much success - and remember - conquer this bastard in your head first - be firm in your decision to overcome this - know that you mean it, and know that NOT succeeding is just not an option.