Anyone Else Using Chantix to Quit Smoking?

[PlutoLuvr]

Brandy, awesome tips! Thanks so much for your insight

I must say, tho, as a 20+ year addict, the first 72 hours were not the hardest. Yeah, I sweat a little more than usual, slept a little more, had the shakes and migraines, but the real battle is -- and always will be -- the psychological addiction and habit. I -- and many others just like me -- are one puff away from full-blown addiction. The first 72 hours quit remind me of my honeymoon. When you come home, the real work starts.

And with the insurance companies paying, it all depends on what plan you have. I had a national group PPO with BC/BS, and they paid for Chantix; I now have a small group HMO with BC/BS, and they do not pay. I was applying for an individual policy and had been approved for a temporary individual PPO with BC/BS, and it was covered at that time. All BC/BS, but depending on the plan, sometimes they paid; sometimes they didn't.

It's mind-boggling that insurance will pay for bronchitis, COPD -- heck, even lung cancer treatment, but so many plans won't pay for prescription smoking cessation aids.

My starter pack and first refill were covered by insurance. My third and final pack was not.

Good luck again to everyone who's in their quit!!!!

 

[Wish Upon A Star]

My sis is going to start Chantix at the end of this month. I quit cold turkey on Sunday, July 8th, and so far, so good. I was a 20 year smoker (started at19) and lately have had some breathing issues directly related to smoking (even though I smoked less than 1 pack per day), I started to become asthmatic and had to use an inhaler all because I wanted to smoke. My worst side effects so far are dizziness and fatigue. I was only dizzy once but OMG I never want to feel like that again! I have not used the inhaler since Monday, so already my lungs are getting some clean air!

Smoking for me was easier to give up since I never smoked in my car or house, always was an outside smoker. I have just had to change my habits a bit and I'm ok with it. Yes, I do think of smoking at least a zillion times a day, but I remind myself of my difficulty to breathe and then I snap back out of it . . . I also am keeping a coffee can and putting my cig money in it . . it is a really nice incentive because at the end of the month I'm going shopping!

 

[C.Ann]

bump

 

[WDWBarb]

\
It's mind-boggling that insurance will pay for bronchitis, COPD -- heck, even lung cancer treatment, but so many plans won't pay for prescription smoking cessation aids.

DH's insurance covered his; mine did not. I complained about this to my doctor and she said, "Do you have insurance on your car?" Well, of course. "Do they pay for your oil changes and your gas?" Gosh, no. "Then why would you expect your health insurance company to pay for your maintenance? Don't you get your oil changed anyway?"

I guess I saw her point.

So, I'm calling my car insurance company and telling them that they should pay for my oil changes and gas Ok, that's just wishful thinking!!

 

[disney kid at heart]

DH's insurance covered his; mine did not. I complained about this to my doctor and she said, "Do you have insurance on your car?" Well, of course. "Do they pay for your oil changes and your gas?" Gosh, no. "Then why would you expect your health insurance company to pay for your maintenance? Don't you get your oil changed anyway?"

I guess I saw her point.

So, I'm calling my car insurance company and telling them that they should pay for my oil changes and gas Ok, that's just wishful thinking!!

You should call Pfizer Pharmaceutical and ask them if they have a plan to help people get Chantix when insurance won't cover it. Alot of those companies will give assistance. And seriously, your Dr and all other Dr's have samples and get alot of perks for prescribing their meds. Very expensive lunches, tickets etc., so I think your Dr. should help you out with this problem. I think all Dr's should help their pts. but that I guess was the old school of medicine I really hope you can get this, it really is a miracle drug.

 

[WDWBarb]

You should call Pfizer Pharmaceutical and ask them if they have a plan to help people get Chantix when insurance won't cover it. Alot of those companies will give assistance. And seriously, your Dr and all other Dr's have samples and get alot of perks for prescribing their meds. Very expensive lunches, tickets etc., so I think your Dr. should help you out with this problem. I think all Dr's should help their pts. but that I guess was the old school of medicine I really hope you can get this, it really is a miracle drug.

Actually, I did go ahead and get it (for $120!!). DH was quitting and I was terrified that I would be smoking when he wasn't (I want to be supportive of him qutting a 25 year habit!!). My "quit" day is Sunday.

I may not be responding to the drug as well as most. I still want to smoke and I don't feel much less inclined to do so. I get very nauseous when taking it (I've now tried it with a meal, 15 minutes after a meal, with lots of water, I've split the pill, etc.). Of course I also had morning sickness for 9 full months so I think that's just the "way I roll"

I reported on nightmares a few days ago. The dreams are still vivid and some are good and some are bad. Some are really, really bad and I feel shaken for hours afterward. I slept better last night but probably only because I was so tired. The "dream" effect is one that I find interesting (if inconvenient). The moment I start to drift into sleep they start.

Both my boss and my DH are now on Chantix and we all quit Saturday. Neither of them have nausea or nightmares and are both feeling like a cigarette is simply less satisfying. So it's really working for them!

If we all stick together I'm SURE we can do this. They both have smoked longer more than I so I'm certain that if they beat it, I will too!!

 

[gris gris]

Another thing to know- my doc rx's chantix for 6 months. The only negative she has heard from this med is that people stop taking it too early. thats why she rx's 6 months, instead of the 3.
Brandy

Congrats to everyone on their quits!! I used Chantix and quit on 4/1/07 but stopped taking my meds after the 1st month and started smoking again on 5/30/07. I plan to start the meds up again at the beginnig of August. We're going away to a race and I don't want to fall into the trap again, so I figure I should just quit after that. I've been smoking for 17 years and rarely smoke more than 8 per day. I have quit 5 times - twice when pregnant. For this reason, my doctor didn't want to prescribe me Chantix because she told me I had the willpower to quit if I did it cold turkey twice. But that was because I had a baby inside me. Then she says, but now you have 2 of them outside of you. My DH smokes and he won't quit, so it makes it a little harder for me. I also quit 2 times using Wellbutrin but again didn't keep up with the prescription.

Smoking for me was easier to give up since I never smoked in my car or house, always was an outside smoker.

Same here - also I never smoke around my kids or family (yup, a closet smoker), so I don't really have a lot of habits that I need to change, other than maybe the morning coffee.

Question for anyone - I still have my prescription (only filled month 1), do you think when I start to take the med again I can just get my refill or do I really need that starter pack again?

 

[gris gris]

Another thing I keep "just in case" is a thing I saw on youtube. It's a 30-something-year-old son whose mother was diagnosed with lung cancer in her early 50s. The son made a 10-minute video of portions of the time she was diagnosed until she finally passed (which was only a matter of months). She asked him to do this to hopefully scare kids from smoking.

Is there any chance you have a link for this? I am one of those who loves to smoke but I'm terrified that I'm going to die young because of this and leave my kids, all for something so stupid and preventable. Then I think, I know I should quit, but I've already damaged myself, what difference does it make?". What a horrible way to view this addiction. A video like this will definintely wake me up.

 

[PlutoLuvr]

Is there any chance you have a link for this? I am one of those who loves to smoke but I'm terrified that I'm going to die young because of this and leave my kids, all for something so stupid and preventable. Then I think, I know I should quit, but I've already damaged myself, what difference does it make?". What a horrible way to view this addiction. A video like this will definintely wake me up.

Here's the link. It's one of the saddest things I've ever seen. Keep your tissues handy. I call this video the "heavy artillery," for when I'm having a very strong urge. I've only needed to watch it twice in almost two months smoke-free. I know the son who made the video did it to keep kids from smoking, but he's helping a lot of us with our quits.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=u_8BerrJg0M

And YOU need to stop making excuses. I loved smoking, too. I really did, right up until my last puff. I told myself week after week, year after year, "Oh, heck, I've already done the damage. Why quit now?" Every smoker says that, sweetie. That nicotine really has/had us hooked, eh?

Here's another link that might help you see that the damage probably isn't done yet. It shows how your body reacts within minutes of quitting, hours, days, months, and, yes, years.

http://whyquit.com/whyquit/A_Benefits_Time_Table.html

That whyquit site is pretty cool. They seem to discourage any quit methods other than cold turkey, but there's still some extremely valuable info there.

Just think of the extra vacations you can enjoy with the kids with all the money you'd save! We're able to afford TWO extra trips to WDW because of our quits

The water's fine on the other side! And I'm about as skeptical as they come

 

[PlutoLuvr]

DH's insurance covered his; mine did not. I complained about this to my doctor and she said, "Do you have insurance on your car?" Well, of course. "Do they pay for your oil changes and your gas?" Gosh, no. "Then why would you expect your health insurance company to pay for your maintenance? Don't you get your oil changed anyway?"

I guess I saw her point.

So, I'm calling my car insurance company and telling them that they should pay for my oil changes and gas Ok, that's just wishful thinking!!

Oh, that's too funny! I guess I see her point, too, in a way. But what if you buy one of those "preventative insurance plans" from the dealership, third party or insurance company for your car? Shouldn't all your stuff be taken care of?

Even then, you've got to read through that fine print, because they'll avoid paying for anything they can.

Actually, I did go ahead and get it (for $120!!). DH was quitting and I was terrified that I would be smoking when he wasn't (I want to be supportive of him qutting a 25 year habit!!). My "quit" day is Sunday.

I may not be responding to the drug as well as most. I still want to smoke and I don't feel much less inclined to do so. I get very nauseous when taking it (I've now tried it with a meal, 15 minutes after a meal, with lots of water, I've split the pill, etc.). Of course I also had morning sickness for 9 full months so I think that's just the "way I roll"

I reported on nightmares a few days ago. The dreams are still vivid and some are good and some are bad. Some are really, really bad and I feel shaken for hours afterward. I slept better last night but probably only because I was so tired. The "dream" effect is one that I find interesting (if inconvenient). The moment I start to drift into sleep they start.

Both my boss and my DH are now on Chantix and we all quit Saturday. Neither of them have nausea or nightmares and are both feeling like a cigarette is simply less satisfying. So it's really working for them!

If we all stick together I'm SURE we can do this. They both have smoked longer more than I so I'm certain that if they beat it, I will too!!

You bet we can do this, WDWBarb. I hope once you put the smokes down, the side effects lessen for you. I've read that a lot of folks find the nausea lessens once you're past your quit date. You might also find the dreams improve once you move to the next step and quit the smokes. My worst "turmoil," if you will, was during the weeks I was smoking and taking the med. Unlike every other attempt in the past, putting the smokes down for good actually helped my spirit and mind get to some kind of normalcy. I felt extremely anxious and despaired in the weeks taking the med and smoking (interesting that those are the "typical" side effects of quitting -- I was having those feelings the strongest while I was still smoking!).

Best of luck to you and please keep us posted!!!!

Congrats to everyone on their quits!! I used Chantix and quit on 4/1/07 but stopped taking my meds after the 1st month and started smoking again on 5/30/07. I plan to start the meds up again at the beginnig of August. We're going away to a race and I don't want to fall into the trap again, so I figure I should just quit after that. I've been smoking for 17 years and rarely smoke more than 8 per day. I have quit 5 times - twice when pregnant. For this reason, my doctor didn't want to prescribe me Chantix because she told me I had the willpower to quit if I did it cold turkey twice. But that was because I had a baby inside me. Then she says, but now you have 2 of them outside of you. My DH smokes and he won't quit, so it makes it a little harder for me. I also quit 2 times using Wellbutrin but again didn't keep up with the prescription.


Question for anyone - I still have my prescription (only filled month 1), do you think when I start to take the med again I can just get my refill or do I really need that starter pack again?

I would not just start out taking the full dosage. Each pill in the non-starter pack is one milligram. The starter pack -- for week 1, anyway -- would have you taking a half milligram in the morning only for three days. On your fourth day, you would add another half milligram with your evening meal. Then on the eighth day, you would introduce a full milligram at breakfast and another full milligram at dinner. For that first week, you could cut the pills you have with a scissors or pill cutter.

Once you're finished with that first week, the dosing remains the same throughout treatment at two milligrams per day -- although, I did a similar wean when I went off Chantix. Pfizer isn't recommending this one way or the other, but my doctor and pharmacist said to wean off as some are having real trouble just stopping Chantix cold turkey.

Check with your doctor, of course, on what he or she recommends for dosages. But since it's been a while since you've taken it, I would reintroduce it slowly back into your system, just as the starter pack week 1 would have. Figure it's changing your brain's chemistry, you know?

FWIW, I know several people whose doctors did not script the rx in the boxes. They were given prescriptions for a bottle of Chantix in half milligram pills with the same instructions that's found on the package inserts.

Best of luck in your quit!!!!

 

[C.Ann]

The "bumper" here..

 

[C.Ann]

Another bump..

 

[Todd&Copper]

I so wish my MIL would try this. I am finally on better term with her, and actually enjoy spending time with her when she visits, but she smokes about 1 1/2 packs a day and she has so many other ailments, too. She has Chrons, wheat allergy, lactose intolerance, gluten allergy, chronic despression and maybe some other stuff, but the smoking is so bad for the Chrons especially. I'd love to visit DH's parents once and not leave the house smelling like a stale ashtray.

 

[WDWBarb]

Day 12!!

I've told you all before about the nightmares. I get 'em and I get a lot of them. I also suffer from nausea for about 2 hours after taking the pills. On day 9 I was beside myself with what I can best describe as a bad, bad case of the grumpies!!! If there is a side effect I seem to suffer from it.

But - I DON'T WANT A CIGARETTE!

 

[tinkerdorabelle]

My mother just turned 75 on July 16 and has been smoking since she was 13 years old, stealing her father's Chesterfields, and has been smoke free for about 4 months now from using Chantix. She has been trying to stop for 30 years and nothing worked for her until this. She didn't mention to me any side effects except that she said she felt sick if she tried to smoke while on it.

 

[C.Ann]

Bump

 

[vellamint]

Well I went and filled the prescription even though my insurance doesnt cover it....kind of reminds me of years ago when insurance would not cover birth control pill but would cover pregnancy/abortion. Anyway...

I dont know if I should start right away or not. We are going on a cruise in a month and I would love not to smoke on it but wonder if the side effects will affect the vacation enough to wait to start until we come home. Plus I will probably need something for seasickness for a day or two so nausea may be a double problem for me (if I get the nausea.)

I have attempted to quit many, many times in the past and seem to do best (if you can call it "best" as I obviously still smoke) when I am at home, in my own surroundings. I find it easier to cave in when I am out somewhere, on vacation, having a drink, etc.....

What do you all think?

 

[Cool-Beans]

Subscribing.

I used the patch to quit and went cold turkey. Went and bought the box, came home and sat down, lit a cigarette and smoked while reading the pamphlet about the patch. Put the cigarette out and that was that.

Couple years later, I slipped and thought I could smoke just a little that night and was back up to 2 packs a day in 2 weeks. Patch again. Won't make that mistake again!!!

CONGRATS to all the quitters!

 

[WDWBarb]

I dont know if I should start right away or not. We are going on a cruise in a month and I would love not to smoke on it but wonder if the side effects will affect the vacation enough to wait to start until we come home. Plus I will probably need something for seasickness for a day or two so nausau may be a double problem for me (if I get the nausua.)

I have attempted to quit many, many times in the past and seem to do best (if you can call it "best" as I obviously still smoke) when I am at home, in my own surroundings. I find it easier to cave in when I am out somewhere, on vacation, having a drink, etc.....

What do you all think?

My *humble* opinion

I think you should start now. If you suffer from side effects then you should, at least, be "getting past them" in a month. For me they are lessening a bit every day. I'm also learning what I do that makes them worse - for example, I have MUCH worse nightmares when I fall asleep watching the news or Law & Order!! My brain must be absorbing what it hears and using it to terrify me (this is why I dream of terrorists, earthquakes and crack dens!!). So, from now on, I'm trying to fall asleep watching Pirates of the Carribean

I'm adjusting bit by bit to the nausea. Today I hardly had any at all. Other people at work who have used it always tell me that it does lessen over time. Just an FYI - EVERYONE at work who has taken Chantix according to the directions (i.e. they stuck with it!) has quit smoking. No looking back; they just quit.

If it were me I would MUCH prefer to be SMOKE FREE when I was on my cruise!! Think of that cigarette pack as a big old chain tied around your neck. You have to consider it and think about it where ever you go. We cruised in May and had to stay close to the designated smoking areas (not so much for me but for DH). I would rather enjoy the fresh ocean breeze without the tinge of nicotine.

But it's really up to you. Whatever you do I wish you tremendous success!! Just keep in mind that not everyone suffers from side effects (I'm one of 4 people at work that are quitting and the only one feeling anything other than the desire to quit smoking!). Take the pills 15 minutes after eating, take them with a FULL glass of water and you'll lessen any chance of feeling nausea!

 

[disney kid at heart]

My *humble* opinion

I think you should start now. If you suffer from side effects then you should, at least, be "getting past them" in a month. For me they are lessening a bit every day. I'm also learning what I do that makes them worse - for example, I have MUCH worse nightmares when I fall asleep watching the news or Law & Order!! My brain must be absorbing what it hears and using it to terrify me (this is why I dream of terrorists, earthquakes and crack dens!!). So, from now on, I'm trying to fall asleep watching Pirates of the Carribean

I'm adjusting bit by bit to the nausea. Today I hardly had any at all. Other people at work who have used it always tell me that it does lessen over time. Just an FYI - EVERYONE at work who has taken Chantix according to the directions (i.e. they stuck with it!) has quit smoking. No looking back; they just quit.

If it were me I would MUCH prefer to be SMOKE FREE when I was on my cruise!! Think of that cigarette pack as a big old chain tied around your neck. You have to consider it and think about it where ever you go. We cruised in May and had to stay close to the designated smoking areas (not so much for me but for DH). I would rather enjoy the fresh ocean breeze without the tinge of nicotine.

But it's really up to you. Whatever you do I wish you tremendous success!! Just keep in mind that not everyone suffers from side effects (I'm one of 4 people at work that are quitting and the only one feeling anything other than the desire to quit smoking!). Take the pills 15 minutes after eating, take them with a FULL glass of water and you'll lessen any chance of feeling nausea!

No wonder you were having horrible nightmares. I have to put Nickolodean on when I go to sleep, that way I dream in comedy mode. But seriously, I'm glad it is getting easier for you and the side effects are slowly going away. I'm so thankful so far(knock on wood) I haven't had any. Now I'm just worried I'll gain weight.