Anyone Else Using Chantix to Quit Smoking?

[tiki23]

Good Work to those of you celebrating your quit anniversary!

I have a Dr. appt Monday, and am going to be asking for a Chantix prescription. I want to set my quit date as October 22nd.

It's scary though. I haven't be a non-smoker in a long time; the last time I tried to quit was 2002! I haven't told my family yet, I know they'll be pleased but I can't deal with the pressure going in - I have to do this for myself.

I keep wondering what I'm going to do with my time instead of smoking. I'm making lists of alternative activities for my normal smoking times: license plate bingo while I'm driving, crossword puzzles instead of reading at night, doing my nails more often, a quick walk after meals, deep breathing exercises, drinking a glass of water etc. I know I need to break those associations of time and place as well as the physical addiction.

I hope I'll be joining you in celebrating an anniversary soon!

 

[need_a_Disney_fix]

My DH has been smoke-free for months now because of Chantix. I urge anyone to try it. Its a miracle!

 

[tiki23]

I'm just starting on the "new me" but using Chantix has made this a much smoother experience than my previous attempts at quitting.

I think Chantix really is a miracle.

Now I just need to Keep The Quit.

 

[lynxstch]

he is on week 6 of Chantix..and totally quit the cigarettes 1 1/2 weeks ago..he still tells me once a day that he wants a cigarette, and he's snacking a little more than usual..but he is still hanging in there..it's so nice to be able to go out for a drive and not have to worry about 'if' he has enough cigarettes with him, for the first time since we were married (7 years last month) we went to dinner and didn't have to ask to be seated in the smoking section..and he's coughing a LOT less than he used to
I credit Chantix and willpower..he went for a check up this am and the Dr prescribed one more month of Chantix just as a backup..
Congratulations to all of those who have quit and are sticking with it, and to those either just starting or thinking of starting..that's the first step
GOOD LUCK!

 

[tiki23]

Day 7!

 

[TigerKat]

Day 15 smoke free!! I didn't think anything would work for me post Katrina, but this has!!!!!!!

 

[lynxstch]

Hubby is on day 19 smoke free..down side..he's gained 4 lbs eating junk food since then..lol..hoping it will level out as the days go by
KEEP GOING ALL YOU FORMER SMOKERS!

 

[louey]

A Huge Congrats to everyone who has made the decision to finally quit!!! It will be 8 years for me this November, I can't believe it. It was the hardest thing I ever had to do and I totally sympathize with anyone quitting or trying. I used the patch as there was no Chantix, but I am so glad they found something to make this a little easier for people quitting smoking. I still sometimes like the smell of them and secretly wish I could have one now and again but know that I can't because I don't ever want to have to go through that again! Best of Luck to anyone quitting and Congrats to those who have quit already

 

[TigerKat]

Hubby is on day 19 smoke free..down side..he's gained 4 lbs eating junk food since then..lol..hoping it will level out as the days go by
KEEP GOING ALL YOU FORMER SMOKERS!

Thanks my friend!! I've been snacking on pretzels, but haven't gained a pound, which is a very good thing since I'm sure I'll gain a bit during my upcoming Disney vacation!

 

[PlutoLuvr]

How's everyone doing? I haven't checked in for a while. Still quit, as is my hubby and my mother. Haven't had a puff since May 22 and am still completely amazed at how much easier it was with Chantix than any other quit attempt.

My hubby caught his first cold since he quit. He came home Friday sick, sneezing, runny/watery eyes, sore ... just ookie feeling. He's already on the mends in only three days! And he never even felt the need to take any OTC meds over the weekend, either. He felt good on just hot liquids and taking it easy.

For those of you who smoke or ever have smoked heavily, you can understand our shock and surprise!!! Colds for smokers suck. They last forever, usually end up as some sort of respiratory infection and a doctor's visit, lots of trips to the drugstore for OTC relief. He woke up this morning feeling like this cold will be over in the next day or two and his jaw dropped to the floor.

So we're pretty happy about that

We're also now seeing huge savings in our bank account from not smoking. You think you just save the money from cigs when you quit. Not so. We don't spend nearly what we did on household cleaning products. We don't spend nearly as much time cleaning house as we did as smokers. Our cars are cleaner and we see a big savings on money and time spent cleaning the cars. Breath fresheners, mints, gums, perfumes, body sprays -- we were spending a small fortune as smokers on this crap. Sure, I still use all of these things, but not multiple times a day. A squirt of perfume lasts me all day -- I don't need to buy the watered down body spray to spray on myself after every smoke. Same with mints and gum. A mint or piece of gum is nice after a meal or if I get a craving, but I'm finished with that awful cycle of smoke, mint, smoke, mint, smoke, mint.

Of course, there's smoking related illness, too. I had a horrible smoker's cough, so bad I had to carry cough drops with me when I worked in court and couldn't be disruptive with my cough. DH's cold is a perfect example. We'd have spent a good $50 on cold supplies for him. Tea and Mom's chicken soup did the trick as nonsmokers.

Seriously, every time I look at my bank account online, I think I must have forgotten to pay a bill.

So that's where we are. I'm curious how others are doing that chimed in on this thread or if there are any newbies ready to take the plunge.

 

[TigerKat]

I'm almost at my ONE MONTH mark!!!!!

I forgot to take my evening dose yesterday and was just thinking maybe I'll try and start my wean, BUT I leave for WDW in less than two weeks and I don't want anything to screw that up, so I'll continue on my full dose until after vacation!!

 

[tiki23]

Woo-hoo, Tigerkat!!

One month is awesome.

I'm at 3 weeks quit.

PlutoLuvr; you are almost at 6 months quit - CONGRATS!

I'm still a newbie to this quitting business but there are so many freedoms that come from giving up the cigs. I never want to go back to that viscious cycle.

 

[PlutoLuvr]

Kat, way to go on your quit!!!!! That is just way too cool

Isn't amazing how quickly the time flies by? It seems like yesterday you were just taking the first step.

So do you regret quitting with Chantix, or are you happy you took it? Would you recommend this way of quitting?

FWIW, I think you're making a good move by waiting to start your wean until you come back from WDW. I did notice just a bit of anxiety/irritability each time I lowered my dose during my wean. Nothing to really write home about, but enough to notice. It lasted a few days each time I'd reduce a half-milligram. On one hand, I can definitely see why you wouldn't want to chance those feelings at WDW. But I could also see where being at WDW would be ideal to take your mind off any issues you might have coming off. Heck, I've had a good time at WDW with the flu, you know? I guess depending on your response to the med and your quit, either decision would work.

When I started forgetting my dose is when I started looking forward to coming off and seeing how I'd do without those training wheels.

I'm so happy for you!!!!

 

[PlutoLuvr]

Tiki, I love reading your progression, starting back a page with I'm interested in this, to I'm seeing the doctor today, to I'm doing it, to I'M REALLY DOING IT, lol!!!

I'm so happy this has worked for you. I couldn't take Wellbutrin, either. Freaked me all out after one dose. The patches, gums and lozenges just seemed to perpetuate my addiction to nicotine. I would become very depressed whenever I'd try to quit with NRT.

And CONGRATS on 21 days!!! That is no small feat at all. The nicotine is absolutely out of your system by now and you've obviously found that Chantix is working for you. That is awesome!!!

You are just going to so enjoy your December trip without having to be a slave to the DSAs. I was amazed at how time I wasted at the DSAs.

Many congrats to you!!!

 

[TigerKat]

Woo-hoo, Tigerkat!!

One month is awesome.

I'm at 3 weeks quit.

PlutoLuvr; you are almost at 6 months quit - CONGRATS!

I'm still a newbie to this quitting business but there are so many freedoms that come from giving up the cigs. I never want to go back to that viscious cycle.

You're right behind me! I am so looking forward to going to WDW as a non-smoker.

So do you regret quitting with Chantix, or are you happy you took it? Would you recommend this way of quitting?

I would recommend Chantix in a heartbeat, it's a miracle!!!!

 

[WDWBarb]

It's been 4 months for me and I'm hangin' in there. My DH and I quit at the same time and we're both smoke free today!! He was a 2-pack-per-day smoker for more than 20 years I never had any hope that he'd be able to quit. But he has.

A lady who works on another team in my department got the news that her sister had finally lost her long battle against lung cancer this morning. She was young, in her early fifties. My coworker sent me an email that simply said, "thank you" in the subject line. I assumed she was going to thank me for showing her support when she got the news. Instead she thanked me for quitting smoking. She said that her husband, daughter and her other sister all watched her sister suffer from this terrible disease but they never put the cigarettes down. She said it was good to see someone around her who actually made the choice and succeeded in giving up something so obviously bad for them. Her email pointed out that while the cancer took her sister's life it also caused tremendous pain to those who loved her. She took solace that quitting was possible and that my quitting reassured her as much.

If I ever needed any more assurance that quitting was the right thing - right there it was.

So hang in there everyone - this will be worth it.

 

[TigerKat]

A lady who works on another team in my department got the news that her sister had finally lost her long battle against lung cancer this morning. She was young, in her early fifties. My coworker sent me an email that simply said, "thank you" in the subject line. I assumed she was going to thank me for showing her support when she got the news. Instead she thanked me for quitting smoking. She said that her husband, daughter and her other sister all watched her sister suffer from this terrible disease but they never put the cigarettes down. She said it was good to see someone around her who actually made the choice and succeeded in giving up something so obviously bad for them. Her email pointed out that while the cancer took her sister's life it also caused tremendous pain to those who loved her. She took solace that quitting was possible and that my quitting reassured her as much.

If I ever needed any more assurance that quitting was the right thing - right there it was.

So hang in there everyone - this will be worth it.

That was a very powerful story, thanks for sharing it. I'm going to print it out.

 

[phamton]

OK, I'm feeling like a hypochodriac. I hadn't read this thread and knew nothing of any side effects. My doctor just said it might make for vivid dreams and that was all.

I took my first pill today at 10:00 AM. By 4:00 PM, my neck, shoulders, and biceps were aching and then diarrrhea hit. I thought it was really strange as most dopamine or mood stabilyzers-type medication takes several days to build up in the system. Could this possibly have anything to do with the medication? (Even if it is, I'm still going to take it.)

 

[preb]

Phamton,
I think you might have a flu type bug. I quit on 8/8 and took the full 12 weeks and never had any aches like you're describing. I don't think it's Chantix related, but you might want to check with your doctor. Chantix was a wonder drug for me and with it I quit a 25 year two pack a day habit. Give it a chance!

 

[phamton]

I don't have a sore throat, fever, headache or anything else. I'm still going to keep taking the Chantix. It may just be a coincidence or maybe some kind of virus. I'm seldom sick though. Hopefully tommorrow will be better.