Anyone Else Using Chantix to Quit Smoking?

[tiki23]

My 3 months smoke-free anniversary is tomorrow!

Group support has been very important for me; I think it made the difference. I found a nosmo board with wonderful people.

nana2tots - I hope things are looking better for your family!

 

[auntie]

Excellent post, C. Ann! I did great on Chantix, as did my mom and best friend, but my hubby did not. And he knew almost immediately the med was not right for him. He's not sensitive to meds, has no history of depression or takes anything other than a daily vitamin, and he had a very, very bad reaction to Chantix. He only stayed on the med two weeks. He got that rage/anger/thoughts of hurting others and himself with it. This was back in May -- not since it's been on the news.

It is so important that people really listen to their bodies on this med! It just hasn't been here in the US for very long, and most doctors and pharmacists are clueless about important signs of side effects to look for. I think most folks can tolerate some mild nausea or constipation for a couple months if it means they'll quit smoking, but some do get really severe side effects on the med. And sometimes these effects appear after stopping the med. A lot of folks have had to wean off the med instead of stopping it cold turkey.

Knowledge is power!

My son had the same reaction. He is 27 and had been smoking on and off since high school He is also in a police car with a partner who smokes..it was getting bad. He tried the Chantix..he had an awful reaction. Always angry and agitated..not a good thing to be in his profession. He knew right away it was the medication. It was like looking at a stranger..this is VERY unlike him. He's back on the patch. This has actually worked for him before, but usually if he goes to a wedding or an event where he has a couple of drinks and people are smoking..that's when he would go back to it. He has quit for periods of 6 months or longer. His Dr. told him to go back to the patch..if it worked once it will work again for him That technically if he wasn't smoking for 6 months..he was a non-smoker and simply "chose" to smoke again. I think he's right.

 

[Mickey'sMainMami]

Anyone coughing up a lot of phlegm, or seem to have a dry throat from using this? My husband was diagnosed with pneumonia back in December, went thru the steroids, antibiotics, etc, feeling a lot better now, stopped smoking with Chantix, and has been smoke free for a month, feels really good all day, but wakes up in the middle of the night with dry throat, coughing up some phlegm, then again in the morning when he wakes up. I don't think he is drinking enough water with this or even when he had pneumonia, just wondering if anyone else is experiencing this. Thanks.

 

[nana2tots]

I did Chantix last year, i was smoke free for 4 months, Daughter's tumor came back, so did the smoking. I didn't try again, until i had surgery Jan. 14th, 2008 i ask God to get me through surgery (God knows i didn't know i was going to have to have 3 surgeries in one day) and i would never smoke again, been 17 days COLD TURKEY, I do have quite a few packs of Chantix though.
So Good-Luck on anyone trying to quit, it is a Horrible Drug, and for those whom have never Smoked, Please don't down the people that do, because back in the 60's and 70's, we did not have the Knowledge that the young people have now, so they have no excuse to start.

 

[nana2tots]

Thank you so very much for asking, Had a very bad day Tues. , but better 2-day. Thanks again
Nana

 

[tiki23]

I've been Quit:

Four months, two days, 14 hours, 36 minutes and 56 seconds. 5674 cigarettes not smoked, saving $1,206.31. Life saved: 2 weeks, 5 days, 16 hours, 50 minutes.

I hope you are all doing well!

 

[phamton]

3 months for me!

 

[nana2tots]

Will be 2 months March 13th, cold turkey!!!!!!

 

[tiki23]

We are awesome Quitters!

In 2007 I learned to be a quitter - in 2008 I'm learning to be a "loser" by getting in shape and dropping some weight.

 

[brighteyes]

Thanks to the Dissers on here, I started Champix (in Canada) and have been on it for two weeks. Tomorrow will be my 6th day smoke free.



It is awesome, I am telling everyone about it.

Stephanie

 

[WDWBarb]

6.5 months here and holding... I still have bad days but I have not touched a cigarette since last July! I had my issues with Chantix BUT - I have not smoked.

Not even a little

 

[vellamint]

Well I quit with Chantix twice ... the first time I felt so stinking good...like I was walking on clouds....I cant remember feeling so happy for no reason at all.......but then I refilled the prescription at $130 for a month.......then I thought I was doing so well that I didnt need to spend the money again......and fell off the band wagon. (oh and I had Fantastic dreams)

I quit again on New Years with Chantix......really tried to do it right...remember the pills...twice a day....after a few weeks I was really angry, very angry - so I dropped down to one pill a day.......and slowly stopped taking them because it was making me and mine miserable......(no memorable dreams this time)

I had one cigarette when I was away last week and I dont know why I did that - and it was a menthol no less - dont like menthol but was sitting at HOB with some friends having a drink...you know the story. But other than that I am pretty good..........

I wonder why it seemed to make me so happy the first time and so angry the second time......I was kind of looking forward the elatedness (is that a word? lol) the second time.

I hope I can hang in there......it certainly did help me get to this point but now I am on my own.

 

[luvsJack]

Hi All! I haven't had a cigarette since Jan. 1! I started taking Chantix a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving. Set my quit date, and started trying. I would go 2-3 days without one, then my dh would come home (he drives a truck and he smokes) and I would slip up. He really tried not to smoke around me, but it wasn't like I didn't know he had them! This continued until Christmas, when we were both off from work for a couple of weeks. I smoked a lot during that two weeks, (not as much as before but more than I thought I should) but continued taking the Chantix. The on 1/1/08 he left out and I smoked one that morning and haven't had one since. I can't explain it, but all of a sudden it was like the real "want" for them went away. I finished out that week on Chantix and then didn't get it refilled. At first it was going great, then it got hard. I started having moments of craving and times of being really anxious, but so far so good--I haven't lit up. This is the HARDEST thing I have ever done!!

 

[tiki23]

brighteyes - 6 days! Woo-hoo! HUGE pats on the back for you.

luvsJack - Getting close to two months for you - fantastic!

Congrats WDWBarb!

vellamint - Hang in there! You CAN do this; yes - you CAN. Make a plan for what you'll do next time those triggers come and the going gets tough. Make a list of the reasons that you've quit and read them when you get the craves. Breathe deeply of fresh, clean air and think about all of the GREAT things that being a non-smokers brings.

During the first couple months of my quit I read a lot at whyquit.com - it really helped me.

I also took walks, ate carrot sticks, bit the heads off of gummy bears, chewed on toothpicks and straws and ate jelly bellies.

 

[Disney Doll]

A colleague is taking Chantix and says it just takes away the desire/urge to smoke.

 

[beagle744]

Hi All! I haven't had a cigarette since Jan. 1! I started taking Chantix a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving. Set my quit date, and started trying. I would go 2-3 days without one, then my dh would come home (he drives a truck and he smokes) and I would slip up. He really tried not to smoke around me, but it wasn't like I didn't know he had them! This continued until Christmas, when we were both off from work for a couple of weeks. I smoked a lot during that two weeks, (not as much as before but more than I thought I should) but continued taking the Chantix. The on 1/1/08 he left out and I smoked one that morning and haven't had one since. I can't explain it, but all of a sudden it was like the real "want" for them went away. I finished out that week on Chantix and then didn't get it refilled. At first it was going great, then it got hard. I started having moments of craving and times of being really anxious, but so far so good--I haven't lit up. This is the HARDEST thing I have ever done!!

Another Jan 1 quitter here. The part I bolded is what happened to me. I just didn't want to smoke anymore after 30 years. I'm doing it cold turkey. The physical withdrawal was really hard the first few days. But even with all that I still didn't want to smoke.

Congratulations to everyone who has quit. Keep up the good work.

 

[luvsJack]

Does anyone else get that really anxious feeling? I don't get it every day and it doesn't last long, but sometimes I feel myself get sooo anxious or nervous and I'll think "I want a cigarette", but thankfully it goes away really quick. I just wondered if anyone had a "secret" for dealing with it.

 

[brighteyes]

Does anyone else get that really anxious feeling? I don't get it every day and it doesn't last long, but sometimes I feel myself get sooo anxious or nervous and I'll think "I want a cigarette", but thankfully it goes away really quick. I just wondered if anyone had a "secret" for dealing with it.

Yes I am still getting them, just started my second week yesterday. I usually grab a handful of gummy bears or chug a bottle of water and it goes away. I just want one puff but wont because then I will have to work hard all over.

My first few days on the meds before I quit the second my eyes were open I was thinking cigarette which is odd b/c i usually don't have one till ive been up at least an hour or so.

I just ignore it and it will go away.

Stephanie

 

[luvsJack]

After reading your post, I remembered someone telling me to drink water with a straw when I wanted a cigeratte. Thanks!! for reminding me. I will start doing that. I just hate that anxious feeling and I know I make everyone around me nervous when I'm feeling that way.

I know exactly what you mean about thinking of a smoke as soon as you open your eyes, I was doing that too. It was like I had to remind myself that I had quit. It really is getting easier, though!

 

[supermom17]

I have read many of the threads and all seem positive and successful for those who have taken Chantix. I just failed AGAIN after 8 weeks trying cold turkey to quit smoking, so my doctor prescribed Chantix. I have to be honest I am terrified about taking this medicine and I have been delaying it. I restarted smoking due to depression and mood swings, that although temporary I began to get really guilty that my husband and son were suffering the backlash. It always seems to get worse after the 6 week period. Any way as you can imagine I am now even more depressed at failing again. I was wondering how bad these dreams Chantix causes are, and are they controllable. I avoid medication at all costs if I can more due to past history and to be honest my fears of the side effects of Chantix are my biggest fear more so then the medication not working for me. I so want to quit, my husband did 6 years ago, my age and my son are my biggest reasons. If anyone can advise me or just reassure me so I can somehow out way my very real fears I would be more then thankful.