Quitting Smoking

Midnyte_Ragebringer · Post by **Midnyte_Ragebringer** » March 28, 2005, 11:24 am

I've been smoking a pack a day for the past 15 years. I have tried to quit numerous times, making it 3 months one time a couple years ago.

I have been taking Wellbutrin XL for the past three weeks and stopped smoking March 20th. I am certain I won't be going back anymore. I just wanted to say for those who want to quit, the Wellbutrin really helps a lot. I have tried patches, gum, lozenges, cold turkey.....none of them worked. But, this stuff really reduces the urges and when one does come it goes away quick.

Good luck.

Lohrno · Post by **Lohrno** » March 28, 2005, 11:25 am

Yeah, It's pretty good for that. Did you know it's an anti-depressant?

noel · Post by **noel** » March 28, 2005, 11:26 am

Good luck, Mid.

Lynnsie · Post by **Lynnsie** » March 28, 2005, 11:33 am

It's also supposed to help you lose weight.

Sabek · Post by **Sabek** » March 28, 2005, 11:40 am

It's also prescribed for Adult ADD treatment.

Mr Bacon · Post by **Mr Bacon** » March 28, 2005, 11:41 am

It also helps sweat shop workers stitch faster.

Sylvos · Post by **Sylvos** » March 28, 2005, 11:43 am

Midnyte you don't need to replace your chemical dependancy with another.
I quit cold turkey, it took 3 days for the Nicotine to get out of my system then the rest of it was all psychological. If you need something to keep your hands busy, chew sugar free gum or cut a straw the length of a cigarette and keep that in your hands or mouth.
Works like a charm.
You'll see be an irratable asshole and no one will like you for a few weeks, but I promise it'll be really really easy past the 2 week mark.

Lohrno · Post by **Lohrno** » March 28, 2005, 11:44 am

I'm pretty sure Wellbutrin isn't habit forming...

Canoe · Post by **Canoe** » March 28, 2005, 11:47 am

Good Luck Mid.

Tried this myself (Cold Turkey that is) 2 weeks ago, and didn't make it.

Not very happy about that situation - but I'll be giving it another go soon.

Pack a day habit for over 10 years isn't easy... but i'll beat it one of these days.

Might have to give this wellbutrin a shot - I don't know anything about it, is it prescribed? Over the counter?

Marbus · Post by **Marbus** » March 28, 2005, 11:55 am

Good Luck Mid!

I tried to quit using that stuff about 4 years ago when my wife and I were trying to start having kids, smoking reduced motility

While it definitely made me not want to smoke, it made me not want to do much else either. After I bumped up to the full does it was like ah... WTF, who cares. I did care if I smoked or did anything else. After about 5 days I felt like a zombie... I said screw it and quit taking it. A couple of weeks later I just went cold turkey and didn't smoke for over a year.

Of course now I do smoke again but in general keep it to about 5 cigs a day, sometimes a few more sometimes a few less. Eventually I want to quit and plan to sometime this yet. I wish you all the luck!

Marb

Morgrym · Post by **Morgrym** » March 28, 2005, 11:57 am

Wellbutrin is perscribed, just tell the doc that you tried the patch and the inhaler and had no success with it.

There are several strengths of Wellbutrin, the one prescribed for smoking is a very low dose, commonly known as Zyban.

There have been studies that show that people who smoke are in some way clinicly depressed. Hence, the very low dose of Wellbutrin, which is an antidepressant, works.

The main thing to remember while taking this medication is to continue your smoking habits and don't try to quit cold turkey. Over a short period of time, you will notice that you are smoking less and less until you just put them down for good.

No, you do not have to maintain a program of continuing the medication after you quit.

No, it is not habit forming.

Yes, it works if you follow the instructions.

No, I have not tried it as I am not ready to quit. But, I have prescribed it numberous times and have not had a failure yet as long as the patient follows the instructions.

Atokal · Post by **Atokal** » March 28, 2005, 12:28 pm

Went on Wellbutin (sp) over a year ago, after 4 weeks on the drug I had a massive allergic reaction to it. Throat almost swelled shut, acid reflux etc. was in the hospital for a couple of days.

Needless to say I went back to smoking. However, April 1st I will quit smoking cold turkey, I like the straw idea and gum.

Also started playing hockey again after a decade away from the sport I love.

Any of you who have quit:

1. Did you notice a marked increase in your endurance?
2. If so how long before your lung capacity increased?

Good Luck Mid.

Chidoro · Post by **Chidoro** » March 28, 2005, 1:19 pm

Benefits of quitting:

20 minutes:
- blood pressure drops to normal
- pulse rate drops to normal
- body temperature of hands and feet increases to normal

w/in 8 hours
- carbon monoxide level in blood drops to normal
- oxygen level in blood increases to normal

w/in 24 hours
- chance of heart attack decreases

w/in 48 hours
- nerve endings start regrowing
- ability to smell and taste is enhanced

w/in 2 weeks to 3 months
- circulation improves
- walking becomes easier
- lung function increases up to 30%

w/in 1 to 9 months
- coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, and shortness of breath decrease
- cilia regrow in lungs, increasing ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce infection
- body's overall energy increases

w/in 1 year
- excess risk of coronary heart disease is cut in half

w/in 5 years
- lung cancer death rate for average former smoker decreases by almost half
- stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker w/in 5-15 years

w/in 10 years
- lung cancer death rate similar to that of nonsmokers
- precancerous cells are replaced
- risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas decreases

w/in 15 years
- risk of coronary heart disease is that of a nonsmoker

The human body is amazing

cid · Post by **cid** » March 28, 2005, 1:23 pm

Even if you have smoked for 15 plus years?

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » March 28, 2005, 1:38 pm

Don't forget your teeth, hands and nose hairs lose their yellow tint as well! Car smells better, your clothes stink less, you don't look like a retard to others for sucking on something designed to quicken your death, and you have the opportunity to pick the habit right back up at the next FanFaire as most of the people smoke there. I guess that's one good thing about FanFaires pretty much being over!

Good luck Mid!

Lynnsie · Post by **Lynnsie** » March 28, 2005, 1:38 pm

Just wanted to say Congratz on finally deciding to lay it down for good. I smoke and have been tryin to quit off and on for years. Maybe I'll try the Wellbutrin out eventually. Anyways good luck, you took a big step

Diae Soulmender · Post by **Diae Soulmender** » March 28, 2005, 2:00 pm

Everytime I think about having a smoke I hold two hot electrified wires to my nut sack.

It has not worked.

Im now hooked on electrifying my nut sack with a smoke hanging out the side of my mouth. Im up to 5 times per day now and I see no end in site.

Guess Ill have to try drug treatment.

I understand heroin is now cheaper then cigs...

Mr Bacon · Post by **Mr Bacon** » March 28, 2005, 2:22 pm

Diae Soulmender wrote:Everytime I think about having a smoke I hold two hot electrified wires to my nut sack.

It has not worked.

Im now hooked on electrifying my nut sack with a smoke hanging out the side of my mouth. Im up to 5 times per day now and I see no end in site.

Guess Ill have to try drug treatment.

I understand heroin is now cheaper then cigs...

Nice one Akaran

Diae Soulmender · Post by **Diae Soulmender** » March 28, 2005, 2:28 pm

Rellix wrote:Nice one Akaran

heh

Tenuvil · Post by **Tenuvil** » March 28, 2005, 2:41 pm

Mid, best of luck to you.

One thing I recommend is once you quit successfully, do not EVER allow yourself to be hooked into smoking again. I quit smoking twice, once in 1986 and again in 1993, and the second time was infinitely harder than the first.

I found you have to WANT to quit to be successful. Both times I used no drugs or aids of any sort, just went cold turkey.

In response to Toker's question, you need to do endurance based exercise to get your aerobic capacity up. Running, riding a bike (gasp!) or doing the elliptical trainer 20 minutes or more 3 times a week will really help with the endurance.

Stalker Vacio · Post by **Stalker Vacio** » March 28, 2005, 6:38 pm

Good Luck staying smoke free. I quit for 15 months and it's a struggle during real stressful times. Patches did the trick for me.

Kylere · Post by **Kylere** » March 29, 2005, 12:31 am

I am nearing my two years of no smoking point. You know what, today I was eating lunch and when I finished I sat back and thought, "Damn I want a cigarette."

WellButrin 32000 Megamix mark XII would not help that, what helps that is me knowing that I would have to do another 600 days to get back to this point, and that every single cocksucker who said I could not do it would be right.

Just do it, even pussy liberals can quit smoking you whiny conservative bitch, live longer that I may taunt you more.

Pherr the Dorf · Post by **Pherr the Dorf** » March 29, 2005, 2:13 am

Kylere wrote:
Just do it, even pussy liberals can quit smoking you whiny conservative bitch, live longer that I may taunt you more.

I FEEL THE LOVE HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pherr the Dorf · Post by **Pherr the Dorf** » March 29, 2005, 2:15 am

Ohh and gratz Mid, one of my last vices to go (small french bubbles are a passion not a vice) and I have been struggling with it, just can't get to the point where I really WANT to quit and I need to get there, I like my fucking cigs!!!!!

Midnyte_Ragebringer · Post by **Midnyte_Ragebringer** » March 29, 2005, 9:19 am

Pherr the Dorf wrote:Ohh and gratz Mid, one of my last vices to go (small french bubbles are a passion not a vice) and I have been struggling with it, just can't get to the point where I really WANT to quit and I need to get there, I like my fucking cigs!!!!!

When I quit, I still loved them. I'm only quitting for my future health. If cigs weren't bad for us, I'd never quit. I lub em.

Chidoro · Post by **Chidoro** » March 29, 2005, 10:32 am

You're going to love how you feel now that you aren't smoking them. I used to make this clicking-like noise because I was constantly trying to clear out mucus from the back of my nasal passage. I basically had chronic sinusitis and it would keep me up at night for the fear of choking on my own mucus if you can believe that shit. I stopped doing it after a week of quitting.

Seriously, after the two week point, you're going to love not having to plan where to smoke, when to smoke, how to plan so you don't run out of smokes, and running out late at night because you didn't plan well enough. you also save a shitton of money. I've saved nearly $4,400 in my 20 months of not smoking.

Neziroth · Post by **Neziroth** » March 29, 2005, 3:29 pm

Chid makes me want to start smoking just so I can quit and feel all of the awesomeness he just described.

Plus I could use an extra $4,400...

Canoe · Post by **Canoe** » March 29, 2005, 4:18 pm

Chidoro wrote: Seriously, after the two week point, you're going to love not having to plan where to smoke, when to smoke, how to plan so you don't run out of smokes, and running out late at night because you didn't plan well enough. you also save a shitton of money. I've saved nearly $4,400 in my 20 months of not smoking.

Aside from the money and the health - man I can't wait til I don't have to worry about all of that.

Such an utter waste of time.

Xyun · Post by **Xyun** » March 29, 2005, 4:41 pm

Marbus · Post by **Marbus** » March 29, 2005, 4:56 pm

Same but Ultra-Lights Xyun... at least Winston dosen't have the rat poison in them

Toshira · Post by **Toshira** » March 29, 2005, 11:29 pm

Don't, Mid. You're cutting into my dividends.

Ah well, for every white boy that quits after 15 years, two yellows will start!

Deneve · Post by **Deneve** » March 30, 2005, 11:19 am

Meh, I have no strong desire to quit right now...I just want the damned cough to go away. I'm not too worried about being succesful when I actually try to quit though, I quit methamphetmine cold turkey about 3 months ago and haven't relapsed yet, so cigs shouldn't be all too difficult. Either way, grats on making the big step though, best of luck to you, and, in case you didn't all ready know, the best technique I've found for staying off of anything is to just look at the present. If you go around thinking, "never, ever again" it seems to me that your addicted personality freaks out at the thought dying and the urges become extrememly intense. Just thinking, "not now" or "not today" or even "maybe later" has had very succesful results in my experience.