Chantix

Funkmasterr · Post by **Funkmasterr** » November 19, 2007, 7:12 pm

So I decided it was time to quit smoking, and my previous attempts to do so on my own had failed, and my friend told me about this. Her parents had both been smoking for 40+ years and quit in a month and a half and haven't smoked since, so I made a doctor appointment and intended on asking about it.

I got to the doctor this morning and before I could even talk about it, he recommended Chantix, so that's what I got. Takes two months supposedly, my co pay was only 15 dollars so that rocked, and I shit you not - I went from smoking 1-2 packs a day - took the first pill this morning, and have already noticed a LARGE reduction in my urge to smoke.

If you are trying to quit or want to try, you seriously need to try this stuff! If you don't have health insurance, I think the guy at the pharmacy said it would be $110 per month, which IMO is still not too bad and well worth it.

I'll make another post after a while and see if my experience is still as good as now!

noel · Post by **noel** » November 19, 2007, 7:21 pm

Good luck. I hope you never feel the urge to smoke again.

My best friend's dad died of lung and lymphatic cancer (caused by smoking), so I'm always happy to see someone quit.

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » November 19, 2007, 8:13 pm

Best of luck and keep us posted.

Boogahz · Post by **Boogahz** » November 19, 2007, 9:39 pm

The Nicotine patch worked for me, but I know it doesn't work for everyone. I just noticed a little itch around where I had it on. The Commit Lozenge was badbadbad for me...I think I had a reaction to it. It felt like my liver was trying to ooze out my nipples. It has now been almost 2 years without smoking for me!

Asheran Mojomaster · November 20, 2007, 3:23 am

Chantix is a miracle pill. It will make you stop smoking with ease, BUT, it can have some pretty bad side effects and also can be addictive in itself (it isn't nicotine, but it works on the same receptors so it can be addictive in similar ways). I personally did very well with it for about a month, but then I had to stop because of the side effects. I was shitting like 5 or 6 times a day minimum. I had to stop eventually because I felt so bad and I was missing class because I couldn't get off the toilet. Same problem with my mom as well as a friend of mine. From what I can tell about 75% of people don't have this side effect, but if you have a weak stomach or any other stomach problems in general, watch out, because chances are you will fall in the other 25%.

Oh btw, I have Irritable Bowel Syndrome, so does my mom, and while my friend that had problems doesn't have IBS she does have a weak stomach.

Funkmasterr · Post by **Funkmasterr** » November 20, 2007, 11:41 am

Asheran Mojomaster wrote:Chantix is a miracle pill. It will make you stop smoking with ease, BUT, it can have some pretty bad side effects and also can be addictive in itself (it isn't nicotine, but it works on the same receptors so it can be addictive in similar ways). I personally did very well with it for about a month, but then I had to stop because of the side effects. I was shitting like 5 or 6 times a day minimum. I had to stop eventually because I felt so bad and I was missing class because I couldn't get off the toilet. Same problem with my mom as well as a friend of mine. From what I can tell about 75% of people don't have this side effect, but if you have a weak stomach or any other stomach problems in general, watch out, because chances are you will fall in the other 25%.

Oh btw, I have Irritable Bowel Syndrome, so does my mom, and while my friend that had problems doesn't have IBS she does have a weak stomach.

Weird, that sucks! The only noticeable effect so far is that I have had a constant case of cotton mouth (they told me this was the most common side effect), but I can deal with that, I've just been drinking a ton of water which is good anyhow.

sarlen · Post by **sarlen** » November 20, 2007, 12:31 pm

Funkmasterr wrote:
Asheran Mojomaster wrote:Chantix is a miracle pill. It will make you stop smoking with ease, BUT, it can have some pretty bad side effects and also can be addictive in itself (it isn't nicotine, but it works on the same receptors so it can be addictive in similar ways). I personally did very well with it for about a month, but then I had to stop because of the side effects. I was shitting like 5 or 6 times a day minimum. I had to stop eventually because I felt so bad and I was missing class because I couldn't get off the toilet. Same problem with my mom as well as a friend of mine. From what I can tell about 75% of people don't have this side effect, but if you have a weak stomach or any other stomach problems in general, watch out, because chances are you will fall in the other 25%.

Oh btw, I have Irritable Bowel Syndrome, so does my mom, and while my friend that had problems doesn't have IBS she does have a weak stomach.

Weird, that sucks! The only noticeable effect so far is that I have had a constant case of cotton mouth (they told me this was the most common side effect), but I can deal with that, I've just been drinking a ton of water which is good anyhow.

I also took Chantix for a few months but had to stop because the side effects were killing me. Not only the multi trips to the bathroom for extended sitting, dry mouth, severe joint pain, stomach cramps, and feeling slight confusion (good chance that one is lack of nicotine). I did stop smoking while taking it but I just couldn't take the side effects any more and started smoking again.

Post by **Sylvus** » November 20, 2007, 12:32 pm

I took it to great success for a month or two earlier this year, then I stopped taking it and fell back into the trap that I always do of thinking I can have a smoke at the bar and smoke casually... don't do that. I've actually filled a prescription for it again and was waiting to start taking it and quit again until Thanksgiving.

Anyway, yeah, it gave me cotton mouth really bad, and I noticed that I absolutely had to eat food when I took it or it would make me super nauseous. I usually have an ironclad stomach, and if I popped one of those in on my way to work without eating breakfast, I would feel like I was going to barf for hours. My doctor told me that was one of the most common side effects, and it really seemed to go away as long as there was food in my stomach. My doctor was part of one of the early tests of the drug, and at one point he said he'd prescribed it to 48 or 49 people (I was #49 or 50) and all but two had quit smoking for at least a month on it. The two that didn't quit stopped taking the drug because it made them too nauseous.

Good luck.

Funkmasterr · Post by **Funkmasterr** » November 20, 2007, 1:41 pm

Sylvus wrote:I took it to great success for a month or two earlier this year, then I stopped taking it and fell back into the trap that I always do of thinking I can have a smoke at the bar and smoke casually... don't do that. I've actually filled a prescription for it again and was waiting to start taking it and quit again until Thanksgiving.

Anyway, yeah, it gave me cotton mouth really bad, and I noticed that I absolutely had to eat food when I took it or it would make me super nauseous. I usually have an ironclad stomach, and if I popped one of those in on my way to work without eating breakfast, I would feel like I was going to barf for hours. My doctor told me that was one of the most common side effects, and it really seemed to go away as long as there was food in my stomach. My doctor was part of one of the early tests of the drug, and at one point he said he'd prescribed it to 48 or 49 people (I was #49 or 50) and all but two had quit smoking for at least a month on it. The two that didn't quit stopped taking the drug because it made them too nauseous.

Good luck.

Yeah when I have tried quitting on my own that is exactly the same mistake I have made, thinking that I can just smoke when I'm drinking - but i'm just not capable of it (my girlfriend is able to just have a couple every week or two while she is drinking, im jealous.)

So I figure I will stay on chantix for the full three months, and hopefully I'll be good then. I've had several people in my family die of cancer that was smoking related, and I don't want to be in that situation someday, not to mention the 150-200 dollars a month I will save not smoking.

Thanks for the encouragement, I'll keep updating. Hopefully I don't get any of the worse side effects! I have taken it both days now without food and feel fine, but im still on the first week pills which are the smaller dose, so maybe I should break that habbit before I get to the 1 mg pills.

Aabidano · Post by **Aabidano** » November 20, 2007, 2:34 pm

Good luck, stopped a year ago yesterday. Being able to breathe again is nice.

Spang · Post by **Spang** » November 20, 2007, 8:28 pm

I hope it gets you to quit posting on the boards too!

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » November 20, 2007, 8:33 pm

That really would be a miracle pill then!

Post by **Sylvus** » November 21, 2007, 12:24 pm

When a smoker smokes, the cigarette causes a release of dopamine in the brain, and the craving for a cig is caused by your body wanting that dopamine. The way that Chantix works (according to what my doctor told me) is that it constantly releases a small amount of dopamine in your brain, stopping your body from craving that next cigarette. I've read articles about it also causing some people to reduce their urge to drink alcohol, among other things.

It then stands to reason that perhaps some posters get a rush of dopamine from making a post, particularly if they are "addicted" to posting (read: someone who claims they are not posting here ever again, yet always returns), and Chantix may help curb that need.

I guess we'll find out!

Ransure · Post by **Ransure** » November 21, 2007, 6:12 pm

I love Chantix, just actually got back from my Dr's apt, been on it for 3 months and just refilled for another 3. Apparently what my doc said was that in the 80% of the people that quit on it for 3 months, 45% that didnt continue for 6 months went back to smoking a year later... so Im gonna stay on it for 6 months and hopefully it takes this time. Ive been ready to be done with smoking, but quitting is a bitch.

Arborealus · Post by **Arborealus** » November 26, 2007, 5:54 am

Chantix had zero effect on me...either positive or negative...

Funkmasterr · Post by **Funkmasterr** » November 26, 2007, 12:09 pm

It's been a week now and I'm still going strong. I have had mild urges to smoke but they have passed pretty quick, with the exception of when I was drinking, it bothered me a little bit more but it still wasn't that bad.

The first couple of days I took it I had bad cotton mouth, which still happens a little bit but not as much, and a few of the days I had a shitty headache, but all of that is acceptable to me. I have even taken it most days without food and it hasn't upset my stomach at all.

Overall it's been a good experience so far, getting me to do something I was unable to do on my own. However, my girlfriend was reading through the literature that comes with it, and in their testing they found that similar percentages of people were able to quit taking the pill and the placebo.

Morgrym · Post by **Morgrym** » November 26, 2007, 1:07 pm

I quit cold turkey 2 years ago after being a 1ppd guy for about 13 years. F a crutch

Xyun · Post by **Xyun** » December 22, 2007, 4:30 am

Went cold turkey dec. 10th. Haven't had a cig since, even though I've been to the casino 3 times, and gone out drinking twice, including once at a strip club. I think the worst parts are over. F a crutch.

Spang · Post by **Spang** » December 22, 2007, 5:01 am

I kind of sort of went cold turkey as well, although getting three wisdom teeth pulled helped a lot. I haven't had a cigarette in about a month. I recommend all smokers quit.

Funkmasterr · Post by **Funkmasterr** » December 22, 2007, 8:18 am

It's been a little over a month for me, I don't feel bad about using a crutch, at least it is accomplishing the goal

Still going strong with the Chantix, no problems at all! Just got my second month prescription today.

a_guide · Post by **a_guide** » December 29, 2007, 2:23 am

LoL I quit cold turkey about a year ago, my girlfriend took Chantix and quit about 2 weeks after she started taking it. Since then there have been less than 10 moments I can think of where I have had to fight the urge to go buy a pack to get me through serious amounts of stress but I resisted and other than that I rarely think of it.

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » February 3, 2008, 3:51 am

Sounds like great stuff... If it doesn't kill you.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120189673998036071.html

FDA Issues Health Advisory On Pfizer's Chantix Tablets

By JENNIFER CORBETT DOOREN

February 1, 2008 3:35 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- The Food and Drug Administration said it is "increasingly likely" that Pfizer Inc.'s smoking-cessation drug Chantix may be tied to serious psychiatric symptoms. The FDA's comment is part of a public health advisory issued Friday.

The public health advisory highlighted warnings issued by Pfizer last month stating that Chantix users should be monitored for suicidal behavior, depressed mood and other changes in behavior.

On Jan. 18, Pfizer said it would update the product label for Chantix to more prominently display post-marketing reports of adverse events that were first added to the product label last November after the FDA conducted a preliminary assessment of reported side effects.

Such reports included depression, changes in behavior and suicidal thinking in some patients within days or weeks after starting Chantix treatment. At the time, the FDA said the role of Chantix wasn't clear.

Now, the FDA said, "it appears increasingly likely that there may be an association between Chantix and serious neuropsychiatric symptoms."

The FDA said it was working with Pfizer to develop a so-called medication guide highlighting the warnings for patients. A drug's label is typically directed at doctors.

"Chantix has proven to be effective in smokers motivated to quit, but patients and health-care professionals need the latest safety information to make an informed decision regarding whether or not to use this product," said Bob Rappaport, director of the FDA's division of anesthesia, analgesia and rheumatology products.

Chantix, an oral tablet taken up to twice daily for 12 weeks to help adults stop smoking, was approved in the U.S. in May 2006. Sales of the drug totaled $280 million during the fourth quarter, up from $68 million during the same time period in 2006.

Spang · Post by **Spang** » February 3, 2008, 4:10 am

I've noticed a lot of these pills that get advertised have side effects that are worse than whatever it is you're taking the fucking pill for!

Like death, that's pretty fucking bad!

P.S. I still don't smoke.

Canoe · Post by **Canoe** » February 3, 2008, 12:47 pm

Any update on those who use chantix?

I'm not concerned about the suicidal things in the message quoted above, i'm a very stable person psychologically, so I have to imagine that has more effects on people that are "on the edge" (just my reasoning, not a doctor!).

I really would like to give this a shot soon, but would like to know if anyone else has had success with Chantix.

The patch / gum, don't work for me, they make me sick, and I can't sleep.

I quit cold turkey, for about a year, but fell into the same trap that sylvus mentioned above, convinced myself i could have 1 or two, then bam, a month later I was a full on 1 - 1.5 ppd smoker.

Zaelath · Post by **Zaelath** » February 3, 2008, 7:39 pm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7224938.stm

Drugs giant Pfizer is expected to see a sharp fall in the sales of one of its best-selling products following a warning by US regulators.

The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) said it was "increasingly concerned" that Pfizer's anti-smoking drug Chantix could cause suicidal thoughts.

Funk may be a tool, but I wouldn't go that far....

Also, I think it's some pretty bad science... people who take Chantix are people trying to give up smoking, that's enough to be suicidal if you previously used the mini-breaks in your day to relax.

Asheran Mojomaster · Post by **Asheran Mojomaster** » February 4, 2008, 2:29 am

Chantix works incredibly well for most people, and I never noticed any psychological problems while taking it. Neither did any of my family. The biggest problem any of us had were horrible stomach problems. Both my mother and I have IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) and after she lasted about 2 weeks and I lasted about a month and a half on Chantix before the stomach problems got so severe we had to stop. My step-father who has a very strong stomach was about to stay on for about 2 1\2 months then he had the same problems.

Thats just my experience with it, but I also know quite a few people who took it, quit smoking, and had very few or no side effects.

Funkmasterr · Post by **Funkmasterr** » February 4, 2008, 12:42 pm

I took it for two months and stopped taking it about three weeks ago due to not having the money to pick up my third month.. I still am not smoking is the good news.

However, towards the end of when I was taking it I was having increasing nights where I couldn't sleep. Now, after not taking it for a few weeks I have been having weird dreams (dreams that are so involved that I'm tossing and turning and not getting real rest, and wake up feeling like I didn't sleep), trouble sleeping, nights where I can't sleep at all, and my body can't seem to regulate temperature very well when I'm sleeping.. Also, the cotton mouth I got when taking it still hasn't gone away.

Now those sleep related issues I've had since not taking it could be unrelated, but I doubt it because they have never been an issue for me in the past.

I'm going to opt to not go get the last month of my prescription, all this shit is too fucking much for me, I will just have to rely on my willpower, but at this point I would rather be smoking than deal with these fucking sleep issues much longer.

Syenye · Post by **Syenye** » February 4, 2008, 1:30 pm

congrats funk. quitting smoking is admirable, however you go about it.

the sleep issues you are having sound like general withdrawal symptoms, but i would assume that they would go away after a week or so. you should probably see your doctor about them if they have been happening for 3+ weeks.

anyway, welcome to the world of fresh breath, white teeth, and coughing pointedly whenever you see people smoking in public.

Aabidano · Post by **Aabidano** » February 4, 2008, 2:31 pm

Syenye wrote:anyway, welcome to the world of fresh breath, white teeth, and coughing pointedly whenever you see people smoking in public.

It's sooo hard not to be an asshole ex-smoker.

Still want one now and again, how much quitting sucked has stayed with me so I don't think it's a danger. I know I can't smoke just an occasional one, that did me in once before.

Boogahz · Post by **Boogahz** » February 4, 2008, 2:39 pm

Aabidano wrote:
Syenye wrote:anyway, welcome to the world of fresh breath, white teeth, and coughing pointedly whenever you see people smoking in public.
It's sooo hard not to be an asshole ex-smoker.

Still want one now and again, how much quitting sucked has stayed with me so I don't think it's a danger. I know I can't smoke just an occasional one, that did me in once before.

I was talking to someone who just recently accepted that they were an alcoholic about the "just one" mentality. She had quit drinking several times in the past, and she felt that she could always just have one drink in a social setting with others and be okay. Each time she did this, she went back to drinking regularly. We also talked about how it is the same for a smoker. Anyone that thinks they can have "just one" and not be feeding into that addiction has not quit. <---that is a Period

We also talked about having the strength to be around others who were engaging in the activity we had been addicted to (drinking/smoking/etc). This came up since we had been out to eat and I had a drink once or twice since she stopped. She mentioned that after some time, she had not even noticed what I had, even though it was in a situation where she might have ordered a drink before too. I'm talking Oktoberfest here!

After not smoking for just over two years now, I believe that I finally "quit" when I could not handle even being around second hand smoke. When I quit in the past, I used to find myself just hanging out with the smokers for a little contact "buzz." Now, I recognize that I had not actually quit when I did that. I have only ran into one trigger recently that I had not really thought of when I planned out quitting. It was playing RTS games when you get to a point where you just have to wait on something to happen. I used to fill that time by leaning back and having a smoke. I did not really have an urge to light up, but I did think about it for a second which is what helped me recognize the trigger.

Funkmasterr · Post by **Funkmasterr** » February 4, 2008, 3:05 pm

Boogahz wrote:
Aabidano wrote:
Syenye wrote:anyway, welcome to the world of fresh breath, white teeth, and coughing pointedly whenever you see people smoking in public.
It's sooo hard not to be an asshole ex-smoker.

Still want one now and again, how much quitting sucked has stayed with me so I don't think it's a danger. I know I can't smoke just an occasional one, that did me in once before.
I was talking to someone who just recently accepted that they were an alcoholic about the "just one" mentality. She had quit drinking several times in the past, and she felt that she could always just have one drink in a social setting with others and be okay. Each time she did this, she went back to drinking regularly. We also talked about how it is the same for a smoker. Anyone that thinks they can have "just one" and not be feeding into that addiction has not quit. <---that is a Period

We also talked about having the strength to be around others who were engaging in the activity we had been addicted to (drinking/smoking/etc). This came up since we had been out to eat and I had a drink once or twice since she stopped. She mentioned that after some time, she had not even noticed what I had, even though it was in a situation where she might have ordered a drink before too. I'm talking Oktoberfest here!

After not smoking for just over two years now, I believe that I finally "quit" when I could not handle even being around second hand smoke. When I quit in the past, I used to find myself just hanging out with the smokers for a little contact "buzz." Now, I recognize that I had not actually quit when I did that. I have only ran into one trigger recently that I had not really thought of when I planned out quitting. It was playing RTS games when you get to a point where you just have to wait on something to happen. I used to fill that time by leaning back and having a smoke. I did not really have an urge to light up, but I did think about it for a second which is what helped me recognize the trigger.

I agree. I tried the smoking once in a while thing and it didn't work for me. Then for other people like my girlfriend it does.. she can have one once every couple of months while she is drinking and then not do it again for months.

Funkmasterr · Post by **Funkmasterr** » February 5, 2008, 3:33 pm

And now from a week of little sleep and the little sleep I do get being restless thanks to chantix, I am sick. Fuck.

Edited for clarification.

Spang · Post by **Spang** » February 5, 2008, 4:46 pm

What exactly are you sucking?

Don't kill yourself.

Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

Fairweather Pure · Post by **Fairweather Pure** » February 6, 2008, 4:40 am

Chantix gave my co-worker nightmares. That was the only side effect, but they were bad enought that she stopped using it and quit smoking cold turkey.

Leonaerd · Post by **Leonaerd** » February 6, 2008, 5:01 am

Boog wrote:It felt like my liver was trying to ooze out my nipples.

$\:D/$

Leonaerd · Post by **Leonaerd** » February 6, 2008, 5:45 am

I'm a little different than the norm in that I love the taste of cigarettes, but I don't smoke often enough to get addicted. I'll maybe take a hit or two off of a friend's cigarette once a weekend if I'm drunk enough. Or sometimes at a bowling alley I might have an entire cigarette. It's really just a matter of not wanting to have an addiction and enjoying the taste of food that keeps me from smoking a pack a day. I've never bought a pack and don't plan on it.

Boogahz · Post by **Boogahz** » February 9, 2008, 2:09 pm

Zaelath wrote:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7224938.stm
Drugs giant Pfizer is expected to see a sharp fall in the sales of one of its best-selling products following a warning by US regulators.

The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) said it was "increasingly concerned" that Pfizer's anti-smoking drug Chantix could cause suicidal thoughts.
Funk may be a tool, but I wouldn't go that far....

Also, I think it's some pretty bad science... people who take Chantix are people trying to give up smoking, that's enough to be suicidal if you previously used the mini-breaks in your day to relax.

Maybe it is the smoking rather than the pills causing those thoughts:
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,214 ... 61,00.html

Science | 09.02.2008
German Scientists Say Smokers More Prone to Suicide

Plenty has been said about the effect of smoking on people's bodies, but for the first time a study has shown that smoking may also be related to emotional problems.

A recently published study by the Max Planck Institute for Psychiatry in Munich claims that there is a connection between tobacco and suicide.

Over 3,000 people between the ages of 14 and 24 -- categorized as non-smokers, occasional smokers, non-addicted regular smokers and addicted heavy smokers -- were questioned about their suicidal thoughts in 1995 and again in 1999. About two thirds of the initial test subjects participated in the second round of questioning.

While less than 15 percent of non-smokers reported having suicidal thoughts, over 30 percent of addicts had considered committing suicide. The rate for occasional smokers and non-addicted regular smokers was around 20 percent.

More research needed

None of the test subjects actually took their own life during the study, though almost 70 of them made suicide attempts.

"Campaigns for reducing smoking should also point to the elevated risk of suicidality for occasional and regular smokers," wrote the study's authors in the Journal of Affective Disorders, as reported by DPA news agency.

The scientists in charge of the study said that none of the participants had a history of clinical depression or of alcohol or drug abuse. They also cautioned that, while a connection had been found, no direct causal link had been established and more research was needed.

Zaelath · Post by **Zaelath** » February 10, 2008, 11:22 am

Feh, that's the same "quality" science that concluded giving soldiers helmets causes head injuries.

Xyun · Post by **Xyun** » February 11, 2008, 3:39 am

Well I still haven't had a cigarette since Dec. 10th when I quit cold turkey. There are still times when I really want a smoke and times when I get jealous seeing other people smoke. The thought of having just one drag has entered my mind so many times. The worst times are when I am stressed out or angry. I've had multiple dreams about cigarettes, sometimes about quitting them, sometimes about failing to quit. I've always felt, and still feel that any addiction can be overcome. It is all about the willpower to quit, mind over matter. When I get the urge to smoke, I remind myself that I will have to go through the process of quitting again and that entire grueling process is not worth one fucking cigarette.

Some people say if you quit an addiction for a year then start back up then you never really quit. That's fucking bullshit. I quit hard addictions to cocaine twice now, and it was just as hard the second time as it was the first. I'm talking about doing it every day for months on end, then quitting for over a year, then starting back up to the point of every day again. Your body still goes through the same fucking withdrawal symptoms every time you quit. I feel that cigarettes would be no different if I were to start back up, but for me, it has been a little easier to quit smoking than it was quitting coke. But I realize that different people have different weaknesses. For some people it is much harder to quit drinking than smoking, for example. Don't get me wrong though, quitting smoking has been intensely difficult. I was smoking 1-1.5 ppd. But again, it's all about willpower. I started a hard core exercise regiment to offset the weight I knew I would gain as well. Eventually, working out became my new addiction and I would feel like my days were incomplete if I didn't work out. It's worked extremely well for me since I have lost about 5 pounds since I quit. The last few weeks have been a little different since I've been working 60 hours a week and haven't had as much time to exercise. But I digress....

In summary, you don't need chantix, or a patch, or gum to quit. You just have to make the decision. It's not easy but it's worthwhile.

Aabidano · Post by **Aabidano** » December 7, 2009, 8:59 pm

I'm curious, of those who were quitting when this thread came up who's still not smoking? 3 years for me so far, still get he urge not and then. I'd love a cigar but those did me in last time I quit.

Xyun wrote:Some people say if you quit an addiction for a year then start back up then you never really quit. That's fucking bullshit.

It's true as far as the progression of the addiction goes, it's just not really visible for some addictions like smoking that don't have nasty, short term impairing consequences. The way I've heard it described and seen it happen, you basically pick up where you left off, be it a day later, a year or 10 years. Most alcoholics for instance will drop into the gutter again really quick, there's usually no slow slide back into it.

Funkmasterr · Post by **Funkmasterr** » December 8, 2009, 11:51 am

I lasted about 48 hours after the breakup with my ex before I started again, that was after nearly 2 years I think without smoking. I'm currently in the process of quitting again now, this time around I actually don't like smoking as much as I did before. The smell on my fingers appalls me, clothes stink, I hate going out in the cold.. All stuff that didn't bug me nearly as much before I quit the first time.

miir · Post by **miir** » December 8, 2009, 11:58 am

If you're motivated to quit, it's a fuck of a lot easier.
When I quit I didn't use drugs or even the patch. I just cut right down over a month then just stopped.
I've had 1 cigarette in the past 22 months.

Post by **Sylvus** » December 8, 2009, 12:18 pm

I finally ended up using the gum to quit smoking. While I still chew the gum because I still enjoy some nicotine, I find that a hell of a lot better than smoking cigs. I'm on the lowest dose and chew 2-4 pieces a day. I haven't had a cigarette since Aug. 9, 2008.

Good luck quitting again, Funk. Don't quit quitting!

Funkmasterr · Post by **Funkmasterr** » December 8, 2009, 12:28 pm

Sylvus wrote:I finally ended up using the gum to quit smoking. While I still chew the gum because I still enjoy some nicotine, I find that a hell of a lot better than smoking cigs. I'm on the lowest dose and chew 2-4 pieces a day. I haven't had a cigarette since Aug. 9, 2008.

Good luck quitting again, Funk. Don't quit quitting!

Haha thanks!

It's funny, I saw a commercial for Chantix last night, and mid commercial they stopped to talk about the negative possibilities. They literally went on for several minutes, the lady in the commercial looked like she might fall asleep if they didn't wrap it up soon. I'm gonna have to try and find that one on youtube.

EDIT: Found the video, I exaggerated a bit on the time (weird!), but it is still about 1 minute of negativity.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Clrkl1mixJw

Spang · Post by **Spang** » December 9, 2009, 3:10 am

I haven't smoked a cigarette in a little over two years. Smoking is fucking stupid.

Funkmasterr · Post by **Funkmasterr** » January 5, 2010, 4:49 pm

Quit smoking again as a new years resolution (corny, I know). Not using this shit this time though, just did it cold turkey. Man have I been in a horrible fucking mood... Hasn't seemed to be the case in the past when I've tried to quit.

Spang · Post by **Spang** » January 5, 2010, 5:04 pm

Funkmasterr wrote:Quit smoking again as a new years resolution (corny, I know). Not using this shit this time though, just did it cold turkey. Man have I been in a horrible fucking mood... Hasn't seemed to be the case in the past when I've tried to quit.

You're always in a horrible mood.

a_guide · Post by **a_guide** » March 28, 2010, 3:55 pm

So update time, the girlfriend that took Chantix lost her goddamn mind. Wouldn't leave the house, lost a job and became a rage-a-holic but we weren't smoking! She took the pills for less than a week in 2008 and the psychological effects are still around. She has a job now but has FMLA for Anxiety and PTSD and has had to do a lot of therapy. I would never recommend this medication again just because the possibility of this happening is absolutely not worth it.

Leonaerd · Post by **Leonaerd** » March 28, 2010, 4:09 pm

I only smoke rolled cigarettes.

1) way cheaper
2) no FSC
3) I hate how badly I roll joints after all these years, and it's good practice.

I'm at about one cigarette a week.

Xyun · Post by **Xyun** » April 5, 2010, 2:59 pm

well I had a relapse. I had been cigarette free for nearly 2 years but got drunk one night and had a couple. Then I decided I could smoke one here and there and tried that but I failed. Within a couple weeks I bought a pack, and within a couple weeks after that I was back up to 15 cigs a day. That was around november and dec. 09. So I had to quit again, and this time my last cigarette was Mar. 29th.

Basically, I had a 4 month relapse. Quitting this time has been a lot easier. Maybe its because I only smoked 4 months or maybe its because I'm in much better shape physically and mentally. I don't know. All I know is the "just 1" theory doesn't work for me. Its all or nothing, and as much as I love me some cigarettes, I love life even more, and those cancer sticks steal life.

I don't know if I will have another relapse, i hope not but if I do, i know i will just quit again after a few months of seeing how those things make me feel.