Chantix Questions

[Carol25]

I know we had a smoking thread, but can't find it. I have my Chantix, but no instructions. Anyone with this experience out there that can give me the guidelines?

What I would like to know is:

Do you continue smoking for a week, then stop smoking and let the medicine take over?

If you feel you "need" a cigarette beyond that week, can you smoke?

How long do you take the pills and when do you know when to stop?

Any other tricks to keep me on my path at this point? I'm down from 4 packs a day to 14 cigarettes a day. Is this a good time to go on the meds or should I go down further before using Chantix?

TIA

[TBIBeg]

I know we had a smoking thread, but can't find it. I have my Chantix, but no instructions. Anyone with this experience out there that can give me the guidelines?

What I would like to know is:

Do you continue smoking for a week, then stop smoking and let the medicine take over?

If you feel you "need" a cigarette beyond that week, can you smoke?

How long do you take the pills and when do you know when to stop?

Any other tricks to keep me on my path at this point? I'm down from 4 packs a day to 14 cigarettes a day. Is this a good time to go on the meds or should I go down further before using Chantix?

TIA

My initial Chantix package came with .5 mg for a week and then 1mg for the following weeks. I was supposed to take twice a day, I only took once a day.

Yes, smoke for one week and then stop. I had a couple of scatterd cigs for the week following. Took the script for 1 month..... been smoke free for 8 months now.

Best thing I ever did for myself.


The Chantix site has a lot of info http://www.chantix.com/index.aspx

[imajean]

Carol, you are doing GREAT on your own!!!

Anyway, yes you CAN smoke on the Chantix. You're suppose to pick a stop date. They tell you to stop after a week, but if you can't, go until you feel comfortable. I will tell you that the "need" goes away, but the "desire" doesn't for quite awhile but you are doing so well on your own, I don't think you will have any problems.

Congrats and good luck

[Carol25]

Thank you to both of you for the information! I had a relapse of a couple of weeks after a stressful situation, but got back on track.

I think it will be the best thing I have done for myself, too! And thank you for the encouragement!

Planning to get the interior of my home painted and new furniture for my prize! Can't wait until I definitely can say, I battled it and..." I Won!"

[Cornblossom]

Good Luck!! I used Chantix and haven't smoked in 3 years. I have no desire to and people smoking around me doesn't bother me.....they can't now cause I use oxygen. Make sure you eat something before taking it and drink a full glass of water!!! OH! It only took me one week to quit. Should you slide......don't let it get ya down-Rome wasn't built in a day!

[imajean]

A trick that I learned on here was, when you want a smoke, take a huge deep breath and let it out slowly. Sometimes you have to do it twice but it sure helps.

This Oct. will be 2 years for me after 35 years of smoking. Chantix, saved my life.

[Carol25]

Thanks so much Cornblossom and Imajean...good tips!

Cornblossom, I was going to take it in the morning and before bed. Evidently that's not a good idea because I can't eat that early or late. It upsets my stomach.

Maybe mid morning and evening? Hope I remember!

[Cornblossom]

Thanks so much Cornblossom and Imajean...good tips!

Cornblossom, I was going to take it in the morning and before bed. Evidently that's not a good idea because I can't eat that early or late. It upsets my stomach.

Maybe mid morning and evening? Hope I remember!Maybe you could just drink a glass of milk before taking it instead of eating....ask your doctor before doing that tho.
Remember..what works for one person may not work for another.....if Chantix doesn't work for you-don't give up! And,Rule #1-don't berate the smokers once you quit! LMAO

[Carol25]

PennyRoyal, thanks for the support..I'll remember it may be saving my life..having trouble breathing now!

Cornblossom, It's funny you said that about berating smokers!, LOL I just told a friend that I wouldn't turn into a non smoking brat afterwards! I remember being on the receiving end of them!

I can drink water (and tea) all day and lots of it. Maybe that will do, I'll see. Is it because you get an upset stomach or possible ulcers? Had stomach surgery for ulcers already. Took part of my stomach out! But they also cut my vagus nerve so I don't get the acid I used to get.

[sunbunny]

Thanks so much Cornblossom and Imajean...good tips!

Cornblossom, I was going to take it in the morning and before bed. Evidently that's not a good idea because I can't eat that early or late. It upsets my stomach.

Maybe mid morning and evening? Hope I remember!

good luck to you, Carol!! with the help of chantix, i have not smoked since april 12 (Easter!). i only took it for 8 weeks, rather than the full 12. i took it in the morning after breakfast... which for ME was like 9:00 because i'd bring it to work and then eat my breakfast there (small bowl of cereal or a banana), then i'd take it right after dinner, which was usually around 7:00 or so.

i've saved almost $1,000 since then!! :w00t: oh, i strongly urge you to sign up for the www.getquit.com service that Chantix offers!! go to that website! i know you can do this! if *I* can do it... YOU can! :wub:

[incidentally]

good luck to you, Carol!! with the help of chantix, i have not smoked since april 12 (Easter!). i only took it for 8 weeks, rather than the full 12. i took it in the morning after breakfast... which for ME was like 9:00 because i'd bring it to work and then eat my breakfast there (small bowl of cereal or a banana), then i'd take it right after dinner, which was usually around 7:00 or so.

i've saved almost $1,000 since then!! :w00t: oh, i strongly urge you to sign up for the www.getquit.com service that Chantix offers!! go to that website! i know you can do this! if *I* can do it... YOU can! :wub:


Have I told lately how proud I am of you?

:wub:

[cassidy]

I used Chantix and have been cig-free for 7 months now. I was a 2 pack a day smoker too. It took me 2 weeks on chantix to quit completely. and I continued to take it for 2 months after that. My good luck was that after I quit they raised the taxes on cigs here. It really kept me from going back. Good luck to you! You CAN do it :)

[incidentally]

Go carol! Go carol! You can do it!

[Cornblossom]

good luck to you, Carol!! with the help of chantix, i have not smoked since april 12 (Easter!). i only took it for 8 weeks, rather than the full 12. i took it in the morning after breakfast... which for ME was like 9:00 because i'd bring it to work and then eat my breakfast there (small bowl of cereal or a banana), then i'd take it right after dinner, which was usually around 7:00 or so.

i've saved almost $1,000 since then!! :w00t: oh, i strongly urge you to sign up for the www.getquit.com service that Chantix offers!! go to that website! i know you can do this! if *I* can do it... YOU can! :wub:CONGRATS!!!! that's great!!!!!

[Emerald]

IMO, if you can teach yourself to smoke, you can teach yourself NOT to smoke.

[Carol25]

This board is just great! Thank you everyone! I'm going to start Chantix tomorrow and get on that website!\

Thanks Again!!!

Carol

[Veritas]

Way to go, Carol! You can do it. Yes, you can! :wub:

[Firehead11]

I know we had a smoking thread, but can't find it. I have my Chantix, but no instructions. Anyone with this experience out there that can give me the guidelines?

What I would like to know is:

Do you continue smoking for a week, then stop smoking and let the medicine take over?

If you feel you "need" a cigarette beyond that week, can you smoke?

How long do you take the pills and when do you know when to stop?

Any other tricks to keep me on my path at this point? I'm down from 4 packs a day to 14 cigarettes a day. Is this a good time to go on the meds or should I go down further before using Chantix?

TIA

I used Chantix for 6 weeks. I smoked for the first week and then stopped. I had to cut back to the original dose after 1 week because it upset my stomach but have been smokefree for 3 years now. Good Luck to you!

[GMTminus6]

Carol, did you get a doc's OK before you started? Is your blood pressure OK?

[Carol25]

Carol, did you get a doc's OK before you started? Is your blood pressure OK?

The doctor I got it from was a pulmonologist. He didn't ask any questions and I was there about breathing problems. They took my blood pressure, It's always great.

[Pretty Leaf]

My DH was scheduled for surgery.. neck fusion. His surgeon told him to take Chantix to stop smoking NOW or it takes longer for bones to fuse if you smoke. By the end of the 3rd week he stopped smoking completely and has been smoke free since January 2008.

[Cornblossom]

My DH was scheduled for surgery.. neck fusion. His surgeon told him to take Chantix to stop smoking NOW or it takes longer for bones to fuse if you smoke. By the end of the 3rd week he stopped smoking completely and has been smoke free since January 2008.
Congrats to your DH!!!!

[Carol25]

My DH was scheduled for surgery.. neck fusion. His surgeon told him to take Chantix to stop smoking NOW or it takes longer for bones to fuse if you smoke. By the end of the 3rd week he stopped smoking completely and has been smoke free since January 2008.

Gee, I had 3 neck fusions and they didn't tell me that! Of course, 2 discs had already ruptured and causing me great pain. Maybe it was an emergency. But the last one the pain wasn't so bad.

[Pretty Leaf]

Man, I hate to be the one to caution you first, but I must.

Chantix is a miracle drug for many many people - they were finally able to quit and have stayed quit. That is wonderfully awesomely fabulous. However, there are a few people that Chantix is very unhealthy for - and I was one of them. It made me virtually psychotic. I didn't realize it at all until I was off the Chantix and the doctor let me read her notes of my phone call.

So please do let someone in your real life know that you are taking it, and that in a small number of people there is mental (as well as tummy) upset. They can step in as necessary.

Call your doctor if you have any suicidal inclination at all.

And good luck on your quit! I am sure you will do it with or without the Chantix. Well done!

I was told by my doctor that I could not under any circumstances take Chantix because of the other medications I am on. He wanted to make that clear because he knew Chantix would be in our home.

[sunbunny]

Excellent advice, Cornblossom. I'm another "success" story; have not had a cigarette since October 2006 and still have no desire for one. Anyone who knows me considers my success as a miracle as I smoked 2 packs a day for over 50 years. I quit on the 4th day of taking Chantix!!!!!

Don't think that Chantix is a pill that will automatically stop you from smoking. It still requires will power on your part to control any urges to smoke. Some of the tricks are to get rid of all ashtrays in your house; do NOT carry or have any packs of cigarettes in your home, when the urge comes to smoke - hold your breath. By the time you have to breath, the urge is gone.

These urges disappear approximately 3 weeks after you stop smoking (this is when all the nicotine disappears from your body). After that, it will occur less and less frequently.

Take it from me and Cornblossom, life is so much nicer (and cheaper) without smoking!!!!!!


as you may recall... YOU were my original inspiration from 3 years ago! i followed you and others on that original smoking thread waaaaaaaaay back when!! :D and i do have to agree... a person has to WANT to stop smoking, and have the willpower, and Chantix certainly does help with that! if it didn't... i'd still be smoking MY 2 packs a day! :scared: i have saved so much money that (1) i am going to Tahoe in september, staying at a fancy hotel and gambling money away i never "thought" i could afford to and (2) saving up for a CRUISE next year on a relatively new Carnival ship! woo hoooooo!!!

good luck everyone!!!!!!!! :wub:

[Carol25]

Well, tomorrow is my big day. It's my 8th day on Chantix and the day I will stop. I have some fear because I tried to quit months ago. I smoked heavily and quit cold turkey. On the third day, I suddenly hit the depths of depression.

Realizing finally that it had probably interefered with my other meds (antidepressants). I began smoking again and I was fine.

Now I am smoking 12-14 cigarettes a day, so the shock to my system shouldn't be as dramatic as before. Along with this Chantix helping block the nerve center that blocks the dopamine effect should help too.

Anyway tomorrow is the day. If I make it through alright and carry on well, my lucky number witll be 823! Will play it on the lottery or something!

[Cornblossom]

Well, tomorrow is my big day. It's my 8th day on Chantix and the day I will stop. I have some fear because I tried to quit months ago. I smoked heavily and quit cold turkey. On the third day, I suddenly hit the depths of depression.

Realizing finally that it had probably interefered with my other meds (antidepressants). I began smoking again and I was fine.

Now I am smoking 12-14 cigarettes a day, so the shock to my system shouldn't be as dramatic as before. Along with this Chantix helping block the nerve center that blocks the dopamine effect should help too.

Anyway tomorrow is the day. If I make it through alright and carry on well, my lucky number witll be 823! Will play it on the lottery or something!
We're here for you....you feel the urge just start typing here...one of us posters will keep you busy til the urge passes! You can do it!!

[Rucky*Ron]

I wish you all the luck in your effort to stop smoking.
I stopped 30 years ago and it was tough. Cold turkey worked..

However, I wouldn't swallow Chantix if you held a gun to my head.

We watched a 60 second commercial on it today and 45 seconds of the thing was warnings..
Hello?

MOO

[Adalena935]

Carol I'm so happy for you and you're on my prayer list for total success. I wish all the rest of you who have quit and will quit my very best also. My friends and family have all stopped after many years of smoking.

I love them all and don't want to lose them. I have lost too many friends and family to lung cancer and lung disease. I loved them and will always feel the loss. Even though I never smoked, cigarettes hurt me by taking them away from me way too soon.

Congratulations to anyone who quits. You are doing yourself, your family and loved ones the best gift by staying here and being healthy.

I'm not a cigarette complainer. In fact, I always kind of liked the smell of it. But there is nothing good about smoking.

Remember the Yuel Brenner smoking commerical? Don't smoke. Please don't smoke.

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

[Carol25]

All of you are so wonderful! I made it through day 1. I would be lying if I told you that I didn't want one. But since there was nothing in the house to smoke, I was out of luck.

Already two times today I naturally scanned my desk searching for my cigs, just to remember, Oh, I quit. I won't believe that I really quit until there is no urge at all. That will probably take months.

Thanks for your help! Will contact you if I need help.

[Cornblossom]

All of you are so wonderful! I made it through day 1. I would be lying if I told you that I didn't want one. But since there was nothing in the house to smoke, I was out of luck.

Already two times today I naturally scanned my desk searching for my cigs, just to remember, Oh, I quit. I won't believe that I really quit until there is no urge at all. That will probably take months.

Thanks for your help! Will contact you if I need help.WooooHoooo Good for you! (insert pat on the back here)

[Rucky*Ron]

All of you are so wonderful! I made it through day 1. I would be lying if I told you that I didn't want one. But since there was nothing in the house to smoke, I was out of luck.

Already two times today I naturally scanned my desk searching for my cigs, just to remember, Oh, I quit. I won't believe that I really quit until there is no urge at all. That will probably take months.

Thanks for your help! Will contact you if I need help.

Way to go! Day one leads to freedom from smoking the rest of your life! :thumbsup:

The "hand habit" was almost the hardest to break when I quit it seemed.

For instance after dinner while 'smokers' scratched around for their pack... looked for new ones to tap and open....hunted lighters... lit up...

I was 'just finished'.

It felt like part of my dinner was left unconsumed. :smile:

Remember, it will be better at the end of your journey! I wish you much success.

MOO

[cantstandnuts]

IMO, if you can teach yourself to smoke, you can teach yourself NOT to smoke.


Really? Ever smoked? You can say yes, but I will believe No, because if you have, then I know you don't really think it's that simple.

[cassidy]

I'm 7 months off cigs and there are times when I still miss them So here a little mind exercise I do when I think I might just go buy a pack.

$7 a day = $217 per monh = $2604 per year. Then I think what I can do with the money that was previously going up in smoke :) it works.
I also put that amount of money into an ING account so I can see it but it's harder to get to than my regular savings account.

[Lidia]

I took Chantix about 2 years ago to quit smoking. I heard great things about it. But it made me feel extremely weird. It took the pleasure out of everything in my day. It seemed to even make exercise feel mentally unrewarding. It made me feel extremely strange. I could not put up with these side effects anymore so I stopped taking it. Ironically, I read an article about it and how they found Chantix to be linked to suicide.

But I did manage to quit smoking for good on my own. after 18 years. The first 6 months was the hardest adjusting to but I haven't smoked in 9 months. I exercise alot and eat well. My skin and breathing is better than ever before, my clothes and hair doesn't smell like an ashtray. It was one of the best life decisions I ever made. Good luck to all who are going through the process of quitting smoking. It can be done. :smile:

[Rucky*Ron]

I'm 7 months off cigs and there are times when I still miss them So here a little mind exercise I do when I think I might just go buy a pack.

$7 a day = $217 per monh = $2604 per year. Then I think what I can do with the money that was previously going up in smoke :) it works.
I also put that amount of money into an ING account so I can see it but it's harder to get to than my regular savings account.

Being as I'm older than dirt I was around when President Carter established the first "American Smoke Out".

That's the day I quit. 30+ years ago. :w00t:

There are STILL stressful days when I could pick up a pack and resume the nasty habit.....:blushing:

[Carol25]

I'm five days smoke free. No, it isn't easy. I have urges and find myself scanning the desk for my cigarettes, just to come up with the realization, there aren't any, to my disappointment. But I breathe better already and have accomplished 5 days, I WILL QUIT!

[sunbunny]

I'm five days smoke free. No, it isn't easy. I have urges and find myself scanning the desk for my cigarettes, just to come up with the realization, there aren't any, to my disappointment. But I breathe better already and have accomplished 5 days, I WILL QUIT!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! great job, carol!! did you sign up for the getquit.com support? it really helps a lot!

keep up the GREAT work! :wub:

139 days for me; $1,042 saved!!! :thumbsup:

[Cornblossom]

I'm five days smoke free. No, it isn't easy. I have urges and find myself scanning the desk for my cigarettes, just to come up with the realization, there aren't any, to my disappointment. But I breathe better already and have accomplished 5 days, I WILL QUIT!WAY TO GO!!!!!
Soon your food will taste better! Keep up the good work!

[Rucky*Ron]

i'm five days smoke free. No, it isn't easy. I have urges and find myself scanning the desk for my cigarettes, just to come up with the realization, there aren't any, to my disappointment. But i breathe better already and have accomplished 5 days, i will quit!

yea!!
.................

[Carol25]

yea!!..............


Why Thank You! Carol (The encouragement helps!)

[Carol25]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! great job, carol!! did you sign up for the getquit.com support? it really helps a lot!

keep up the GREAT work! :wub:

139 days for me; $1,042 saved!!! :thumbsup:
Wow! Congratulations TO YOU! 139 days. That is great!

I did sign up for the getquit.com!

Are you going to get something with all that money you saved?

I have saved $100.00, lol! But it will add up quickly!

[sunbunny]

Wow! Congratulations TO YOU! 139 days. That is great!

I did sign up for the getquit.com!

Are you going to get something with all that money you saved?

I have saved $100.00, lol! But it will add up quickly!


after i quit smoking, i've also been bringing my own lunch to work, so i've paid off 3 credit cards so far!! and on my way to paying off the last one! :w00t: and, hubby & i are planning on going on a cruise next year!!

keep up the great work!!! :wub: isn't it GREAT to NOT go to bed at 9:00 or whatever because you only have 3 cigs left and you don't want to smoke them all and not have any when you wake up??? :tongueside:

[Carol25]

after i quit smoking, i've also been bringing my own lunch to work, so i've paid off 3 credit cards so far!! and on my way to paying off the last one! :w00t: and, hubby & i are planning on going on a cruise next year!!

keep up the great work!!! :wub: isn't it GREAT to NOT go to bed at 9:00 or whatever because you only have 3 cigs left and you don't want to smoke them all and not have any when you wake up??? :tongueside:
Oh yes! And taking along two packs of cigs just in case one should get wet or smashed or lost???? How I depended on those. But the breathing is what I am enjoying the most.

[obi]

I smoked for about 3 weeks after starting Chantix. I could only get down to about 5 cigs a day (from a pack a day), so I just went for it and quit. About a week later Hurricane Ike was getting near and i smoked for about another week (5-10 cigs per day). Then quit again. They only allow 2 refills, so I ended up doing it for 12 weeks. I wasn't going to risk going 4 weeks then starting smoking again. It worked. The vivid dreams? Yes. Some digestive problems? Yes. But I was determined dammit. Almost a year now.

[SavannahStar]

What a great thread. You all are inspirational!

Good luck, Carol!

[Rucky*Ron]

I smoked for about 3 weeks after starting Chantix. I could only get down to about 5 cigs a day (from a pack a day), so I just went for it and quit. About a week later Hurricane Ike was getting near and i smoked for about another week (5-10 cigs per day). Then quit again. They only allow 2 refills, so I ended up doing it for 12 weeks. I wasn't going to risk going 4 weeks then starting smoking again. It worked. The vivid dreams? Yes. Some digestive problems? Yes. But I was determined dammit. Almost a year now.

:thumbup: Good for you!

[Carol25]

I smoked for about 3 weeks after starting Chantix. I could only get down to about 5 cigs a day (from a pack a day), so I just went for it and quit. About a week later Hurricane Ike was getting near and i smoked for about another week (5-10 cigs per day). Then quit again. They only allow 2 refills, so I ended up doing it for 12 weeks. I wasn't going to risk going 4 weeks then starting smoking again. It worked. The vivid dreams? Yes. Some digestive problems? Yes. But I was determined dammit. Almost a year now.

Obi, do you ever get the urge now? I believe the big test will be going through a crisis. We'll see. Hope I don't have one for many moons! Congratulations on your determination!!!

[IaNsSyAlNuE]

Obi, do you ever get the urge now? I believe the big test will be going through a crisis. We'll see. Hope I don't have one for many moons! Congratulations on your determination!!!

Carol

I quit smoking using Chantix about a year and a half ago. I had the upset stomach, vivid dreams ( which I miss) and I did not finish my Chantix ( I am not recommending you stop ) anyway I took it for about four weeks. I quit after the third week and stopped the med after about a month of taking it.

I am smoke free till this day. That was about a year and a half ago.


I still have urges but they have lessened AND when people pass me who are obvious smokers it now repulses me to smell that smell. I swear I can smell a dirty ash tray or butt can a mile away. My nose smells things I did not even know existed now.

Every once in while I have a cup of coffee or a soda and I feel the urge or right after dinner -- but that is few and far between now.

The reason I opened this thread is a place called Quitnet, there they have a tool you can use once you join ( it is free and no junk mail unless you want you stats sent to you-- which I do) Anyway they have a tool-- you put your information in then it gives you your stats like so:

469 days, 13 hours, 59 minutes and 13 seconds smoke free.

14087 cigarettes not smoked.

$2,110.50 and 3 months, 17 days, 14 hours of your life saved.

Your quit date: 5/20/2008 12:01:00 AM



There is also forums on there for support where you can speak to people if you are having a craving. I found though the more I spoke about smoking when I was quitting the more I wanted it-- so I did not go ( everyone is different in their quit-- some need the hands on support and talk)

I hope that helps!


Keep the Quit!!

NOPE = Not One Puff Ever!