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Quit Smoking? Long and possibly rambling
So, H was just diagnosed high cholesterol and came home from the docs with an Rx for Chantix to quit smoking. The high cholesterol can be dealt with by diet, I'm all on board with that. It's the Chantrix that has me a bit up in arms. I will have to quit also, so hard for one to quit and not the other.
I've never heard anyone say the words "oh, I totally quit smoking while on it". I have however heard people complain about the side effects. From the Chantix site:
Some people have had changes in behavior, hostility, agitation, depressed mood, suicidal thoughts or actions while using CHANTIX to help them quit smoking. Some people had these symptoms when they began taking CHANTIX, and others developed them after several weeks of treatment or after stopping CHANTIX. If you, your family, or caregiver notice agitation, hostility, depression, or changes in behavior, thinking, or mood that are not typical for you, or you develop suicidal thoughts or actions, anxiety, panic, aggression, anger, mania, abnormal sensations, hallucinations, paranoia, or confusion, stop taking CHANTIX and call your doctor right away. Also tell your doctor about any history of depression or other mental health problems before taking CHANTIX, as these symptoms may worsen while taking CHANTIX.
I'm concerned because our lives are stressful enough down here without adding this into the mix. OK, lets be honest, the only thing about my life down here that I do love is my H (as in, if my Resident Visa got denied and I had to leave the country, it wouldn't break my heart) I'm kind of afraid that adding this may result in us divorced before the visa can even be processed!
I did quit smoking once for nine months using Zyban. I tired using it a second time with no luck (it's seemed like my brain said "fool me once shame on you, fool me twice..."). I had asked a doc about Zyban here and he said they prescribe Chantrix. So this seems to be the Australian Medical plan approved method. Quitting cold turkey hasn't worked for us. We tired electronic cigarettes and those only sorta kinda worked.
I want to be supportive, but I just don't know about this. Any opinions? Other than OMG yes do what you have to do to quit (I already know this one).
Re: Quit Smoking? Long and possibly rambling
Disclaimer: I have never smoked and so have no experience in quitting.
My younger brother tried Chantrix, and based on his experiences, and those of a co-worker on it, I would advise against using it. My brother was have horrid, vivid dreams and a constantly upset stomach. My co-worker had serious personality-change side effects, to the point her husband had her evaluated by psychiatrists. I would certainly never take it if there was any other option.
My young brother finally quit using electronic cigarettes and tapering off the nicotine content. He keeps the electronic cigarettes to have when he goes out with friends -- so he has something in his hands while he is drinking or talking in bars.
I would definitely advise against using Chantrix if there are other options. A co-worker here in Australia is going for hypno-therapy to quit smoking on Monday. I have heard of successful cases of hypno-therapy in the US, but do not know anyone personally who has used that method.
Good luck trying to quit.
I'll preface by saying H and I both smoke and he has been the advance quitter a few times without success, certainly in part because I hadn't followed suit. He tried with patches, gums and cold turkey. I have never tried to quit but plan to in the coming months, most likely using Chantix.
My reasoning is:
I have a few friends who quit using Chantix and raved about how easy it was, they didn't miss it at all, etc.
One of them did say it had a similar effect to anti-depressants in the numbing of feelings aspect of it but then again, this was a person who had previously been on anti-depressants, so I guess she was predisposed to suffering the side effects?
I'm sorry, I'm rambling. I guess what I'm trying to say is that it seems that the positives outweigh the negatives if you are not fragile to start with.
Having never tried to quit, I don't want to it twice. I also am aware that I'm very likely to be a complete monster b!tch when I quit - I'm thinking Chantix will help that by diminishing my cravings. Worst case scenario, I end up being a moody b!tch for a while, either because of withdrawls or because of Chantix.
Now, if you are relatively confident you can do it without the drugs, I would go for that, especially if you have any history of depression.
I just don't have much trust in my self discipline & willpower.
Sorry this was a novel. Obviously lots of thoughts going into it.
I would be OK with the numbing of feelings aspect. It's the possible manic suicidal thoughts part I've having issue with.
Are you sure your friend wasn't on Zyban? Zyban is really just Wellbutrin with a Z stamped in it instead of a W.
Neither one of us have a history of depression, but since we are already stressed to the max, the situation could open us up to the bad side effects.
Oh Neeps, the nine months that I had quit were the absolute most miserable nine months of my life. I was a raging biiitch. Hair trigger temper, burst into tears at the drop of a hat, mean as a snake, etc, etc.
Everyone told me that it would ease up as time went on, and well, it didn't. I had the "you want a cigarette" "no you don't" running commentary in my head almost every minute of every waking hour.
It was definitely Chantix. Reading your follow-up post re your mood when you quit before, I'd give it a shot.
I haven't heard of that one. I quit smoking cold turkey so I'm not going to much help with tips other than the obvious of stay away from situations in which you would usually smoke tips and make sure you always have something else to occupy your hands/mouth. It's so hard - I wish you both all the luck in the world with whatever method you choose. It will be so good for you in the long run, just try to remember that.
Do they do patches or gum there? I know its not ideal but it might help... I tried both, neither were for me but I do know people who've successfully used the patches to quit.
I know someone who quit successfully using Wellbutrin. For the record, I was on it for depression and had no side effects, even after tapering and eventually getting off of it.
Good luck!
My FIL is a doctor and said out of 10 people he prescribes Chantix to 8 of them quit smoking. A family friend smoked for 20 years and quit on week 7 of the program, but my dad tried it and didn't quit.
I think it is worth a shot at least. If the side effects are too much for you or your husband, you can always get off Chantix.
My Israel Blog!
Thanks guys.
I woke up this morning and H had already started the Chantix, so I guess that's the route he decided to go with.
Now for me to decide...
I?ve never smoked, so I don?t really know how it is. But, my brother and SiL were both smokers before they had kids. Both quit cold turkey and haven?t smoked for 7 years or so. I do know that they both tried several times unsuccessfully and that when they did finally kick the habit, they had managed to get rid of some major stressors so that they could focus on the not smoking. I?ve also heard good things about hypno therapy.
Maybe you could find something like yoga to help you relax and take away some of the stress of not smoking and or try some hypno therapy to compliment?