Trying to quit SMOKING? | Arthritis Information

He guys & gals...

After 25 years of smoking and trying to quit several times, my husband, aunt and myself quit smoking in Janurary with the wonderful NEW prescription CHANTIX. It helped soooo much! Talk to your doc and see if this is something you can take to help. They had talked about it the other day on the news, how it is the quit smoking miracle drug.

Anyway, just wanted to share with y'all!!

Have a great day!!!!
Blessed39221.6507523148

Blessed, any side effects from it? and do you still take it? how long did you take it? when you quit taking it did the cravings come back? I am considering trying this have heard alot about it.

kel

I have a script for that and want to use since there is an incredibly high success rate with it. However, we dont have the extra 240 bucks it would cost. It's true...30 day supply is around 0. I spent almost that much in cigs though. They recommend you taking it for 12 weeks. I only took it for 8.

Youn start the Chantix before you actually quit smoking. You take it for 7 days and quit on the 8th day. It upset my tummy just a tad. Not bad though. You don't get the physical cravings for the nicotine, but you will experience some physiological withdrwals. Again, they weren't that bad. I have been fine and have never cheated!! Very excited about this new medicine.

Good luck to all that try. But remember, NOTHING will help you quit unless YOU really want to quit. You can't quit for someone else, or some other reason, it will NEVER stick. You have to quit for YOU to make it stick!!
Blessed39221.6542708333 I tried when I came out of the hospital a few weeks ago. I just couldn't do it. I want to do it tho. Danny smoking in the house just killed me. Sooooo....until that money appears for us..probably in about 3 weeks...we are playing catch up from when Danny lost his OT when I was in the hospital...that is the first thing on our agenda. I hate it. I hate how my hair smells. I am also getting a script from my Dr. I am so ready to quit. I only go out to smoke and don't like the smell anymore which will help.Yeah, me and the hubby haven't smoked in our house for probably 10 yrs or so... The prices went up in Texas at the beginning of the year to over a pack. We agreed we needed to quit for health, smell, eating out, etc...not to mention i was NOT going to pay that much for such an awful habit!!!

I feel better..I think? I'm not sure. This year has been wacky!

March 5 my husband and I went for accupuncture & laser accupunture to quit smoking... just one session, (CAD) each. He had no cravings at all. I'm still smoke free, but I do think about it alot. I've read that for women it's harder because the nicotine is stored in our fat cells.

I'd recommend getting accupucture... it's definitely cheaper than a Chantix prescription.

Congratulations!, on quitting smoking. We have so much on our plate that giving up things 'we are used' to seems especially hard. I'm off of caffeine and that makes me crazy and have reduced calories to fight off the pred-spread, so giving up smoking must be a challenge, sarahBlessed, congrats are in order again. You are a trooper and should be proud
of yourself. A heroin addict once told me that heroin was easy to quit but he
had not been able to kick the cig habit. So, you should be proud. You and
your family will all benefit from this. And look at the money you have
already saved. I have not heard of this drug but am glad there is a good one
available. I know some have had success with Wellbutrin. Anyway, thanks
for posting this info.

Congratulations on quitting smoking! I too quit 3 + years ago!

After 25 years of smoking and trying to quit several times, my husband, aunt and myself quit smoking in Janurary with the wonderful NEW prescription CHANTIX. It helped soooo much! Talk to your doc and see if this is something you can take to help. They had talked about it the other day on the news, how it is the quit smoking miracle drug.

Anyway, just wanted to share with y'all!!

Have a great day!!!!
[/QUOTE]

I was on Chantix for 3 weeks and had to stop due to the side effects. It was causing terrible muscle and joint pain, on top of my RA. I had the shakes, nightmares, night time leg movement, anxiety, depression and I found myself getting up 4 or 5 times a night to go to the bathroom. I also had diarrhea and found myself sleeping on and off all day.

I called my Internal Med doctor and he said to stop taking them immediately! He also said that 75% of the patients that the hospital prescribed this medicine complained of the same problems.

I've been off Chantix for a week now, but I'm still having problems. The doctor had me come in for blood tests to see if there might be damage to my liver, which was healing from another bad drug.

If you'd like to read more, go to: http://forums.wrongdiagnosis.com/showthread.php?t=2301

And I'm still quit! If you need support, the best place I've found is QuitPlan: http://www.quitnet.com/

I belong to this site. They have a lot of support for you.

Susie in MN

Blessed~

congratulations on quitting smoking!!! I have heard great things about Chantix. I quit a few years ago cold turkey and haven't ever looked back. You will start feeling better, I promise.

Phats

I'm trying to break a 40 year habit. I've been trying for 10 years. The thing is you really have to want to stop. I think I still like to smoke, but I'm tired of being addicted. To have to go outside to smoke in 100+ heat on the west side of the building while having hot flashes has taken a lot of the fun out of it!

I'm a laughing stock with this no smoking thing...I have quit at least 10 times for a month and 2 times for 9 months. But I always seem to find my way back to my habit.

I am going to stop smoking. I hope it is before the coffin lid gets nailed on.

Keep on going Marian....one of these times it will Stick, I promise!!!

I "quit" many times before I actually quit for good. I think that is what we all do. I don't know about anyone else, but I keep losing that same 10 pounds over and over again too

Phats

Sounds like a promising drug, just watch out for those side effects mentioned above. Two comments: there is a source for prescription meds from Canada called www.buylowdrugs.com. I haven't used it but many on other boards I visit have, and it is very reputable and reliable according to people I trust. As an example, my RD recently prescribed Minocin (name brand for minocycline) - 100 caps. The prices ranged from 0 at a local grocery store chain to 00 at Wally World. I checked the buylow website - 6. For now I have decided to go with the generic for 6 months while saving $$ and may switch after that. The other comment is for anyone with liver damage or taking drugs that may cause it - milk thistle is a very benign, inexpensive liver detoxifier that is available just about anywhere vitamins are sold. Good luck - you are to be congratulated for making the decision to stop! Pat Wow.....I get my Minocin (brand) for . I'm lucky.

Anyway, I quite smoking over 7 years ago and not a day goes by when I don't pat myself on the back. Of my whole circle of peers I was probably the most hardcore smoker and the last anyone would pick to be a quitter. Yes, it was the hardest thing I ever did. And I never really cared about the 15 pounds I gained (now lost due to RA). I used the gum (a lot less than the package said but for 51 weeks!). Then I used the patch to get off the gum. Whatever works, right? Actually, by the time I got to the patch it was mostly psychological because I only used one patch.

One thing about quitting smoking is it really boosts your self-esteem. After quitting you realise you have a huge well of inner strength, and you can do amazing things. And not smoking is so handy! Not having to jones on airflights and during long fancy meals out. Plus, I figured it would increase my possible dates by double, since I was now eligible for smokers and non-smokers alike!

The way I see it, with all the no-smoking bylaws every where, I was destined for a life of cravings, so why not get all that craving done at once and then save a packet of money after. It was one of the best things I ever did. Plus, it inspired my sister to also quit---sibling rivalry, you know.

__________________
AP Therapy since Feb 2007, Sweet Mary Jane plus some of those no-fun drugs I forgot to mention that when you quit be prepared for about a week of all you're doing is not smoking.
Copyright ArthritisInsight.com