Qutting Smoking.

Anyone ever had to face this battle? How did you navigate and work through it? i am remiss to try chantix - knew a guy who had insane nightmares taking that stuff....i have tried patch before , didn't really help with my cravings. I find I really crave them at certain times. After meals, over morning coffee and before bed or when I am anxious about something.

I quit smoking cold turkey about 5 years ago. I had smoked for probably 4 years. When my wife got pregnant with our first it was the motivation I needed to kick the habit not only for the health benefits but diapers and formula are expensive! I had cravings for a few days but I consider myself lucky after hearing how so many people struggle for years before finally kicking it. My grandma had smoked for about 60 years and quit with the patch and gum. I believe in you Moe, you'll feel much better! Occasionally I do crave a cigarette but that's usually when we're having a few drinks but I've been able to fight the urge.

I quit cold turkey almost 5 years ago after smoking heavily for 31 years. Studies show that quitting cold turkey is far more effective than all other methods combined.

The sooner you acknowledge and accept the fact that there will be no easy remedy and that it will truly suck for a little while, the sooner you can embrace that suck and just get it done.

Watch out for the "Terrible 3s" - 3 days, 3 weeks, 3 months. Those will be the most trying times. Get past them, and you're all set. Good luck.

Moe, I too quit cold turkey after smoking for 13 years. In 1996 just after a divorce. I like to claim all the stress left my life so i didnt need them. I got to where i didnt like the taste anymore and was just ready to quit. I would recommend cold turkey. If you truly want to quit for YOU it will work. Even if you relapse once or twice recommit to stopping cold each time. Good luck.

I have quit on two occasions by going cold turkey myself. Each time I quit it lasted approx. 3 years each time. Other times I have stopped for a few weeks or couple months, but end up buying a pack. Not really sure why I start back up as I really don't enjoy smoking all that much and with the price of a pack here in WI at $8.14, it seems as if it would be a wise choice to quit again. Hopefully I can do it for good. Good luck to you in trying to quit.

I quit after 15 years of heavy smoking by first switching over to chew so i could immediately stop inhaling cancer smoke. Chew was amazing with a monster blast of nicotine to the head, very pleasurable, but after a month i down graded to nicotine gum for 2 months which was also amazing and addicting, but stopped that finslly.

Chantix is actually WELLBUTRIN.

FMCSA Advice On Smoking Cessation Meds

Additional Comments on an Occupational Medicine Forum

Wellbutrin (Chantix) is not SPECIFICALLY BANNED as a medication - BUT - YOUR COMPANY may not allow it, as it "can cause" DROWSINESS.

So if you decide to go that route - CHECK WITH YOUR SAFETY DEPARTMENT BEFORE YOU START. G-D Forbid you have an accident while on it - and they haven't given the OK, you could be in big(ger) trouble.

I'm a relapsed smoker. I've quit cold turkey. I've quit with the gum. I have two 180 piece nicorette gum boxes on top of my fridge for my next attempt - AFTER I LOSE 45 lbs. (haven't started the diet yet either - so much for NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS).

The gum is a DRUG REPLACEMENT THERAPY. If you actually follow the protocol of of dosage reduction - you can do it "gently" over 12 weeks, and stop the gum completely (done it twice that way). Most people end up STAYING ON THE GUM (my sister has for 20 years, as have many friends).

It is a "healthier alternative" to smoking. But it still ain't cheap - cost almost as much as the cigs themselves (assuming 10-12 pieces a day).

Most folks also don't follow the DIRECTIONS (chew until you get a stinging sensation, then park between cheek and gum), but CHEW FURIOUSLY to get that instant "nicotine bump" (ask me how I know - my doc told me "you know yer doing that wrong" - told him "GFY and mind his own business, what're you, my mother" - LOL - but I have that kind of relationship with my doc).

Lots of folks VAPE - but my personal opinion (BIAS) is that ANYTHING you introduce into your lungs aside from AIR is potentially harmful (and even AIR is questionable in some places). So to me "safer alternative" is NOTHING AT ALL. Just ask the guys that have had vape batteries blow up in their faces.

The KEY TO QUITTING ANYTHING - is to NOT START AGAIN (well, DUH!).

After quitting (the last time), on the gum for 6 months - I gave myself permission to have the ONE SMOKE I REALLY MISSED - THE AFTER DINNER CIGGIE. Which then gave me "permission" to have the "after lunch ciggie", then the "after breakfast ciggie" - and pretty soon, I'm squeezing my legs together on the way to the bathroom in the morning because I can't find the frikkin lighter.

And as a recovering alcoholic/addict with DECADES SOBER - I SHOULD KNOW BETTER. Picking up that first cig - is the same as the first beer/joint/crack-pipe. And I KICK MYSELF FOR DOING IT (the cigs, haven't done the others in almost 20 years).

Anyways - I do know people that went the Chantix/Wellbutrin route - they ALL REPORT BIZARRE DREAMS (as well as some other side-effects). I know folks that report "vivid dreams" on the patch too. I have other friends on Wellbutrin as a "psych med", and while they "aint right" to being with, you can tell they're being medicated (or in many cases, OVERMEDICATED).

In a "safety-sensitive-position", like DRIVING A TRUCK - I'm not sure I'd be OK with it - without knowing FOR SURE how it affects you (and this varies from individual to individual) - so again, BE SURE AND CHECK WITH YOUR SAFETY DEPARTMENT ON THIS. You'll likely find most are going to give a THUMBS DOWN - just to err on the side of CAUTION.

But I'm not a doctor, or a safety manager - just a "technical advisor"...

Rick

Besides weird dreams, Chantix can cause suicidal thoughts and has over 3,000 deaths attributed to its use. My baby brother took it in 2007 and to this day has lots of aftereffect problems, starting with suicidal thoughts. They continue off/on periodically still, which has him struggling to maintain his roofing business and life in general.

An ex-husband said that quitting cold turkey was the only way to go. He never went back to smoking but did have cravings at odd times ever so often.

Laura

Anyone ever had to face this battle? How did you navigate and work through it? i am remiss to try chantix - knew a guy who had insane nightmares taking that stuff....i have tried patch before , didn't really help with my cravings. I find I really crave them at certain times. After meals, over morning coffee and before bed or when I am anxious about something.

I smoked three packs a day until I had enough.

Bought enough nicotine gum to last me a weekend. After three days I quit cold turkey.

That was 15 years ago.