Champix the story so far

[nsd_user663_4662]

Hi all,

I hope you are doing well with your fight against the evil nicotine!!

I haven't been on for a few days as been dealing with my own demons which are more related to Champix rather than not smoking.

So I thought it might help others if I put my experiences down on paper since day 1 and new Champix users can get an idea of what you are in for!

Don’t be put off as I am feeling fantastic at the moment and I haven’t smoked for Ten Days, 14 Hours and 50 Minutes, while extending my life expectancy 17 Hours, by avoiding the use of 212 nicotine delivery devices that would have cost me £60.66.

I am also very grateful to all my friends and colleagues who have supported through these first couple of weeks, it has made the process a lot easier.

And with my experience I have managed to get 2 of my colleagues who are also both heavy smoker to give Champix a go.

But don’t forget you need to have the want to stop.

Good luck to all, elwell70.

11.05.09 - Champix 1 x 0.5mg smoking 20 a day feeling fine.

12.05.09 - Champix 1 x 0.5mg smoking 20 a day feeling fine.

13.05.09 - Champix 1 x 0.5mg smoking 20 a day feeling fine, first weird dream.

14.05.09 - Champix 2 x 0.5mg smoking 20 a day feeling fine.

15.05.09 - Champix 2 x 0.5mg smoked 15, starting to dislike the taste of cigarettes and not feeling the effects of smoking as much.

16.05.09 - Champix 2 x 0.5mg smoked 30 as at a party got drunk and was smoking as I normally would have on a night out but not enjoying the taste or getting any of the enjoyment you would normally have.

17.05.09 - Champix 2 x 0.5mg smoked 10 wasn't enjoying the taste at all and no effect or enjoyment from smoking. Had my last smoke at 23:40.

18.05.09 - Champix 2 x 1mg QUIT DAY!! Felt really positive had numerous cravings through out the day at work and managed really well. My colleagues were very surprised as I was actually a little happier than I normally am on a Monday morning and I think Champix has put me in a happier state. Went out in the night to a show but managed to go to a bar before and friends were smoking and had no major issues.

19.05.09 - Champix 2 x 1mg Usual cravings in work lots of sweets and gum!!

Managed the day and still feeling positive.

20.05.09 - Champix 2 x 1mg This was probably the toughest day in regard to nicotine cravings. Found the day really hard but was still in a really positive state and managed to get through it smoke free. The night however was a different matter got really grumpy after I got home from work very irritable! Didn’t get much sleep at all and had lots of very vivid weird dreams.

21.05.09 - Champix 2 x 1mg Felt really good as I think I had broken the back of the physical nicotine addiction. Very few cravings and in a good state of mind. Got irritable again in evening. Managed to sleep but weird dreams.

22.05.09 Champix 2 x 1mg Good day. No cravings, really more the habit of having a smoke after a certain event playing on my mind. Normal sleep, no dreams. Did drink more than I usually do though, and I think I have been using alcohol as a bit of a crutch.

23.05.09. Champix 2 x 1mg The day started OK then went to a BBQ with some friends all non smokers except 1 who was my smoking buddy while I was a smoker especially in this circle of friends. It was going ok until it got into the evening when after a few wines the thought of having a smoke was stronger than ever. But managed to restrain myself with the support of the friends there (even including the smoker). Looking back I am so glad I didn’t give in and even have that one little puff. Normal sleep.

24.05.09 Champix 2 x 1mg Normal day no cravings and didn’t really think about smoking at all, just a quiet day at home. Found myself forgetting about it until I see someone smoking on the TV or in public. The night was bad, 2 hours sleep and when I did manage to get to sleep I had really mental dreams and woke up sweating buckets and very freaked out. Not good. :eek:

25.05.09 Champix 2 x 1mg Very tired due to lack of sleep. Spent the day driving round the south of England looking at wedding venues (doing another crazy thing next year!!). Got a bit grumpy towards the end of the day and really thought about smoking. Reminded myself why I was giving up, one of the reasons being I am getting married and want to start a family and felt good about it. Got home exhausted but positive that still not smoking. The night was again awful only 2-3 hours sleep (normally sleep 8-9 without stirring) crazy dreams like something from a horror film, hot sweating freaked out!!! :eek:

26.05.09 Champix 2 x 1mg Struggled to get up for work and now like the walking dead (as I had spent half the night in a dream with them!!) Struggled through the day but didn’t want to smoke just very grump due to lack of sleep. Had a bottle of wine in the evening to try and help me get to sleep it failed! Again only 2 hours or so of sleep more freaky dreams woke up sweating didn’t know what was real or not, generally not nice! :eek:

27.05.09. Champix 2 x 0.5mg Woke up late for work phoned my boss and explained that I had only had about 7 hours sleep in 3 days and was feeling a little worse for wear. He gave me a few hours off to sort myself out. So while at home I was thinking about Champix and should I stop taking it or not and how I had been since day 1 of taking it. After a bit of thinking I decided I would try reducing my dose as I had read somewhere other peoples experiences which were similar to mine and they had reduced there dose and it had helped. I keep my prescription in work during the week so I don’t forget to take it so by the time so when I got into work I just took half of the little blue wonder pill and continued with my day. Still no craving and no urge to smoke at all, all I wanted really was to sleep. Took the second half before I left work and went for a few beers, had dinner with a glass of wine and crashed out about 10:30 (that’s early for me) SLEPT LIKE A BABY!! Did have a slightly unusual dream but no where near the dreams I had had earlier in the week.

28.05.09 Champix 2 x 0.5mg Woke feeling refreshed and almost normal. Feeling really positive and in an exceptionally good mood. Haven’t thought about smoking except for about half a second after lunch.

I am not suggesting you change the dosage that your Doctor has prescribed but first impressions are that it has worked for me.

[nsd_user663_3728]

Hi Elwell

Great post and well done on your quit so far

Champix doesn't suit everyone as you know, there are afew on here who had to reduce the dosage for various reasons

I myself stopped it altogether at 8 weeks as I kept forgetting to take them for 2/3 days at a time with no ill effects or wanting to smoke again

Love

Marg xxxxxxxxx

[nsd_user663_4610]

Hi Elwee,

Great post; it was good to compare your experiences with mine;

Am on day 26 of taking Champix and day 14.......wooo hooo of not smoking, have had more or less the same experiences as you cept for the bad dreams, my dreams seem ok, it's the not sleeping I find hard.....tossing and turning half the night and thinking if I only had some fags I could have a fag and cuppa tea, some nights I feel sooooo miserable, and like you for the last couple weeks have slept in for work almost every day; a thing I have NEVER done in my life, took Thur and Frid off and I have to say that on both nights I slept like a log and have not got up till 10AM could have slept even more :eek:

The cravings were bad bad bad in the first week especially first thing in the morning but are now easing off, and the feeling sick is still there but will live with it.

Keep going.....we can do it xx