Champix - Day 2 and other quitting thoughts

[nsd_user663_14435]

Hi Everyone!

I started Champix yesterday and boy, am I starting to feel some side effects! Just the usual though, nausea, a bit of a headache and some lightheadedness.

Does (or did) anyone find that in the early days of Champix, or at any time really, that they felt their nausea got worse after they had a cigarette?

One good thing is that already, I feel like I don't need to smoke as much as I usually do. I'm not a "heavy" smoker by all means, but already in the last 24 hours, I've only had 5 cigarettes. I guess it could just be a psychological thing but it's really got me thinking that I can do this whole quitting thing, instead of the usual feeling approaching a quit date of pure dread!

[Cyprien]

Hi Jade

Well done on starting to quit. I gve up with Champix nearly a year ago.

First thing to say - is don't worry too much about it. Just let the Champix thing happen. Don't force yourself *not* to smoke but by the same token don't force yourself to have a cigarette. Champix will stop the craving, but you have still got to stop lighting up!

I had the nausea feeling, it got worse when I went on the 'big' dose but did seems to ease off if I ate something first.

Read as much as you can about it - do a search on here - there's loads of info about and it really does help to usderstand what's happening.

Good luck - let us know how you get on.

Sue

[nsd_user663_13984]

Hi Jade

I am on champix and have been smoking free for 15 days! I have to admit I didn't feel any different until around day 8/9, but was determined to stick to my quit date regardless. I could have easily carried on smoking but good old will power kicked in. To be honest I didn't need a lot of it as the cravings were probably at about 5/6 a day, but were mild. In that I could make a cup of tea and by the time I'd done it the craving had gone.

Now on something like day 23/4 of champix and cravings are down to once or twice a day but I simply say no way - think of the money you have saved, think about the smell of your clothes, breath, hair etc and by the time I have said that in my head the craving has totally gone. Plus for me I see it as a personal challenge and that I will succeed. That alone seems to get me through.

Good luck!!1 Hope all goes well!

Pinot

[nsd_user663_7469]

Well done Jade in your quit, can’t comment on the Champix as chose CT, but not matter which you choose to go with so long as you quit and stay quit that’s all that’s important, so well done and stay strong.

[nsd_user663_14435]

Thank you all so much for your kind welcomes to the forum!

I totally agree about eating before taking Champix. I felt quite ill yesterday but this morning I took my dose with some porridge and didn't feel sick at all!

[nsd_user663_10013]

Hi Jade

Agree with Cyprien - don't try and rush it. If you stop smoking straight away then great but if you go a couple of weeks before you quit then that's fine too. Your body will let you know when it's ready

Make sure you drink plenty too - it's surprising how dehydrated you can get when you quit and that can make you feel lousy.

Well done on your decision to quit and keep posting - it does help

[nsd_user663_14617]

nice way to go........Read as much as you can about it - do a search on here - there's loads of info about and it really does help to usderstand what's happening.

[nsd_user663_14628]

Wow you guys are all so great. I just started Champix 6 days ago and have had an upse stomach but I found that eating first and ginger tea helps that. My big prob hasbeen feeling manic. Each day the dose goes up I feel I'm on speed or something. but it seems to calm down after a coupl of days. This forum is so helpful. Just kowing I'm not the only one feeling this way.

[nsd_user663_10013]

Wow you guys are all so great. I just started Champix 6 days ago and have had an upse stomach but I found that eating first and ginger tea helps that. My big prob hasbeen feeling manic. Each day the dose goes up I feel I'm on speed or something. but it seems to calm down after a coupl of days. This forum is so helpful. Just kowing I'm not the only one feeling this way.

Hi Benny and welcome

Glad you got the nausea sorted - it's big problem for some. Just keep an eye on how you're feeling and if you're concerned have a chat with your GP or quit smoking advisor.

Good luck with your quit - have you set your stop date yet?

[nsd_user663_14628]

I'm aiming for Sat as I don't go back to work until Tuesday. My boss quite smoking with champix a couple years ago and he's really supportive and understands the side effects. He said he was wired for the first 2 weeks. It's great support but not the same as someone going through thesame thing

[nsd_user663_10013]

I'm aiming for Sat as I don't go back to work until Tuesday. My boss quite smoking with champix a couple years ago and he's really supportive and understands the side effects. He said he was wired for the first 2 weeks. It's great support but not the same as someone going through thesame thing

Well good luck for Saturday

I quit with a couple of people at work - we were all on champix and it was great to be able to chat about how we were feeling. Keep posting on here as it does help and it's good to hear how you're doing

[nsd_user663_14628]

Thanks pookie. I really find this forum helpful!!! Now I knw I'm not the only one feeling this way.BTW haven't smoked in 8 1/2 hours!!!! yippee

[nsd_user663_7713]

Good luck with your quit

[nsd_user663_9789]

Good luck with quitting.

Be aware that there are some serious psychological side effects of Champix and that it has been linked with breakdowns, depression and even suicide. So if you feel that you are having any large emotional changes make sure you contact your GP or go to a local hospital at once.

Personally I found there was some psychological issues when I quit at about the smoke free for 5 or 6 days stage. However this may well have been a combination of the Champix and withdrawal as the process of all the nicotine finally leaving your system can cause mild depression. However the issues I found with just listlessness, slight nervousness and a touch of over-emotionalness and it lastest 1 maybe 2 days maximum.

Ther only other side effect I really got was - much to my wife's disgust - was the most loud, violent, rancid wind. It went on for about 4 weeks (and if truth be told I thought it was really funny).

For the first week or even 2 when you go smoke free you'll feel incredible with all the oxygen rich blood pumping through your system - enjoy it while it lasts.

If your quit is anything like mine you'll enjoy the countless little moments where you marvel at this new life. I found simply lying in bed breathing deeply to be incredible until I got used to it. And getting my sense of taste back was just awesome. After I stopped for a week or 2 I was getting loads of tingly pains all over my body - I realised later it was blood flowing to places it had'nt been in literally years.

Take each day as it comes and, as much as you can, enjoy quitting. It gets a little bit harder when you have to start using a bit of will power after about a month but by then you be feeling great and its easy to just keep going.

Good Luck.