Week 2 Day 4 - Champix

[nsd_user663_54064]

Hi All,

I'm giving Champix another shot after managing 2 years off the cigs completely until about 2 years ago. My main stumbling block last time round was the breakdown of my marriage on New Year's eve 2010. I've been a smoker ever since then and gone through some bad times - very depressing. The aftermath of the marriage breakdown lasted a whole 2 years - I dont think that smoking helped my mood but it gave me something to do during the lonely times.

I tried again using champix this time last year but I was living with a friend who was a smoker who smoked in the house - I buckled very easily. It was a half hearted effort I must say.

Anyway, this time i'm committed to giving up as I have good reasons:

- I live alone now back in my own (the place me and my wife bought together) and I've recently consolidated my car loan and credit card balances into a single 6.1% APR loan - that got a huge stress off my shoulder as the credit card debt was climbing rapidly. Times are extra hard now as I dont have my trusty barclaycard to fall back onto at the end of months so I'm planning every single spend... The ciggys are costing me between £4 and £8 a day depending on how much I smoke. This is a cost I could do without !

- The other thing is that I've always enjoyed running outdoors. I did the great north run in September this year with the help of eCigs to cut down on the real McCoy. Since the great north run, the keilder 10k and a few 5k races in october I hit a wall. I lost my motivation for running and this was because of one stupid habit making me feel lethargic and tight chested.

Anyway, flash forward to now and I'm in week 2 of my champix course. My last day of smoking is tomorrow.

The usual side effect of depression started kicking in properly when I switched from the 0.5mg tablets to the 1mg tablets on monday morning. I know i'm going to have to just suck it up and persevere through the 12 weeks but it takes me back to thinking about good times me and my ex wife had together and failed relationships I've had since. Eventually leading to a feeling of hopelessness

In an attempt to tackle the side effects I put my running shoes back on on tuesday night and took myself for 5k - I wanted to go for a run while I was still smoking to see if I can see the benefits next week when I've stopped.

Anybody else having champix and feeling depressed as a result? If so, have you got any tips for raising my mood (please bear in mind that I dont have much spare money to treat myself).

Thanks for reading and I apologise if my english was a bit shabby in places. It wasn't my strongest subject at school.

Mark

[nsd_user663_53202]

Hi Mark. I was using Champix. My main problem was anxiety as well as feeling low. I found that reducing the Champix dose was very effective. Still got the benefits of the Champix, but without the excess anxiety it had been giving me.

I varied the dose by cutting up the 1mg tablets (I checked this with my GP - its OK to do it) That way you can reduce the amount you are taking in a controlled way. For example, at one point I went from 2 x 1mg tablets per day to 3 x 0.5 mg (half tablets) per day.

[nsd_user663_53212]

Mark fair play for the going and quitting again...

I used champix for 2wks but had really bad side affects but it helped kick start my quit, so I not worried

You if you have probs do the way biggrin says as it has worked ( huge congrats for biggrin ) his now on wks 7 so knows what his on about :cool:

Failing that I went cold turkey then on 2 lozengers and this worked for me, as I also on7wks

Good luck hun

[nsd_user663_52604]

HI

I used champix for about a month just to get mne over the initial bad part, i personally couldnt handle the 2 tabs a day - i was sick as a dog off 1 a day, but i managed a month and they just helped me get out of the habit of reaching for the fags,

You sound like youve really prepared for this quit and good on you, if we can help holler,

[nsd_user663_54064]

Hi Mark. I was using Champix. My main problem was anxiety as well as feeling low. I found that reducing the Champix dose was very effective. Still got the benefits of the Champix, but without the excess anxiety it had been giving me.

I varied the dose by cutting up the 1mg tablets (I checked this with my GP - its OK to do it) That way you can reduce the amount you are taking in a controlled way. For example, at one point I went from 2 x 1mg tablets per day to 3 x 0.5 mg (half tablets) per day.

That sounds like a good idea. Today is my quite day and I'm feeling fine at the moment (keeping myself busy). I'm a bit weary about taking a reduced dose in the fear that the cravings might come back. I 'm dont feel nauseas, just a bit low. I might try cutting the tablets up and spacing them out throughout the day rather than taking a full does in the morning then one at night. These are the times I feel the most low

Thanks everyone for your comments and advice. I wish you all the best in your quest to give up the cigs.

Mark

[nsd_user663_53202]

That sounds like a good idea. Today is my quite day and I'm feeling fine at the moment (keeping myself busy). I'm a bit weary about taking a reduced dose in the fear that the cravings might come back. I 'm dont feel nauseas, just a bit low. I might try cutting the tablets up and spacing them out throughout the day rather than taking a full does in the morning then one at night. These are the times I feel the most low

Mark

Don't worry about reducing the dose a small amount - the idea is not to stop entirely in one go! If you reduce a bit and find it's too challenging, you can always put the dose back up.

[nsd_user663_42390]

Hi Mark, I used Champix and I found them to be great, just suffered nausea and weird dreams.

You have had a bit of a rough time and now its time for you to start taking care of yourself.

The running will lift your mood as you probably already know. That will be the best thing you can do for yourself apart from quitting the cigs. Once you have quit and you are running regularly your self esteem will improve and that will transfer itself to your everyday life. This forum will provide you with support and friendship things that we all need in our lives. Have a good day and let us know how you are going on Mark. I will look out for your posts