Want to Quit? - Champix

[nsd_user663_57546]

I just thought I would post something here that I hope might help people just starting their quit or thinking about taking the plunge...

Until a week ago I smoked 20-30 per day for the last 25 years and had tried and failed a few times to quit mainly using patches. My last 2 quit attempts lasted less than 24 hours each!! (I just couldnt hack it) I smoked from the minute I woke up until the minute I went to bed.

Having spoken to my GP he suggested I try taking Champix. Having looked online at potential side effects it was a little worrying but I took the plunge and started taking them anyway. Apart from a few very minor side effects (like changing the way coffee tastes!!) Ive had no problems at all however the help I feel it has given me in quitting has been MASSIVE

On previous quits I have literally been climbing the walls and going demented through withdrawal. This time, I spent the first few days feeling a strange empty feeling (which made me eat like a horse!!) but all completely manageable. I am now 7 days into my quit and I must say it feels very very easy now (apart from me having a lousy stinking cold :eek:). Who knows what the future holds but I really feel like I will never smoke again in my life and that it will be piece of cake to achieve that.

Im sure Champix isnt for everyone and Im sure there are people on this forum who've had a bad experience using it but all I would say is dont dismiss it as an option to consider. Its not a magic "wonder drug" and you still need to really want to quit and commit to doing so but I feel it has made a huge difference to me in my quit so far.

If it helps you the way it has helped me, I promise you YOU REALLY CAN QUIT SMOKING WITHOUT HAVING TO GO THROUGH HELL AND BACK!!

If I can quit, anybody can!!

Good Luck guys

[nsd_user663_57321]

Hi Richie, me again - just to agree with everything you have said about Champix. i have had the odd side effect but well worth the result.

No, it is not a wonder drug, you do need to want to seriously stop and have that commitment but it certainly gave me the "kick start" I needed. Couldn't have achieved this without it .....

[nsd_user663_55883]

Hi Richie so glad your finding it easy !!! I quit earlier this year for 8 weeks cold turkey but started again :-(( I have made an appointment at the doctors next week am going to see if I can get champix, will let you know how I get on

[nsd_user663_57546]

Thanks Mrs C.

I would say its defo worth a chat with your GP about it. When I have tried quitting in the past (I did 6 weeks on one quit), I have always felt like Im teetering (not sure thats how you spell it) on the edge of starting smoking again and that it was a constant daily battle against the Nico-Demons in my head. I REALLY wanted to smoke but I just made myself not smoke.

All I can say is that this time on the Champix it is very very different (dare I say easy!!). Im just not that bothered about the thought of smoking even.

Please do let me know how you get on with your doctor and what you decide to do.

Jess, I 100% agree with you

PS. I hope my original Post didnt come across as in any way preaching to people. I just hoped it might be hepful.

[nsd_user663_54305]

Richie,

Totally endorse your thoughts!

You clearly have it cracked - you sound comfortable in your quit which is great, all I would say (from personal experience:mad is never substitute comfortable with complacent - 'just one' is never an option. I thought I'd done so well, with almost a year under my belt, that 'just one' would be OK - it took 'just several thousand' and about four years to climb back on the wagon. We will always be addicts - never forget that, and you'll fine.

[nsd_user663_51711]

Oh how right you are, AnEggIsAnEgg. I was quit for about 15 years and fell for the just one trick and ended up with another 15 years or more of smoking. My first quit was cold turkey and I managed fine with no help once I convinced myself I was fooling no one but myself sneaking the odd one.

For my second quit I went the Champix route although on half dose and half the course because I could not cope with the nausea. The effects on me were amazing. I stopped before the date I'd chosen because I just did not want to smoke. On my own I just could not drum up the same will power I had in my first quit.

I'm coming up to ten months quit now. I've lost a stone of the stone and 10 pounds I put on, so I am almost back to normal weightwise ( five day eat 2 day fast thing). I've saved about £2000. My clothes and hair don't stink. My asthma has improved to the point that I hardly ever use the reliever spray. I'm not constantly worrying about where I go in case I cannot get my nicotine fix. So many benefits.

I'm so pleased it's working for you , Ritchie, and you have so many many more rewards to come, believe me.

[nsd_user663_57059]

I just thought I would post something here that I hope might help people just starting their quit or thinking about taking the plunge...

Until a week ago I smoked 20-30 per day for the last 25 years and had tried and failed a few times to quit mainly using patches. My last 2 quit attempts lasted less than 24 hours each!! (I just couldnt hack it) I smoked from the minute I woke up until the minute I went to bed.

Having spoken to my GP he suggested I try taking Champix. Having looked online at potential side effects it was a little worrying but I took the plunge and started taking them anyway. Apart from a few very minor side effects (like changing the way coffee tastes!!) Ive had no problems at all however the help I feel it has given me in quitting has been MASSIVE

On previous quits I have literally been climbing the walls and going demented through withdrawal. This time, I spent the first few days feeling a strange empty feeling (which made me eat like a horse!!) but all completely manageable. I am now 7 days into my quit and I must say it feels very very easy now (apart from me having a lousy stinking cold :eek:). Who knows what the future holds but I really feel like I will never smoke again in my life and that it will be piece of cake to achieve that.

Im sure Champix isnt for everyone and Im sure there are people on this forum who've had a bad experience using it but all I would say is dont dismiss it as an option to consider. Its not a magic "wonder drug" and you still need to really want to quit and commit to doing so but I feel it has made a huge difference to me in my quit so far.

If it helps you the way it has helped me, I promise you YOU REALLY CAN QUIT SMOKING WITHOUT HAVING TO GO THROUGH HELL AND BACK!!

If I can quit, anybody can!!

Good Luck guys

Champix is amazing! I am 13 days into my quit all thanks to Champix! Wish i had discovered it years ago!

[nsd_user663_56673]

Yep, I too, quit using Champix and like Sophie said, wish I'd tried it sooner

[nsd_user663_57683]

Richie

I Too have quit with Champix, never ever thought i would quit because i have tried so may times before but read about Champix so went to docs and asked to try it , its now 26 days since i last had a ciggy and dont intend on ever having one ever again :). Its like a miracle drug to me i just dont even have the urge to have one, nothing , no craving unbelievable.

A few people i know didnt work for them and true i have had some side affects but only mild ones so i have been lucky but best thing i have ever done

[nsd_user663_55843]

Well, i'll have to agree with Champix... Wonderful drug that makes smoking just seem pointless and unattractive.. Honestly makes you have no appeal for cigarettes nor feel any better having one..

Today, Sunday I guess now... 81 days smoke free!

Unbelievable to be honest... Anyone who thinks they can't quit... they can... I quit with Champix and if I can quit you can too!