Day 2 quit, on champix.: Hi all, I'm... - No Smoking Day

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Day 2 quit, on champix.

Hi all,

I'm completely new to forums of any kind so go gentle! I'm now on my 6th serious quit attempt in the last 9 years, a few years ago I did 10 months but a few beers and "one cigarette would be fine" completely ruined all the hard work!

After so many quit attempts and all of them on Champix, I just wanted to share my experiences previously and on this quit.

After a terribly failed attempt last year where I lasted 4 days without a cigarette, I had a full pack of Champix left and decided 10 days ago to go all out to quit again, I've recently had my first child, so my 6 month old is very handy for focus and incentive! I've always had incredibly bad nausea with Champix, to the extent that the thought of taking it made me feel anxious and sick. So I tried a new way of taking them, from previous attempts I had never had trouble sleeping with them as some people had, so I decided to take the tablet when I got into bed at night, the first 7 days flew by, slept through the nausea and only one dose a day! I also made a point of very noticeably cutting down cigarettes over the 10 - 14 days before quit day. I was a 20 a day smoker, and probably 30 a day on the weekends, so I started on a Monday, and gradually went from 15 a day on the 2nd day down to 4 on my last day smoking. I tried to cut out some of the habitual cigarettes to get used to that part earlier, I.e my morning cigarette break at work (stopped on day 3), cut down to 2 at lunch instead of 3, ( around day 4), and so on, just to try and settle into some sort of routine around being a non smoker early on! This really helped! Once the dose rose to 2 tabs a day, I made sure I had a filling lunch , took the 1st tablet, (some sickness, but as long as I wasnt hungry at all its bearable), and second one the same as before, in bed! D finitely more manageable!

Anyway, I had my last cigarette at 11pm on 20th January, so have now just completed my 2nd day. Here's where I look for some advice! I have found myself really struggling unlike previous quits to not think about cigarettes. I have headaches, I'm really irritable, I feel randomly sick, and dizzy, it's really tough....

I am really determined to not start smoking again, I'm not thinking about picking up a cigarette, I'm just trying to find a way of making the next couple of days at least a little more comfortable. I'm approaching the dreaded 72 hour withdrawal stage, and don't want to be a rocking mess in the corner!

So does anyone have any tips or advice?

Sorry to waffle on a bit, I just thought sharing my experience would maybe help others in some way or another, if not at least I tried!

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12 Replies

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HercuValued Contributor9 years ago

Vincent.... I admire your guts to never stop to quit.... and that on Champix !.... I have quit on Champix and said it previously that I am to much of a sissy to go through this agony again.....Yes the Champix side affects is nasty but it helped me to quit after 38 years, 40 per day on my first attempt.

I have learned to take the first dose later in the morning after a few cups of tea and rusk or 2 and being busy....2nd one I also took just before going to bed ....Due to my very busy and physical days I could fall asleep fairly easy but yes only for 4 to 5 hours and then it was sleeping like a baby...Awake a little....sleep a little..awake a little and again sleep a little...

The nicest thing about it all was that I never really had serious cravings.

But Vincent it was all worth it and after 7 months smoke free I am starting to feel good and enjoy life without the stench, wheezing, coughing....etc.

Stay strong and you can do it... You know the triggers and can prepare to avoid them.....!!!!

Linda9344• in reply toHercu7 years ago

I was able to quit smoking recently thanks to champix

RoisinO1Administrator3 Years Smoke Free• in reply toLinda93447 years ago

Welcome to our community Linda9344 - perhaps create a new introductory post sharing your story and how long you have been smoke free as this post is over 2 years old and inactive

nsd_user663_645649 years ago

Hey Vince,

Cant offer advise on Champix BUT I can say , READ - READ - READ it is what got me through the first week or two , the people on this site have a plethora of knowledge and understanding when it comes to quitting you can do this!

• in reply tonsd_user663_645649 years ago

Very wise comment...

nsd_user663_596449 years ago

Hi just popping my head in to say, a huge well done, on making the decision to quit, and join this amazing forum.

I can't give advice on champion,

But as said above read and post often

GrahamA3 Years Smoke Free9 years ago

Hi. I've always quit on Champix and never had any problems with it (slight nausea if I don't take it with food). What I did was not put too much pressure on myself, ie none of 'This is the last one ever, I must not ever have another one...' etc to begin with, just 'I won't have one today, no big deal', then the same thing tomorrow and so on. When you are comfortable in your quit then say - I don't want to go through that again, let's call it a day or something.

9 years ago

I've done the champix twice and CT as well.

The champix definitely helps a lot. It is hard to tolerate for some.

A lot of the reported side effects on champix are not actually directly related to the champix intake but the quit itself.

Tge vast majority people in here has reported sleeping disturbances and they weren't taking the champix.

I've tried both with and without, the champix makes it worse to sleep and the dreams are much vivid... Even scary...it is worth it, focus on your goal rather than what you have to do to get there.

Personally I didn't take the night pill because I wasn't able to sleep.

I did 1 pill in the morning for 15 weeks.

nsd_user663_646369 years ago

Thanks everyone! Near the end of day 3 now and feeling better today!

9 years ago

Great! Well done to you!

The nicotine is nearly gone out of your system... Stay strong!

RoisinO1Administrator3 Years Smoke Free9 years ago

Welcome Vincent and well done on reaching Day 3. I don't have experience on champix, as advice given above will add to keep yourself extremely busy for the next month. Wishing you every success in your quit and look forward to reading your updates.

Sparkle112 Years Smoke Free7 years ago

Hi all. I'm also new to this. Thought I'd write as feeling very frustrated. I took Champix some years ago & it really worked. By day 10 or so just the thought of a cigarette made me feel nauseous. I would happily sit with friends who smoked & I never had the urge. That was, until a few days into my second packet of Champix & the nausea was so bad I stopped it. Unfortunately and stupidly I fell back into my old habit. First a cigarette here and there, then buying them again. In hindsight I should have taken more food with the pills & completed the course.

Now I've started Champix again. I take my pills with food & nausea is at a minimum. The only problem is that I still have the urge to smoke. Before it disgusted and repulsed me but now it seems it's simply not working. I'm on day 12 & still have the urge to smoke as usual. Did anyone else have this? It's making me so nervous as I only have two days to go until I should stop. I also have another 28 day supply. I'm really hoping that repulsive feeling to nicotine happens soon. I'd appreciate some advice or if this has happened to anyone else. Many thanks.

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