I've quit and started multiple times. I find its best for me to go CT. My last stint was 6 months, which ended up with me falling off the wagon. I feel like I needed more help this time so got a prescription of Champix and am on my 8th day!
I have been now nicotine free for 24 hours, and honestly what a miracle drug. I do not feel like smoking at all! BUT my energy levels are so so low. I also feel sad, not depressed or suicidal (the worst case side effects) but just not really feeling much at all and unable to feel joy. I didn't feel like this in my other quits and was feeling this way before I had my last cigarette yesterday.
Has anyone had similar experiences? Does it go away with time? Would love to hear about your experiences.
Oh and happy Friday folks!
Written by
cassie87
1 Year Smoke Free
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Hello, Cassie87. First of all, congratulations for not giving up! You'll do it this time
I had Champix when I tried to quit smoking some 4 years ago, and it was absolutely horrible!!! I didn't feel like smoking, BUT I had lucid dreams, terrible, I was feeling extremely sad, I even started to become a bit paranoid and aggressive with people (please don't take me wrong, I wasn't violent, or anything, but it was as if I were someone else, in a way). Sadness evolved into a deep depression, and I stopped with the Champix.
One day I found in The Guardian an article about a very similar experience, attributing it to the fact that the medication acts at the level of the central nervous system...
I never wrote about my experience with Champix here, as so many of us in this blog are using it, but I decided to do it, in reply to your post. Maybe it has these effects on some people only.
I don't smoke for 7 weeks and 4 days and I am using Nicorette chewing gum (4 mg in the first 2 weeks, 2 after that), some 6 or so a day. The cravings are much better now.
This blog HAS HELPED ME IMMENSELY. Do come here, talk to us. I hope all goes well with you!
Thanks Anaamaral - really hope I can make it to 7 weeks too! Glad the NRT is working better for you
Hi Cassie, Well done on 9 days smoke free. I have stopped several times in the past going CT, gum, patches Vapes but this time I'm using Champix. I started 18 day ago on Champix & have been smoke free for 6 days now. Like you the really strong urge to light up is not there, also like you I do feel low most of the time again not suicidal or depressed, but to a certain extent uninspired with no fun in life. I play music a lot & when I'm playing I'm happy again. I love just playing. So I guess I would try to have a passion in your life. I play everyday so as to distract myself from even thinking about smoking. My long term thoughts are > Temporary lowness whilst taking Champix & stopping smoking, then to stop Champix continue to stop smoking then to get back to my happy go lucky self again without Champix or smoking. I'm pleased I read your post because your feelings seem to match mine. I hope this makes sense to you Cassie. Good luck for the future.
Hey Harmonicaman, so happy to find someone later on in their quit (awesome job on the 9 days!) with similar symptoms (in the nicest way). Music is a great way to get lost in the moment. How is your quit going? When do you plan on stopping Champix?
Managed to go for a 5k run yesterday, first time I've had the energy to do exercise in the last week. I think I will try to do 30min of exercise and join a yoga class as a distraction. Tonight will be the end of of my 3rd day. Hopefully the worst will be over with the nicotine withdrawal and I can start tapering off the Champix soonish. Maybe take half a pill instead of a full pill.
Hey Cassie, the quitting thing is going well i think, however, i get times when it really is hard still. I would like to run & exersise but I also have artery desease in my right leg so I get claudication pain with exercise. So that's why I play & perform music rather than exersise. I feel it's good for you though. Well done on 5 k run. Good work. I planned to do 3 months on champix. But now you say that. Maybe I may try cutting back as you say. (Good idea). If the urge to smoke again then probably up the dose again. Good thinking Cassie. I will keep you informed of my progress & see how we get on. At this moment I feel I still need them though. Good luck . Bye for now. 😎
RoisinO1Administrator3 Years Smoke Free• in reply to
Welcome to our community Hidden , huge congratulations on 1 week smoke free today, well done! Music has also been a huge impact in my quit journey and got me through many a low in my journey - will be 3 years for me cold turkey in September.
Keep up that great positive mindset you have and the music playing, do you just play the harmonica?
Hi Roisin, Thank you for the welcome. In only 1 week of my quitting I must admit the support I have got from this community from Moderator to Admin & Winners has truly aided my stopping so far. Tell me Roisin in the 3 years September your fight is finally over ??? lol. Congrats on CT & your 3 yrs smoke free. You are defo a winner. . I intend to strongly keep going with my fight against Nico. I will also use my music & various instruments to distract me from smoking. In answer to your question. No harmonicas are not my only instrument I play. however, I have about 34 or so, different Keys, they are my first instrument. The "blues Harp" (harmonica) is a beautiful tool to use, & I love blues music. I play & am still learning all the time, Guitar, Cohon, bodhran (Irish Drum), Sing & play with various other percussion instruments & people to enable a song to roll along. Particularity singing & harmonies with my Guitar playing at this moment in time. Life I find is always a learning process. 1 week in to quitting & sleepness is a particular problem for me so 4 am in the morning picking a Guitar, working out some tunes & melodies really distracts from that darn Nico. ha ha. Anyway I ramble. Thank you for your encouragement & support Roisin. NOPE....
RoisinO1Administrator3 Years Smoke Free• in reply to
Hey Hidden - 1 month now, hope you are continuing to get on well?
In answer to your question (apologies for the late reply), the fight at almost 3 years is definitely over, yes, I do get an odd feeling/urge that I would love a smoke but can easily shrug them off as I have the mindset now that I can NEVER have just 'the one'. Another thing that keeps me smoke free is the how I really detest the smell of smoke, it makes me feel sick
Music is also such a huge part of my smoke free journey, I don't play anything but love listening to music to lift my mood, into all sorts of genre but grunge and metal would be my favorites
Welcome to our community cassie87 - congratulations on almost 3 days smoke free, by the end of today the nicotine will be out of your system - the sense of sadness, lack of energy and feeling low is perfectly normal withdrawal symptoms but also side effects from the champix (I stopped cold turkey almost 3 years ago now, but know from several members here, the depression is a common side effect - if it does get worse or not ease off, go back to your doctor for a chat as champix should not be prescribed especially if there is a history of depression).
Below is some pinned posts on common nicotine withdrawal and champix side effects worth a read if not already done so:
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ALMOST AT THE 3 WEEK POINT!
The end of "sigh" another day one. 
Day 27 Champix :)
The damn patches