Day 3 on Champix

[Gracecanquit]

Hi Guys,

I'm new here, so go easy on me please.

I've been smoking since I was a teenager. I'm 41 now, so that's a long time. I'm the kind that would smoke at every opportunity I had. I averaged around 25 a day.

I've been thinking a lot about quitting lately, and on Monday (3 days ago), I bought a packet of cigarettes and it cost me AU$47. I thought that had to be it. I can't do this any more. So I went to the doctors and got the prescription for Champix and I started at 1pm on that day.

I smoked 22 on Monday, and down to 10 yesterday, and today, I've only had 2 and it's already 5pm. So hopefully this is working. I really want to quit.

[reader2019 5 Years Smoke Free]

Good luck to you! Take your pills with food. I used champix to quit and I am almost five months quit. There are quite a few people on here that quit with champix. If you have questions post them. I you need support post. Its a great group.

[Gracecanquit in reply to reader2019]

Hi Reader2019,

Thank you. So far, I don’t really have any side effects yet. But I know they’re coming.

I found myself craving for smoke a lot today, but every time I light up, I throw it away immediately. Like it’s gross. Haha. Imagine that just 3 days ago!

[reader2019 5 Years Smoke Free in reply to Gracecanquit]

When I started the champix I smoked for seven days and quit on the eight day. Just got up that morning and didn't smoke. The pills block the cravings.

[Abuelajeannie 3 Years Smoke Free]

I’ve no experience with Champix but good luck with your quit journey. Take it step by step, day by day, you’ll have good days and bad but very soon your good days will outnumber the bad.

[msjblonde]

Hi

Congratulations on making the decision to quit. Remember that this is a journey. You’ll have good days, bad days. Just roll with them.

I also smoked for around 30 years!

I quit finally 8 years ago with champix. I’ve smoked 2 cigarettes in those 8 years. Both horrible lol.

But it took me many failed attempts at quitting before one stuck.

This group helped loads. What also helped was reading the whyquit website and the blogs of people who were really unwell due to smoking. Reading their words of sadness and regret made something switch in me. I realised then that the suffering of quitting was nothing close to the suffering of lung disease or cancer.

One lady wrote ‘how do you know which cigarette is the one that will give you cancer? It might be the very next one you smoke’

That line really resonated with me and although I kept a pack in a drawer (my way of reminding myself that smoking wasn’t forbidden, it was simply my choice not to smoke now) I told myself I could have one if I wanted to. I never opened them.

I know that approach won’t work for lots of people but I’m the sort of person that won’t want something until someone says ‘no’ then it’s all I want. So keeping the choice mine was critical. When I felt desperate to have one I read a bit more of those blogs. Reminded myself why I was quitting. I distracted myself. Ate more than I should. Chewed things. Avoided triggering places, like my back garden. I always smoked with coffee in my garden. I still drank coffee but in the house.

Above all remember that these feeling will pass. Gently and gradually they will all go. I never think about smoking now. Can’t imagine I used to. I’ve no idea when that happened. I just know it did.

Keep going. Be kind to yourself and good luck!!

[Salz1 in reply to msjblonde]

Thats so interesting - I kept cigarettes around for years after smoking - for the same reason to remind me this was my choice! People said I was crackers so Im glad it isnt just me (I stopped now as it just doesnt matter anymore)

[Hercu Valued Contributor in reply to Salz1]

Myself...Had a pack 20's on top of the fridge with the lighter for almost 3 years after my quit...My wife decided to get rid of it..Never bothered me because I wanted to quit...Champix helped me a lot but did not make me stop ...I stopped

[Gracecanquit in reply to Hercu]

This timing is impeccable. This is my day 9. I didn’t have any more cigarettes left, so I didn’t smoke this morning. I bought a packet this afternoon because I wanted to be able to have one in case I wanted it. I literally had 1 puff after dinner and stubbed it out.

It’s 9.24 pm now, and for the last hour, all I can think of is I want to have 1, but I haven’t given in yet. This message came just as I was about to. So thank you. You saved me from having one. If I make it till the morning, I would consider this as my first day of not smoking.

[reader2019 5 Years Smoke Free in reply to Gracecanquit]

I also had cigs in my coat pocket. Kept them for a couple of months. You will find out early in your quit that it is the habit you miss more than the cigs. For me the champix took care of the cravings and I changed my routine. Also chewing gum and scotch mints replaced my cigs. I think we are all nervous about our quit day. Good luck

[Gracecanquit]

Thank you so much for your kind words. And advice. I’m sure they’ll help me a lot during this journey.

I had a few more today, but none I enjoyed. I put all of them out without finishing them. I just somehow felt like I had to. It’s so hard to explain. I can guarantee that every one of them were out of habit. So I really hope I’ll break that soon.

Tomorrow will be day 4, so It’ll be 2 tablets a day. I also only have 4 cigarettes left in the packet, I don’t plan on buying any unless I really have to. I feel like I can really do this.

Thanks again for your support!

[Salz1]

Just stick with it and shout out for advice. I had to use Champix to come off the nicorette quick mist (stopped smoking about 5 years ago and got hooked on the bloody NRT) ... you really can do this - this site is full of people that have successfully stopped and you have already made great progress so keep up the good work - sending hugs and support from the UK...

[Sparkle11 2 Years Smoke Free]

Hi there. I quit with Champix and have been completely smoke free for 2.5 years almost. I did the 12 week course which I would recommend. You can also smoke for the first 2 weeks while taking the pills. I stopped on the very last day. Following this I had a lot of nausea and bad dreams but I can assure you this does pass. If I can do it (& I was quite a heavy smoker) then so can you. Important you keep smoking till the last week. You are not supposed to reduce. The second week you will automatically feel like stopping. Hang in there xx

[Gracecanquit]

Thanks guys. I was calculating the savings today, and I honestly had no idea that I was spending that much. The average cost of a packet of 25s in australia is $32-$35, that’s almost $1000 a month on a pack a day. $12000/year!

It’s crazy how I just somehow made it work.

[reader2019 5 Years Smoke Free]

Wow that is a lot of money. They are double the cost there then here in Ontario Canada. That is one good reason to quit.

[Gracecanquit in reply to reader2019]

I was in Toronto in September and definitely noticed the difference in price!

[Gracecanquit]

Aaargh. Today seem to be harder. I had 1 this morning with my coffee, but that was the last on my packet, that I bought on Monday. (Wow!).

So now my mind is going crazy that I don’t have any more, and if I should buy another packet or not. I keep trying to make excuses in my head, like I’m allowed to on Champix, and that my quit date is 7 days away. I feel like I can do it now if I can just stay strong not to but...

[josd 6 Months Smoke Free]

I took Chantix and I really think I stopped the meds too soon and I think I stopped smoking too soon as well. Follow your gut and don’t make this harder than it has to be!! Good luck, I’m 10 months smoke free next week.

[Gracecanquit in reply to josd]

Wow, congratulations to you!

And thanks for your advice. I will try to be strong, but also understand that my mind is still confused and can’t just be switched off from being addicted to the habit overnight. One day at a time. 🤞

[josd 6 Months Smoke Free]

You got this!!!!