Hello all. I hope everyone's efforts are paying off in the best ways possible - I can't imagine a better Christmas gift to ourselves and our loved ones than to have us quit smoking.
Now, a few hours ago I replied to a member about Champix and how there seems to be different EU/US ways of taking it, and I reckoned it probably makes sense to have that answer of mine turned into a post because it may help others who may be considering Champix or maybe taking it already. I know I did a lot of research before taking it and from all I read, what helped the most to make up my mind were the reports from people actually taking it, so here goes.
Yes, there seems to be a few ways to go about Champix. The doctor that prescribed it to me is a specialist of imuno-alergology. First he prescribed a course of 14 days of 0,5 mg - one tablet for the first 3 or 4 days and then 2 tablets a day until the 14th. During these first 14 days you're supposed to "smoke as usual", but when I started this first course I had already disciplined myself and was smoking 3-4 cigarretes per day (from a pack-a-day before that). I was on that 3-4 cigs per day regime for about 3 weeks before starting the Champix, so I kept it going. You're also encouraged to pick a quit date, which you choose before starting the first course, and that date should be somewhere on the 2nd week of the 1st course. I chose day 12, but didn't make it. By the 12th day, I was still feeling no effects whatsoever from the Champix, aside from a bit of nausea. The desire to smoke was still there, going strong. So, when the 12th arrived, I still had 2 cigarettes that day and felt quite miserable for that. However, exactly on the 14th and last day of the first course, I started feeling that the Champix was kicking in and so I was able to cut down from those 3-4 a day to just 1-2 at the very beginning of the 2nd course and then just the one and then just lighting up one a day for 2-3 puffs and putting it out. Then came the 15th december and my first NOPE day. We're on the 21st now so... kudos for me, that's one week in!
The second course, which runs for a month, the one I'm on right now, that's 1 mg tablets, twice a day. I'm on the 19th day of this 2nd course, if I'm not mistaken (don't have the package with me right now).
After this 2nd course I may or may not ask my doctor for another run. There is that possibility for another run, because a full course of Champix is supposed to run for 3 months. I think I probably will go back for this 3rd prescription, because I really, really want to make sure that I fight this battle with all weapons in the arsenal. Last thing I would want to happen is a relapse and then regret for taking myself out of the Champix too soon.