Has anyone heard of Pfizer's Chantix

Deb in Michigan wrote:

Becky,
Also, when your blood sugar drops after you've quit smoking and you start craving sweets, try not to become obsessed with eating sweets like I did. Stock up on something healthier to eat, like watermelon, cucumbers, etc. You don't wanna gain weight, like I did.
Don't forget to read the nicotine withdrawal and recovery symptoms periodically, too:
http://whyquit.com/whyquit/A_Symptoms.html

Becky,

What Deb is saying is sage advice! THANKS DEB!

Jenna wrote:

I have not started taking the Chantix yet in fear of slipping into a Depression. I have heard from every person that has taken this drug that they felt extremely depressed. One guy friend of mine is the happiest person I know. He stopped taking the drug because he had thoughts of SUICIDE!!! That really scares me and feel like people should know about these stories. Does anyone know about a shot that doctors are giving for smokers?

Jenna,

According to Pfizer, about 3% are having these major issues. My husband just started Chantix and is doing fine. This is a personal choice, but what a lot of folks don't realize that a lot of the issues they are dealing with is from NICOTINE WITHDRAWAL, NOT THE CHANTIX..Read about nicotine withdrawal and the symptoms of this.

Viki

Started Chantix December 7, 2006
Quit Smoking 1/1//07
Last Chantix 5/4/07

John in C-Town wrote:

Greetings!
I started using Chantix 2 weeks ago and and as of 8:00 pm I have just completed my first 24 hours smoke and nicotine free. Looking forward to Day 2!

Welcome John.

CONGRATULATIONS AND YIPPEE ON 24 HOURS SMOKE FREE!!! You have to be so proud! This day is the hardest, it is all uphill from here! Keep us up to speed on how you do John!

Viki

viki wrote:

<quoted text>
Welcome John.
CONGRATULATIONS AND YIPPEE ON 24 HOURS SMOKE FREE!!! You have to be so proud! This day is the hardest, it is all uphill from here! Keep us up to speed on how you do John!
Viki

John, Congratulations!Keep up the great work!
J in A

I have been quit for almost 18 days,have saved $178.94 by not smoking 610 cigarettes and have saved 2 Days, 2 hours and 50 minutes of my life.

Hi everyone well it has been 4 days that I have not had a smoke and I'm happy about that, I was so mad at myself because 5 days ago I was mowing the lawn and I looked over and saw that my brother had a smoke in his mouth and I gave in and ended up smoking 3 cigs that day but then I said to myself( what the hell am i doing ) and I decided to really fight everytime I get an urge, I must admit that everytime I see my brother,sister or nephew light up I get the desire to ask them for one but so far I am doing good... another reason I found for me to quit is that I am a single man and most of the women that I have met do not smoke and do not like the smell on me from the smoking so it's a plus..

Teresa in Tennessee wrote:

<quoted text>
It'll work for you if you work with it.
Everybody is different, but you should get to a point where cigs taste like BLEH - that is the time to just go ahead and quit!
Good Luck to you!

everyone said that chantix made the cigs taste awful but that never did happen to me, only i didn't crave them nearly as much thus i was able to get down to 2 - 3 per day!

viki wrote:

<quoted text>
Hello Becky,
You must have had a reason for getting Chantix in the beginning, what was it? YOU CAN GET THROUGH this weekend if you WANT too. Let us know why you choose to take Chantix in the first place, and you have made it 2 days WITHOUT SMOKING, right?? I think this is awesome! I understand not wanting to gain weight, but let's get real. You and I both know a few pounds are much better than smoking. I, like many on this board, smoked for MANY years, 35+. It has not been easy for us, but we wanted to quit. Truthfully, some days were hell, but the big picture made it worth it. Again, why did you want to quit, why did you go on the Chantix...remember the reason... If you are having that hard of a time with anger, please talk to your doctor....I truly think you are in the nicotine withdrawal part. The first week is called "Hell" week...YOU CAN DO IT!!!
I hope can relate to these quotes.....
1.) I'd rather be a non-smoker with an occasional desire to smoke than a smoker with a constant desire to quit.
2.) If you smoke today, you will be back where you started, and where you started is desperately wanting to be where you are today.
For sleeping, take a hot bath, read a book, get the tylenol P.M. w/o the tylenol, I think it is called Simply Sleep, you can go online and check it out plus print a coupon for it.
Do lots of DEEP BREATHING, slow and deep, get the straws, shake up your routine. Your health is so much more valuable than a tailgate party. You have to like yourself, it sounds like you do because you have been working out for years.
THINK POSITIVE, THINK POSITIVE, THINK POSITIVE!!!!

Viki, the reason i went to chantix is i know i "SHOULD" quit. my boyfriend, friends and family want me to quit but i have always been a happy light smoker. i have a good friend in houston who is married to a doctor she just smokes a few cigarettes when she drinks and that's it! i would like to be able to do that. i am also extremely afraid of gaining weight. i am 48, i was always able to eat and drink what i wanted until i turned about 46 or 47. that has all changed and i am not dealing with it well. in addition i am untreated for generalized anxiety discorder. reason being i've been put on several different pills and they have all made me gain weight. why, because they tell your brain that you are NEVER full! therefore, you eat and eat and eat. i am looking decent now and will not take a chance to ruin it. this would be day 3 of not smoking but for several weeks while i've been down to 2-3 per day i have been eating 5 small meals a day all healthy protein and fruit stuff. but i am very depressed because i've had to give up most foods i like, not drink lite beer even at the one football game i've been to and lay back on the caffeine because it makes me desperate to smoke. for me the triggers are, food, any drink besides water and stress. i have been ok dealing with work stuff but the not sleeping has really caused me additional stress which i don't need! tylenol pm does nothing for me but i have been using 2 of some kind of PM pills each night plus even a simply sleep pill just to fall asleep. i wake up several times and can't get immediately back to sleep. i did take the bottle of magnesium caltrate last night and that was very successful but i'm afraid i'll have to do this every 3 days. if that's not working doesn't it mean your metabolism isn't working either?

Deb in Michigan wrote:

<quoted text>
I had insomnia after midnight for a couple of weeks until I started taking the second pill earlier in the day. Try taking it between 3 and 4 PM from now on. That should really help.
Go to the game this weekend, but be sure to take the Chantix that morning and take the afternoon pill with you. I know you can make it through the party without smoking.
And go find a punching bag to punch! Ya gotta keep your job so you can keep buying the Chantix so you can quit smoking so you can breathe better so you can live longer so your kids and grandkids will have to wait longer to inherit your junk!
Stick with the plan, Becky! I have a strong feeling you're gonna be really proud of yourself in the near future.

deb, yep i've been taking the pill around 3-4 since late last week and it hasn't worked. as for the football game, i better not comment until i get back sunday but don't count on it. maybe i could smoke 3 in a row and get sick to my stomach and that would make me quit!

Becky wrote:

<quoted text>Viki, the reason i went to chantix is i know i "SHOULD" quit. my boyfriend, friends and family want me to quit but i have always been a happy light smoker. i have a good friend in houston who is married to a doctor she just smokes a few cigarettes when she drinks and that's it! i would like to be able to do that. i am also extremely afraid of gaining weight. i am 48, i was always able to eat and drink what i wanted until i turned about 46 or 47. that has all changed and i am not dealing with it well. in addition i am untreated for generalized anxiety discorder. reason being i've been put on several different pills and they have all made me gain weight. why, because they tell your brain that you are NEVER full! therefore, you eat and eat and eat. i am looking decent now and will not take a chance to ruin it. this would be day 3 of not smoking but for several weeks while i've been down to 2-3 per day i have been eating 5 small meals a day all healthy protein and fruit stuff. but i am very depressed because i've had to give up most foods i like, not drink lite beer even at the one football game i've been to and lay back on the caffeine because it makes me desperate to smoke. for me the triggers are, food, any drink besides water and stress. i have been ok dealing with work stuff but the not sleeping has really caused me additional stress which i don't need! tylenol pm does nothing for me but i have been using 2 of some kind of PM pills each night plus even a simply sleep pill just to fall asleep. i wake up several times and can't get immediately back to sleep. i did take the bottle of magnesium caltrate last night and that was very successful but i'm afraid i'll have to do this every 3 days. if that's not working doesn't it mean your metabolism isn't working either?

Good Morning Becky!

You said you quit because you SHOULD quit, because of your boyfriend, friends and family want you too....WHAT ABOUT YOU, do you think you should quit? I'm sorry I am being so obnoxious, I just hope you will take a DEEP look at YOURSELF. I've had friends that could just smoke while drinking, I never could, although I tried it once, and was drinking every night just to have a cigarette!

You are not only depressed because you gave up some foods you like, but you lost a constant companion. I remember calling Pfizer in my early quit, sobbing and carrying on. Of course they told me they had never heard of this depression, yea right, but now, looking back on it I WAS GRIEVING!

When I went to my doctor last week I did ask my doctor about Celexa and weight gain issue, she said NO, not with Celexa. Again, Celexa is also good for anxiety/panic disorder. It sounds like your triggers are all associated with pleasure, so giving them up is a HUGE deal! Got to fine a new pleasure outlet. Actually you can do all the pleasurable things WITHOUT ADDING SMOKING TO IT! You might be amazed, after this week (hell week) is done. I REALLY LIKE YOUR HEALTHY EATING ROUTINE.

Your metabolism has been very disrupted by lack of nicotine and will take time to recover. Zen is our resident naturalist and has wonderful suggestion on natural health issues. I would address her in this area. Please know that this metabolic change is part of the whole nicotine thing. IT DOES GET BETTER...PROMISE!!

Again, Deb has great advice!! Make those kids and grandkids WAIT FOR THEIR INHERITANCE!!! WTG DEB!!!!

I have found that Walmart Pharmacy has it the cheapest, $130 a month. If you smoke a pack a day, this is less than one month's worth of cigarettes. Surprisingly my insurance doesnt cover Chantix, but I am appealing and hoping to get it covered. If not, $130 for 3 months is well worth trying to quit.;

Teresa in Tennessee wrote:

<quoted text>
It'll work for you if you work with it.
Everybody is different, but you should get to a point where cigs taste like BLEH - that is the time to just go ahead and quit!
Good Luck to you!

I'm looking forward to them tasting yucky! I start on 2 pills today. Is it just me or does Chantix make you feel calm and mellow? I'm not a hyper person, but I'm digging the mellowness!

Becky, abought this tail gate party, I love going to the casino, sitting at a slot machine, and having a coc, smoking a cigarette was my idea of a great time. the first time there, i thought i would go out of my mind (before i got there) while there it wasnt too bad. the second time i wasnt traumitized beforehand and while there i really did not mind too much, the third time, i was actually bothered by other peoples smoke and did not want one. it really does get better. its been 6 weeks for me. my biggest problem was depression, which i am still having but not as much. I got off the chantix after 4 weeks but last week i went on the patch , this is helping me tremendously. we are all having our problems with this addiction of ours, God help us all.

viki wrote:

<quoted text>
Good Morning Becky!
You said you quit because you SHOULD quit, because of your boyfriend, friends and family want you too....WHAT ABOUT YOU, do you think you should quit? I'm sorry I am being so obnoxious, I just hope you will take a DEEP look at YOURSELF. I've had friends that could just smoke while drinking, I never could, although I tried it once, and was drinking every night just to have a cigarette!
You are not only depressed because you gave up some foods you like, but you lost a constant companion. I remember calling Pfizer in my early quit, sobbing and carrying on. Of course they told me they had never heard of this depression, yea right, but now, looking back on it I WAS GRIEVING!
When I went to my doctor last week I did ask my doctor about Celexa and weight gain issue, she said NO, not with Celexa. Again, Celexa is also good for anxiety/panic disorder. It sounds like your triggers are all associated with pleasure, so giving them up is a HUGE deal! Got to fine a new pleasure outlet. Actually you can do all the pleasurable things WITHOUT ADDING SMOKING TO IT! You might be amazed, after this week (hell week) is done. I REALLY LIKE YOUR HEALTHY EATING ROUTINE.
Your metabolism has been very disrupted by lack of nicotine and will take time to recover. Zen is our resident naturalist and has wonderful suggestion on natural health issues. I would address her in this area. Please know that this metabolic change is part of the whole nicotine thing. IT DOES GET BETTER...PROMISE!!
Again, Deb has great advice!! Make those kids and grandkids WAIT FOR THEIR INHERITANCE!!! WTG DEB!!!!

That's funny you mentioned celexa. my doctor gave me the prescription but said not to take it until after i'm finished with the chantix so i haven't filled it yet. viki, i have had such bad luck with that type medicine (weight gain is a possible side effect of celexa) see webmd.com but not all people do i unfortunately have had weight gain with all that type of medicine. i made it thru day 3 better than day 2 as long as no alcohol i'm ok. my boyfriend is here this week with me but he's a pilot and will be gone next week. i worry when i'm alone also. i don't see how i will possibly make it thru the football tailgate party this weekend without 1 (or maybe i just know i will smoke) i'm real confused

Today is my first day...I was a sick puppy. Stomach problems. I hope tomorrow is better. I'm scared. I'm old and don't know if I can do this. I really want to so that I can live and not have to pant and have oxygen. I feel this is my last and best shot at quitting. I'm wanting to be smoke free so badly...I really am going to try.

Good morning everyone, well I am still hanging in there, so far so good. Thank you Teresa in Tennessee for your kind words

I have been reading these posts every day and the one thing that sticks out from the people who are having a hard time quitting. You all seem to be worrying about the future, instead of taking it one craving at a time. If you don't worry about whether you will be smoking at some time in the future, you can get through each craving much easier. Imagine only dealing with the here and now, why worry about something that may or may not happen.
I have been non-smoking for 2 weeks now. What had always stopped me from successfully quitting before was the thought of NEVER having another cigerette. My husband told me to just get through each craving as it came and not think about future ones. He was right, I am much calmer and who needs added stress in their life? I dont' worry about whether I will be smoke free for the rest of my life, that is giving cigerettes too much power and importance. I don't plan on ever smoking again, but don't think about all the cigerettes I am giving up. I just like to think of myself as an non-smoker. The cravings are getting less each day, and I really am glad that there is Chantix to help me get through this. The nausea has stopped, I feel so powerful right now because I am beating one of the toughest addictions in the world. Don't just hang in there, embrace the power you have!

DEBRA wrote:

Becky, abought this tail gate party, I love going to the casino, sitting at a slot machine, and having a coc, smoking a cigarette was my idea of a great time. the first time there, i thought i would go out of my mind (before i got there) while there it wasnt too bad. the second time i wasnt traumitized beforehand and while there i really did not mind too much, the third time, i was actually bothered by other peoples smoke and did not want one. it really does get better. its been 6 weeks for me. my biggest problem was depression, which i am still having but not as much. I got off the chantix after 4 weeks but last week i went on the patch , this is helping me tremendously. we are all having our problems with this addiction of ours, God help us all.

las vegas is my favorite place in the world i will never be able to go there again that is the way i feel. the first 4-5 years i smoked i only smoked when i drank period. the only reason i started smoking more was because i moved from michigan to texas when i was 24 years old and i was bored living by myself and i was going out all the time partying.(this was when i was in my mid to late 20's) now at 48 i drink 1 or 2 nights a week on the weekends. god if i could just smoke then i'd be happy.

I have been a hard-core smoker since high school. I'm now 47. My kids are on my case and I now hide from them and tell them I quit. I got busted by my daughter last night. I just placed an order for Chantix on the internet and in reading all the comments, I am finally hopeful that I too can finally kick this AWFUL habit. I'll get my pills in 3 days, so wish me luck!

Becky wrote:

<quoted text>That's funny you mentioned celexa. my doctor gave me the prescription but said not to take it until after i'm finished with the chantix so i haven't filled it yet. viki, i have had such bad luck with that type medicine (weight gain is a possible side effect of celexa) see webmd.com but not all people do i unfortunately have had weight gain with all that type of medicine. i made it thru day 3 better than day 2 as long as no alcohol i'm ok. my boyfriend is here this week with me but he's a pilot and will be gone next week. i worry when i'm alone also. i don't see how i will possibly make it thru the football tailgate party this weekend without 1 (or maybe i just know i will smoke) i'm real confused

Good Morning Becky,

YIPPEE, HOORAY,^^^^^^^^JUMPING FOR JOY^^^^^^^ 4 DAYS!!!! WHO WOULD HAVE THUNK?!?!?!
Your words sound more positive today,(I guess it was last night though), THIS IS GREAT!!!

I just read Debra's response to you and there is a lot of truth in it. Many of us have done the casino thing, or places where we ALWAYS smoked and had dreaded fear of having to go there and NOT SMOKE. What happened to me, was the fear was worse than what happened. IT WAS O.K. Not to say I didn't think of a cigarette, but it WAS O.K.

Your thinking about your boyfriend leaving and the tailgate party are negative. Is there anyway to change your thinking to positive, See yourself at the tailgate party just enjoying the fresh air, feeling SOOO EMPOWERED by the new healthy you. At home, when your boyfriend is gone. taking care of yourself, finding new things to explore to keep your mind occupied. I know this board was my salvation. Now it has become my new addiction! I got a new puppy and we go for walks together. It really is a mental game now Becky, and if you THINK to NOT smoke, you won't...it's that simple.

Another stat to consider:
__________

The power of nicotine comes from repeated small doses you give yourself when you smoke. Did you ever count how many puffs you take per cigarette? Most people take about 15 puffs from each cigarette.

If you smoke 20 cigarettes a day, that's 300 drug doses a day or 109,500 drug doses a year. That can be a powerful dependence to break, and you must be well prepared.

__________

WE REALLY UNDERSTAND what you are going through, we have ALL walked in your shoes. Even though we have all quit smoking together, it still is only you that feels the discomfort now. Soon it will be you helping others in their journey, and that my friend is the real joy!

P.S. Maybe Odulles is an option...alcohol is not good right now. Later it will be different! After you get through this tailgate party you are not going to believe the empowered feeling you will have, the new found self esteem, and the feeling of FREEDOM!!!!!