Zyban to Stop Smoking

lowestofthelow

Hi, not sure if this is the right place to post this question. I want to stop smoking as I reckon I spend over £1200 a year on the damn things and also for health reasons. I've tried patches, inhalator etc., even hypnotherapy. Has anyone tried Zyban? Did it work? What were the side effects?

Thanks in advance.

Nile

Hello lowestofthelow

I'll move your thread to the 'Health & Beauty' board.

Hi, Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere(please see this rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]abuse@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL].

Regards

Nile

absolutebounder

lowestofthelow wrote: »

Hi, not sure if this is the right place to post this question. I want to stop smoking as I reckon I spend over £1200 a year on the damn things and also for health reasons. I've tried patches, inhalator etc., even hypnotherapy. Has anyone tried Zyban? Did it work? What were the side effects?

Thanks in advance.

Zyban can have pretty nasty side effects and like all the other things works in some cases and not in others. I think you have to find why you smoke or even why you started in the first place. There can be many reasons but if you dont sort out the underlying cause you may struggle. Eg people sometimes smoke because of peer pressure perhaps out of shyness so until you deal with this you will always struggle.

System

I found that Champix worked for me.

I had tried everything else apart from Zyban before this.
I echo what absolutebounder says, Zyban has had too many reports of nasty side effects. That saying, Champix has had reports of depression. I can understand this as during the period that I was on them I wasn't actually depressed but developed an attitude of NFI and a definite lack of motivation to do anything.

lowestofthelow

Cheers for those replies. I've never heard of Champix, what is that? I s'pose every drug has side effects. My dad and sister managed to stop through willpower alone, grrrrr!!! Saying that, my dad had a heart attack before he stopped - encouragement for anyone huh?

jtb2412

I used Zyban and it worked for me 100%, no side effects, not had a ciggie for 4 years now and no cravings at all.

On the other hand, hubby took it and had to stop after 2 weeks. Made him sick, had headaches and just didn't get on with it. He's now on nicorette gum (now addicted to that ! grrrrrrr)

Not sure if it will apply, but my doctor said because it's so expensive, you only get 'one shot' at it (e.g. you can't take it, give up smoking, start smoking again and then ask for zyban again).

Just chat things over with your doctor so that you're well aware of all the risks etc. Also not for someone with heart problems I believe.

Good luck with giving up - you CAN do it (you just have to find something suitable to help you)! And think of all that lovely money you will be saving !

System

Champix is the 'new kid on the block' available by prescription only. It works by blocking the nicotine receptors in the brain. I think, like Zyban, your doctor will only let you have one shot at it.

One side effect from giving up smoking that I had was a problem with caffeine. I am a fairly heavy coffee drinker (20+ cups a day). While smoking, the nicotine and caffeine tended to counteract each other. Since giving up smoking I've had to go on to decaff to prevent myself going hyper. ( I suppose that I should cut down on the coffee as it is a diuretic as well)

cantcope

I tried and failed with Zyban about 5 years ago. It made me like a zombie as i couldnt sleep for longer than an hour without waking up screaming with terrible nightmares. Didnt want to smoke though just couldnt cope with the sleep deprivation for more than 2 weeks

1012donna

My mum tried and it worked fantastically for her. She gave up cigs after only a couple of days of taking the medication. That was about 7 1/2 years ago and has never fancied one since.

lowestofthelow

Cheers muchly everyone, I think I'll go and see my doc, see what he's got to say. I've been a smoker for 30+ years and my first grandchild's due any day so that's a bit more of an incentive. I'll let you know when I've kicked the fags!! Thanks again.

suki1964

Champix here, and it worked as far as I couldnt wait to stop smoking but three months on I am struggling to stay stopped.

You get two attempts with champix (which is why i think Im struggling - I know I have another chance). You cant take champix if you have clinical depression as there have been suicides linked to it. The most common side effect is nausea, I personally didnt find it too bad as it only lasted a few days but I know a lot of people who have used that as an excuse to start smoking again.

I would say go speak to you Gp. If you really do want to stop smoking then the Champix will work in getting you stopped and getting through the first few weeks pretty easily. However you really do need to want to stop as its the staying stopped thats the hard bit