Zyban to Stop Smoking

mysuni

hi hubby tried champix and he suffered bad nausea and scary hallucinations/bad dreams that had him shouting at "things" in the middle of the night. he gave up and is back on the cigs.

noonesperfect

Re: Champix. It can affect your blood pressure.

The bad news about stopping smoking is that most things tried (except prescription drugs) are only a crutch.

There's no magic wand. You won't stop till you really make your mind up to do it - don't make anyone else your reason to stop. Do it for yourself and there's a good chance you will succeed.

Been there, done that, and been smoke free for 8 years.

(smoked 25 years - up to 35/40 a day)

Sorry if that sounds harsh, but it is reality.
I would never dream of saying if could do it anyone can, only you know how much you want to quit.....

suki1964

noonesperfect wrote: »

Re: Champix. It can affect your blood pressure.

The bad news about stopping smoking is that most things tried (except prescription drugs) are only a crutch.

There's no magic wand. You won't stop till you really make your mind up to do it - don't make anyone else your reason to stop. Do it for yourself and there's a good chance you will succeed.

Been there, done that, and been smoke free for 8 years.

(smoked 25 years - up to 35/40 a day)

Sorry if that sounds harsh, but it is reality.
I would never dream of saying if could do it anyone can, only you know how much you want to quit.....

And every drug prescribed has some sort of side effect reported, just not every side effect will effect everyone.

And even prescription drugs are "crutches" and whats so wrong in that if they are helping people quit?

You are one of the lucky ones who have quit. You done it your way, let others find whatever way suits/works for them.

I have been trying to quit for years, cold turkey and NRT, each time has been so painful that even getting to day one let alone through day one has been absolutely terrifying for me. Champix helped me get to day one and through it and right now even though I only took 6 weeks prescription Im now 2 months 1 week and three days smoke free, struggling, but still fighting.

And believe it or not, drugs like champix and zyban are magic wands for some of us, for some of us they get us through the hell of the first few weeks

jtb2412

noonesperfect wrote: »

Re: Champix. It can affect your blood pressure.

The bad news about stopping smoking is that most things tried (except prescription drugs) are only a crutch.

There's no magic wand. You won't stop till you really make your mind up to do it - don't make anyone else your reason to stop. Do it for yourself and there's a good chance you will succeed.

Been there, done that, and been smoke free for 8 years.

(smoked 25 years - up to 35/40 a day)

Sorry if that sounds harsh, but it is reality.
I would never dream of saying if could do it anyone can, only you know how much you want to quit.....

Have to agree to disagree on this one - Zyban WAS my magic wand and I'd tried everything before (patches, gum, cold turkey, cutting down etc etc).

It does work for some people perfectly (me included) and of course, there can be side effects, but as has been said before, not everyone has those side effects.

KIRSYJ

I am on Champix and have been for 9 days did not smoke at all yesterday so feeling quite chuffed, I hope I can keep it up, i know it is very early days but getting through day one is a huge achievement for me. bit of disturbed sleep in the past few days but will persevere.

:j

noonesperfect

Hi Kirsyj,
well done you for taking the step to stop smoking.
the sleep issue is part and parcel of giving up smoking I'm afraid, but your sleep pattern will resume.
One tip I used was to count off each hour without smoking on a piece of paper for 5 hours, then strike through on the sixth ([strike]IIIII[/strike]). That way you can see you've achieved something.
Keep it up, it does get easier.

____________________________________________________________

I think I may have used the wrong word in "crutch" as I've been misunderstood by some people. I should have used the word "aid".
NRT simply "aids" you to stop smoking (just as crutches help you propel yourself about if you need them, without them you would fall) you still need a lot of will power too stop. They only take the edge off, the rest is up to you.
I've no experience of Zyban, but whatever it takes you to do it, please try your best, you won't regret it. It's a heck of an achievement!

absolutebounder

A few things to note.
After 48 hours the nicotine is out of your system. So why do cravings continue?
even a 60 a day smoker can go to sleep for over 8 hours without waking up for a fag.
A smoker can go on a plane for many hours with no adverse physiological effects.
Why?
Answer. Despite what niquitin etc tell you it is not a chemical addiction like other drugs it has been likened to such as heroin.. The addiction is psychological ie all in the mind. Niquitin has a pretty low rate of success but then if you had a real addict would you give them more of what they are addicted to? Plus I love the bit where it says willpower is needed. :rotfl: Of course if people woke up to that they would never sell another patch.
The psychological habit answer also explains why some drugs work for some pewople and not others. The drugs are a crutch but if they work and you remain smoke free all well and good.
However not wishing to put anyone off it is not much of an acheivement if it only works for a few weeks. A permanent solution is needed.

preid

i quit my 20 a day habit 3 mths ago & i feel alot better for it :j. i used the allen carr method (& no not the comedian) and you dont need any nicotine replacement products. i would recommend it 2 anyone. so good luck to you lowestofthelow

suki1964

Champix isnt designed to stop you smoking, its just a side effect of the drug -after a few days of taking it, you lose the desire to smoke and you dont actually get any pleasure from smoking. Its this side effect that is being tapped into to get people like myself who find the actual stopping so scary/ painful/ hard. Its prescribed for three months so that you have time to break the psychological addiction. You DO need to want to stop smoking and you DO need will power

absolutebounder

suki1964 wrote: »

Champix isnt designed to stop you smoking, its just a side effect of the drug -after a few days of taking it, you lose the desire to smoke and you dont actually get any pleasure from smoking. Its this side effect that is being tapped into to get people like myself who find the actual stopping so scary/ painful/ hard.

That is the sales hype not 100% true but sales hype rarely is

Its prescribed for three months so that you have time to break the psychological addiction.

That is nowhere near long enough for some people and plenty for others

You DO need to want to stop smoking and you DO need will power

The last line is interesting. Why do you need will power if you lose the desire and pleasure?
Champix is by the last report getting better results than Zyban but stll failing more often than succeeding.
I think the importnt point is that you have to believe you can give up.