Stopping smoking - Champix

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Bloody fool for starting in the first place I know. Was told many years ago when I first started but as you do, thought, "nah, I can stop whenever I want".... Hmmm yeh, lol right!

So this is my third try at stopping. I did stop for 6 months a few years back using patches and the plastic pipe but foolishly started again. Had a half hearted try with patches & pipe and failed. So on to Champix and my third go!

There is a list of side effects as long as your arm and have got a few of them. Short temper, feeling sick [edit] and the wierd, very wierd dreams.

Short temper: Im snapping at the wife a fair bit but have explained & said sorry. The birds and squirrels are doing my nut in with thier constant chirping. There are about 6 squirrels, 1 black bird and 1 crow who are going to get shot if I can get my hands on an air rifle!!!

Sickness: When I first started taking the tablets they made me feel sick for about 2 hours after taking them but got usded to them. I have now started taking the stronger ones that have started to make me feel sick again... *rolls eyes*

[edit] Wierd Dreams: Mine are ok at the moment, actually quite enjoying them... unitl they start to turn sour that is (hope they dont!).

On a positive note I am starting to smoke less and think I may be in for a good chance of stopping!

Anyone else had any dealings with Champix?
 
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i did.

the side effects list is huge. make sure you don't forget a pill because going back onto the full dose after a day off makes the side effects much worse.

personally i would not use them again. too much bad press about them.

i just used cold turkey and airwaves.... lots of airwaves! 1.5 years now.
 
I've spoken before about how I quit in several threads just like this one so I won't go through the whole thing again.

If you really want to quit then you will. If you don't really want to quit then you may not. Do you really, absolutely, positively want to stop? No ifs or buts or 'but I'm cutting down' rubbish. Do you never want to smoke a cigarette ever again?
 
[FnG]magnolia;22176160 said:
I've spoken before about how I quit in several threads just like this one so I won't go through the whole thing again.

If you really want to quit then you will. If you don't really want to quit then you may not. Do you really, absolutely, positively want to stop? No ifs or buts or 'but I'm cutting down' rubbish. Do you never want to smoke a cigarette ever again?

this is true

its all about making a decision . thats it

only way to stop smoking, is to stop smoking
 
I stopped smoking a couple of years back, a few months before my daughter was born. I'd tried to quit numerous times before but never succeeded.

The two main motivators for me were:

  • Wanting to be as healthy as I could for my daughter
  • Fearing the wrath of my wife if I didn't quit... :p

I used patches for the first two weeks to help with the withdrawal symptoms and avoided putting myself in situations where I could slip up (Out on the lash etc).

Good luck man!
 
I havent used Champix, but i have stopped now for 7 week.

How many a day was you on? i was smoking around 15 a day. Mainly at work. I used to hate the saying 'its all about will power' because i was like you 'if i wanted to stop i could'... Took me 4 attempts to stop. The 3 times before, the GF actually went out and bought me a packet because i was awful to her. I was watching F1 Qualifing, and she walked past to do the ironing. She was nearly through the window i tell you!

I got there though, but what i found when i was trying to stop was everywhere i looked i saw someone smoking. But i wont say it tempted me, but also i wont say i don't miss it.

Good luck though mate!
 
I used Champix and several of my friends have too. I only really go slight nausea from the pills for about 20 minutes after. The biggest side effeect was the dreaming! :eek:

It does work, as it stops the cigarette having the desired effect, as in feeding your addiction. The hardest part and this is where previously stated, will power is a must otherwise don't bother, you end up missing the act of smoking so you may think, "I'll just have one and be a social smoker". That is a slippery slope back to smoking.

Bascially, Champix will help you stop, but YOU need to make sure you don't start again.

/endsermon
 
I quit cold turkey after being a 20+ a day smoker for about 10 years. It's much easier than people make out.

+1

If you go cold turkey after about a month you'll realise it's been hell & won't want to go through it again & should feel stronger willed & more positive & stay off the fags.

Using patches & stuff is lame & weak & a sign that you don't 'really' want to stop.

Went cold turkey 13 years ago & cannot stand the things or the people who puff away on them
 
Quit smoking 6 years ago now and had no problem going cold turkey. You have to really want it and then you will only have to decide once that you are not going to smoke and then it's done. I gave away my last 7 Benson's and had no cravings or second thoughts and this was after 12 years of smoking 10 a day and smoking puff at nights.
If you REALLY want it, you will just be able to do it. Good luck :)
 
I quit 8 yrs ago and it was the easy. I was a heavy smoker would go through 30-40 per day

1st I WANTED to quit. I was coughing black stuff up in the mornings and on a sat I could go through 60 fags.

I bought the 24 hour patches put one on in the morning and smoked as normal.

Well as it turns out NOT as normal at about 21:55 just before the newsagents next door closed I panicked thinking I would run out of fags before bed. I looked in my pack to find I had about 6 left. So I smoked the rest that night

Woke up the next day a NON smoker. I rang the Mrs at lunch and asked her to guess how many fags I'd smoked She got the answer wrong as I hadn't touched any.

Bought a couple more packs of patches I think I was only on the patches for 2 maybe 3 weeks. I walked into tesco with the correct money and they had put the price up. So walked out without any.

A good friend of mine who also smoked was amazed and said "Damn if you can quit then anybody can" he then told me he was going to quit at xmas.

Anyhow He's still a smoker.


The patches worked for me everyones different you just have to find what works for you.

I was asked at a party last week if I miss it. And to be honest NO I dont feel like an ex smoker I feel like I've never been a smoker. It just doesn't register anymore.
Plus have you seen all the sad gits stood out in the rain or refusing to go to the pub because they're lives a ruled by that little white stick with dried leaves in it.

All the best to you pal good luck.
 
Hi all,

Thanks for your input.

TommyV - thanks and good luck to you! :)

Girc - Thanks for the heads up, I will make sure I dont miss one! ;) Well done for quitting!

[FNG]Mag., Child76 & RazrLite - Now here is the thing, I say to myself I do enjoy smoking... but is that the drugs they put in them to hook you!?... prolly! There are sooo many reasons to stop opposed to the +... infact really there are no + to smoke. So yeh, I want to stop. I cant do cold turkey, im weak and need help lol.

Trifid & Rainbow6six - OMG yes, the wierd dreams lol oh yes. I dont mind the wierd dreams, quite enjoying them hehe. As long as I dont start having nightmares that is.

Mattyg - WOW, you smoked a lot! Glad you gave up m8. Yeh I cough every morning and bring up brown ****. Im sick of the not feeling well and the money its costing. Wife says I/house stinks (it does stink!!!). Coffin nails my mum calls them. ;)

I used to smoke 25+ a day but now taking Champix, yesterday (first day on the strong tablets) smoked 15. Today I have only had 3 1/2. I dont feel the urgent urge to smoke, its all habit now. I NEED to get my head around this.

Again, thank you for your input all. :)
 
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Bloody fool for starting in the first place I know. Was told many years ago when I first started but as you do, thought, "nah, I can stop whenever I want".... Hmmm yeh, lol right!

So this is my third try at stopping. I did stop for 6 months a few years back using patches and the plastic pipe but foolishly started again. Had a half hearted try with patches & pipe and failed. So on to Champix and my third go!

There is a list of side effects as long as your arm and have got a few of them. Short temper & feeling sick.

Short temper: Im snapping at the wife a fair bit but have explained & said sorry. The birds and squirrels are doing my nut in with thier constant chirping. There are about 6 squirrels, 1 black bird and 1 crow who are going to get shot if I can get my hands on an air rifle!!!

Sickness: When I first started taking the tablets they made me feel sick for about 2 hours after taking them but got usded to them. I have now started taking the stronger ones that have started to make me feel sick again... *rolls eyes*

On a positive note I am starting to smoke less and think I may be in for a good chance of stopping!

Anyone else had any dealings with Champix?

Yes had same as you that sick feeling after taking them. It passes though and in week 4 you don't feel sick taking tablets anymore.

Been off the smi=okes now, thanks to champix, for 3 years :) Keep at it
 
By the way, for anyone just starting to take Champix....the long term benefits FAR outweigh the minor sickness you get for an hour after taking the tablet. If youo're b1tching that the sickness puts you off taking them then you aren't really ready to give up the smokes
 
[FNG]Mag. - Now here is the thing, I say to myself I do enjoy smoking... but is that the drugs they put in them to hook you!?... prolly! There are sooo many reasons to stop opposed to the +... infact really there are no + to smoke. So yeh, I want to stop. I cant do cold turkey, im weak and need help lol.

Sorry for snipping your quote but I can only talk for myself when it comes to such a personal matter as smoking. You should listen to the other guys as well obviously.

If you're looking for reasons to fail ('Is that the drugs they put in them?') then you'll probably fail. I say this from experience. If you think you can't stop ('I cant do cold turkey, im weak') then you'll probably fail. I also say this from experience.

If you want to stop - I mean PROPERLY want to stop - then you do. If you get to the end of that supposed last cigarette or the last chapter of the book which I'm surprised no one has yet mentioned and you still consider yourself a smoker then you will fail. Again, I'm talking from experience.

You can do it but you really want to believe that you can do it. And that's the best bit - you can. It's actually a piece of **** to do but you don't - can't - see that until you're there. Still talking from experience.

Think about if you really want to give up. If you don't then don't try, it just makes it harder the next time. Think about how you can get rid of those niggling thoughts about why you should still keep smoking (there are none, you near as damn admitted that in your response above). If you DO want to give up then do it and don't look back.

Good luck and let us know how you go.
 
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