Chantix...Yay Or Nay?

[blas]

I was at the doctor for my 6 month girl issue checkup, and the issue of smoking came up again. I told her that I have every intention of quitting and have been trying, but I just keep falling off the wagon. Even though cigarettes are over $5 a pack now, and almost $5 for even generic brands....I'm having too much trouble and I need some kind of aid.

She brought up Chantix. I told her I'd check with my insurance to see how much they'd cover, and she said to get back to her and we'll get together and she can write me a prescription for it and get the ball rolling.

My insurance covers most of it. It's normally $110-$120 for a one month supply. I have to pay a $40 copay and that's it. Which is still a lot of money, but if it does work, it will be less than spending over $100 a month on cigarettes.

Anyone used it before? Feel free to share your input, because I want to see if it's worked for other people. Even if you yourself didn't, if you know anyone who did....did it work? Did it not work? Side effects?

[freeatlast]

I tried Chantix a couple of years ago. It helped me cut down some for a while, but once I stopped taking it, I went right back to the amount I smoked before. This was also the case for my Mom and my brother. A friend of mine, however, was successful using it. It has been almost 2 years since she quit. I guess alot of it has to do with how ready you are to quit. I think that if you really want to quit, it is probably more effective. My problem is that I really enjoy my cigarettes. It was the same way several years ago when I took Wellbutrin to quit. I did OK for a couple of months, but as soon as I began being stressed over trying to buy a house I went right back to the cigarettes.

[The Last to Know]

Ok - I should say upfront that I have had gastric bypass surgery two years ago & after I had lost quite a bit of weight - my doctor thought I should tackle quiting smoking. I agreed to try Chantix and I was sick to my stomach & vomiting every day that I took it. Tried taking it at night & I was up vomiting. I tried only taking half a day & maybe letting it build up - still vomited. I wish I could - but I can't take it.
I have had 4 friends take it also - it threw one of my friends entire digestive system out of wack & just made her feel awful - she quit taking it. Her gf took it, but also felt kinda strange and she is a nurse in an ER & couldn't have that feeling while working 12 hour shifts. The other two friends took it & it didn't seem to bother either of them. They both quit smoking, but when around other people that smoked - started again. As far as I know right now - only one of them truly quit, but she also alienated herself from all of her friends & won't come around at all because being around people that do smoke is too hard on her.

Good Luck - I really hope it works. I still have over 3/4 of a box of pills & I bought them before insurance ever started covering them.

[Bandit]

Health Canada has issued a few warnings.

http://www.newsinferno.com/archives/4491

It's not the official site, but it's readable, and to me, a bit scary.

ETA: Here's the official page. http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/medeff/advisories-avis/public/_2008/champix_pc-cp-eng.php

HTH

B

[Slytovhand]

Nope, Blas, haven't the faintest!

But... if you see an acupuncturist, you can get a couple of intradermals or balls (smaller than ball bearings) around your earlobes, to help reduce the effects of cravings. And, instead of moving your hand to your mouth, you slightly divert it, and move to your ear to press - similar action!

(btw - I've got papers on how actupuncture has helped with withdrawal and drug addiction... it does work!)

[The Gatekeeper]

I smoked a pack a day for about 15 years. I quit 7 1/2 years ago. I had quit for about a year, a few years before after watching my mother die of lung cancer. Not even seeing that will last for long if you're not ready.

Wanting to quit, and being ready are two different things. I made a promise to myself to quit the year I turned 30.

Note that I didn't set a quit date at that point, just that at some point that year I would be done. I did a lot of preparation in my head. Then I used the gum, making sure to follow the instructions. The key for me however was that I quit while on vacation from work. It changed my schedule and usual patterns.

They say it takes about a week to get all of the nicotine out of your system. After that it's all psychological. That (as you can tell by the stories here) is the true challenge. Getting over the psychological addiction. That and pretzels. I nibbled on a lot of pretzels for a few months :p

Good luck to Blas and anyone else thinking about quitting smoking. It's a challenge that is for sure.