7 days without a cigarette!

In 7 more hours I'll have gone a week without a smoke. I finally did it at 5:30PM EST Wednesday November 12, 2008 I quit smoking. I'd love to say I did it on my own and just quit cold turkey, but I didn't quite do it myself. Had the help of Chantix. I tried that a year ago, and it almost worked, but I wasn't nearly as motivated to quit last year and when the three month prescription ran out, stress increased and although I was down to only 4 or 5 cigarettes a day, rapidly went back to about a pack a day.

Two weeks ago I decided to try again, except this time I was determined. I did it like the prescription calls for. First week take the meds on schedule and smoke whatever I wanted. By the end of the first week I had already reduced to half pack a day. Second week I just stopped and let the Chantix do it's thing.

Although it's a bit controversial because of it's known side effects, it really does work and does what it claims to. I no longer have the cravings I did last week. I feel like I could stop taking the drug now and be fine, but I'll finish out the one month prescription just to make sure I don't go back.

I only experienced slight side effects. A slight nausea for maybe 5 to 10 minutes if I took the pill on an empty stomach (if I had eaten, no problem). And it has given me some very bizarre dreams. No nightmares. Just strange dreams I normally wouldn't think of. For example, last night I was promoted to Lieutenant in the navy. *lol I'm almost 50 and never been in the military.

Anyway, if you're seriously considering quitting, talk to your doctor about Chantix. It's only available by prescription anyway.

Schweetness! you made it over the three day hump and then some. I would think that the "vivid and unusual dreams" side effect would totally make it worth taking the medicine.

If they are like mine, yes. And makes for fun conversations with friends. But one of the known side effects is actual nightmares.

Remind me to send you some cigars; it works wonders for getting your mind off of cigarettes.

Actually I have a couple I meant to smoke before I quit.

GREAT STUFF!

I know how it is stopping ... Just one thing I am warning you against now, now that you have stopped don't even think you're just going to take a casual drag from someone you know ... that almost screwed it up for one of my friends, he took a drag here and there after about a month after quitting and he started smoking again ... at least he stopped again and learnt his lesson ... I learnt his aswell ... and as this page shows, cigarettes are really addictive.

Congrats on the quitting of smoking.

I had to buy a pack of smokes for someone this morning and a guy at the counter said "Those things will kill you". so I told him, "I know that's why I quit 3 years ago, these aren't for me.".
He got this strange look on his face then told his lady friend behind the counter he was going out front to smoke a cigerette. lol


Just wait until you get to the strange dreams you'll have when your body no longer has to expend all of that energy healing itself as much every nite. I constantly find myself wanting to go back to bed just so I can see how these dreams are going to end. People don't say hello to me anymore, they say "Have any strange dreams lately ?" lol

I was just digging through old PMs and came across this that I'd said about a dream I had a few months ago.

Wow there is very nice matter. And full of confidence for quit smoking i will appreciate that.

Hi Mark, Congratulations.

Congratulations mate. Can tell you it's not an easy thing to do. I've given up now for 2.5 months and now I'm starting to not even think about cigarettes.

The first two weeks are definitely the toughest but it does get easier after that.

Not heard of Chantix. What is it and how does it work? I've used Nicorette gum to help me quit and it's worked really well. I'm a bit worried I'm now addicted to the gum but I guess at least I'm not taking in any of the other chemicals in cigarettes.

I guess the easiest way to describe Chantix is that it's a pill/drug that causes some kind of chemical reaction in the brain that actually blocks the urge for the nicotine, unlike Nicorette and other gums and patches that are still providing the nicotine. Right now after only a couple days past a week, I don't really have any urges with the exception of the couple really habitual times like when I first get into my car or after a meal. Normally first thing when I'd wake up would have to have one and would also wake up at least once during the night and have to have one. Now I sleep completely through the night, and never even thought about a cig when I woke up this morning.