Day five smokefree - going really well
Hello.
If you've read my earlier posts you'll know I started on Champix and stopped smoking on day 11. I was doing so well and beginning to dislike the side-effects (shivery, nausea, disturbed sleep and a brief hallucinatory moment at work which was a little unnerving) so on day 13 I reduced the dose to 0.5mg twice a day (ie I cut day 13 morning tablet in half, and had half am and half pm.)
I have no desire to smoke though can't deny I thought about smoking a lot - mainly thinking how weird it is that I'm not bothered about having a cigarette!
On day 14 I didn't take any Champix at all - that was day 4 of not smoking. I figured I was over the first 72 hours, so in theory all the nicotine had gone from me and from now on it's a matter of choice and being aware that I don't smoke, I don't ever want to smoke, and I will never smoke again.
So today, 7.pm on day 5 with a glass of wine to celebrate, I want to say THANK YOU to whoever invented Champix. I could not have got to this place, at this time, without the help of those pills. And my husband (age 59, hardened smoker for over 40 years) is on day 2 smokefree, taking the tablets and feeling GOOD.
We want to be around to see our children grow old and our grandchildren grow up and I want us both to have a long and healthy life together to see it all happen. Retirement beckons, and it's looking good.:) Thank you all for your support. Thank you for this site - I'm in the UK and this is the best there is.
that is brilliant news Thisisit...and your Husband too...fabulous! Continued success to both of you! xx
I am smoke free 8 days now, I stopped on day 10 of Champix. Prior t my smoke free day, the 3 days before, I would light a cigarette every 3-4 hrs have 3 puffs and toss it. Champix has worked great for the cravings as I used to light up 5 minutes after waking up! that was the hardest one for me to get rid of and I did it!
As far as side effects go, I have been fortunate not to experience crazy dreams, insomnia nausea only occurs if I don't take it with solid food.
My only compliant is the fuzzy mental state and an almost flat non-reactive disposition I feel most of the time for about 6 hours after taking the pill.
I was considering coming off of it next weekend, but, after reading some of the posts, I may try cutting the dose in half and see how that works for me.
Fantastic Thiisit!!! So glad to hear you are doing well- and your husband too! It sounds like you truly have the right state of mind to do this! I think that first two weeks off cigs left me feeling almost euphoric, I felt I had conquered the world, but I will caution you that once the champix is out if your system you might not feel so strong, it is amazing how much it helps. I am on day 40 smoke free and still taking champix but I did reduce the dose to half after two weeks smoke free. Tonight was the first time I really felt I wanted to smoke, I was at a party and I have been kind of avoiding that type of situation since I quit. I got thru it, but as soon as I got home i took my champix, it was scary discovering I could still feel so weak when I was feeling so strong, guess u just never know. Keep with it, everytime you fight thru a craving you will feel so proud of yourself and that gives u the strength to get thru the next craving. All the best to u and your husband!
Thanks everyone - I really appreciate your feedback.
Darka - you're doing brilliantly, a few days further on than me. Re Champix dosing, I read the Pfizer website small print and they detailed some research studies where they allowed the testers to adjust their Champix (Chantix)dose according to need. The results were good, so we are not alone in wanting to reduce the dose or finish early. But like Kam says, best not to underestimate how much difference the pills are making. They have made the impossible (for me, at this time) possible, so I am now alert to feeling vulnerable now I'm on my own. If I hadn't had the brief but disturbing hallucination effect I would have continued on half dose. Good luck!
Kam, I know what you mean about the Champix - today (day 6 smoke-free, day 3 Champix-free) if I'm honest is a bit harder than yesterday - I can tell the Champix has probably worn off to a great extent. Still, I'm nearly a week somke-free so from now on it's down to me. I also had a few moments of euphoria over the last few days - so ecstatic to be winning - and have to curb my enthusiasm and remind myself it's very early days, too soon to let that euphoria kick in! This time next year, maybe!
Update at end of day 6 smoke-free - thinking of going back on the tablets, on half-dose.
KAM you were so right. It's OK, I haven't smoked. But it's got harder as the Champix has worn off. It's only my 6th smokefree day and I only took 13 days of Champix, so I've been 3 days with no pills and it is getting harder.
It was the side effects that made me stop but I think tomorrow I'll try half a tablet in the morning and see how I go. I don't think I'll weaken without the tablets but I don't want to make this any harder than it has to be, and today my thoughts have been dominated by cigs when before, on the tablets it wasn't bothering me at all.
Two steps forward one step back but all going in the right direction!
Hey thisisit, just wanted to check in and see how you are making out, did you stay on a half dose of the champix? I am still on the half dose and 90% of the time I don't even think about smoking! but I still find social situations a bit challenging when I am having a drink or two. I will definitely do the full course of champix even though I am only taking half the dose, I have no side effects at all with the half dose. Anyway, I hope you are making out ok, let me know! And yes, the site is the best, I am in canada and couldn't find one like it here!
Hey KAM, am doing great thanks.:) Thanks so much for keeping in touch. This is bedtime of day 12 smoke-free. Been out to the pub earlier (folk night and everyone popping out for a cig, but not me!) and had 2 glasses of wine but I've been absolutely fine. Day 7 without cigs for hubby, and he's ok too! He's just reduced to half-dose Champix because of side effects the same as you so is not far behind. Glad you are doing so well! Keep going, we will too. Isn't it great! I feel my whole life opening up ahead of me and it's so exciting, all the possibilities.:)
Going back to where I left off - I did try 1/2 a tablet of Champix the day after my last post but it made me itch terribly so I stopped the tablets altogether after that. I had to be strong for a day or two and dismiss those pesky 'spikes' which tried to tell me I wanted to smoke when I knew I REALLY didn't want to smoke!
So tomorrow is day 13 without smoking and I forget how many days since I stopped the tablets. But I am doing great. Feeling really positive. I just have to keep doing what I'm doing (ie not smoking!) for the rest of my life, it is as simple as that. I have moments of euphoria that I have to keep in check because I know it is still early days. But... LOOKING GOOD.:))))
So glad to hear thisisit! It's exciting but scary isn't it?! I guess when you are an addict, which is what we are, the thought of smoking never really goes away, at least not for a really long time. I am not at that stage yet. Like you I have those euphoric moments but have also had moments when I felt desperate for a smoke. The good news is, that the euphoric times far out weigh the cravings. I just take it day by day, I know I never want to smoke again. So my husband and I are around the same age as you and your husband and going through the same journey, thank heavens our husbands are on it with us, it would be terrible if there were smokes in the house when I do have those rough moments. You guys stay strong and be proud, this really is monumental! :)