On my way to being smoke free!
Well day 57 on champix and honestly it feels like it is getting worse:( I only started getting side effects (mostly nauseous) about 2 weeks ago. I decided that I was going to stop taking the pills and oh my what a mistake. I have never had such bad cravings before. I would wake up thinking about smoking and go to bed thinking about smoking. And to be honest, I had a smoke. Yes it was disgusting for the first drag, but after that first drag, not gonna lie, it was great. So, I decided to go back on the pills. Been on them again for a couple of days and the cravings are slowly going away. I'm scared that once I'm done the pills completely, whats going to happen? Am I going to start smoking again? I can't stay on them forever. I realize its all willpower at this point, but if I have those cravings like I did before, that scares me. Has anyone gone through this too? If so, how did you handle it? I have been working out since the first day I quit and it helps not thinking about when I'm working out, but when I am driving home thats when it creeps up:(
Yes I have been on champix before stopped smoking and then got the cravings back when I stopped taking the pills. As my doctor explained no amount of aids will help if you dont really want to stop smoking. Now i am going cold turkey. I am steering clear of alcohol for awhile and anyone who smokes. Believe in yourself. Do not let cigarettes control you. Good luck to us all.
Sorry you're struggling. I've read that it can help to wean yourself off Champix slowly once you've really stopped smoking. Perhaps by cutting the pills in half or even quarter over a couple of weeks. That's what I plan to do when I get that far. I'm only on day 2 so can't speak from experience but it seems a good idea to me.
The nausea is a horrible side affect and I too thought about cutting down the dose. My Dr said "No" - straight out - no compromise and I think this is why. Ive learnt to carry barley sugar with me in the mornings and at night, I sip a lot of water to help with the Nausea. Im hoping after the 12 weeks of treatment, any cravings or desire for a cigarette will have gone - or at worse, lessened to a degree that I can handle without medication. Good luck :)
My approach is cold turkey because my Doctor said that the champix are a NO NO for people like me with schizophrenia unfortunately.
All I can say is for the first 72 hours I was thinking smoke time every 5 minutes. days 4 - 14 were easier but I craved a lot then too. after 14 days it became much easier. Today I'm on day 50 cold turkey and I think of cigi's about 4 - 5 times a day for less than 1 minute each time.
Avoid triggers that are avoidable. Keep occupied. boredom is a trigger. My number one trigger today is computer games. I just time out for a bit and play it later when feeling stressed and wanting a smoke. Initially I avoided computer games altogether but after the first 72 hours I thought it safe to play them. My number one trigger initially was waking up but today when I wake, I think coffee time!
Today I avoid alcohol and drugs because they are BAD triggers. I avoid people who drink and take drugs so as not to get tempted by them. I'm not ready to risk drinking as I am sure I'd cave in...
Remember IT'S YOUR LIFE. SMOKING KILLS. Thats how I got through it. reminding myself of that.
Number one reason to quit is my health. Number two is the savings in dollars.
YOU CAN DO THIS!!!
Thanks for everyone's comments. I've been back on the full pill now and my cravings are pretty much gone:) I was with people that smoke today and it didn't bother me at all. I know people say to avoid triggers like people that smoke, drink etc. but all my friends smoke and drink, and it's pretty hard to stay away from them. I just have to keep reminding myself why I am doing this. Next weekend, I am going on a camping trip that I go on with my friends every year and that will be a true test but I know I can do this. I find that this site helps me big time. When I feel like I am about to just give up, I always come on this site. Everyone's stories are very inspirational:)