Stop smoking.

(was trying to find a pic from that Lynx ad)

I quit using Champix about 5 months ago. I still have a complete starter pack (two weeks) and a one month supply of 1mg tabs. Champix takes away the craving but isn't a nicotine replacement it's a substitute. It also contains a mild anti depressant...

Great stuff, let me know if you want me to prescribe you a course

Dr. Driver.

well done
oops! I meant


IMHO, anyone (on this thread or else where) who says "xyz is the only way" is talking bollox. Different ways of giving up suit different people (given different histories of smoking, attitudes etc.)
I did NRT once - total disaster. Last year I did campix (which is a nicotine agonist... very cleaver drug) worked for me but isn't for everyone.

I hope your way works for you - if not, try another.

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ZEN#234, TWO#

I too am a smoker. I just haven't had a ciggy for 24 years. The advice above is absolutely correct - you are an addict and always will be. However, if you can conquer the craving (see below) you can become a reformed smoker, just like a reformed alcoholic.

Spot on again. The nicotine chewing gum helped me get over the craving, which is vital for the first few weeks/months. The chewing gum itself tastes so awful, it's easy to give that up when the time comes. Watch out for the potential relapses at 3 days, 3 weeks and especially, 3 months.

Good luck and most of all, more power to your determination.

I just got prescribed this yesterday, pick up next week and start the course next Saturday.

Any tips?

Not to be used as a suppository

Thanks

I started Champix last July which also worked for me, AFAIK Champix isn't an anti depressant but Zyban is.

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www.freetibet.org

I went the champex route.
First and foremost, from the reading around I did. Whether this will work for you is much more black-and-white than, e.g. NRT (chewing gum) or will power or what ever. It is not a supplement nor, really, a replacement to nicotine. It's a very specific receptorcite inhibitor/agonist. That means that either it works on the biochemistry of your brain or it doesn't. If it does, it'll help a lot. IMHO the claim (40% gave up after the course) should be read as it'll work on about 40% of smokers.
If fit doesn't work for you... try something else.

Otherwise, I found it very very easy - and this from as 12.5g (half oz) of rolling bacci / day, "breakfast of coffee and smokes", for over 25 years, smoker.

I did laps a couple of times - which was a very strange experience. As it's an agonist ... you don't get a nicotine rush... it's a bit like an analgesic for nicotine, so it's like when you pinch your cheek after having had a jab from a dentist.

And, as above, don't stuff it up ya bum.

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ZEN#234, TWO#

Thanks dude. Sounds great, fingers crossed I'm in the 40%.

At the end of the course did you just stop the Champix from 2mg per day or did you ramp down over time?

Best of luck. A combination of really wanting to stop and Allan Carr's book was what did it for me.

I ramped down (More out of fear than necessity... maybe?). Your experince may differ... like Screwed, maybe you'll just not need them...
I Got a few more weeks worth, beyond the course. Went down to 1/2 AM and 1/2 PM, then 1/2 PM... Then I set a stop date (Jan 1) which is now what I take to be my "chemical free" day. It really is worth it for the immediate benefits... Doesn't take long to get more breath, stop coughing etc. etc.

fingers crossed for ya.

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ZEN#234, TWO#

Know a guy who printed of a load of pictures of cancer patients and their lungs then pinned them to the fridge as a reminder..

Cheers. I think that's a sensible approach.

I will lose the smokers cough, the stink, save ££££s, and stop having to act like I have a guilty secret (which I do) by hiding my smoking from my 14 month old daughter. I do not want her to grow up thinking smoking is OK, nor do I wish to depart these Earthly realms and leave her fatherless anytime soon.

So shed loads of motivation. This is going to be the last time I quit

Re: Champix. There were a few side effects. Certainly while I was on the 1mg tabs, I felt a mild euphoria about 2hours after taking the tab. It also affected my stomach and pretty much for the duration of the course I wouldn't want to be too far from a loo.

I think I nicked a couple of crafty puffs over the months of giving up (I now think of myself as a non-smoker) and these tasted awful without giving that lovely hit you expect. Really put me off the idea of ever going back.

I persuaded the doc to give me a started pack which gadually goes from .5mg /day to 2x 1mg. I was going to run the starter pack backwards when I stopped but instead just gradually "forgot" to take a tab more often until one day I felt I didn't need any more.

Good luck to anyone giving up. Part of the deal for being prescribed this stuff was to attend a "support session" once a week or so. That helped keep me focussed for the boring few weeks in between when you feel you could easily lapse.

Screwd.