Quit smoking helped by Bupropion or Champix?

[vicente solano]

Once again I´ll bore all of you with my futile intentions about qutting. Have anyone tried those medications? Were they really useful?

Thanks.

[haha]

Quote:

Originally Posted by vicente solano Once again I´ll bore all of you with my futile intentions about qutting. Have anyone tried those medications? Were they really useful? Thanks.

I think the answer is that they probably help some people, and not others. Worth looking into I would think. Bupropion is not without its own set of issues. Be sure to do your own research. Also, consider hypnosis. Try to find a hypnotist who uses the methods of Milton Erickson, a US psychiatrist and hypnotist. Some people can quit with this form of help

If you try this and are still smoking, consider changing to Swedish snus. (Smokeless) Much less dangerous than smoking, though not perfect either. You get the nicotine, but not all the toxic by-products of combustion.

It is hard to get straight dope on this, as tobacco often is viewed through a moral lens. But the internet can be your guide. Smokeless tobacco is outlawed in the EU, but I suppose you could buy it directly from Sweden as we in the US can.

Here is a pretty well balanced article. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/...00069294_x.htm

Ha

[WhoDaresWins]

Vincente, I work with a man in his late 50's who quit smoking with Chantix. It also helped that that his new, beautiful young wife also laid down the law on the smoking...an added incentive I would think.
Buproprion (or Wellbutrin) is also prescribed as a smoking cessation agent, as well as an antidepressant, but I do not know anyone who has used it.
Several ladies I work with have quit smoking cold turkey with no ill effect other than something of a weight gain. Much better the weight than the smoking in my opinion for what it is worth.
A couple of ladies have tried the smokeless cigarettes (which they can use in our office) but I still see them smoking outside.
As Haha has suggested, I also know a couple who quit smoking after being hypnotized.

Buena suerte!

[vicente solano]

Well, today I´ve begun the quitting process aided by Champix/Chantix. Let´s see what happens. I don´t know if I´m motivated enough and I certainly don´t trust my willpower.
Any tips or advice on how to bear the process manly would be very much appreciated.

[Martha]

Keep busy. Plan your days for the next few days so that you don't have a chance to think.

[Sarah in SC]

I used Wellbutrin (bupriprion) to quit a long time ago. It was very helpful, but I did have an allergic reaction after about 3 weeks and had to stop taking it. By then, I was able to resist the urge.

Good luck to you, it is worth it! Find something to do with your hands and keep busy! Active outdoor pursuits are ideal.

[73ss454]

My best advise is, don't inhale. Good luck!

[Nodak]

This is something I'm going to have to go through in the next few weeks. I'm moving to an apartment in a non-smoking building so I bought an electronic cigarette. The e cigarette supplies nicotine but no combustion takes place so it can be used in a non-smoking area. A couple of years ago I spent 3 months in a swing bed facility recovering from a broken leg and knee replacement surgery; I couldn't smoke there and it didn't seem to bother me not to smoke; I never craved a cigarette. Of course, once out of there, like an idiot, I started up again.

[W2R]

I have never tried the medications in question. Many years ago I wanted to quit smoking but it was extremely difficult for me - - I tried everything and nothing worked. Finally I went cold turkey, which I had tried before with no luck. But this time I bought cases of Pep-O-Mint Lifesavers (see below) and amazingly, this time I managed to quit. Whenever I wanted a cigarette, I had a lifesaver. Not good from a nutritional standpoint, but a lot better than smoking. After the craving for cigarettes disappeared I had no problem stopping the Lifesavers. I haven't had a cigarette for thirty-three years.

It seems to me that a large proportion of those who successfully quit smoking do it by going cold turkey. I don't know why that is. It was terribly difficult, but it did work. I guess that for me there was no easy way out.

[AngelFly]

After starting on Wellbutrin, I really didn't like the taste of cigarettes. Smoking them was no longer enjoyable. Did I quit? No. Just couldn't get past the whole oral fixation... :P

I use Wellbutrin for depression, be sure you know the potential side effects before using it.

In 1982 I smoked 3-4 packs a day. In February of that year I stopped cold turkey and haven't smoked since. Stopping through the use of self control is possible.

[noworkethic]

Vicente-
After many years of failed tries, I quit a few years ago. For me it was a combination of being totally "fed up" with it, willpower and nicotine patches.

[oneils]

My best friend quit in his 20s. He tried a few times, and finally got a prescription for an anti-depressant (see note below). He said it helped a lot, and credits it for getting him to finally quit. So there is one more anecdote to put on the pile.

edit: I originally put Zantax in my post, but learned that it is a heartburn remedy. So, I guess i forget what drug it was. I thought it started with a z. I don't think it was Zoloft, though.

[BTravlin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by vicente solano Well, today I´ve begun the quitting process aided by Champix/Chantix. Let´s see what happens. I don´t know if I´m motivated enough and I certainly don´t trust my willpower. Any tips or advice on how to bear the process manly would be very much appreciated.

I'm going to re-post here what I had posted in an earlier thread. I hope this helps you. Five years ex nicotine addict come December.


It's not a habit, it's a drug addiction. Tried to stop my habit 3 or 4 times over the years with no success. DW decided she was going to quit and read a book given to her by a friend who said over a dozen people had read the book and stopped smoking for at least a year or more. She read the book and smoked her last cigarette as instructed about 4 1/2 years ago. I knew there was no way we were going to remain happily married as one smoker and one ex-smoker so I read the book too. The book convinced me that smoking was not a habit but actually a dirty, smelly, unhealthy, expensive drug addiction that, in large part, ruled my life. I had my last cigarette a week after she did. We have passed the book onto others who have successfully quit as well.

For anybody that wants to kick the addiction:

The Easy Way to Stop Smoking by Allen Carr

The first few days are really tough as you fight through withdrawal but after that it's easy once you've decided not to let a drug addiction ruin your life.

Add-on: The first few days fighting through drug withdrawal were tough but not nearly as tough as it had been on my previous attempts. Why? Because I had admitted to myself that I was a drug addict and not merely trying to stop a habit that I enjoyed but knew was bad for me. In other words, I really wanted to quit and wasn't giving up something I "thought" I enjoyed.

Plus I can't even begin to calculate all the money we've saved over almost five years now. Can't imagine being hooked now and paying the exorbitant prices the dealers are charging these days.

Best of luck to you no matter how you go about it!

[GregLee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nodak A couple of years ago I spent 3 months in a swing bed facility recovering from a broken leg and knee replacement surgery; I couldn't smoke there and it didn't seem to bother me not to smoke; I never craved a cigarette.

It worked that way for me, too, when I was in hospital for 10 days in 2005. Except I didn't start again when I got out <pats self on back>.