Has anyone tried Chantix?

Tait, MSN, RN · Jan 15, 2008

I smoked for 10 years. When I got into nursing school I seriously began to think about the lifelong effects.

So...

I dumped the loser bf, one roommate moved out, and my friend went to Colorado.

However, before all the smokers in my life left I spent two weeks doing all the same habits I did, but without smoking. I would sit outside while they smoked, I would go to bars and not drink or smoke. I still had fun, and eventually I didn't have the initially urge to even light up.

I will admit when I walked into Vegas this year (I am almost 3 years non-smoking) I felt the urge. However after 15 minutes in the smoke I was totally over it.

Everyone is different, but I really believe keeping your habits, (its ok to take a break, even if you aren't lighting up) thinking about the benefits of NOT smoking, and remembering that even ONE cigarette can relight all the neuro/addictive pathways in your brain is a good way to start.

One patient of mine told me it "takes two minutes to get past an initial craving for a cigarette". I don't know if this is true, but when I was sitting on that bench outside with my friends, it sure made sense. For a bit I wanted one, then all of a sudden I was lost in conversation. Best part? When I came inside I didn't have to feverishly wash my hands to get the smell off!

Chin up! I quit cold turkey so I don't know much about Chantrix, but do what works best for you and stick to it. Smoking is really on its way out and it is really the best for all of us!

:icon_hug:

Taitter

annaedRN, RN · Jan 15, 2008

I have been smoke-free for 8 months! I graduated on May 8th and quit on May 10th. I knew that I needed to quit before I started my new routine/job. I think that if I had started to work while smoking that it would have been that much harder to quit because it would have become part of my day. I used the patch. And I tell you that it helped curb the crazy w/d feeling but I still think about smoking almost daily and it took almost a month to sleep right. BUT...if I could make it through nursing school, I could quit smoking...and so can you!!!! It is a daily choice -just like an addict! Just as much psychological battle as anything after a while. Just fill your time with new hobbies/habits such as exercise, gum, chat groups, etc ( I had a very clean house and no weeds in my garden all summer long!) Good luck , dhyser96 P.S. My brother-in-law had been smoking for 30+yrs and quit after using Chantix for about 8 weeks now smoke free for about 5-6 months.

jmgrn65, RN · Jan 16, 2008

My Mom quit with chantix, she picked a day to quit. She hasn't been smoking I think for 8 months now. She used to alway say " I can't quit smoking I am tooo nervous" But she did. I don't think she quit right when she started chantix I think she took chantix and smoked for a while.

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Jan 16, 2008

The Chantrix helped. A lot. But personally, I think you should stop quitting and wait until you get the results of the NCLEX. What you're trying to do at a time of great stress is freakin' NUTS.

onyx77 · Jan 16, 2008

My father quit using Chantix. It was a God-send for him. He did still cravings while he was first starting. He joined a support group and they were encouraged to write down the time that they felt the "urge", if they had one, and what they were doing at the time (ex. after eating or other fun things;)) This really worked well for him because he was very aware of when he was smoking and how many cigarettes he was having. He started smoking when he was 14 and quit at age 60. We couldn't be more proud of him! Chantix really works, but nothing worthwhile comes easy! Keep up the good work and you'll be finished with smoking before you know it!

Good luck on your NCLEX, too!!! I take mine next month - It sure is a stressful time, but I do believe that you can still work on while waiting for NCLEX!!!

MrsAmesRN · Jan 16, 2008

My mom has been taking Chantix for about 3 months and she's been "smoke-free" for about 1 month. She said she's had some unpleasant side effects (constipation, loss of appitite, and some pretty strange dreams) but other than that, she's really happy about it. For the 1st month or 2, she was still having cravings, and she said she was a little worried it wasn't going to work for her. But now she's gone almost a month with absolutely no desire to smoke. BTW, she smoked for 30+ years, and she was up to almost 3 ppd by the time she quit.

Anyway, good luck and hang in there!!

Stephanie

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Jan 16, 2008

I used it last year. After 2 days of taking it I really had no urge/desire to smoke. I was smoke free for 5 months. Then I started school. And when we went on break the only place to go and sit was outside in/near the smoking area. I would hang out with classmates but felt a bit odd just standing there. I kind of felt like they thought I was easedropping or something. so being stupid I asked a classmate for a cigarette..dumb dumb dumb. I also stopped taking Chantix way too early. I was having GI issues with it had some severe nauseaousness w/it.

I wouldn't suggest using patches, gums etc while on the Chantix, it totally ruins what the med has done (think of it as "detoxing" the brain receptors of the nicotine).

Maybe it would be better for you to quit AFTER you take the NCLEX and pass it.

Tips..hummm what worked really well for me when the thought of a cigarette popped into my head (not that I had the urge..just maybe saw one or smelled it), I grab my toothbrush and brush my teeth. I hate smoking after brushing my teeth, worked pretty well, when I was home. I quit in the dead of winter and said, ok, you want to smoke, go outside..not in the garage or somewhere where I had protection from the cold..go outside, with NO coat on. Yeah, that nixed the idea pretty quick.

Chewing gum, candy, etc worked too.

I graduate in June and I am debating if I want to try again w/Chantix now or wait until the stresses of the last few months are over.

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Jan 16, 2008

I My brother-in-law had been smoking for 30+yrs and quit after using Chantix for about 8 weeks now smoke free for about 5-6 months.

Why did he quit for 3-4 months and then start taking Chantix??

RN007 · Jan 16, 2008

Good luck on your boards today, me_daffy! I am sending you positive thoughts.

**Elektra6, ASN, BSN, RN** · Jan 16, 2008

My best friend quit after using Chantix. She was only on it for 3 weeks. Her mom quit after using Zyban. I never thought she would quit. SHe was a chain smoker for 30+ years. She's been smoke-free for 3+ years now!

You can do it!

NursingAgainstdaOdds · Jan 16, 2008

I have used Chantix before, and found it to be very effective. Mostly the effectiveness was r/t the fact that it made me incredibly nauseous if I smoked (once the therapeutic blood level was achieved). Perhaps you just need a little longer to get that therapeutic blood level?

I also agree - you have to think of this as a big lifestyle change. You need another means of handling your stress in absence of smoking. Simply removing the smoking from your life and changing nothing else sets yourself up for failure. You need a plan of action and a support system.