My goal was to stop smoking and be over the addiction by the time I started working as a nurse. I take boards tomorrow and am still having a very hard time, although I have been taking Chantix for a week and a half. I feel it would be useless to use a nicotine aid such as Commit or Nicorette because of the action of Chantix.
Has anyone else tried this drug ? Does anyone have any pointers to help me fight these urges?
I seriously feel like a crack addict going through detox. All I can think about is smoking "1 more" cigarette. Any help would be appreciated...
BTW, I have tried gum, candy, exercise, and eating. They help for just a couple of minutes. I have now been almost 48 hours without a cigarette...
My dh is on Chantix. His first month. He C/O of strange dreams. But mostly says it keeps him awake at night. I suggested taking it ealier, hoping to give him some sleep. So far, so good.
Pixie - regarding my brother-in-law ( quote - "Why did he quit for 3-4 months and then start taking Chantix?? ") he was using Chantix for about 8 weeks when he was able to quit and has since been smoke free ( as of now 5-6 months!) Sorry if I was confusing! Deanna
Pixie - regarding my brother-in-law ( quote - "Why did he quit for 3-4 months and then start taking Chantix?? ") he was using Chantix for about 8 weeks when he was able to quit and has since been smoke free ( as of now 5-6 months!) Sorry if I was confusing! Deanna
thanks for the clarification Deanna, I was thinking, Why in the world would he suject himself to the expense of Chantix, the side effects etc if he had already quit for 3 or 4 months LOL. Ok, got it now. Hey it was early, I fully understand not being comprehendable that early. :)
DH quit using Chantix. He smoked over 2 packs a day for about 30 years. He read the directions wrong and thought he could smoke for the first week and then get off the med after one month. I tried to correct him but he told me to shaddup and mind my own beeswax. So after only one week of smoking on the Chantix and one month of Chantix, he stopped smoking and never refilled the Chantix. He says if you want to quit bad enough, you'll quit.
He quit after an MI. It'll be a year in April. :anpom: I quit cold turkey about 19 years ago. Smartest thing I ever did.
You know they have an online quit smoking support program, as does the American Lung Association, don't you?
you can smoke for the first week of taking the med. On day 8 you are supposed to quit. They recommend 3-4 months of taking it before you can stop taking it. I know I was not wanting to smoke on day 2 of taking it. But day 8, I hadn't really had a cigarette for 6 days or so. But
I used it and quit for 3 months but I was having such awful GI symtoms I began taking it once a day, then skipping it alltogether. The day my kids dad got into a car wreck last December and had a ruptured aorta, I started smoking again- a very stressful time and he wasnt expected to make it through the night but he did survive. Lighting up was BIG mistake and a year later I am still smoking.
I tried to start up taking the Chantix again, but the nausea and stomach pains it caused were too much and had to stop.
But I have not given up. I have found TONS of resources on the net to help nurses quit. Here are some of the links in case anyone is interested:
I just wanted to let everyone know that I survived Boards today.
I had a couple drags off of a cigarette before I went in and had a couple drags when I got out. My husband is still smoking so he contributed to my deliquency.
Anyway... i wanted to say thank you to all for your words of encouragement and tips...
I have never smoked, thank god, because I am terrible at giving up bad habits..I have had many patients who took Chantix, with varying degrees of success. A lot of folks says it causes nightmares or sleep disturbances. One thing I do know is that you must be nicotine dependent in order for it to succeed. Not all smokers are nicotine dependent - many people smoke because they are emotionally dependent, or like to have something in their mouth or hands. I have also found that smokers who use Chantix in conjunction with a smoking cessation program have greater success. My husband quit 28 years ago and he says there are still times he would like a cigarette. My five kids have all smoked at one time or another, but have all quit. I make it difficult for them. Can't smoke in my house, in my car, or on the front porch (they leave their butts in the flower beds). Can't smoke at work, in public places, including restraunts or bars. No fun standing in the rain puffing......
Deanna
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sharona97, BSN, RN
1,300 Posts
My dh is on Chantix. His first month. He C/O of strange dreams. But mostly says it keeps him awake at night. I suggested taking it ealier, hoping to give him some sleep. So far, so good.