Anyone tried Champix?

[itsamac]

The new smoking cessation drug. Got a prescription for it today and just wondering if anyone here has tried and how much success they had with it?

[sore napper]

No, but interested to hear what you think about it.

I've quit a few times with the patches which aren't bad. Was off cigs for a year each time, but ended up starting again.

Good Luck

[itsamac]

Thanks sore napper.

I am trying Champix as I had an allergic reaction to the patches and my skin wasn't really sinking into my skin. The patches were causing me to have excruiating pain in my arms (felt like someone was shoving a screwdriver in my arm and turning it).

This will be my third attempt. First attempt I lasted three weeks (wife threatened to annul the wedding if I smoked on the big day) but got to Italy where ciggies are cheap and everyone smokes (back in the day where you could go into burger king, grab a burger a beer and a ciggie) and last week, I went a whole week but the cravings got too much and so did the pain.

Apparently with Champix you can smoke for the first ten days while you ween yourself off naturally.

[Pat_C]

Originally Posted by itsamac

Apparently with Champix you can smoke for the first ten days while you ween yourself off naturally.

I found that the only way to give up was (a) to be absolutely determined to do so, (b) to convince yourself that you are a non-smoker from the day you stop, and (c) to use NiQuitin lozenges.

Of course you can vary (c) but not (a) or (b).

[sore napper]

[QUOTE=itsamac;5326125]I am trying Champix as I had an allergic reaction to the patches and my skin wasn't really sinking into my skin. The patches were causing me to have excruiating pain in my arms (felt like someone was shoving a screwdriver in my arm and turning it). [QUOTE]


Patches can sometimes cause pain to the area where its worn. Someone made a bet with me while I was quiting. It was to wear the patch on my heart. Of course me being me I accepted the bet. Well, never again, I thought that I was going to have a heart attack. The pain and the heart palpitations, well, served me right. Worse thing was, I needed a bloody smoke afterwards.

[IronGiant]

Nicotine v Heart glad you are still with us SoreNapper

[Jenn]

My parents tried Champix earlier this year and unfortunately it didn't work very well: my mum was quite sick the first few days and had to give up, my dad was less sick but the pills didn't seem to work very well for him.

In my opinion what my parents need is a true will to stop rather than hoping a miracle pill will work but I understand it's hard after 30-35 years of smoking and stressful jobs.

[mrtbag]

Originally Posted by Jenn

In my opinion what my parents need is a true will to stop rather than hoping a miracle pill will work but I understand it's hard after 30-35 years of smoking and stressful jobs.

Yep. Pills like Champix and Zyban are in no way miracle pills. Without an underlying wish to give up they are useless. I took Zyban, and I haven't felt so rough in my whole life. It did however stop my cravings for long enough that I could consentrate on stopping my habit.

I have 14 weeks of non-smoking under the belt now.

Anybody that wishes to give up smoking has to find out what type of addict they are. All smokers fall into one of 2 catagories. You are either addicted to the nicotine (in which case patches or other forms of NRT should help) or you are addicted to the actual habot and ritual of smoking (these people are better trying Zyban or Champix). Many people who smoke roll ups are addicted to the ritual/habit, and not the actual nicotine.

[Mr_Wistles]

The patches absolutely killed me also.

I did it through good old fashioned will power but it almost killed me, without a doubt the hardest thing I have had to do in my life.

Good luck.

[Pat_C]

I gave up at the beginning of March after smoking for around 30 years, and a few failed previous attempts. One other thing that helped me in the early days was to push myself close to death (or so it felt) on the exercise bike. After half an hour of that I could hardly breathe or walk in a straight line, never mind smoke.

There are any number of things that could be done, during which smoking would be difficult or impossible. Not quite so easy when you're at work of course.

[adam4478]

we all know that london taxi drivers know everything

my cabbie this morning said he'd given up for 6 weeks and that champix were the only thing that had helped him stop.

Of course i believed every word he said and have since bought a villa in spain, a years supply of champix and a new black taxi as they're the best vehicles for driving in london

Seriously though interested in the feedback as i've alergic to the glue on the patches and it itches like hell with swelling too - i can give up with willpower until i have a pint (about 5 hours these days)

[Pat_C]

Originally Posted by adam4478

i can give up with willpower until i have a pint (about 5 hours these days)

That's easy to fix - just give up drinking too

[sore napper]

Originally Posted by Pat_C

That's easy to fix - just give up drinking too

Funny that, because it was mainly to do with alcohol that got be back on them. I hadn't had a drink in the first 9 months of quiting. Once I started drinking again the craving intensified. Not only could I not enjoy a smoke, but it was so bad that I couldn't enjoy a drink. The fact that the pubs are now smoke free may help fight that demon of smoking and drinking.

[Pat_C]

Originally Posted by sore napper

The fact that the pubs are now smoke free may help fight that demon of smoking and drinking.

I very much doubt it - people would just be tempted to go outside and smoke. I suspect pubs work against you on two levels: the association between drinking and smoking, and the effect of alcohol on your determination/willpower.

Anyone really determined to give up smoking would do well to at least consider removing these temptations.

You can always fill the additional spare time with more sex

[Mr_Wistles]

I went to the pub more when I was quitting.

I treated it as "if I can not have a fag in here then elsewhere will be easy"