I’ve been smoking for 6 yrs now and want to quit. Right now I can’t go 30 minutes without smoking. I smoke about a pack a day and it’s expensive habit. Anyone got any tips about how I can quit?
As with any addiction, I suggest that you first try to find out what made you smoke in the first place.
Find the reason first on what got you into the habit.
This is the most important step on quitting. Once you find out the cause and deal with it, you will be able to quit for sure. This is actually the most overlooked step in quitting.
Then, I suggest that you start by lessening your cigarette consumption. Quitting it all at once is a bad choice, this will just make your brain want to smoke more as you did not get your fix for a long time. Doing it slowly and surely is much better than doing it all at once.
Give dates on how much you are going to lessen your fixes. Say on June 12, only 1 pack a day, July 12 only 8 cigarettes and so on.
Get someone to quit with you. Be determined with your partner to kick the habit out.
Get a quitting plan with your doctor or therapist and stick to it. Whether it’s nicotine patches, special pills or any other treatment, make a strong commitment to follow it.
Reduce your exposure to stressful situations. People enjoy smoking as a stress reliever when they are put in such a pressured situation. This goes the same when you experience a lot of hardships, such as deaths of your loved ones, being divorced or simply problematic.
Tweet This Post
Does it really work? I’ve tried every other thing you could think of to quit smoking… The patches, gum… and none of it has really worked out. So has anyone had success with CHANTIX?
—-
Tonia says:
I personally don’t trust any quit smoking method that deals only with physical nicotine addiction. Chantix especially because it is potentially dangerous also. I personally wouldn’t go near the stuff.
Like you I tried several times to quit using patches, gums, herbs etc but none of these worked.
Smoking is more of a psychological addiction than a physical one. If you really want to quit you must discover the reasons why you smoke and then eliminate or change these thought processes. As soon as I dealt with my psychological reasons for smoking I quit, first time and more importantly for good.
Once you deal with the psychological side of smoking it makes the quitting process easy, no matter your level of addiction.
Quitting smoking does not require any patches, gums, herbs or drugs. These methods are expensive, time consuming, potentially harmful and simply do not work. All that is required is a bit of motivation, self belief and determination.
Visit our blog for more information and to download our free book.
Good Luck and Good Quitting
—-
Hetfield says:
I have been taking Champix for 3 weeks and am 13 days smoke free! I have found it quite easy to quit even though I have never really tried before, I am having stomach problems though. I have smoked for nearly 40 years and never thought I could give up.
I haven’t had any withdrawal symptoms, other than breaking the coffee and a cigarette routine it has been good, but my stomach is not happy! If you want to quit without the nasty withdrawal symptoms, this could work for you. Have to say I am worried by some of the comments and research I have done re: depression, I feel ok though.
Tweet This Post
Using a stop smoking drug in your smoking cessation can actually double your chances of quitting, which brings the success rate to 20 per cent after 12 months instead of 10 per cent.
There are three types of stop smoking medication to help you quit smoking:
- nicotine replacement therapy
- buproprion (Zyban)
- varenicline (Champix / Chantix)
What is nicotine replacement therapy?
Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is the oldest type of stop smoking medication. It releases nicotine into the bloodstream to help against cravings and to reduce other physical quit smoking symptoms when you stop smoking (headaches,nausea, dizziness, irritability ).
These quit smoking aids come in various forms:
- Nicotine patches are worn on the skin and deliver a regular dose of nicotine over 16 or 24 hours.
- Chewing gums are used when you would normally reach for a cigarette.
- Inhalers look like cigarettes and gives you the nicotine a bit the same way.
- Lozenges dissolves in the mouth and thereby release nicotine.
- Tablets that dissolve under your tongue (sublingual tablets) can be more discreet than lozenges.
- Nasal sprays deliver nicotine more rapidly than other NRT products, so are of most use to heavy smokers who suffer strong cravings.
Quit smoking medication
Currently there are two type of stop smoking medicine, namely Zyban (also know as Wellbutrin) and Chantix (also know as Champix).
What is Zyban?
Bupropion, which is the active substance in Zyban, is a stop smoking prescription and it was originally intended as an antidepressant.
Zyban helps about one in five people to quit smoking by reducing the desire to smoke and easing the physical quit smoking symptoms.
What is Chantix?
Like Zyban Chantix is a prescription only stop smoking medication. The active substance is varenicline. Chantix works by stimulation the same receptors in the brain as nicotine does and therby reducing the nicotine cravings. At the same time the drug blocks nicotine actions to the same receptors which takes away the pleasure of smoking – you simply do not get the “kick” anymore.
Both stop smoking drugs, Zyban and Chantix, does have considerable side effects and the use of these drugs should only be carried out after consulting a doctor.
Tweet This Post
Tags: antidepressant, bloodstream, brain, bupropion, champix, Chantix, chewing gums, cigarette, cigarettes, cravings, desire, dizziness, doctors, drugs, gum, gums, heavy smokers, inhalers, irritability, lozenges, medication, medications, medicine, nasal sprays, nicotine, nicotine patches, nicotine tablets, nrt, patches, products, receptors, replacement, replacement therapy, replacements, smoker, smokers, smoking cessation, stop smoking, varenicline, wellbutrin, zyban
There are many methods to quit smoking, but one of the more overlooked quit smoking medication are herbs. Herbs have been used for ages against a variety of diceases, but only recently herbs has been used to quit smoking. The traditional quit smoking drugs, like Zyban and Chantix (Champix) are artifical, but the herbs to quit smoking described below are all pure natural products.
Quit Smoking – with quit smoking herbs
The most common reason for a quit smoking faliure are the withdrawel symptoms – the craving for nicotine, depression, irritability, anxiety attacks, sleeping difficulty, body ache, and a general discomfort. There are many herbs to quit smoking, but the one decriebed below are the most popular. The herbs can be combined to fight the deadly habbit smoking is. Consulting a homeopath to get advice on how to mix the products might be a good idea.
Lobelia inflata (Indian Tobacco) – is an herb whose pharmaceutical properties are similar to nicotine. It is dual in its activities, acting as both a relaxant and a stimulant.
Cinchona officinalis (Peruvian Bark) – treats edginess, nervous exhaustion, indigestion.
Daphne indica (Spurge Laurel) – helps with tobacco cravings and inability to sleep.
Plantago major (Plantain) – produces disgust for tobacco in those who chew it and cures neuralgia resulting from tobacco.
Calcarea phosphorica (Calcium Phosphate) – used to treat headaches, hoarseness, burning throat and cough which can be made worse from tobacco and tobacco smoke. Smokers are usually deficient in calcium.
Nux vomica (Poison nut) – is an herb used in minute amounts as a restorative preparation. Used to treat insomnia and irritability as well as coughing and scraping in the throat made worse by smoking tobacco.
These herbs are all found in the quit smoking herbs from CigArrest – CigArrest Homeopathic No-Smoking Tablets, Gum or Lozenges contains the above mentioned ingredients, designed to help reduce irritability and tobacco cravings, relieve nervous tension and detoxify.
Try it here – for Free (it really works!):
Other herbs include:
Avena Sativa – this is a very old herb which has been used to overcome very serious drug addictions (such as opium) with massive success for a very long time. This herb , fights anxiety attacks and diminishes the craving for and dependency on nicotine, and is an execellent quit smoking medication.
Gotu Kola – this herb clears the head literally and it makes your mind razor-sharp. It is also valuable in the quit smoking procedure as it battles quit smoking symptoms such as anxiety attacks and raises the concentration level.
Garcinia cambogia – is an exceptionalappetite regulator, and this herb can be used to fight the weight gain that often happens when you stop smoking. The herb increases the metabolishm and raises the fat burning. So in fact it is one of the best herbs to quit smoking, since it both reduces the appetite and also the weight.
Remember always to consult you doctor before starting to use any kind of quit smoking medication – herbs, quit smoking pills or any kind of quit smoking drugs.
Tweet This Post
Tags: addiction, anxiety attacks, avena sativa, body ache, cambogia, champix, Chantix, concentration level, depression irritability, execellent, fat burning, gotu kola, herbs to quit smoking, homeopath, massive success, medications, Methods To Quit Smoking, nicotine, opium, peruvian bark, quit smoking pills, zyban
Zyban and Chantix are two different pills that can be used as an aid to smoking cessation. The pills must be prescribed by a doctor after detailed evaluation. They both increase the chance to become smoke-free, but they are not miracle cures.
Along with the growing interest in smoking cessation, several pharmaceutical companies launched quit smoking pills to stop smoking. In 2001, Zyban, which contains bupropion, and in 2006 came Chantix, which contains varenicline. Several new drugs are on the way.
Zyban
Zyban is a pill that works by reducing the urge to smoke and reducing withdrawal symptoms by a cessation. The pill contains no nicotine, but instead the substance bupropion. It affects the nervous lanes in the brain, which usually triggers symptoms of a cessation. Bupropion was originally developed and approved for the treatment of depression, but it turned out that some of the subjects quit smoking. Subsequently, Zyban been tested and approved for smoking cessation.
Chantrix
Chantix is a quit smoking pill like Zyban, which works by reducing the urge to smoke and reducing withdrawal symptoms by a cessation. The active substance in the pill is varenicline. The substance works by blocking the places in the brain which is affected by nicotine. This will minimize withdrawal symptoms. Varenicline is the first quit smoking pill, which is designed specifically for smoking cessation
Effectiveness
Smoking cessation pills are much newer than nicotine replacement, and is therefore not so many studies of effectiveness. In the studies that have been made, all smokers – in addition to the pills – also received advice on their cessation. Approximately one in four smokers are smoke-free after one year. Some studies suggest that quit smoking pills, and particularly Chantix, is slightly more effective than nicotine replacement, but others conclude that there are no major differences.
Recommendations
Cancer Society recommends that smokers who wants to quit smoking takes part in a smoking cessation course or gets individual advice of a smoking cessation by a counselor. Advice should include knowledge about medicines for smoking cessation, how they function and side effects in the short and long term. Recent research shows, that the risk of HPV transmission increases significantly in smokers, which increases the risk of developing cancer.
Since nicotine replacement is the most proven drug for smoking cessation, you should try it first. Quit smoking pills are good alternatives, but they both require a prescription. Physicians should consider whether there may be circumstances that talks against the use of medication.
Before using the quit smoking pills, visit one of the many quit smoking forums and ask for other peoples experiences with the different quit smoking aids.
Tweet This Post
Tags: cancer society, champix, Chantix, Chantrix, medications, miracle cures, new drugs, nicotine, pharmaceutical companies, pills, pills to stop smoking, quit smoking effects, Quit Smoking Forums, quit smoking pills, replacement, smoker, smokers, smoking cessation, treatment of depression, varenicline, withdrawal symptoms, zyban
After just two years on the market, the quit smoking pill – smoking cessation -product Chantix has beaten the record in the most serious side effects, says the report, but Pfizer rejects proven causal connection.
Many people are using the quit smoking pill Chantix, when they get medical help to stop smoking.
Now a U.S. investigation, shows that there are indeed a great many side effects associated with using Chantix according to Swedish Läkemedel world. The article is based on a report of May 2008 from the American non-profit organization Institute for Safe Medication Practice.
Quit Smoking Medication
According to researchers, there is never actually registered so many side effects of a drug after such a short time on the market.
Of the 3,000 reports of serious side effects that researchers have reviewed, are reports of patients who lost consciousness while driving, while others experienced sudden muscle spasms.
Besides the side effects of accident reports, there are mountains of reports of vision loss, changes in heart rhythms, seizures, severe skin reactions and diabetes.
1000 side effects reactions in the quarter
Each quarter researchers examines the side effect register to see what medicines have more side effects.
Most drugs are about five serious side effect events per quarter. Chantix was last year record, by having more than 1,000 reports in a single quarter.
One of the authors behind the American study, Curt Furberg, estimates that from 40,000 people in the U.S. alone are affected by the severe adverse reactions to the product.
Pilots are prohibited to use Chantix
Earlier the pilots in the U.S. Air Force has recommended the use of Chantix, when they were with the bad smoking habit. But after this study publication, prohibits the Air Force now its pilots and traffic controllers to-use pill.
Medicines Agency in the United States, the FDA says that the report is a signal that there must now be carried out new studies on the product.
The Producer defends its product
According to the researchers behind the study for Pfizer knows the many serious side effects, because many of the reports in the study come from them.
Pfizer comments in a message on its website surveys. It states:
“The authors acknowledge, however, that not in the light of these adverse reaction reports can see that there is a causal link between the use of Chantix and the reported adverse events – because most of those involved patients used other drugs while the use of Chantix. ”
No drugs without side effects
Pharmaceutical company also lays down that it is impossible to make drugs without side effects.
“But the goal is obviously to create products with so few and mild side effects as possible. This also applies to Pfizer’s smoking cessation agent Chantix. And most users of Chantix experienced no significant side effects. But anyone experiencing side effects. It may be in the form of migraine headaches, sleeping difficulties and nausea or fatigue and dizziness. There may also be uncommon in the form of, for example, in vision, neck pain, muscle tension, tremor and difficulty speaking. ”
In the United States alone is expected that 3.5 million people have used the quit smoking pill since its launch in 2006.
Tweet This Post
Tags: accident reports, adverse reactions, causal connection, cessation product, champix, curt furberg, force, heart rhythms, medical help, medicines agency, muscle spasms, non profit organization, pfizer, Quit Smoking Pill, seizures, skin reactions, smoking cessation, smoking habit, traffic controllers, vision loss
Not all nicotine rehabilitation means is nasal spray, inhalers and patches and gum. In fact, there are also quit smoking pills or smoking cessation pills as a means against relapse on stopping smoking, and this must be attempted basalt to explain a little about them.
The first thing we look at is a tablet that you can put in the mouth, and here is delivers the gradual nicotine, which then is absorbed by the mucous membranes in the mouth. The nicotine is not delivered and taken in as fast as if you smoke a cigarette, but it helps to gradually lower your consumption and hence dependence level, just as many of the other nicotine aids.
Usually when you smoke a cigarette, it takes only a very few seconds for the nicotine to be transported from the lung tissue and into the bloodstream, and up to the brain – “the reward”, in the form of nicotine, you receive very quickly in this case. But with the nicotine tablet, the nicotine must first pass through the bloodstream from the mucous membranes of the mouth, and up to the brain, and it is a much slower process. It is comparable to taking the stairs instead of the elevator, you can not carry as much (nicotine) and it is more slowly to go up.
Number two on the list is anti depressive pills. There are many cases where smokers have had good experience using the pills, which, in most cases stimulates the mood in a positive manner, and formes a counterweight to stop smoking, because sopping to smoke at times can be accompanied with some reluctance and depression.
However, this is not something you just can buy in the supermarket, it must be prescribed by your doctor – but if you have tried other means and believe that they are not as effective, it may be an idea to have a consultation with your doctor and discuss whetheranti depressive pills might be the solution.
The last item on the list is a fairly new quit smoking pill on the market, by the name of Champix. This should encourage the production of dopamine in the brain (which is the brain’s reward substance). If you do something good for yourself, dopamine is released (go for a run, etc).
Unfortunately smoking is eventually rewarded with dopamine, and this is certainly not the intention. So, in addition to stimulate the dopamine production, the product also fights nicotine so it is not quite the same pleasure as before.
Champix, however, is a relatively new product, and in fact only on prescription, so here you must take a talk with your doctor. He or she can also help to reveal what tools are generally best for you.
Generally it is very good with tools, but remember that it is not enough to take a smoking cessation pill and then “it is probably over.” It is not the headache you must fight, but a change of lifestyle you actually need.
All means can be used, for instance a quit smoking pill, but the real battle be fought in your mental home, and careful preparation it is the alpha and omega. Remember also to finally use your social networks, and use experience from someone who havesuccessfully quit smoking.
Tweet This Post
Tags: bloodstream, champix, counterweight, dependence level, dopamine, good experience, inhalers, lung tissue, mucous membranes, nasal spray, new quit smoking pill, nicotine, pills, relapse, reluctance, smokers, smoking cessation, stopping smoking
After just two years on the market, the quit smoking pill – smoking cessation -product Chantix has beaten the record in the most serious side effects, says the report, but Pfizer rejects proven causal connection.