Will My Cigarette Cravings Ever Go Away?

i started taking a new drug called “champix” 5 weeks ago. it makes you quit smoking because after the first week of taking the pills, cigarettes taste gross and you can’t physically finish one because of the taste. fine and good, i haven’t had a cigarette for a month now, so i should be happy right? no. the drug also makes alcohol and caffeine taste gross too. so i can’t have a smoke, a beer or a coffee any more without feeling nauseous. this sucks. my whole life is different.i wish i was still smoking because i was happier. does that make sense?

I think the medication you are referring to is Chantix (varenicline), which is a medication for smoking cessation.
Its possible that your coffee use and Alcohol use are both tied with your smoking experiences in the past, which is the case with most smokers I have come in contact with. However there is not clinical data to support this phenomenom.
The side effects you are having with alcohol and caffeine might just be temporary. It isn’t listed as a side effect on any of my pharmacy school sources.
If the medication therapy is causing you issues in your life I would recomend speaking with your pharmacist. Most local pharmacies are well trained in a number of alternatives for smoking cessation.
Whatever you do, don’t start smoking again. You are already past the hardest part, to go back now would just mean that you would eventually try to stop again.

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Is Chantix FDA Approved?

Yes! Chantix was approved by FDA May 11, 2006.

FDA writes:

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced today the approval of Chantix (varenicline tartrate) tablets, to help cigarette smokers stop smoking. The active ingredient in Chantix, varenicline tartrate, is a new molecular entity that received a priority FDA review because of its significant potential benefit to public health.

Chantix acts at sites in the brain affected by nicotine and may help those who wish to give up smoking in two ways: by providing some nicotine effects to ease the withdrawal symptoms and by blocking the effects of nicotine from cigarettes if they resume smoking.

“Tobacco use, particularly cigarette smoking, is the single most preventable cause of death in the United States and is responsible for a growing list of cancers as well as chronic diseases including those of the lung and heart,” said Scott Gottlieb, MD, Deputy Commissioner for Medical and Scientific Affairs. “The agency is committed to helping facilitate the development of products to help people quit smoking and improve their overall quality of life.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 44.5 million adults in the United States smoke cigarettes and more than 8.6 million of them have at least one serious illness caused by smoking.

“Cigarette smoking is a very difficult habit to break due in large part to nicotine dependence or addiction” said Dr. Steven Galson, Director of FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “Chantix therapy has proven to be effective in smokers motivated to quit and will provide another tool for physicians to use for the millions of smokers who want to quit.”

The effectiveness of Chantix in smoking cessation was demonstrated in six clinical trials, which included a total of 3659 chronic cigarette smokers who were treated with varenicline. Five of the six studies were randomized, controlled clinical trials in which Chantix was shown to be superior to placebo in helping people quit smoking. These smokers had previously averaged 21 cigarettes a day for approximately 25 years. In two of the five placebo-controlled studies, Chantix-treated patients were also more successful in giving up smoking than patients treated with Zyban (bupropion).

The approved course of Chantix treatment is 12 weeks. Patients who successfully quit smoking during Chantix treatment may continue with an additional 12 weeks of Chantix treatment to further increase the likelihood of long-term smoking cessation.

In clinical trials, the most common adverse effects of Chantix were nausea, headache, vomiting, flatulence (gas), insomnia, abnormal dreams, and dysgeusia (change in taste perception).

Chantix is manufactured and distributed by Pfizer, Inc., New York, NY.

For more information, visit FDA

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Health Benefits of smoking cessation

It is well documented that smoking cessation has a beneficial effect on health – and a life-prolonging effect. This also applies to smokers who are more than 60 years old when they quit smoking. (Doll and Peto, 1994). Smokers who stop smoking before 35 years of age has, in Dolls and Peto study, the same average length of life as never-smokers. This does apply to those who started smoking during early adolescence. It is never too late to quit smoking, using quit smoking pills or what ever quit smoking method it takes.

The main conclusions are as follows:

1. Ex smokers assess their health status as being better compared to smokers. It is remarkable that this also applies to young people of 16-24 years of age. This is true regardless of whether you measure absenteeism, hospitalizations, self-reported chronic and acute disease, restriction of physical activity or self-assessed health status. Most studies show that the impact of smoking cessation, the first completely after ca. 1-year smoking cessation. After a year of smoking cessation self-reported health, experienced at the level of the nonsmokers reported.

2. 80% of smokers gain weight in relation to smoking cessation. In comparison, taking 20% of smokers on weight over the same time period. Weight increase is on average approx. 2 kg. For a small group of 3-4% of all who stopped smoking, weight gain was so great that in itself could pose a health risk.

3. Smoking cessation leads to pulmonary symptoms such as cough, saliva and pibende and sharpening end breathing improved or completely overcomes both in healthy smokers and in smokers with established bronchitis and large lungs (smokers’ lungs). In young and healthy smoking cessation leads to lung function improved slightly, and that it does not degrade faster than in never-smokers. In patients with established chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) normalized the future deterioration of lung function, but the lost lung function is not recovered. Some asthmatics reported improvement in the condition after smoking cessation, but not for everyone. Smoking cessation reduces the risk of developing severe pneumonia and influenza. The risk decreases after smoking cessation, and within a few years down at the same level as in never-smokers.

4. Five years after smoking cessation, the risk of lung cancer, throat cancer, bladder cancer and cancer in the throath is halfed. After 15-20 years, the risk is almost non-smokers. Big smokers have an approx. twice as much cancer risk as non-smokers for the rest of their life.

5. Cessation of smoking results in a reduced tendency for blood clot formation. Platelets label together less and less fibrinogen in the blood to stabilize blood clots. The effect on the various biological systems comes from a few weeks after cessation of smoking for approx. 2 years after termination. Smoking cessation leads to an almost immediate decrease in the risk of developing blood clots, but only after 5-10 years as ex-smokers is down to the same risk as a never-smoker. Smoking cessation in young age (eg before 35 years of age) leads to a significant risk reduction largely down to the risk that exists among never-smokers. Smoking cessation leads to a rapid reduction in the increased risk of brain bleeding and already five years after smoking cessation, the risk is reduced to never-smoking’s risks. Cessation of smoking reduces the risk of arteriosclerosis in the legs. In already developed disease smoking cessation will often relieve the inconvenience and reduce the risk of deterioration.

6. Smoking slows the healing of wounds and cuts. After surgery, there are several complications for smokers. Smoking cessation is recommended before surgical procedures.

7. There is clear evidence that the smoking is a risk factor for development of osteoprose where hip fractures are by far the most serious health consequence. The risk around. 10 years after smoking cessation.

8. Women who quit smoking before or during the first 3-4 months of pregnancy give birth to children with normal birth weight. Approximately 30-40% of premature births of children could be prevented by smoking cessation. It does not work in this context to reduce tobacco consumption. The time for menopause is normalized by smoking cessation.

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New Year 2009 Resolution: Quit Smoking!

Standing with your glass of champagne in your hand, counting down the seconds to twelve and the new year, you make a rapid status of your life. And this is when your New Year resolution takes shape. You decide you want to lose weight, see your family more often and quit smoking. But are your going to keep your New Year resolution? Hardly, for a decision to change a habit or behavior is not just something you just implements from one day to another – your decision must be given time to mature.

The key to success lies in careful planning and putting in some very specific goals that are attainable. Here are some quit smoking tips, that will guide you through the new year resolution of quitting smoking and how to keep it.

New Year resolution: I will stop smoking

You must really want to stop smoking. So think about the benefits of smoking and the benefits of giving up. Weigh your arguments against each other. If you decide to quit smoking, think of how it should be implemented.

Before you actually quit smoking, think about how and when you smoke now – your smoking habits. When you have a clear picture of your smoking habits, consider what your can do instead when you no longer smoke. Think of the alternatives – instead of a smoke break at work, you can eat a piece of fruit or go for a walk. Instead of smoking right after dinner, start chewing on your favorite chewing gum – this could be a nicotine chewing gum, if that is your preferred quit smoking method.

After you have quit smoking, your metabolism slow slightly down and you risk facing the much feared quit smoking weight gain. This can be avoided entirely by exercise, which also works well against the physical symptoms of smoking cessation, anxiety and restlessness, and when you are irritable.

Get support from others in the same situation by getting them to stop smoking at the same time, or by signing up for a smoking cessation course.

Should you take a cold turkey or gradual tapering off of nicotine products such as nicotine patch or nicotine gum? Or a quit smoking pill? If you have smoked for many years and / or have smoked several cigarettes each day, it may be helpful to use nicotine chewing gum in a transitional phase to take the top of the physical symptoms, so you can concentrate on breaking the habits that are not is so easy to change. But remember that nicotine chewing gum should not become a new addiction.

8 ways to keeping you New Years resolution:

1. You must really want it. Feel it in your heart, and not only in your head, or you might drop it again.
2. Set realistic and attainable goals. Your goal should be as specific as possible. Say for example, that you will quit smoking before March 1st, instead of just saying that you will quit smoking.
3. Focus on what you want to achieve instead of what you want to avoid.
4. Visualize the goal – imagine, for example, a more healthy version of yourself.
5. Plan carefully. You need to know what you would do in various tempting situations.
6. Get support from your environment.
7. Do not have a bad conscience, if you occasionally fall in. Blame will get you nowhere.
8. Evaluate your progress and praise yourself for the goal when you accomplish it.

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Quit Smoking with Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a treatment which originally came from China and which is several thousand years old, dating back to the Stone Age for some 8000 years ago. The detritus of stone and bone in the form of needles have been found, and archaeologists believe that they have been used for a crude form of acupuncture. The word acupuncture is of Latin origin and can be split into “Acuse” and “Punctura” which means needle stick.

During the 1800s French missionaries gets acquainted with treatment in China, and a few hundred years later, it becomes more widespread acknowledged in Europe. During the’70s, it was popular for Western doctors and medical students to visit China to observe operations which almost miraculously was performed without the use of anesthesia. At the same time the interest in the treatment blossoms in the US, and the interest has steadily grown since.

The idea behind acupuncture is that the body has several energy lanes each of which contains hundreds of areas which can be stimulated with needles and thus energy can be shaped and balanced so that diseases can be cured and prevented. The body’s energy balance is called “qi, and the balance of the energy consist of “Yin” and “Yang”.

It has been proved to also have a positive effect in treating the of symptoms associated with smoking cessation. Many ex-smokers reports on a good effect to receive this treatment, often when many of the other means have proved ineffective, such as quit smoking pills or other quit smoking medication. However, it is necessary that you are preparing for a smoking cessation, and that you are determined to stop – as with all smoking cessation trials, with or without quit smoking aids.

Some acupuncturists are even former smokers who after the smoking cessation has been so enthusiastic about the treatment that they themselves have taken education in acupuncture.
A consultation with a quit smoking acupuncturist might be to first have a talk about one’s smoking habits and attitudes to smoking, and together find a stop date for the smoking cessation.

After that follows the actual treatment, which should be effective against the physical withdrawal symptoms which typically appears within the first few weeks of the smoking cessation. The treatment will usually take place over 1-2 treatments with some weekly intervals, in which the needle is placed in one ear in selected points. This may vary depending on the acupuncturist and which methods he or she may be using.

If you do not like the idea of needles, however, there are other treatments than acupuncture with needles, including pressure massage and quit smoking laser light. There are many physicians, and you might be a little insecure if it is the first time you are considering this type of treatment. It may be that you’re familiar with family or friends who have tried this treatment with good results, and it would be a good idea to talk to them about their experiences.

If you go looking for therapists on the web, the check if the physician is included in a recognized organization, such as AAMA (American Academy of Medical Acupuncture) or whether there are some statements from former patients.
Finally, try to call or write the physician about the things you are uncertain of. It is in this as in all other treatments that you must have confidence in thepractitioner, just like when you go to your doctor or dentist.

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The Best Stop Smoking Drug

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.

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Quit Smoking Symptoms

When you start a smoking cessation, you will experience a number of changes, also called the cessation symptoms or quit smoking symptoms.
It is quite natural, since your body for a longer period have become accustomed to be exposed to toxic substances in the form of nicotine, tar and the like.  When you quit smoking, and thereby stopping adding poisonous substances to your blood, your body begins a purge of the poison, and that is what we call smoking cessation symptoms.

The quit smoking symptoms you may experience varies significantly from person to person, but it is important that you prepare you for the coming onslaught. The cessation symptoms you suffer from will give you an excuse to try to justify that you start smoking again. You must fight against this negative process and stick in your decision to stop smoking.

One thing that is important to remember before you read further, is that I will list the most common cessation symptoms, and you will most likely only be able to recognize some of them, but do not worry, it’s perfectly normal.

The most usual stop smoking symptom, is your almost irresistible urge to start smoking again, your body will almost shout to get another injection of nicotine, and your internal dialogue will be divided between your desire to escape your addiction, and the desire to end the unpleasant symptoms.
This symptom is not so hard to get through, just some steadfastness, and you will be over the worst after the first 3-4 days.

You might also see that you are a little ill, in the form of frequent coughs, small colds, and other lung chest discomfort symptoms, it is again quite naturally, because your airways cleans out, and restore the natural function, while that your immune defense works hard to purge the poison from your body.

Your intestines will also make “sounds” as a symptom of a smoking cessation, you can even get an attack of constipation, you must understand that smoking affects many parts of the body, while smoking also consumes a lot of your body’s energy which could otherwise be spent on many other things, and so many functions in the body have suffered from smoking.

You will most likely also see an increased appetite, and a greater desire to put something in your mouth, and if you absolutely must give into the temptation, go for fiber-containing foods, as it facilitates bowel function, coarse bread, nuts, grains and prunes could also be fine things to eat, and remember in the beginning of your smoking cessation to drink plenty of water, all things could help ease the symptoms of your smoking cessation.

Headaches can also be a smoking cessation symptom, which brings along a lack of focus and concentration, and you will see that you are easily irritated.
Experts believe that the headache is caused by changes in blood / oxygen ratio simultaneously with a change of blood sugar levels, caused by lack of nicotine which all alter normal brain environment. With time, these levels return to a normal mode, you must simply arm yourself with patience, plenty of water, and maybe use a few headache pills against the pains for a while.

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Quit Smoking Hypnosis – Does It Help?

Hypnosis as smoking cessation, the easy method for smoking cessation!

It is very easy to start smoking, but it is up hill to stop again!

Just ask a smoker, or just someone who smokes a few cigarettes a day. Normally you can quit smoking quite easily by using will power for a few days’ time, but then the urge towards nicotine gets so strong, that your mind makes all sorts of excuses to start smoking again. And if you just smoke on cigarette - you’re back where you started.

What works is … Hypnosis!

Many methods on how to quit smoking cigarettes have been pointed out: Patches, gum and quit smoking pills just to name a few. But what really works, is smoking cessation with hypnosis. Hypnosis as a smoking cessation method, have many times been mentioned as a method that does not work in the long run, and elsewhere, it is stressed out as the only way to go.

So, who should you believe? I will not try to get you as a customer (since I do not do hypnosis), but promise you that stop smoking with hypnosis is at least as effective as any other method I know of. And I have even tried the most …

How does it work?

It is in principle not important how long you have smoked, whether you are a social smoker, or just plain heavy smoker.
Hypnosis can help you with your smoking cessation. Anyone who has tried to stop smoking, using a quit smoking pill or other quit smoking medication, are aware of the intense itch that comes after a few days, the mood swings and also more physical symptoms of weaning that builds up.

When using hypnosis to stop smoking, you will be guided by a hypnotist, which brings you into a dream-like trance state. In this state are you more receptive to suggestions, and while being deeply relaxed, you can easily keep track of everything which takes place under the hypnosis / smoking cessation.

Stop Smoking Hypnosis (MP3 Downloads)

Expectation = Result

The hypnotist will use positive suggestions, which will help you to escape the urge to smoke and get rid of the intense desire for a cigarette, that normally comes after a short time. Many believe that the reduced desire to smoke only works during the hypnosis, and that they not later will be influenced by the positive suggestions, and if that is what you expect, it is most likely to become the result.
Your mind roughly works in that way, that what you expect will be what you get. Despite all the resistance, hypnosis for smoking cessation is now one of, if not the, most popular method of smoking cessation.
What you have to remember when choosing your method of smoking cessation, is that no method works if you do not have the will and desire to stop smoking, and is willing to make an effort yourself.

Combining quit smoking hypnosis with quit smoking medication like quit smoking pills, nicotine patches or other quit smoking drugs, will often prove to give the best results.

Ready to be smoke free? Click Here!

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What Happens When You Quit Smoking ?

When you start a smoking cessation, you will experience a number of changes, also called the cessation symptoms.
It is quite natural, since your body for a longer period have become accustomed to be exposed to toxic substances in the form of nicotine, tar and the like. What happen when you quit smoking is that you are stopping adding poisonous substances to your blood, your body begins a purge of the poison, and that is what we call smoking cessation symptoms.

But remember that many of the quit smoking symptoms can be avoided by using a quit smoking pill or other quit smoking medication.

The symptoms you may experience varies significantly from person to person, but it is important that you prepare you for what happens when you quit smoking. The cessation symptoms you suffer from will give you an excuse to try to justify that you start smoking again. You must fight against this negative process and stick in your decision to stop smoking. Using a quit smoking pill or other quit smoking medication might be a good idea if the symptoms of the smoking stop gets too severe.

One thing that is important to remember before you read further, is that I will list the most common cessation symptoms, and you will most likely only be able to recognize some of them, but do not worry, it’s perfectly normal.

What happens when you quit smoking?
The most usual stop smoking symptom, is your almost irresistible urge to start smoking again, your body will almost shout to get another injection of nicotine, and your internal dialogue will be divided between your desire to escape your addiction, and the desire to end the unpleasant symptoms.
This symptom is not so hard to get through, just some steadfastness, and you will be over the worst after the first 3-4 days.

You might also see that you are a little ill, in the form of frequent coughs, small colds, and other lung chest discomfort symptoms, it is again quite naturally, because your airways cleans out, and restore the natural function, while that your immune defense works hard to purge the poison from your body.

Your intestines will also make “sounds” as a symptom of a smoking cessation, you can even get an attack of constipation, you must understand that smoking affects many parts of the body, while smoking also consumes a lot of your body’s energy which could otherwise be spent on many other things, and so many functions in the body have suffered from smoking.

You will most likely also see an increased appetite, and a greater desire to put something in your mouth, and if you absolutely must give into the temptation, go for fiber-containing foods, as it facilitates bowel function, coarse bread, nuts, grains and prunes could also be fine things to eat, and remember in the beginning of your smoking cessation to drink plenty of water, all things could help ease the symptoms of your smoking cessation.

Headaches can also be a smoking cessation symptom, which brings along a lack of focus and concentration, and you will see that you are easily irritated.
Experts believe that the headache is caused by changes in blood / oxygen ratio simultaneously with a change of blood sugar levels, caused by lack of nicotine which all alter normal brain environment. With time, these levels return to a normal mode, you must simply arm yourself with patience, plenty of water, and maybe use a few headache pills against the pains for a while. As noted earlier a quit smoking pill can actually reduce a lot of the symptoms.

So, what happen when you quit smoking might sound like very negative, but remember that this is only for a short period and the quit smoking side effects are very positive on your health for the rest of your life.

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Quit Smoking Tips

With all the opportunities available in smoking cessation, and all the different ad campaigns that are trying to convince you that you must use one or the other quit smoking aid for your smoking cessation, or follow a specific quit smoking tip.

You run the risk of losing your goal, rather than focusing on your wish, a final stop smoking, and the suddenly you do not know where to start because there are so many different options to choose from. But what you must remember, is that one of the many quit smoking tips you run into, may help you quit smoking for good, and add many years to your life.

Do you know the expression or saying from the movie The Godfather “Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer.”?

If you turn the saying on its head, it matches your opportunity for success with your smoking cessation, and in my eyes it is an important quit smoking tip. Keep your enemies (cigarettes) close by, and your friends even closer. Cigarettes are to be kept so close that you can remember the damage they have caused you in your life, do not convince yourself into feeling that cigarettes gave you peace, for the illusion you can read more about this article: “The beneficial effects of a smoking cessation are many”

Keep your friends close, because the more you tell about your smoking cessation, the more there are to support you in your efforts to stop smoking.

Another good stop smoking tips is to find an online quit smoking forum where you can read about someone else’s fight against smoking, and learn from their experiences, share your own experiences and ask questions to those who are in the forum. Here you should know that these kinds of quit smoking forums are sponsored by companies selling smoking cessation products (like quit smoking pills), but the good thing about it is that people are even trying to get the honest comments, and does not seek to profit from your smoking cessation, and the is an important reason for this quit smoking tip. In fact, it’s probably one of the most important stop smoking tips for exactly this reason.

Avoid situations usually associated with smoking, for example, the smoking room, or the group who are smokers at work. Perhaps some of your good friendships have arisen in this particular group, and instead to go with them as usual, then fighting the urge to do as usual, it is an almost sure road to relapse to smoking.

Use instead the time you previously spent on smoking to go online and find support in the forums you find, or make an extra effort on your work, and get a plus in your boss’s little black book

Using all these quit smoking tips, and you’re already well on its way to your new longer life as not smoking.

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