Anyone here used Champix to quit smoking?
Anyone here used Champix to quit smoking?
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Discussion

pattieG

Original Poster:

196 posts

178 months

Monday 1st February 2016
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As per title. I am on day 14 of it and haven't smoked since 7pm last night but I am still having major cravings for a cigarette! Will the urges go away anytime soon?

TNJ

434 posts

191 months

Tuesday 2nd February 2016
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Best of luck - hope you can continue successfully.

I tried Champix - I found it manageable for 3-4 weeks but the craving never really went and the side effects were annoying (difficulty sleeping, constantly thirsty and just not feeling like myself). I think I went wrong by waiting for the cravings to go and expecting to not want to smoke. That doesn't happen as it is all psychological - after 2 weeks, there is no nicotine left in your system so it was not a physical craving, it was all just mental. The Champix did help and there is no doubt that ciggies tasted horrible and did not seem to be as satisfying as before - but that didn't stop me going back on them unfortunately.

If you can get your head right and just accept that you have stopped, then the Champix will help to minimise the physical cravings. The rest is unfortunately up to you.

In the end, I have cut down by gradually switching to e-cigs with a view that I will then phase them out as well. Seems to be working for me without too much effort so far - although, again, it is about getting your head right as an e-cig is not really the same as a normal one.


read5458

503 posts

212 months

Tuesday 2nd February 2016
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I had no negative side effects from them really.

I stopped for about 6 months using them. I only made the mistake of having a night of beers with a lot of my friends after a few weeks of intense stress and ended up having one, then two and continued. I had beaten the smoking thing months prior and had every confidence in having a night off. I pretty much forced myself to finish the pack the next day.

I'm guessing Champix is different to other people then?. I stopped on day 12. After around 4 or 5 days of starting the Champix, I found I was feeding the habit without craving. You go outside and light one up and it becomes habit/ritualistic. They tasted horrid and after each one, I felt horrible.

The only thing I found, even after I had stopped on day 12, was the need to go outside. No cravings. I ended up buying a few large bags of mints to be eaten each time the habit kicked in. Within 4 or 5 days, I had lost the need for stepping outside. I also busied myself with my xbox games or TV series that were on Netflix. I found that the sudden lull in activity when at home, started the thoughts of popping out for a cigarette.

I smoked about 20 per day prior to stopping. I use an e-cig now and have gone from 12mg nicotine to 0. I've began to stop using that now too.


Champix I guess, will have a slightly different impact on any individual. If you haven't already, don't give up giving up (sorry, that sounds silly), find an activity to do, mints or similar and keep busy.

Best of luck pal.

gavsdavs

1,255 posts

155 months

Tuesday 2nd February 2016
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yes, I used champix to give up. Cravings will continue for 4-6 weeks, after which you will forget about it.
Stick with it - it's well worth it.

....goes and looks for the 'benefits of giving up smoking' thread to post fun things on....

Pugster

458 posts

210 months

Wednesday 3rd February 2016
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TNJ said:
If you can get your head right and just accept that you have stopped, then the Champix will help to minimise the physical cravings. The rest is unfortunately up to you.
This. I quit about 6 years ago using Champix. It did help, but made me feel a bit strange at times.

I read Allen Carr's book at the same time and I think this made me think about things in a different way.

Don't miss fags at all. I'm not a bitter ex smoker either. I just don't give them a second thought any more.

Good luck