Thread: my latest replacement therapy

Ok so I'm a wuss, I've quit smoking cigarettes three times in the past and for long periods of time. So I know how good it feels not to be enslaved by these things. In the past, I've used patches and gum to get me through the early part and then I'd just jump. But for some reason, this last time is just really really tough.

So I found out recently that my insurance covers this new cessasation drug called Chantix. Not sure if any of you smokers have heard of it or used it but I just took my first dose today. Chantix is basically like suboxone but for your nicotinic receptors. It both blocks nicotine from your receptors and its also a partial agonist so it helps reduce cravings. I got my nice new shiny Chantix box with the pfizer logo on the side and I'm ready to quit.

A coworker of mine, who was a nasty two pack a day smoker, just put out her last cigarette on wednesday, after being on chantix for 10 days. If she can do it then anyone can. The 'program' suggest that you continue to smoke for the first 6-8 days, after the first couple of doses, you're getting nothing from the cigarettes except a cough. Lets see how this goes.

Glass,

Although the majority of my dear old family were crazed alchies, dopers and cigarette smokers, I was/am not---a smoker, that is.

The other two? Oh Lord, set 'em up!

Anyway...for some reason, I just never took to smoking (certainly wasn't cause it was flippin' addictive!)

I understand that ceasing-the-cigs is monstrously hard...not a single member of the Bailey-Clan ever succeeded.

I hope you do, Glass. Good luck!

best,

sam

sam bailey

I have my shiny box of Chantix sitting in my bathroom! For some reason I just can't get myself to start taking it! Have you seen the web site with the daily check-in and support? It's done really well. I even printed off the first days logs....

The only negative thing I have heard about the medication is nausea. Some people feel a little nauseous for the first few days. Ahhh - I think I can handle that - it's just getting myself to gear up and just do it!

Wow, maybe since you are starting it, I will too and wow - I can finally be a non-smoker! Not a pariah anymore!

My insurance covered it too. Were you advised to go back to your Dr. after the first month and have labs done?

Good Luck! You may be the motivation I need to start the Chantix too and ditch the butts for good!

Remy :)

Remy, I think the whole lab thing is so that they can determine if you've actually stopped smoking or not. If you're still huffing after a month then they're not likely to cover the second round. Personally, this coworker that I mentioned was one of the most hardcore smokers I'd ever met. She was the type who wanted to have a cigarette, while she was smoking a cigarette. It took her ten days, and by the sixth day, she was smoking five a day. I was pretty blown away. I really want to quit, but I've found it harder to do while I'm on the east coast. I think the main reason is all the driving that I do here. Its so boring and the thought of not having my butts in the morning was daunting.

Ah the nauseau. Well my doctor warned me about that. See the thing is that considering a couple years ago I thought nothing of eating a handful of pills and washing it down with vodka and beer, its pretty unlikely that 'nauseau' is going to get me.

I've been on the first dose for about five hours now and I can already report that there are some definite changes. I've smoked about three cigs in that time and each of them was increasingly less enjoyable. I think that I'm still getting some of the nicotine from the buts, however the cigarettes have that heavy, poisonous perfumey taste that lets you know this s**t ain't right. I can also say that I've had no nauseau however, my appetite seems to be suppressed and while the overall feeling is not that noticeable, I do feel a bit more relaxed.

Crack open the box remy, get started, I'd be happy to do this at the same time. I haven't been to that site yet but I plan on going tomorrow and getting the info.

You're on Glass! I sound a lot like your hard-core friend... but not 2 packs a day - oh who am I kidding, some days it's damn close. I'm on the east coast too so I know what you mean about that car thing!

In my previous post when I said - Ahh... I think I can handle the nausea? Yah, that's exactly what I was thinking about too. Now, killing my appetite? That's incentive right there (lol). Since I've been off the pill diet I've gained some weight. Wow you feel a difference after one dose? This sounds very promising.

I really should know better (is what I tell myself constantly) - I've been smoking way too long. I'm a medical professional fercrissake!

It's such a powerful crutch. I've never been able to even think about what to do with my hands... and wow, all the daily triggers. BUT - if that medication takes away the desire and enjoyment out of smoking, I owe it to myself and everyone around me to give this an honest shot.

I'm starting tomorrow morning.

It was my understanding that the reason for the blood test after a month was to check liver function. BUT- yanno? Your explanation makes a whole lot of good sense... good old mangled care (heh). A blood nicotine level? Would they?

OK - so how many days are you going to do before you quit? Have you thought about it?

I added up what I spend in a month on cigs... ouch! I can think of a lot of fun things to do with that money instead of making midnight runs to the gas station because I get neurotic if I don't have an extra pack in my purse!

Glass, thank you. If you didn't post this that Chantix would most likely sit there collecting dust until it expires. I've had that script since September!

remy, cigarettes are my final stand as well. Having quit before, I know that its mostly a mental thing. When you take the chantix, don't expect to have no craving overnight. Thats not the way it works, they start you off at a low dose for three days, then up it slight for the next four. Week two is when the stabilization dose starts. I had my morning coffee, with cigarette, and took my moring dose of chantix, we'll see how day two goes. The thing is remy, since you have the medication, why not just take it, if it doesn't work, then you blew 40 bucks, no big deal right?

I'll keep posting here to let you know my experience with chantix. I'm gunning for total cessation in 7 days. btw, the cigarette I just had didn't do me the way it normally does, a very interesting drug indeed.

Glass -
thanks for the info.....I'm jumping on the Chantix train.

going to see my doc next week......really, thanks again.

knicker, I have Anthem/Blue Cross and they covered it, the pharmacist told me that most plans don't. Just a heads up: If you don't have coverage, the script is 125/a month. With coverage, its 40/a month. I know the money isn't an issue for you but 85 bucks is 85 bucks.

If you want to start sooner, you could even have your doctor call the prescription in over the phone, thats what mine did for me.


FYI-I just found some interesting statistics on NRT therapies, like patches and gum...Apparently the FDA did a study and found that NRT has a failure rate of 95+% over the course of a year...If you relapsed and tried the same NRT therapy the failure rate is 99%.

Hi Glass.

Thanks for posting about the new drug. I have been wanting to quit again, for a month. You are so right, about it being harder the second or third or... times to quit. A couple of months after I quit methadone, the cigs just didn't taste good anymore. I quit for about 6 weeks. Then, had an upsetting day & bought a pack. Arrrrrh! Still kicking my butt for that. I have been trying to quit again & can't get past the mental.

So thanks again for the info. I will ask my dr for a 'script.

Good luck & keep us posted.

luv syd

Folks,

OK, I admit it. I sound like a damn rookie. But, dumbass or not, I'm still curious: Do most drug addicts smoke...cigarettes, I mean? I've been in enough AA meetings (thank God for 'em!) to know that those, uh---crrazzzy alchies are all inveterate smoke-junkies. Well, the majority of 'em.

But what about your average, normal, red-blooded, All-American dope-fiend? Uh, like me?

As pre-noted, smoking is one ugly habit-trap I never fell into. (Hmm: Boy, am I special, or what!?)

Anyway, folks---It's a bright, cool and beautiful early Saturday morning on the West Coast...what in hell else do I have to do, 'cept worry about all you addicts??

best,

sb

sam bailey

damn rookies. I've seen the statistics before, but I forget the specifics. Essentially dopers and drinkers are like a thousand times more likely to abuse cigarettes. As are people with certain, umm, mental health issues, like Adhd, bipolar, depression etc. I was an athlete through college, but I was also an avid tobacco chewer(skoal fine cut)and generally stayed away from cigs. But when I graduated, spitting into a cup at a party was entirely unacceptable. Enter cigarettes. I've spent even time as an adult, smoking and not smoking. The longest I quit for was just shy of six years(Barcelona!)So I know the deal. There is a very good book by a guy named Allen Carr called "EasyWay to quit smoking" I'm usually not a sucker for psychological deprogramming and such, but this book really flipped a mental switch in me.


Syd....c'mon girl, saddle up. The more the merrier...I wonder if this is some sort of freudian/envy thing that us 'recovered addicts' have with the folks who are still in detox. I mean, I'm giving this the genuine college try...But isn't it so like an addict to wonder if there's a drug to help us get off of drugs? I think after cigarette replacement therapy that I'll give television replacement therapy a try...if that works: 'employment replacement therapy'

Oooooohhh television replacement therapy. I will monitor this one closely.:D

Thanks for the chuckle.

syd