Which side effects would you prefer?

[Twisterdog]

I was getting ready to vote for #2, then I saw the "reveal" had already occurred.

For what it's worth, I have taken Chantix, and so have several of my friends. I had NO side effects whatsoever, and I literally forgot cigarettes existed. It was amazing, truly. My sister, who smoked 2-3 packs a day for 40 years, also quit smoking recently by taking Chantix. She said her only side effect was that she couldn't sleep. It was not a manic, restless, exhausted lack of sleep, though. She said she just wasn't sleepy, but felt rested and peaceful.

Obviously, side effects vary a lot from person to person, but I've never personally known anyone to have bad side effects from Chantix. I would say it is WELL worth a try.

[Cookiebaker]

Funny poll, Chatty! I was wondering where you were going with this.

Yea, ummm, all it took for me was to read the list of possible side effects from epidurals and decided that I was going the natural route...who wants a headache for 5 days after giving birth? Isn't it better just to live through a few hours of pain instead?

[Catty1]

Karen, no, she hasn't tried non-medical means. She's gone a day or two on her own without cigs, but is back at it in no time. She wishes there were treatment centres for smokers like there are for other addicts - but there aren't.

It's where she KNOWS she should...she knows she is hooked but can't admit it deep inside (you know, the hitting bottom part). But she said all that to me...she knows she HAS to but doesn't WANT to, you know?

She has peripheral artery disease(runs in family); has had two heart attacks, one abdominal arterial bypass with another coming up in the next month or so; and Type 2 diabetes.

She is 43 years old.

Addictions can go very deep.

Prayers please.

[Karen]

Tell her we will keep her in our prayers. Does she know that some people attend Narcotics Anonymous for help quitting cigarettes?

Tell her it is sooo important that she quit, and now, and that you are willing (if you are) to put up with rotten behavior for a time while she goes through withdrawal, and would rather put up with that for a few weeks than have to attend her funeral.

[Catty1]

Narcotics/Smokers anonymous closed in Calgary. Not enough people.

A local counselling place near her started up a six-week program similar to it, after the meeting closed...the roster was full for the first one, she somehow didn't make it to the second one. She really doesn't WANT to yet, and that is a problem. BIG TIME.

I think I will post in Prayers....

[lvpets2002]

It seems NoOne Has WillPower AnyLonger.. We dont have to due there is always a drug to help cure us from a drug..

[pomtzu]

Just to add my 2 cents worth. Years ago I tried Zyban (basically the same as the rest of the stop smoking pills - they are anti-depressants) and had a very bad experience with it. I sure wasn't depressed when I started the treatment, but 3 weeks in to it I thought I was having a nervous breakdown. I was confused, lethargic, and even suicidal. Not knowing why I was feeling like this I did more research on Zyban and came to the conclusion that it was this med causing me to feel that way. I flushed the remaining pills, and as the med got out of my system, I was back to feeling "normal". I know everyone reacts differently to medications, but everyone should be aware of the possible side effects of any med before taking it. That one scared the living daylights out of me, and I personally would never try any stop smoking prescription med again.

[Glacier]

Even Champix won't work until she's truly ready and wants to quit. Stuart tried it twice. The first time, he used it because he knew he should quit. Didn't work. The second time, he was ready and committed to quitting. He took Champix again for six weeks. Our doc prescribed 12 weeks, but he was completely smoke and craving free after six. He hasn't touched a cigarette in months now.

It's expensive and not covered by most insurance plans. My drug benefit plan at work is good, covers all sorts of weird things, but not Champix! Our doc has quit prescribing it unless she convinced the patient is truly committed to quitting partly because of the cost. She spent a long time grilling Stuart the second time he asked for it!

The only side effect Stuart had were some minor changes to his sleep patterns and very vivid dreams.

[Catty1]

Zyban is also known as Wellbutrin - which I named "Hellbutrin" because of the side effects I had, ie, total menopause symptoms within 1/2 hr, including a crying jag! Some people tolerate it wonderfully - some don't; there seems to be no in-between!

Chantix is different in that it blocks the nicotine receptors.

BTW - In Alberta, if you get prescribed Zyban to quit smoking, drug plans won't cover it. However, most docs will prescribe Wellbutrin instead - same drug, but for depression - and the plans will cover it. Someone explain that to me???

[pomtzu]

Zyban is also known as Wellbutrin - which I named "Hellbutrin

Chantix is different in that it blocks the nicotine receptors.

Hellbutrin - I agree 100% with that!!!
Any drug that lists a "possible" side effect of "thoughts of suicide" - I avoid like the plague! I don't EVER want to go thru any side effects like that again. Very scary to say the least!