Starting Chantix Tomorrow :-)

I'm 60 years old, have smoked since I was 14. Am a 2 pack a day smoker.
I sure am hoping Chantix can help me. Anyone else out there who's been a heavy smoker for so long, who has been helped by Chantix?

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I'm 57 and smoked for 40 years. I started Chantix in early February. Smoked for the 1st week. Taste of them become very unpleasant. Haven't had a cigarette for two weeks now. Key for me was to collect up all ashtrays, lighters, lighter fluid and put in trash. Next wash and clean rooms in house with smoke residue. This took a while doing one room at a time. As far as adverse effects the only thing I've noticed is dreams. Normal dreams like a portable B&W TV and Chantix dreams more like HD on wide screen. Very few cravings - mostly in the car as that is programmed in my brain to smoke. Still have impulse to reach down and pick up pack and lighter on my desk which is now gone. Some have suggested an alternate action, but I don't feel that is necessary. Quit day was just make it an hour, then another until day 1 was finished. Be sure to take Chantix with water as recommended. When you experience a trigger for smoking just remind yourself "You don't do that anymore".

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Very good advice, Mac and thanks for posting.

Like any medication on the market, Chantix works well for many people that use it, but there are always those that it doesn't work well for, or who have odd side effects from it.


https:/­/­rxchat.com/­wiki/­Chantix/­

I know several people, however, that have managed to use it to quit successfully and I wish you the best of luck.

Does anyone else have any personal experiences to add?

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Be careful for depression. it not only took the feeling of pleasure for smoking away, but it took all the pleasure away and after 3 days I was so depressed I realized how people come to want to kill themselves. If you feel depressed, stop immediately

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I was, like you, a heavy smoker from the age of 14. I'm 45 now. I've taken Chantix twice and it works great to take away the pleasure of smoking and get you through the first 1-2 months without that old friend. Yes, it made me depressed and I had the strange dreams/trouble sleeping, but I was always aware that it was the drug doing crazy things to me and I always reminded myself to appreciate its benefits over the side effects. Truth be told, I had smoked for so long, when I quit smoking, nothing I normally did to feel good would give me pleasure. "Depression" for a few months was going to be unavoidable, regardless of the method used to quit. Ultimately, I think Chantix helped make the depression more bearable because a cigarette just chemically wasn't going to make me feel any better. Whenever I tried to quit any other way, I was always just one puff away from feeling better! There's no point to having a cigarette on Chantix and you can feel it. I'm feeling much better now but I really have to stay away from the old triggers or thoughts that I could ever be "only one or two a day" smokers! Not one puff for me. I recommend it for smokers like us, just be careful with it and keep the side effects in perspective...Good luck to you...

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Am 71. Smoked since 16. Chantix took away desire to smoke with no side effects except that you need to take it with food or you will get sick maybe. I did. Take it right before supper, at the table. I have been on it for six months as when I quit taking it, the desire comes right back. My husband still smokes. I only take one pill a day and that does the trick. Also, I have been on an anti-depressant for 40 years so I think that's why I tolerate it so well. No depression, no bad dreams. I am doing this under supervision of a doctor. I have COPD, asthma and have had cancer twice so I don't care if the Chantix is bad for me. Not bad yet and if I smoke I can hardly breathe and cough constantly. No cough and breathe fine--At last.

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i am 59, smoke almost 2 packs a day and today is my quit day. Yes, i smoked 3 cigs with my a.m. coffee. and I refuse to beat myself up over it. After all these years I dont believe for a minute that we can expect to have the same quick results that a 20 year smoker would have. Our bodies are different. My smoking has cut way down, to a pack a day. from 2packs to 1 pack! now thats something Im proud of. So by next week, maybe it will be only 1/2 p ack. all i know, is that it took 43 years to get this bad, its going to take as long as it takes to completely quit. Cigs taste bad, I AM able to walk away and go outside after a meal , could NEVER do that before!. think of the positive changes only, FORGET THE NEGATIVE. so what if you dont make your quit day!. pat yourself on the back.... i still get that nausea, i hate that. Pepto doesnt work....Got to think of something else. am taking it with food and water.. maybe just a weak stomach..... hang in there. I SURE AM!! GOOD LUCK! IT WILL WORK! BELIEVE, JUST BELIEVE....

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