HOW? did you quit?

I am concerned about being able to function at work. I need to have ALL my wits about me as I am a medication Technician and CANNOT make a mistake. How was that aspect for you?

I also am a little bit worried about nightmares and depression. I have been in treatment in the past for chronic depression and do not want to relapse. I have been medication free for some years and don't want to have to start over again.

I usually have a lot of trouble with meds. I totalled my car 17 hours after taking one Soma! But I had no reactions to Chantix at all, other than being able to quit smoking!

Cool...I've been saving up to afford it.

I think there was a combination of factors. The meds really work, but the attitude of desire helps. In a way, too, I didn't want to allow myself to fail when I was laying out so much money.
Good luck!

I think that was why it took me so long to decide to do it. I have PSTD...and fear the nightmares some...but as my daughter said...I've conquered worse..and don't want to have to fight cancer or emphysema.

Where I live the state has a program where they'll pay for the Chantix if you attend all required counseling sessions its nothing too extensive, just a few

I already looked into that sort of thing...called the health department about help. None available to me...I make to much money. big LOL!

Thanks for the suggestion...appreciate the thought.:)

Funny thing...each time I got pregnant...I was able to set them down and not even worry about it. But before I left the hospital..I would have to have a smoke. Now that is DUMB!

Now....I get real strong cravings..and try to deal with them and not get anxious. But I always cave in.

I want to quit..but have to function and think straight at work. Not to mention...I don't want to bite the heads off my small little granddaughters.:(

Chantix seems like the best choice.

It sounds like you need someone to watch you. Having someone else around to stop you and give you moral support and motivation to do so.

I need to pass out tazers....and when they see me go for the pack of cigarettes...ZAP me! lol It's that bad. I overcame other addictions but this one is very difficult. Maybe if they made them illegal and attached a stiff sentence for smoking?;)

I am still waiting to have the extra money for the Chantix. I HAVE cut down some on my own. But I'm a bear to live with, so I am told. lol

Well, don't consider this a scare tactic but let me tell what will happen to your lungs if you don't.

A year and half ago, my dad went into emergency care due to the inability to breathe on his own. The doctor had to create a slit in his throat and put in a tube. My dad stayed in intensive care for a week. They did a lot of tests on him and when we received the results it was horrifying.

My father's lung no longer had the tissue in it. His inner wall had nothing but sores that were full of water. One sore had tore creating a hole in his lung and it began to get filled with his bodily fluids.

It took two hospital transfers to get my dad the best physician available. He needed surgery fast to repair that lung. Four times we almost lost him.

My father had smoked all his life (from age 13 to 72) and it could have ended it as well. We are very much blessed to still have him with us today. He is now 74 years old and is back to his normal self.

I do not mind anyone using scare tactics.

I work in healthcare. Nursing homes are full of people who are dying over lifestyle choices...and recently we had a resident who had lung cancer that spread to her brain. It scared me very bad...as one of my greatest fears is having dementia...very frightening condition. She died horribly not knowing anyone or anything...that is why I am trying to quit. Thank you for sharing a very painful story to try and help me with this.

I hope the responses you get to this discussion will help you as well.

I have decided NOT to use chantix. My son who did use it for a month..and still is smoke free...and who knows me very well...advised against it. He described side effects to me that I don't think I could deal with, both Psychological and physical. I will buy some patches and deal with the nausea they cause me.:) So if my posts get a little snippy...you know I've begun! lol
Thanks for your input here Libby.:)

You're welcome.

I think they are putting something in them to make them MORE addictive. When I was a young mother...each time I found out I was pregnant I was able to quit the entire time I was pregnant. No problems...just a little craving at first, easily over come by thinking of my little tiny baby in a cloud of smoke.

Now...I am totally unable to think straight..a must for my job...if I go more than five or six hours without a cigarette. Something's up!

I am sitting here with only one cigarette left. To go into town (we live in a rural area) is a big production....kids have to be dressed, I need a shower, car has a tire that needs air....but I am freaking out already knowing that there is only one left in the pack. I am off work today....and it would be so nice to just kick back and enjoy the day...at home and not HAVE to go into town...we'll see.

Thanks for your input on this....it is something that only smokers understand. And it helps to discuss it with someone who understands.:)

I wouldn't be suprised if they were more addictive, cigarettes contain over 4,000 chemicals with some known carcinogens but WHY all the chemicals, its not to just preserve the shelf life of the cigarettes, there is some serious science behind these 'cancer sticks' (come on people)--and money, why were they able to walk away unscathed after being accused of this very same thing, of producing a legal drug, I think thats the same path Pharmaceutical companies went down 10 years ago when doctors started writing prescriptions out left and right. I knew a guy who worked for the University here and they did similar research and he actually left and moved to Florida because he said they treated them like machines getting them to come up with paper after paper (of course, this is the norm) in the name of 'research', can only see why.

Don't even get me started on the bogus science of the pharamceutical companies. And the FDA!

Because of MONEY. There is such a thing as 'acceptable risk'. It's ok if some of us die. They're not liable.

Good luck in not smoking. I decided not to use chantix after my son, who did use it advised me not to. He said he had some pretty weird thoughts while on it. I can't afford to have weird thoughts...lol.