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I have a confession to make–I’m a smoker and have been for the past 18 years. I want to quit and have tried to kick the habit many times, but find the physical and psychological withdrawal unbearable. I’ll spare you all the gory details, but suffice to say it isn’t pretty.
I’ve tried Zyban and all the nicotine replacement therapies and before any of you suggest hypnosis, please bear in mind that the thought of some stranger poking around in my subconscious does not appeal to me in the least. But I am approaching middle age and those all important heart-attack years, so when I hear about a new treatment for die hard smokers like myself, I get very excited. Enter Champix by Pfizer.
Champix (Chantix in the United States) works by blocking the effect of nicotine on the brain, thereby reducing the urge to smoke. In a statement released to the media today, the makers of Champix, Pfizer Australia claim it can reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms of smokers, but only if said smoker is committed to kicking the habit. Smokers continue to smoke during the first week or two of treatment and then quit whilst taking the remainder of the 12 week course of medication. Hmm sounds suspiciously like ‘Zyban’ to me.
Champix is available only by prescription from your doctor and will be placed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) from 1st January 2008. Do you suppose it is coincidence that Champix is being added to the PBS to coincide with that new year’s resolution to quit smoking?
In regards to Champix, I don’t see anything new here. The onus is still on the smoker to weather the physical and psychological withdrawal and if you can do that, you probably won’t need a prescription medication anyway. One of the many nicotine replacement therapies available without prescription will probably suffice. As I’ve already pointed out, a very similar drug marketed under the name of Zyban was released several years ago. Zyban quietly disappeared from shelves after it failed to live up to all the hype and then there were those reports in the media of some very unpleasant side effects. Personally, I stopped taking Zyban after it kept me awake for 3 days and in case you were wondering–Yes, I was still smoking the whole time.
For years I’ve been telling anyone who would listen that if the government really wanted to curb the incidence of smoking in Australia, they would redirect those precious health dollars into treatment programs, instead of handing the money over to pharmaceutical companies via the PBS.
Millions of dollars are filtered into treatment and rehabilitation programs for drug addicts and alcoholics each year. Why don’t they develop similar treatment programs for smokers? Well, as one clever psychologist/university lecturer once told me, the government has become dependent on the revenue raised by taxes on tobacco products. Another possibility is the initial costs of developing effective treatment programs for smokers would be enormous. However, when you consider the long term savings to our health care system, isn’t the initial outlay worth it?
Go for it Deborah 🙂
Don’t stress when you start on the tablets, just relax and let the number of smokes go down naturally. You can smoke up to day 14 so if you feel you need to, take the time, but don’t let it go on too long after. Find Alan Carr’s book and read it too….the double whammy will cement your non smoker status.
I hope everyone’s success stories and comments help a lot more people to make the decision to quit.
🙂 good luck
Go for it Deborah 🙂
Don’t stress when you start on the tablets, just relax and let the number of smokes go down naturally. You can smoke up to day 14 so if you feel you need to, take the time, but don’t let it go on too long after. Find Alan Carr’s book and read it too….the double whammy will cement your non smoker status.
I hope everyone’s success stories and comments help a lot more people to make the decision to quit.
🙂 good luck
Thank you Michelle 🙂
I will let you know how I am getting along.
Thank you Michelle 🙂
I will let you know how I am getting along.
Hi just to let every one know it is nine days since I’ve had a smoke. Fill lost at times but also finding it alot easier this time round with champix.
Hi just to let every one know it is nine days since I’ve had a smoke. Fill lost at times but also finding it alot easier this time round with champix.
I’ve gone six weeks now.. Champix at first but without them now…while it is getting much easier, I know that I can not give in and have one….EVER.
I’ve gone six weeks now.. Champix at first but without them now…while it is getting much easier, I know that I can not give in and have one….EVER.
Hello everyone, After another bout of bronchitis, antibiotics and more time off work, my doctor has given me the go ahead to start the Champix prescription. I’m on day 2 of the program and just know that I will be a non smoker in the near future. Collegues at work call it a miracle that they have stopped so easily as does my son who felt no side affects. It’s great that we’re all doing this together so keep strong. regards, Susanne.
Hello everyone, After another bout of bronchitis, antibiotics and more time off work, my doctor has given me the go ahead to start the Champix prescription. I’m on day 2 of the program and just know that I will be a non smoker in the near future. Collegues at work call it a miracle that they have stopped so easily as does my son who felt no side affects. It’s great that we’re all doing this together so keep strong. regards, Susanne.
I been smoker for 25 years and i been having some problem with my health and been diabtic i have attampted to give up for few time but was unseccsfull .
My doctor has advised me to try champix as i am on day 8 today is the first day i had stopped smoking which i was very relax.
I just wish to god to be strong as i realy need to stop.
I been smoker for 25 years and i been having some problem with my health and been diabtic i have attampted to give up for few time but was unseccsfull .
My doctor has advised me to try champix as i am on day 8 today is the first day i had stopped smoking which i was very relax.
I just wish to god to be strong as i realy need to stop.
I am actually using Champix at the moment and to be honest with you it is working for me :). So far i haven’t had any side effects which is great ! I have been on it for a month now and i was smoking the first week of the treatment. The funny thing is that during that time i was smoking i felt no satisfaction at all from the cigarettes.
i have been looking out for side effects but none so far. So if anyone of you guys are thinking of taking Champix, make sure that you are comitted to do so before starting the treatment.
I am actually using Champix at the moment and to be honest with you it is working for me :). So far i haven’t had any side effects which is great ! I have been on it for a month now and i was smoking the first week of the treatment. The funny thing is that during that time i was smoking i felt no satisfaction at all from the cigarettes.
i have been looking out for side effects but none so far. So if anyone of you guys are thinking of taking Champix, make sure that you are comitted to do so before starting the treatment.
I am not on Champix but my partner is and it is very scary living with him at the moment. Have any of you had any side effects of “anger”?
I am not on Champix but my partner is and it is very scary living with him at the moment. Have any of you had any side effects of “anger”?
Hi to everyone
I wish you all well I thought I would come back after being a none smoker for
6 months, and encourage you all to be brave and quit.
I had not many problems taking champix, but was sick when I stopped
smoking. I think my body just went into shock after loosing its drug after about 45 years. I have great difficulty breathing
I now have emphysema — so to cut the story short GIVE up smokes while
you are still healthy . It is getting to the stage where if you smoke doctors really
are not interested in operating on you if you need it.
Great work to all of you who have kicked the habit Champix sure worked for me
any side effects are worth putting up with.
It feels great when people who know me say you have not smoked _ I reply
I am a none smoker, and I sure smell a lot better.
I encourage all to keep going you also will be none smokers
lynjoy
Hi to everyone
I wish you all well I thought I would come back after being a none smoker for
6 months, and encourage you all to be brave and quit.
I had not many problems taking champix, but was sick when I stopped
smoking. I think my body just went into shock after loosing its drug after about 45 years. I have great difficulty breathing
I now have emphysema — so to cut the story short GIVE up smokes while
you are still healthy . It is getting to the stage where if you smoke doctors really
are not interested in operating on you if you need it.
Great work to all of you who have kicked the habit Champix sure worked for me
any side effects are worth putting up with.
It feels great when people who know me say you have not smoked _ I reply
I am a none smoker, and I sure smell a lot better.
I encourage all to keep going you also will be none smokers
lynjoy
Hello every one i need a bit of help here after 4 months of the smokes with the help of champix i am now finding it harder to not smoke i broke the other day and had just one but that one has gone to a daily thing now i am finding it hard to say no to more so all you strong people out there stay strong and dont even give in to the just one wont hurt because i am living proof that it does .
Hello every one i need a bit of help here after 4 months of the smokes with the help of champix i am now finding it harder to not smoke i broke the other day and had just one but that one has gone to a daily thing now i am finding it hard to say no to more so all you strong people out there stay strong and dont even give in to the just one wont hurt because i am living proof that it does .
To those that have done it…congrats, but don’t become complacent.
To those still giving it a go..keep trying, don’t give up and if you fail the first time…try again, it is worth it.
And Tonya I haven’t heard of anger problems with Champix but I do remember getting a bit grouchy with the kids…not because of Champix but because I couldn’t go out to have a smoke when kids annoyed me, my coping system had to change, it may be the same with your partner, try to talk to him about it.
Keryn I know what you mean, I thought I could try just one the first time but now that I have stopped the second time round with Champix I know that never can I have even one again. I read Alan Carr’s book at the same time.
To those that have done it…congrats, but don’t become complacent.
To those still giving it a go..keep trying, don’t give up and if you fail the first time…try again, it is worth it.
And Tonya I haven’t heard of anger problems with Champix but I do remember getting a bit grouchy with the kids…not because of Champix but because I couldn’t go out to have a smoke when kids annoyed me, my coping system had to change, it may be the same with your partner, try to talk to him about it.
Keryn I know what you mean, I thought I could try just one the first time but now that I have stopped the second time round with Champix I know that never can I have even one again. I read Alan Carr’s book at the same time.
It is good to read all your comments, and if i can overcome my problems with Champix, i feel encouraged to believe i could quit.In the first 7 days of taking it i have halved my smoking, without noticing the difference, except that smoking is not satisfying.However, it seems to interfere with my antidepressants, as i feel very depressed and really exhausted . like someone is pushing me into the ground.Today i couldn’t cope with that any more and did not take my morning tablet.These unpleasant side effects only began after i began taking the two tablets daily.Perhaps i might succeed on just one .5mg tablet daily.Will see a doctor and see what i can do, because,as all of you have said, Champix does help us to get off tobacco.
It is good to read all your comments, and if i can overcome my problems with Champix, i feel encouraged to believe i could quit.In the first 7 days of taking it i have halved my smoking, without noticing the difference, except that smoking is not satisfying.However, it seems to interfere with my antidepressants, as i feel very depressed and really exhausted . like someone is pushing me into the ground.Today i couldn’t cope with that any more and did not take my morning tablet.These unpleasant side effects only began after i began taking the two tablets daily.Perhaps i might succeed on just one .5mg tablet daily.Will see a doctor and see what i can do, because,as all of you have said, Champix does help us to get off tobacco.
After 19 years of smoking and numerous failed attemts at NRT, i am now on day 8 of Champix, which are admitadly working, have not had a smoke for 3 days, nor the urge………..however, the side effect of “flatulence”, is now at the point of me considdering stopping the tablets, i am too embarrased to go out, even to sit in the same room in the evening as my partner as it is so bad.
Im am as i type sitting with my door wide open, praying i get no visitors, the prospect of this, every day, for the nex 3 months, perhaps longer, is im affraid enough to make me pack it all in.
Anyone else have this problem?,,,And if so does it get better in time
After 19 years of smoking and numerous failed attemts at NRT, i am now on day 8 of Champix, which are admitadly working, have not had a smoke for 3 days, nor the urge………..however, the side effect of “flatulence”, is now at the point of me considdering stopping the tablets, i am too embarrased to go out, even to sit in the same room in the evening as my partner as it is so bad.
Im am as i type sitting with my door wide open, praying i get no visitors, the prospect of this, every day, for the nex 3 months, perhaps longer, is im affraid enough to make me pack it all in.
Anyone else have this problem?,,,And if so does it get better in time
I have just started week 4 of the Champix tablets. I am still smoking but have cut down from 30 a day to about 8. i find that first one of a morning the worst to give up. I spread the rest out over the day. The only side affect I have had is that I am very nausiated and feel like vomiting whether I take it with food or not. Champix has also help cure my depression. I sufferd severe depression for 4 years and was on anti-depressents for this but gave these away almost a year ago. I started taking the Champix and feel on top of the world. I have no doubt that by the time I reach week 12 I too will be an ex-smoker free of the nicotine and depression shackles.
I have just started week 4 of the Champix tablets. I am still smoking but have cut down from 30 a day to about 8. i find that first one of a morning the worst to give up. I spread the rest out over the day. The only side affect I have had is that I am very nausiated and feel like vomiting whether I take it with food or not. Champix has also help cure my depression. I sufferd severe depression for 4 years and was on anti-depressents for this but gave these away almost a year ago. I started taking the Champix and feel on top of the world. I have no doubt that by the time I reach week 12 I too will be an ex-smoker free of the nicotine and depression shackles.
I am on champix at the moment, and am having severe nausea, I dont want to stop the tablet, so am trying all sorts of ways to limit the nausea, I dont get it with the night tablet just the morning one.
Am wondering if anyone who has reduced the tablet to half has found it harder.
Im havent smoked for 19 days now so Im very happy with the result.
I previously was on the patches but couldnt come off them, (155 days)I ended up going back on the higher strength one, but knew it wasnt working and i had a bad reaction to them, which i was prepared for with creams as i used them to quit years ago, that quit lasted 3 yrs till a well meaning friend gave me a packet of smokes in a time of stress, i didnt even want them but smoked them and really have no one but myself to blame. I think alot of quitting is re education on how addictive nicotine is and that it isnt just a bad habit.
I have had the best sleep since being on champix as i was a person who tossed and turned all night now i go straight to sleep.
I have felt some sadness at times, but not the severe depression i had when on the patches, so for me maybe it was the grief of loosing something that was a big part of my life, I have also worked through that.
I still sometimes want to smoke, but i am choosing not to smoke, hopefully I can stay like this for the rest of my life
I am on champix at the moment, and am having severe nausea, I dont want to stop the tablet, so am trying all sorts of ways to limit the nausea, I dont get it with the night tablet just the morning one.
Am wondering if anyone who has reduced the tablet to half has found it harder.
Im havent smoked for 19 days now so Im very happy with the result.
I previously was on the patches but couldnt come off them, (155 days)I ended up going back on the higher strength one, but knew it wasnt working and i had a bad reaction to them, which i was prepared for with creams as i used them to quit years ago, that quit lasted 3 yrs till a well meaning friend gave me a packet of smokes in a time of stress, i didnt even want them but smoked them and really have no one but myself to blame. I think alot of quitting is re education on how addictive nicotine is and that it isnt just a bad habit.
I have had the best sleep since being on champix as i was a person who tossed and turned all night now i go straight to sleep.
I have felt some sadness at times, but not the severe depression i had when on the patches, so for me maybe it was the grief of loosing something that was a big part of my life, I have also worked through that.
I still sometimes want to smoke, but i am choosing not to smoke, hopefully I can stay like this for the rest of my life
Today I started Day 1 tablet on the champix, I have read a lot of encouraging statements and hopefully I will be able to add my own thoughts when I get further into the champix.
Its now or never, I am really positive at the moment.
My will and drive is my 6 yr old daughter, I promised her that by the time she starts school next year, Iwill no longer be a smoker. When you make a child a pinky promise. Im going to give this my best shot.
Today I started Day 1 tablet on the champix, I have read a lot of encouraging statements and hopefully I will be able to add my own thoughts when I get further into the champix.
Its now or never, I am really positive at the moment.
My will and drive is my 6 yr old daughter, I promised her that by the time she starts school next year, Iwill no longer be a smoker. When you make a child a pinky promise. Im going to give this my best shot.
Hi everyone I typed in the mytime web site and stumbled upon this site. It felt comforting and reassuring to read all your emails. To think that I to can hopefully kick the habit. Have been a smoker for 29 years and would love not to be, but could not give it up. smoking was part of me. Started champix 15 days ago. My quit day is tomorrow . The first week my brain was a bit scrambled and foggy. The second week I started experiencing nausea which has worsened. I am experiencing and remembering a lot more dreams. I also feel hungrier than usual. All these things I can bare if I can just be strong enough to stop smoking.
Looking forward
Lesley
Hi everyone I typed in the mytime web site and stumbled upon this site. It felt comforting and reassuring to read all your emails. To think that I to can hopefully kick the habit. Have been a smoker for 29 years and would love not to be, but could not give it up. smoking was part of me. Started champix 15 days ago. My quit day is tomorrow . The first week my brain was a bit scrambled and foggy. The second week I started experiencing nausea which has worsened. I am experiencing and remembering a lot more dreams. I also feel hungrier than usual. All these things I can bare if I can just be strong enough to stop smoking.
Looking forward
Lesley
im starting my champix tomorrow i hope it works i dont really want to quit but seeing my mum with throat cancer and taking her for radiation and we may only have mum for a couple of weeks to a few months is enough to turn anyone off seeing mums throat any way hope it works heaps scared of side affects but should be good
im starting my champix tomorrow i hope it works i dont really want to quit but seeing my mum with throat cancer and taking her for radiation and we may only have mum for a couple of weeks to a few months is enough to turn anyone off seeing mums throat any way hope it works heaps scared of side affects but should be good