Giving up smoking.

[Guest]

Giving up smoking.

Re: Why Is It So Hard?!

Yes...It is a prescription pill! The FDA " I believe" just released it last year (or a few years back) (also it helps with depression...if I am correct) for help with smoking. you take it two weeks before your "quit date" then you STOP! But just like the Topa it isn't a magic pill...nothing is! It is suppose to help with the nicotine withdrawls and not sure about the cravings:eek ! I just know that I have been smoking for 20 years and drinking the same amount of time. It is time to give up both! I did and have cut way back on the drinking but I do see the pattern that the two go hand in hand! Plus Both are Not Healthy!

Best of luck to us!

Lets keep in touch!
Tammie

[Guest]

Giving up smoking.

Re: Why Is It So Hard?!

Hi and I"m in the same boat, smoking and drinking, but like some others I am more concerned with staying dry than trying to quit smoking. And I also believe they do go hand in hand.

Having said that, I just got a prescription, which I have not filled yet, for Nicotrol, a new inhaler that you use something like 6-8 times a day (not sure - not at hand). I did the gum, that worked the best for me, tried hypnosis - no dice, did the patch, got hives (it had more nicotine even cut in half than my cigs I guess) and I also tried the Zyban, and got schizoid. I only lasted four days on that and threw it away it was so scary.

Everyone is different. Good luck and thanks for bringing up such an interesting subject.

Best
Rock

[Guest]

Giving up smoking.

Re: Why Is It So Hard?!

Rock,
Good luck on the inhaler! Gosh, with the smoking and drinking..it is TOUGH! I have been smoking for 20 years ...drinking just as long...(I am 39) I am hoping, praying, trying... that I can spend this year getting "Heathly"...

Hope that the inhaler works for you! I just picked up my prescription for Zyban (wellbutian*...spelling off ,sorry) Hopefully I will have a better experience.

Best wishes,
~Tammie

[Guest]

Giving up smoking.

Re: Why Is It So Hard?!

Good luck, Tammy. Hope it works for you. Be careful, though. Mine was wellbutrin, too. Take one per day for four days, then twice a day starting fifth day - that is when it zapped me. But I do know it has worked for a lot of peope, so good luck. Rock

[Guest]

Giving up smoking.

Re: Why Is It So Hard?!

Yes, Zyban is Wellbutrin, also works on dopamine, the same neurotransmitter that topa works on. It is not incompatible with the topa. Many people take both successfully. Like topa it helps with the cravings, but it is important to really work hard to stop. It isn't a magic answer.

Good luck to all of you quitters!!! I did smoke enders once and it worked well for me. Went back to smoking eventually. Have quit and started a number of times since. Now I only smoke with family from NY. Since my sister was down last weekend, I was smoking then. Still recovering and wanting a cig all week. Just starting to get over it!!! Ugh!! My daughter is a "Nicotine Nazi" however--not worth smoking around her--not worth the emotional hassle!!! At least it helps me stay healthy in one respect!!!

Hugs,
Kathi

[Guest]

Giving up smoking.

Re: Why Is It So Hard?!

For those of you who had success with Zyban, congratulations. It made me angry and crazy !!

Dug

[Guest]

Giving up smoking.

Giving up smoking.

Hi Meg

I stopped smoking many years ago after being hypnotised by a colleague at work who was practising to get a certificate so that he could do it full time. He did eventually go on to practice on his own as a professional. He stopped me smoking overnight, although I only used to smoke say ten a day. About six years ago I did relapse and started smoking small cigars (because I thought it was better than cigarettes, Hah). But after a few weeks I got fed up with them and just remebered what he had said. There are a lot of Tapes and things you can get to stop smoking. I am ordering my CDs today, just so I hope I can get some sleep at night. I am into day 7 of abstinence today, which is OK but I am very tired. Good luck with it

kirky

[Guest]

Giving up smoking.

I quit smoking after trying 4 or 5 times back in Jan 2002 with the nicotine patch. I tried the gum but it burned my mouth.

Now they have inhalers, pills, etc, but I liked the patch a lot. My husband and I quit together right after we got married because we wanted to have a baby and we got preggers about a year later. That's when we started drinking more at home because we didn't want to be in bars around the smoke (this was before the NYC smoking bar ban). I cannot even stand the smell of cigarette smoke now. I got pregnant and stopped drinking but i was miserable at first and then luckily my body just didn't want it, was turned off by the smell of it. A little after 5 months I asked my doc about it because I was wanting a glass of wine and he said one glass a week was fine, so I did that.

I really think that's when I really developed this terrible problem (not that I didn't drink before but not like this). Then I had an anxiety attack and found this shrink (my drug dealer I call him) who gave me Prozac and Klonopin which helped me out a lot with the anxiety I was feeling (heart racing all the time and just could not calm down). But I got hooked on the Klonopin and between the three things (the 2 pills and the booze) I was a disaster and doing very dumb things and almost ruined my marriage and I was a newlywed. So when you quit smoking be careful because you are trying to quit drinking (or moderate) right now too. You should see an addiction specialist I would think so you do don't overdo something else like I did. Ugh