No Substitute for Time

From Smoking Cessation Guide, Terry Martin: The following essay was written by Michelle, one of the moderators for our Smoking Cessation Forum here at About.com. Her perspectives are right on the mark - quitting tobacco truly is a process over time. The release from this addiction comes bit by bit, so try to relax and put some time between you and that last cigarette you smoked. The freedom you'll gain is worth every bit of work you put into your quit!

I see that there are quite a few struggling right now, and I wanted to offer my perspective for what it’s worth. I was visiting with my mother today, who is a smoker, and I found myself trying to think of the right words to help her see that she could quit smoking if she wants to. I think many of the veteran ash kickers will know what I’m talking about when I say that I wish I had the words to express the depth, the magnitude, of freedom from nicotine. I also wish there was some kind of pill that the newly quit could take to fast forward 6 months or so to a time when nicotine recovery is much more manageable.

We have a lot of fun here sometimes, but those who have significant smober time do not forget what this forum is all about. I see that some are concerned about how much time they spend here, and I want to say, DON’T WORRY ABOUT IT! Every post you read, and every post you write is an investment in your future. If your loved ones are missing you and letting you know it, please tell them that you love them enough to devote everything you have to make sure that you can spend as much time as possible with them. This is your life you are saving, and it’s not easy.

So, it’s true that people quit smoking every day without the benefit of this forum. I believe, though, and I can’t imagine who would disagree, that support is vital to smoke-freedom for most. The articles that you can access from the site home and the posts here will reinforce your resolve. Education is key and essential for long-term success.

I’ll say it again…quitting smoking is not easy. It’s exhausting at times, and there are mood swings and minds games, and it is all part of the process of becoming someone who is not a slave to cigarettes. Quitting smoking is not easy, but is it easier that living with or dying from a smoking-related illness. It can be tiring, but not as tiring as chemotherapy and radiation treatments. It takes some effort, but not as much effort as it takes some to try to take their next breath. If you are in your 20’s or 30’s and think you have decades to smoke before you do any real damage, please think again. It is about perspective, and as you progress through this process, your perspective will change. Mine has…for the better and forever.

We have become a society who demands instant gratification, and patience has gone by the wayside. I believe some things are still worth waiting for, and I KNOW that smoke-freedom is one of them. The veterans who stick around here do so because we know how great it feels to be smoke-free. It does get better, and it does get easier, and you owe it to yourselves to give yourselves however long it takes to feel good about being smoke-free.

So…rant, whine, scream…whatever it takes to get you from where you are to where you want to be, but PLEASE DON’T SMOKE! I promise that quitting smoking will not kill you, and if you let it, it can even be one of the most amazing experiences of your life.

~Michelle~ (QuitWit)
Michelle's Quit Story
Michelle's 1 Year Milestone
Michelle's 2 Year Milestone
Michelle's 3 Year Milestone
Michelle's 4 Year Milestone
Michelle's 5 Year Milestone
Patience With the Process
A Perspective on Using NRT's
Depression When You Quit Smoking
Smoking and Degenerative Disc Disease

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Chantix FAQs

Varenicline tartrate, brand name Chantix, is a smoking cessation medication that was developed by Pfizer, Inc.

In May of 2006, Chantix was approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In the years since however, a number of serious concerns involving changes in mood and behavior for people taking Chantix have surfaced.

Let's take a closer look at how Chantix works, and address the most frequently asked questions about this quit aid.

Chantix is a medication that was developed specifically for quitting tobacco. It has two very unique qualities that make it an effective quit aid: Chantix blocks nicotine from binding with receptor sites. If a person smokes while using Chantix, they get none of the nicotine boost that smokers call "smoking satisfaction." Smoking becomes bland and unappealing, making it easier to quit.More About How Chantix Works Chantix must be prescribed by your doctor. He/she will give you a prescription that you can fill at your local pharmacy. Absolutely. When discussing Chantix with your doctor, be sure to mention: all other prescription medications you're using, including insulin, asthma medicines and blood thinnersall non-prescription medications you use, including vitamins, pain relievers, herbal remedies and supplementsAlso, be sure to tell your doctor if you: have kidney problems, including dialysis treatmentsTypical Chantix side effects include: nausea gas vomiting constipation disruptions in dream patternsThere are other more serious, but less common side effects associated with Chantix involving changes in mood and behavior that should be discussed with your physician. Chantix works by altering brain chemistry, and as such, carries a set of risk factors that involve changes in mood and behavior.

If you have been diagnosed with depression or any other mental health condition, it is very important to carefully review, with the help of your doctor, whether Chantix is a good fit for you.

Safety information from the Chantix Website: Some people have had changes in behavior, hostility, agitation, depressed mood, suicidal thoughts or actions while using CHANTIX to help them quit smoking. Some people had these symptoms when they began taking CHANTIX, and others developed them after several weeks of treatment or after stopping CHANTIX. If you, your family, or caregiver notice agitation, hostility, depression, or changes in behavior, thinking, or mood that are not typical for you, or you develop suicidal thoughts or actions, anxiety, panic, aggression, anger, mania, abnormal sensations, hallucinations, paranoia, or confusion, stop taking CHANTIX and call your doctor right away. Also tell your doctor about any history of depression or other mental health problems before taking CHANTIX, as these symptoms may worsen while taking CHANTIX.In May of 2008, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) banned pilots and air traffic controllers from using this drug while on the job:

FAA Bans Chantix for Pilots and Controllers

Additionally, on July 1, 2009, the FDA mandated that the manufacturers of Chantix, Zyban® and Wellbutrin® carry a new Boxed Warning on product labels that inform health care providers and the public of the potential risks associated with the use of these drugs. Zyban (bupropion hydrochloride) is a non-nicotine prescription quit aid similar to Chantix. Wellbutrin is bupropion that is marketed as an anti-depressant.

The FDA issued a public health advisory as well: People who are taking Chantix or Zyban and experience any serious and unusual changes in mood or behavior or who feel like hurting themselves or someone else should stop taking the medicine and call their healthcare professional right away. Friends or family members who notice these changes in behavior in someone who is taking Chantix or Zyban for smoking cessation should tell the person their concerns and recommend that he or she stop taking the drug and call a health care professional right away.FDA Public Health Advisory Released for Zyban and Chantix While the side effects of Chantix (and Zyban) are potentially serious, it is important to note that they affect a small percentage of the people who use these medications. So yes, it is likely that this type of quit aid is safe for you to use -- just be sure to review the side effects carefully with your doctor before starting either Chantix or Zyban. You'll start Chantix therapy a week before you quit smoking. Following your doctor's specific instructions, you'll begin with a small dose of Chantix once a day, gradually increasing dosage until you're taking 1 mg tablets twice daily. Always take Chantix with a full glass of water on a full stomach.

The standard recommended length of treatment is 12 weeks.

If you slip up and smoke a cigarette, continue using Chantix and try again. It can take a few weeks for this therapy to take hold for some people, so don't give up. It's a tragic fact that a human life is snuffed out every 8 seconds somewhere in the world because of tobacco use today. And if trends continue unchanged, estimates put death by tobacco at one billion this century. Just as no two people are alike, neither are their quit programs. While Chantix is not the answer for everyone, it is a valid option that widens the choices available to smokers today who are looking for a way to quit smoking.

If you're a smoker who would like to use a quit aid to help you over the hump of nicotine withdrawal, have a chat with your doctor to weigh the pros and cons of the various quit smoking products on the market today.

Page Two: Resources to Help You Quit Smoking

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