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• January 30, 2009 3:48 p.m.

  I recently saw a comment on lobeline and its potental for reducing nicotine cravings. Are you aware of lobeline's mechanism of action on nAChr subsets a4b2? Before you make comments you should do a review literature.

  - John Bancroft

• January 18, 2009 2:27 p.m.

  Dear Wanda...well I am just giving you my personal experience with depression. First let me say that today is my first day of quitting smoking, and I came to this blog for support with my very strong cravings I am experiencing. I really want to be healthy, but the problem is that I want to smoke too. GRRRR!!! Why can't life be easy? LOL! Well Wanda, I went through a time in my life when I was depressed all the time and just didn't know what was wrong with me. I was prescribed a very mild antidepressant called Lexapro. It never made me feel drugged up, or not myself. It just simply made me happier and made me feel like I could deal with anything with my head held high. I would recommend this drug, it has helped me several times. I remember feeling quite anxious though during the first week. Another thing I wanted to add is about what I learned in my biology college course last semester....is that one of the worst things a person can do if they feel depressed is to just sit or lay down and do nothing. Movement and activity release important hormones in your body that counter react with depression. Something like that LOL. Good luck, and say a prayer for my struggle with not smoking!

  - Beth

• January 14, 2009 8:28 p.m.

  I guess I am a weird smoker. I did not smoke in my vehicle, hated to smoke in an enclosed space, and have not smoked in my home since the birth of my daughter 13 years ago - but I still managed to smoke 1.5 - 2 packs a day. I decided to quit smoking a few months ago (I recently celebrated my 45th. birthday and realized I was somewhat beyond my rebellious years) and decided that my quit date would be the start of the new year. I discussed this quit date and my options with my physcian. Like all smokers that "enjoyed" smoking, but knew they needed to quit, I was looking for the easy way out, to not take responsibility. My physcian recommended Chantix and wrote a script for me. Concerned with the horror stories of depression, dreams, suicidal thoughts, and eventual weaning off of it, I decided to bypass that drug. My way of thinking, in my nicotine induced haze, was why would I substitute one drug for another. I decided at that point that I would go cold turkey. I did not want to trade one dependancy for another. At some point I was going to have to be free of the addiction, so I went cold turkey at 12am on 01/01/09. That was two weeks and 500 cigarettes ago. Not to sound like a cliche' but I guess it was "my time to quit." The withdrawals have not been too bad - I just walk more than I did before. My wife and I try to walk every day before work, I try to add another in the afternoon. I have the support of a great family and are grateful for them. Good luck t

  - Mark

• January 13, 2009 8:54 p.m.

  Im 24 (smoking for 8 years)and I decided to quit smoking 3 days ago. Using the patch now, but I think I may go cold turkey. No sense in delaying the withdrawal symptoms. It's tough because more than anything, I'm addicted to the calmness I get from smoking.I get stressed very easily and my anger can get the best of me. In addition, the 20s is a tough and confusing time. Tonight especially, I feel a bit down and alone, but I'm guessing by all the encouraging posts that I'll get through it. I just try to remember that I don't want to worry about my health anymore. It doesn't make sense to cause health problems for a mere 2 minute satisfaction. Please wish me luck and send a prayer or 2, I may need it. Just waiting for the day smoking will be a passing memory.

  - Abby

• January 8, 2009 11:03 p.m.

  I am a week free and trying so hard to never look back!! I am afraid of the weight gain but I have increased my workouts to an extra 45 min and I hope that will help. Any advice will be welcomed!!

  - hopeful

• January 6, 2009 2:24 p.m.

  At least two studies in the 80's have shown that even when someone smokes out side of their home, car,or work place, that they will still "contaminate" areas they enter AFTER putting out the cigarette. This is especially significant in a home or car or work place in which non-smokers live or ride OR work! After about six months, the smoker's home, car, or work place has the same level of smoke-related contamination as in the smoker's home or car itself! Why? Because of the exhalation from the smoker's lungs. We all breath in and out, but as the smoker breathes out, the smoke related products "exhaust" from the lungs out into the environment. There are NO safe enclosed areas after a smoker has been smoking there!

  - V.

• January 6, 2009 12:16 p.m.

  Did I fail to mention my memory is terrible too! I said the same thing twice in my post below! Sorry!

  - No name given

• January 6, 2009 12:14 p.m.

  Hi, everyone I have been quit almost 4 months. I am still down and just not myself. Have any of you started anti-deppresants and it helped when quitting? If so did it help? Best wishes to all of you.

  - Wanda

• January 3, 2009 2:39 p.m.

  Sara-I read up on Chantix and I hear that you are not suppose to quit suddenly. That is not the instructions that they give doctors but people on Chantix say when they stopped suddenly it was like they never quit, the urges were so strong. You will need to wean yourself off of it slowly.

  - Anonymous

• December 24, 2008 11:19 p.m.

  Hi, I am on Chantix but am trying to wean off of it. I dont smoke or even want to anymore. I have not smoked since Novemeber 29th. But recently I have been having joint pain, headaches, digestive problems and am bloated very bad. I called my Dr to ask about weaning off of it and they said you dont. You take it the full 12 weeks then stop. I have been reading alot about how it effects dopamine in the brain and that damage can be lasting of the side effects and so on. Today I took only 1/2mg in the morning and by late afternoon was real irritable. Please..if anyone has any knowledge or advise on weaning off of this...please help. Merry Christmas !( I am awake at this early hour because I can't sleep~another side effect).

  - Sara

• December 10, 2008 4:08 p.m.

  Hi everyone, I thought I would check in to say that I am still smoke free and It's been over 4 months. I am really SHOCKED that I have had no slip-ups and I am so proud. I was a die hard smoker and I so enjoyed it. I still from time to time have a real bad urge but it passes with a few moments and then I forget again. My husband still smokes and I must say it has helped me through all the really tuff times just to smell it sooths me. I have gained some weight and I am not happy with that but Dr. says I don't look un-healthy anymore and hubby says I finally have junk in my trunk hee, hee. I don't smoke and that is what matters so stick with it everybody and be strong, remember in time this to will pass. Good Luck. Bye for now.

  - Terri

• November 30, 2008 4:08 a.m.

  In answer to Boo. I am 71 and have smoked since I was 12. I have arthritis is every joint imaginable, degenerative disc disease, and irritible bowel syndrom. I am in a bad marraige, but after 48 years I cannot afford to get out. Our finances are far too co-mingled. I think you and I both share the desire to quit, but we both use it to cover stress, pain, and lonliness. I like to smoke. I like the feeling it gives me, but I have added a lung and breathing problems to those I talked about previously. Yes, I am smoking as I type this.

  - nell

• November 26, 2008 12:57 p.m.

  I used only to smoke when drinking at parties. Over the years a "became" an alcoholic. Drinking at home alone etc. - not smoking. I joined AA 2 years ago and haven't looked back since HOWEVER, I now smoke everyday - for the past year. Am told that I has substituted for alcohol and not to stop smoking. Am thinking of 12 stepping to stop smoking but am scared.

  - Gail

• November 20, 2008 12:28 p.m.

  I'm looking for a possible remedy for the awful skin irritation I get from the trans-dermal patch. Each one leaves a raised blotch that is itchy and irritating for up to two weeks. Any ideas other than Benadryl salve would be appreciated.

  - david

• November 13, 2008 5:35 p.m.

  also someone else said they felt very sadness for sometimes hours on end well i am or consider myself an alpha male and i can say that i also had these emotions. they should go away by the 3 or 4 month its nothing serious but you just feel hopeless sometimes and really wanting a smoke it will pass so dont worry.

  - russell

• November 13, 2008 5:31 p.m.

  well i can proudly say i have been off cigs for 7 months 14 days now. i had smoked for 22 years and menthols at that very bad. but thanks to the mayo clinic and there program i have been able to quit. what i found for me was starting off with 2 21mg patches plus 2 mg gum to supplement it. seems like alot but i did fine and stayed in contact with my doctor in case something went wrong. but with that much nicotine it didnt take as long to get the satisfaction of nicotine. but after 2 weeks drop down to a 21 and 14 mg patch with 4 mg gum for another 2 weeks then 14mg for 2 vweeks then 7 mg and thats all you should be on a path of healthenessby then. the worse is i have dreams still about smoking very crazy but i realize that i actually get mad with myself when i smoke in a dream. but im going one day at a time and most days dont even think of smoking or remember smoking so for all who are trying still good luck hang in there and im going to keep fighting myself

  - russell

• November 12, 2008 2:06 a.m.

  After trying all on offer for quitting its 14 months now that I stopped with your help and Chantix.{50 sigs daily for 46 years}.I still sometime miss it but it pases very quick.

  - Glafkos

• November 3, 2008 12:02 a.m.

  I am really glad that I found this site. I am really interested in hearing from others who took Chantix and overcame the "hopelessness and joylessness". I have now been off Chantix for almost 30 days. I feel doing a lot better, I no longer want to die and I am no longer paranoid, that my husband is going to leave me and take my 2 1/2 year old daughter away from me because I am crazy. Compared to other stories about people killing themselves while on the meds. and being hospitilized, I feel very lucky to have come back from the brink. I am now going back to basics, I am trying to drink a lot of water, eat healthly, and try to sleep(I am only averaging 3 1/2 hours per day). I am really reluctant to take anything, even vitamins as I am not sure what lingering issues I am going to have. I do have an appt. with the Dr. who prescribed my medicine, on November 13, 2008, to discuss what occurred between Sept. 08 and when I finished the Chantix RX on October 10, 2008. I am concerned about kidney and liver damage.If anyone has information about the lingering effects of Chantix .

  - Jen

• October 21, 2008 11:41 p.m.

  Hi everyone, I stopped smoking almost a week ago. I am on Day 6 (soon to be day 7) and am doing okay. The urges come and go but since I have had done it for so long (22 years), it will be there for a while and I realize that. I decided to quit cold turkey. I have the Chantix but decided to forego that due to concerns about side effects. My co-worker used this and has been smoke free for four months, but she said the side effects were awful. Every time an urge comes up, I think about all the things I thought about when I was smoking, i.e., how I wanted to quit, why I wanted to quit, the constant worrying about how it will impact me negatively and so on. I didn't enjoy it anymore. To think in this fashion works. Don't forget the reason why you quit in the first place. This is my first attempt at quitting and I plan to never go back to the habit. I feel so much healthier and I cannot believe the difference in only a few days. I did reduce how much I was smoking for 2-3 weeks before I quit. I didn't pick a date .... I just finished my last pack and that was it. No more cigarettes. It really is not as bad as I thought. I do however feel like I am part of a different world now and I am sure many others who quit feel this way. It too shall pass with time. Good luck to you all who are trying to quit or are planning to quit.

  - Tami

• October 6, 2008 12:44 a.m.

  Please help. I'm 55 and know I'm slowly killing myself with cigarettes. I also have fibromyalgia and crohns disease. I don't know how the three things connect. I'm a smart woman and though my intentions are great, I live alone and phone calls to supportive friends just aren't enough and I've tried every cessation aid out there. I grab a cigarette in the morning before my eyes are open and have been know to wake up in the middle of the night and go to Circle K for cigarettes. This has to be a sickness. At this stage in my life, I don't think it's a matter of low will power - I'm hooked and when I say that today's the day - my mind allows me to convince myself that it's really OK to smoke. Maybe tomorrow. Does anyone think this may become a form of OCD? Has anyone had any experience with Narcotics Anonymous? I'm desperate for advice. Thank you.

  - Boo

• September 28, 2008 1:45 p.m.

  I stopped using cigarettes on Monday, September 22nd at 7PM. I have been reading everything I can get my hands on about the withdrawal process. I have been drinking approx. 100 oz. of water a day and doing my deep breathing and I am still having overwhelming sadness that comes in waves that last hours. The nicotine should have been out of my system in three days, I'm on day six...what is this debilitating reaction caused by? I have experienced this before during other attempts to smoke. It is extremely painful emotionally to get through these "episodes". Please help me understand what this is and what I might do to alleviate. Thank you.

  - Hanging On

• September 24, 2008 12:54 a.m.

  Please help. I've smoked a pack a day for 35 years. I've tried it all, patch, gum, lozenges, smoking cessation classes, hypnosis, Zyban. I wake up every day and say this is the day. But at some point, I convince myself that today's actually not a good day to quit. Has anyone ever considered going to Narcotics Anonymous? I want desperately to be a non-smoker and feel like crying by the end of another day of smoking. I need to be locked away at a health spa for a week but can't afford it. Please help.

  - Beth

• September 15, 2008 4:46 a.m.

  One would think it would be easy for me to stop smopking after loosing both parents to lung ca in the same week. Shows just how powerful the damned cigs are

  - JIM

• September 11, 2008 2:56 a.m.

  I was able to quit after reading a guide on how to do it on Dictionary For Dads. I want to be alive and healthy for my children and I am grateful to that site. Anyway I was able to do it cold turkey and I have 6 weeks off of all tobacco

  - Kevin

• September 3, 2008 1:16 p.m.

  Hi everyone, just checking in to see how everyone is doing. I am proud to say I am on day 31 and I can't get over the idea that I have not slipped once. Again I am still taking Chantix and it is doing it's job for sure. I am cutting back on that too so I can wing myself off of that too. Hope I hear from all of you soon and good luck to all. Stick with it, it does get better with time. Bye for now.

  - Terri