Quitting Smoking

[Deleted member 12723]

Thank you so much @shimmerz and @She Cat so much for the encouragement to quit. I really appreciate it so much.

 

[Cannottakethis]

I've quit smoking several times but always went back. There were times when I quit and became such a beyatch that friends were begging me to smoke.
When I finally quit September 8, 2010 (but who's counting), I was ready. I had to quit for a medical procedure anyway, and I'd been smoking more than usual due to stress. They were tasting awful and I got no enjoyment from it. I went cold turkey and the first week was rough. But it got easier and I never went back to it. I'm not saying it's going to be that easy for anyone else, but there is hope.

 

[joeylittle]

Wellbutrin will make them taste bad, at a certain point. The urge isn't changed, but the experience of smoking turns from being good to being icky.

I don't know if it helps at all with the vape things. I believe the Wellbutrin (Zyban) effect on smoking is related to nicotine.

Agitation is the most common initial side effect. I can't recall if you consume caffeine, but if you do, you'd want to dial it back for at least a week.

Good luck! I hope it helps.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

I quit smoking in a week with a nicotine vaporizer. Not as healthy as no smoking at all but healthier. I am sick at the moment and can see the vap hitting my blood oxygen. Its just way less then cigs would.

I plan to ease to nicotine free then ease off the vaporizer.

My step mom whom went into the ICU and almost died with a blood oxygen of 70 is smoking again. She has COPD and wouldn't quit but did for 2 months and started back again. I just told her I can't feel sorry for you when you consciencely started back. If that ICU vist didn't scare her nothing will.

I guess that was mean to say but come on!

 

[Deleted member 12723]

I am preparing me to quit and for good. I am trying to get my mind wrapped around this fact it needs to be done. They don't give me the pleasure that they used to anymore. Tomorrow I am going to buy a vape. And quit cold turkey. I realize what I am up against but my health demands that I do this. So I am trying to downdose and taper off somewhat before.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

Tomorrow I am going to buy a vape. And quit cold turkey.

Some do that. I couldn't. I had to break that physcological hold of having it between my fingers so I weaned off in a week and at the end would hold an unlit cig between my fingers but inhale from the vap. I tried using the e cigs between my fingers and just couldnt as it was too heavy. Vap was my therapist's idea. A better delivery system he said. It worked when i failed quiting other ways. Now im addicted to needing the vap pen in my hands all the time and blow it under my desk at work though we arent allowed to use them inside and i now constantly vap probably twice as much as i smoked cigs, or more. So be careful there. Eventually you should wean off the vap.

It wasnt until i went to the vap did i realize nicotine makes your heart race. Something about cigs make it seem relaxing when its not, its a stimulate. I knew that but it wasnt until i was on the vap did i actually see and feel it. I think all the other chemicals covers it up or something.

If i had my way id do it with Chantix. Wicked nightmares but was the only way i could quit without adding anything like a vap. But i did start smoking again so not so successful i suppose. My current insur wont pay for Chantix & damn shit is expensive!

None of the patches or gum worked for me.

Many say Wellbutrin works. My step mom is on it and doesnt work for her. So i dunno. Never tried it myself.

Good luck! Quitting smoking was one of the best things I did. My lungs really healed well from the damage I did from my huffing addiction and even though i was clean of that, smoking wasnt helping. So since i have have quit my lungs are now in good shape overall.

 

[Lionheart]

I am in the process of quitting with Wellbutrin, a vape pen,(with vanilla bean e-juice) and (except for a small dose of nicotine in the e-juice) going mostly cold turkey. I have found that cherry cough drops help me to stay away from a cigarette, as does most anything that keeps my mind and hands busy such as typing and being on the computer.

I also self-medicate with small amounts of herb, (marijuana), a few times per month and this helps me with anxiety as I smoke in a controlled environment only. ((One in which I am in control of what I listen to, (soothing music), and what I focus my energies on, (crafts, drawing, writing etc.),)).

It has only been about a week and I am still struggling a bit, but I am making good progress so far.
Will just have to wait awhile and see, will update.

 

[Deleted member 541]

I'm sooooooo proud of everyone in this thread that is trying so hard to quit smoking. I KNOW just how difficult this journey is and how hard it is to quit. I wish everyone of you the best, and I pray that all of you are successful. Cigs are evil, nasty, addictive, cause cancer and COPD!!!! There really isn't any GOOD reason to smoke, but there are TONS of reasons to quit!!!!!

 

[shimmerz]

Charged up my vape and fiddled around with it to get it working. So last night was able to use it. YEAH!

The Wellbutrin is making me feel odd somehow. It is an SNRI rather than an SSRI. SSRI's were horrible for me, dumbing me down big time. Anyway, I feel like the crying thing is starting to subside. Thank freaking god. The problem is that I when I wake up I have this incredible urge to keep sleeping (which is not in my nature) . It is almost like a 'frozen' thing for me. Not catatonia but a need to not move. I am learning that with determination I can get up and move.

It will be interesting to see what the Wellbutrin does for me. I typically don't trust pharma drugs at all but I hear that Wellbutrin has a reputation for increasing energy and helping with depression, which I don't think I have, but I am so out of touch with my feelings I really don't know. I think with the crying fits (which terrify me quite honestly), I felt that anything would be better than going through that again, including pharma.

Thanks so much for all of your supportive stories and helpful tips.

 

[joeylittle]

It is an SNRI rather than an SSRI.

Actually, it's an NDRI (norepinephrine-dopamine re-uptake inhibitor). All that really means, is it's a unique action, different from both SSRIs and SNRIs. It's initial purpose was as a stop-smoking aid; it was discovered after that it also had some unique properties in it's ability to amplify traditional SNRIs and SSRIs, and also to work on it's own as a monotherapy for depression.

If you are taking it for smoking cessation, you'll not be getting to the dose levels that are used to treat depression; however, because of the way everything is interconnected, if nicotine was dampening your system in any way (which it does for many people), you may experience a 'lift' as you transition off nicotine.

My best advice for you is to stay conscious of the things you know you already do that are supportive of god self-care (like getting yourself out of bed this AM - that's great that you did that) - and remember that the drug is only an aid, it's not a replacement or an aggressive tool. So, all the other things - making different choices when you feel the urge to smoke, riding out cravings, distractions, soothing, etc. - all will apply.

(I'm a smoker, and I take wellbutrin. I went through experiencing how wellbutrin did actually encourage me to not smoke. I'm still slightly regretful that I didn't take advantage of it. But at the time, I chose to keep my habit. It's possible to keep smoking through wellbutrin if you don't also make the necessary choices to stop the nicotine addiction and smoking habit).

Really pulling for you. :)

 

[shimmerz]

Actually, it's an NDRI (norepinephrine-dopamine re-uptake inhibitor).

This is really helpful, thank you. I will look this up to see what this means to my experience.

If you are taking it for smoking cessation, you'll not be getting to the dose levels that are used to treat depression;

Would you mind explaining more of this please JL? I am back to the doctors in 1.5 weeks and would like to have a plan in place as I do plan on quitting smoking with this and the vape being used as an aid.

Really pulling for you. :)

Thanks so very much.

 

[Deleted member 541]

@shimmerz You might also lose weight on it too. My BF is on Wellbutrin for depression and has lost almost 30 LBS. She said it's killed her appetite.