Champix - anyone tried it?

rebecca 30 · 14-11-2011 10:22pm

Nearly 3.5 years off fags because of them , I have never wanted one since I had champix , keep it up !!!! I smoked 30 a day for 15 years

Derfil · 14-11-2011 10:36pm

Tried them for a while but the dreams were just too much to take in the end. Really strange and vivid stuff. Ended up having to stop taking them they were so bad. The worst one was I'd married a crow. Still see it lying in the bed beside me with its head on the pillow talking to me. Final straw was when the crow was killed in a stampede on the pitch in Croke Park after we won the All Ireland. It wasn't so much the crow being killed but the fact that we'd won an All Ireland which was the strangest part.

redglass · 14-11-2011 11:36pm

Thanks, it must just be the whole empty stomach but oh man wont be doing that again in a hurry !! @rebecca... Did u take the full 14 weeks course and did u have any side effects??well done you

that is brilliant, exactly what I want to achieve..

Thats mental them dreams I was wondering what sort of dreams people were having on them cause everyones saying stuff about mad dreams.. :eek:

Yellowledbetter · 15-11-2011 2:33am

Im off them 4 weeks now thanks to Champix. I sometimes get the dodgy stomach if I take the tabs without food etc but other than that the only side effect Ive had is the mad vivid,3D style dreams. Truth be told Il miss them when I go off the tabs!!

Im half way through my second pack now,Im gonna take my third pack as normal then probably get a 4th pack and slowly scale back my usage--1 pill a day for a week or so,then half a pill a day for a few weeks. Ive spoken to many people who have used Champix and based on different people saying different things about coming off them,I reckon this is a good way to go about coming off them. One of my mates said he got 3 months worth of cravings in 2 days when he came off the normal 12-14 week course of them when he just stopped so I dont know why they dont suggest coming off them gradually.

susanweir · 15-11-2011 8:03am

Derfil wrote: »

Tried them for a while but the dreams were just too much to take in the end. Really strange and vivid stuff. Ended up having to stop taking them they were so bad. The worst one was I'd married a crow. Still see it lying in the bed beside me with its head on the pillow talking to me. Final straw was when the crow was killed in a stampede on the pitch in Croke Park after we won the All Ireland. It wasn't so much the crow being killed but the fact that we'd won an All Ireland which was the strangest part.

That's the funniest thing I have read on this forum! Thanks for sharing:D
I had the dreams too, but am off the 10 months thanks to Champix. Are you back on the evils? If so, I urge you to try again. It's really worth it!

marlena21 · 17-11-2011 12:25pm

My OH has had a very similar ride with Champix. Firstly, the Doc said Champix can take longer to work on the brain if you're a longer term heavier smoker. OH got down to about 6 fags a day by the time he was 15 days into the tablet. I think he felt he would have carried on with those 6 so he still had to use an element of willpower to bin the last few. I'm sure I have read similar experiences on here where people have still had to excercise some willpower to quit those last few. I don't think Champix is a wonderdrug, it takes away a lot of the craving but you still have to put a little effort in yourself to succeed.

endasmail · 19-11-2011 9:16pm

im on day 3 of champix
no mad dreams or that
i do have a small feeling of anxiousness about me
and a bit of head stuff going on that i cant explain ,nothing serious

am gonna ditch the smokes next week hopefully

ewanalex · 26-11-2011 7:46pm

Hi all,

Just an update to let you all know I am still off them and I had my single biggest test....on a holiday!
And never once did I want one! Well that is a tiny lie, as it did enter my head, once, however i was able to decide I didnt really want one, I was thinking about the situation rather than the fag itself!

So I am thrilled to report I am finding it scarily easy! No cravings at all??!!!

susanweir · 26-11-2011 8:24pm

ewanalex wrote: »

Hi all,

Just an update to let you all know I am still off them and I had my single biggest test....on a holiday!
And never once did I want one! Well that is a tiny lie, as it did enter my head, once, however i was able to decide I didnt really want one, I was thinking about the situation rather than the fag itself!

So I am thrilled to report I am finding it scarily easy! No cravings at all??!!!

Well Done - a holiday was my biggest challenge too, and I managed. Heading for the 11 month mark thanks to Champix

Lapin · 29-11-2011 1:31pm

Started taking the Champix 2 weeks ago.

Found them more effective in the first week. (Which is slightly worrying).

Smoked what I hope will be my last cigarette yesterday evening and threw the butt over the garden wall afterwards, vowing never to touch one again.

Wish me luck !

Cazzeboo · 12-01-2012 2:46pm

I am on day 11 of taking Champix. I have smoked 20-30 a day for over 25 years now. Smoking is a way of life for me. I have been smoking less (15 or so??) since I started the 1mg per day, but tried to stop today and by lunch time caved in, it wasn't a physical craving, my silly mind just told me its not quit day so why shouldn't I have one..LOL. Now I am stressing and hauling myself over the coals because I didn't have the willpower. I seem to be able to convince myself the sky is green when I REALLY want something.
My quit day was day 8, then 10 but now I have decided day 12. What I have gained from this thread is that I should possibly not stress too much, but continue to psychologically prepare myself? I think the Champix will help with the chemical addiction but I think I need put in MAJOR effort to kick the psycholigical addiciton.
Side effects? I have experienced the vivid dreams which I really enjoy as I haven't remembered a dream for about 4 years. Night sweats and feeling nauseous and dizzy just after I have taken the tablet I can handle!

So now should I move quit day to day 14 rather......hmmmmmm?

Tip · 13-01-2012 1:39am

Cazzeboo I hope you stuck with your plan and quit. I went through a similar experience when I was on Champix. I kept reading on various forums all these people had cut their smoking down to 2/3 cigs per day after being on champix for a week or so. My quit day was day 14 and I smoked my usual 20 right up to that day, of course I thought I could not quit on day 14 but went with it and Presto I'm still off them 2yrs 8mths. It took some will power but I found champix brilliant. Keep with your own plan and just quit. You can do it and I gurantee you, you will not regret it. Good luck.

Yellowledbetter · 20-01-2012 11:15pm

Yellowledbetter wrote: »

Im off them 4 weeks now thanks to Champix. I sometimes get the dodgy stomach if I take the tabs without food etc but other than that the only side effect Ive had is the mad vivid,3D style dreams. Truth be told Il miss them when I go off the tabs!!
Im half way through my second pack now,Im gonna take my third pack as normal then probably get a 4th pack and slowly scale back my usage--1 pill a day for a week or so,then half a pill a day for a few weeks. Ive spoken to many people who have used Champix and based on different people saying different things about coming off them,I reckon this is a good way to go about coming off them. One of my mates said he got 3 months worth of cravings in 2 days when he came off the normal 12-14 week course of them when he just stopped so I dont know why they dont suggest coming off them gradually.

3 months and 2 weeks off them now,really cant believe it. Stopped taking the tabs just after Crimbo,didnt even finish my third pack of them in the end. Get the odd craving once in a while now but it only lasts for 3 mins or so then its gone so I can happily cope with that.
Delighted I gave Champix a try as in my Fiance who is off them 6 weeks longer than I am.
Feel so much better and we are saving a small fortune between us,onwards and upwards!!!!

m'lady · 03-02-2012 1:02pm

Was prescribed Champix two weeks ago and still trying to pluck up the courage to start them. I'm terrified of the idea of the bad dreams etc, but intend on starting them soon. I feel like I keep putting it off, saying I'll do it after such and such event.
I know the €70 odd I will save from not smoking will really help me out of a hole I'm in, I just hope it's not a weak reason to want to give up.
Anyone in same situation as me or would anyone offer any advice??

ewanalex · 03-02-2012 11:12pm

m'lady wrote: »

Was prescribed Champix two weeks ago and still trying to pluck up the courage to start them. I'm terrified of the idea of the bad dreams etc, but intend on starting them soon. I feel like I keep putting it off, saying I'll do it after such and such event.
I know the €70 odd I will save from not smoking will really help me out of a hole I'm in, I just hope it's not a weak reason to want to give up.
Anyone in same situation as me or would anyone offer any advice??

Hi, I must admit i was terrified to start them too, i had the prescribtion for a while before i tried them, and in fact i even went as far as to give the chemist my prescribtion and tell them i'm not ready yet and will be back soon to collect the Champix, i told him to keep it on file until i feel ready. he made me feel very calm and told me thats completely normal. I reckon i was more afraid of them actually working! As i didnt really want to quite i reckon... but so happy i did. I get absolutely no cravings at all now. And i have tried a fag since i quit and it made me so sick. (thankfully!)

Why dont you go and speak with your pharmacist, mine was brilliant, i could go down and ask him anything and he was so supportive and made me feel much better when i explained i felt like i wanted to scream with temper sometimes over nothing. I never went onto the 2 tablets a day and yes it took me longer than normal to quit but it was the advise of my pharmacist and it erally helped. Go and have a chat with your local chemist and explain how your feeling.
As for the bad dreams, its not so much theyre bad or scary theyre just very vivid, this did wear off for me i think (i cant fully remember now) but i dont think it put me off. The nausiness put me off but i learned that if you eat while taking the tablet in the morning with a full glass of water, it helped, i did heave the odd day but taht was it. And honestly besides my bad mood i dont think it was that bad at all. I am only being told about my bad moods lately, i thought i was fine

m'lady · 04-02-2012 10:36am

ewanalex wrote: »

m'lady wrote: »

Was prescribed Champix two weeks ago and still trying to pluck up the courage to start them. I'm terrified of the idea of the bad dreams etc, but intend on starting them soon. I feel like I keep putting it off, saying I'll do it after such and such event.
I know the €70 odd I will save from not smoking will really help me out of a hole I'm in, I just hope it's not a weak reason to want to give up.
Anyone in same situation as me or would anyone offer any advice??

Hi, I must admit i was terrified to start them too, i had the prescribtion for a while before i tried them, and in fact i even went as far as to give the chemist my prescribtion and tell them i'm not ready yet and will be back soon to collect the Champix, i told him to keep it on file until i feel ready. he made me feel very calm and told me thats completely normal. I reckon i was more afraid of them actually working! As i didnt really want to quite i reckon... but so happy i did. I get absolutely no cravings at all now. And i have tried a fag since i quit and it made me so sick. (thankfully!)

Why dont you go and speak with your pharmacist, mine was brilliant, i could go down and ask him anything and he was so supportive and made me feel much better when i explained i felt like i wanted to scream with temper sometimes over nothing. I never went onto the 2 tablets a day and yes it took me longer than normal to quit but it was the advise of my pharmacist and it erally helped. Go and have a chat with your local chemist and explain how your feeling.
As for the bad dreams, its not so much theyre bad or scary theyre just very vivid, this did wear off for me i think (i cant fully remember now) but i dont think it put me off. The nausiness put me off but i learned that if you eat while taking the tablet in the morning with a full glass of water, it helped, i did heave the odd day but taht was it. And honestly besides my bad mood i dont think it was that bad at all. I am only being told about my bad moods lately, i thought i was fine

Thanks so much for your reply, your advice was very helpful. Just another quick question if I may, I'm currently going through a lot of upheaval in my life ( job, house move etc), would you think I'd be better off starting them when my life is more stable?! I know, I know I'm sounding like I'm trying to delay starting them but I don't wanna be like a bull either!!

Pkiernan · 05-02-2012 5:06pm

m'lady wrote: »

Thanks so much for your reply, your advice was very helpful. Just another quick question if I may, I'm currently going through a lot of upheaval in my life ( job, house move etc), would you think I'd be better off starting them when my life is more stable?! I know, I know I'm sounding like I'm trying to delay starting them but I don't wanna be like a bull either!!

If you don't pick a day to start, then you won't start!

I found I had just vivid dreams and slight nausea (cured by taking the tablets with a drink and some food). I had also just started a new job, and moved.
I say go for it - take your first pill tonight.

I started on Champix in February of last year. I got prescriptions for a full 12 weeks, but in reality at 8 weeks into them, I started cutting down on the dosage from 2 pills per day to 1.5 to 1 etc over the course of a week. Then I just forgot to take them.

I stopped smoking at 10 days in to the treatment, and haven't smoked since - just under a year ago.

m'lady · 05-02-2012 6:13pm

Pkiernan wrote: »

m'lady wrote: »

Thanks so much for your reply, your advice was very helpful. Just another quick question if I may, I'm currently going through a lot of upheaval in my life ( job, house move etc), would you think I'd be better off starting them when my life is more stable?! I know, I know I'm sounding like I'm trying to delay starting them but I don't wanna be like a bull either!!

If you don't pick a day to start, then you won't start!

I found I had just vivid dreams and slight nausea (cured by taking the tablets with a drink and some food). I had also just started a new job, and moved.
I say go for it - take your first pill tonight.

I started on Champix in February of last year. I got prescriptions for a full 12 weeks, but in reality at 8 weeks into them, I started cutting down on the dosage from 2 pills per day to 1.5 to 1 etc over the course of a week. Then I just forgot to take them.

I stopped smoking at 10 days in to the treatment, and haven't smoked since - just under a year ago.

Thanks for your reply, u are right! I just guess I'm feeling I'm not 'psyched' up enough, but I know what you mean, and I know if I don't pick a date I will be smoking this time next year, which I don't want. Thanks again

m'lady · 17-02-2012 11:52pm

Today was day 3 on champix.. Finally plucked up the courage to start them! I am definitely smoking a little bit less already, not a major amount but still less. I'm home from work since 7.30 and have only had 2 cigarettes, whereas I reckon I'd have had about 6/8 previously.

I haven't been nauseous, and feeling like I'm just not getting the 'hit' off a cigarette as I'd usually get. I'm not sure if this is just in my head or if it's the tablets?!

celticcrash · 20-02-2012 1:09am

21 days off them today. The last two days there was a lot of pressure and stress on me. I thought I was going to have a heart attack but I did not pick up a fag. If I can get through that I think I can get through anything.
I quick walk for 25 minutes every second day. I am feeling a lot better but my health is slow to pick up. I still have pains in the chest area, but I was checked out in the hospital last year, ecg treadmill and ultrasound and bloods passed. It could be that I have low blood pressure. Sorry its late and I am tired and I am starting to ramble. Stick with it if your finding it tough it gets better.

m'lady · 20-02-2012 1:56am

I'm feeling very tired after taking the tablets, did anyone else experience this? I'm day 6 tomorrow and am feeling like I was smoking less on days 2-4 than now... All I'm feeling is thirsty and tired!

kelly7906 · 20-02-2012 11:57am

m'lady wrote: »

I'm feeling very tired after taking the tablets, did anyone else experience this? I'm day 6 tomorrow and am feeling like I was smoking less on days 2-4 than now... All I'm feeling is thirsty and tired!

Well done you! I'm on day 9 of the champix, I still get very thirsty (at least all the water is helping me detox) and still getting very tired with the weirdest dreams ever! I stopped smoking on day 3 of the course. When you stop smoking maybe try chewing some sugar-free gum for a little bit, I find thats really helping me with the cravings.

But good luck to you, keep up the strength, I personally dont miss the way I used to smell

m'lady · 20-02-2012 12:06pm

kelly7906 wrote: »

m'lady wrote: »

I'm feeling very tired after taking the tablets, did anyone else experience this? I'm day 6 tomorrow and am feeling like I was smoking less on days 2-4 than now... All I'm feeling is thirsty and tired!

Well done you! I'm on day 9 of the champix, I still get very thirsty (at least all the water is helping me detox) and still getting very tired with the weirdest dreams ever! I stopped smoking on day 3 of the course. When you stop smoking maybe try chewing some sugar-free gum for a little bit, I find thats really helping me with the cravings.

But good luck to you, keep up the strength, I personally dont miss the way I used to smell

Thanks! Well I'm still smoking but already the smell is much more noticeable to me! I just wish I had less cravings and I'm finding it weird that the first couple of days seemed to be more effective than now?

Well done to you, how are ya finding it?

kelly7906 · 20-02-2012 12:18pm

m'lady wrote: »

Thanks! Well I'm still smoking but already the smell is much more noticeable to me! I just wish I had less cravings and I'm finding it weird that the first couple of days seemed to be more effective than now?

Well done to you, how are ya finding it?

Im finding the whole thing relatively easy I spose. My partner does not smoke, in fact he HATES it, so Im lucky there, and no one at my office smokes either, so there have not been too many exposures to it. I went to have a drink with a mate the other day though, and that was a bit tough I gotta say, I was chewing gum like mad!

There are little things I'm noticing like my skin is looking better, and I used to get headaches everyday which seem to wearing off now as well.

I live in South Africa and smoking here is becoming a big social taboo so for me there are only positives to stopping. And everytime I crave, I just go through my mental checklist of negatives.

Its so worth stopping, its hard, but worth it! Hang in there, you can do it!

m'lady · 20-02-2012 12:24pm

kelly7906 wrote: »

m'lady wrote: »

Thanks! Well I'm still smoking but already the smell is much more noticeable to me! I just wish I had less cravings and I'm finding it weird that the first couple of days seemed to be more effective than now?

Well done to you, how are ya finding it?

Im finding the whole thing relatively easy I spose. My partner does not smoke, in fact he HATES it, so Im lucky there, and no one at my office smokes either, so there have not been too many exposures to it. I went to have a drink with a mate the other day though, and that was a bit tough I gotta say, I was chewing gum like mad!

There are little things I'm noticing like my skin is looking better, and I used to get headaches everyday which seem to wearing off now as well.

I live in South Africa and smoking here is becoming a big social taboo so for me there are only positives to stopping. And everytime I crave, I just go through my mental checklist of negatives.

Its so worth stopping, its hard, but worth it! Hang in there, you can do it!

Yes I'll keep at it! I guess I thought the champix would be a little more effective to what they are proving to be for me. My partner also doesn't smoke thankfully, and most of my colleagues and friends don't either so that should make it easier. I'm just thinking should I try do it without the champix perhaps, seen as they don't appear to be doing much for me!

kelly7906 · 20-02-2012 1:47pm

m'lady wrote: »

Yes I'll keep at it! I guess I thought the champix would be a little more effective to what they are proving to be for me. My partner also doesn't smoke thankfully, and most of my colleagues and friends don't either so that should make it easier. I'm just thinking should I try do it without the champix perhaps, seen as they don't appear to be doing much for me!

Well you are only on Day 6, I did not notice a huge difference then either, but it was Day 8 & 9 for me over the weekend (when I would be smoking the most) and I noticed that I literally only craved ciggies twice the whole weekend. I stopped smoking on Day 3 of the course, and I was seriously craving until the end of last week, then all of a sudden almost not at all. I really think they are working.

m'lady · 21-02-2012 1:10am

kelly7906 wrote: »

m'lady wrote: »

Yes I'll keep at it! I guess I thought the champix would be a little more effective to what they are proving to be for me. My partner also doesn't smoke thankfully, and most of my colleagues and friends don't either so that should make it easier. I'm just thinking should I try do it without the champix perhaps, seen as they don't appear to be doing much for me!

Well you are only on Day 6, I did not notice a huge difference then either, but it was Day 8 & 9 for me over the weekend (when I would be smoking the most) and I noticed that I literally only craved ciggies twice the whole weekend. I stopped smoking on Day 3 of the course, and I was seriously craving until the end of last week, then all of a sudden almost not at all. I really think they are working.

What made you quit on day 3 can I ask?
Also do u find a strange taste in your mouth??

kelly7906 · 21-02-2012 7:18am

m'lady wrote: »

What made you quit on day 3 can I ask?
Also do u find a strange taste in your mouth??

I started taking the pills on Saturday 11/02/12. I ran out of smokes on the Sunday night, so thought well no time like the present, so have not had a cigarette from Monday 13/02/2012

Had no strange tastes in my mouth last night, just always really thirsty.

m'lady · 24-02-2012 11:33pm

Day 8 and still really can't see a difference in my smoking! I'm hoping by the dosage increasing to the 1mg it might make a difference. Am so disappointed

billyduk · 28-03-2012 4:37pm

Derfil wrote: »

Tried them for a while but the dreams were just too much to take in the end. Really strange and vivid stuff. Ended up having to stop taking them they were so bad. The worst one was I'd married a crow. Still see it lying in the bed beside me with its head on the pillow talking to me. Final straw was when the crow was killed in a stampede on the pitch in Croke Park after we won the All Ireland. It wasn't so much the crow being killed but the fact that we'd won an All Ireland which was the strangest part.

Hehehe! I have had a reoccurring vivid dream for years about a penguin (that looks like a pixar penguin and not a real one) that is my best mate but everyone else hates him and wants to kill him.

On Champix DAY 1 so I'll keep people posted on how i get on.

CramCycle · 28-03-2012 5:29pm

Haven't read the full thread but my missus just gave up using Champix, well started. We were told by the doctor that you had to force yourself to keep smoking for the first two weeks for them to be effective. 5 days in and she has no cravings at all, not trying to not smoke but forgets to smoke and when she does she doesn't enjoy it, not in a sick way but just can't be bothered standing there.

Anyone else get this advce from their doctor?

Also the bad dreams are constant since she started, as well as her general mood being as extremely back and forth as a pendulum, focusing mainly on the negative side. can she stop taking the Champix as soon as the desire is gone or how long should she keep it up?

jgbyr · 29-03-2012 10:06am

You need to take the full 3 months course or you may slip up.That's what my doctor said.

rebecca 30 · 31-03-2012 10:04pm

I am 4 years off the ciggs , thanks to champix , BEST thing I ever did, keep it up everyone & e70 per week, is e3640 per year , think of the holidays you could have for that !!

chieftan65 · 19-04-2012 10:29am

5 weeks off the smokes thanks to champix. They are very good people but you still need a certain amount of will power and a whole lot of want power. If your not happy your not smoking and always feel sorry for yourself cause you miss the fags then champix or nothing else will help cause your simply not ready to give them up. best of luck everyone

cars701 · 19-04-2012 10:51am

Hey everyone; haven't commented in a while; still off the "lung damagers" (as my 9 yr old son calls them !); am absolutely delighted with myself; cannot believe it - thanks to Champix; when I get any sort of craving (which is very rare) I just tell myself - YOU ARE NOT MISSING ANYTHING GOOD - and trust me guys you are not; try to focus on the negative of smoking; health, money, odour; STICK WITH IT EVERYONE IT'S SOOOO WORTH IT; and remember you REALLY ARE NOT MISSING OUT ON ANYTHING BY NOT SMOKING; Good luck to all. Oh, by the way am off them since June of last year.

moany · 19-04-2012 10:27pm

Started Champix on the 8th of March and stopped smoking on the 18th of march. I havent once thought about having one since, was worried about the cravings that the body goes through at first and nothing. People talk about mood swings but I have been ok. The first step is telling the doctor you want to stop and keep that in your head.

CramCycle · 20-04-2012 9:14am

My OH is off the Champix after 3 weeks but is not smoking and does not seem inclined too whatsoever, even in stress situations that would have made her go for it before.

moany wrote: »

People talk about mood swings but I have been ok.

While they work great, the mood swings were bad and continue for a short time after coming off them but not as bad, in relation to what you said, my OH did not notice or realise she was having mood swings, it was not pleasant for myself or daughter but worth it to have her stop.

ourweeboy · 26-04-2012 9:21pm

How was your appetite? I worry about weight gain ( foolish - I know)

mitsybaby · 26-04-2012 10:04pm

ourweeboy wrote: »

How was your appetite? I worry about weight gain ( foolish - I know)

I'm off them 2 years thanks to champix!! Best thing I ever did, they made it really easy to stop! However I did put on some weight... Probably about a stone and a half! It wasn't as bad as some people, I didn't feel the need to eat all around me you know, although my sweet tooth got worse!! Lol... If I put the effort on and excercise I'll lose the weight... It's a small price to pay to be off the smokes tho, I think.... Good luck..

ourweeboy · 26-04-2012 10:08pm

Awe no... I hoped it might turn us off food too

...I'll still try it I think!

m'lady · 27-04-2012 9:11am

Hey.. I started champix a couple of months ago, however between one thing and another I stopped after 7 days.. I'm thinking of trying to start again soon, could I start from the 8th day or do I need a new packet?

Beldarin · 03-05-2012 10:13pm

I'm 5 weeks in, still want to smoke sometimes, but haven't had one in nearly 4 weeks, feeling positive, like a switch has finally flicked that says I can really & truly quit forever (part of me never believed that before, a secret voice used to point out when I tried to quit that as I was bound to fail, I might as well save myself the misery and fail quickly)
Plenty of side effects though:
Nausea, sometimes even if I take with food,
Lots of tossing and turning at night, then mad dreams, (i don't really mind those though)
My tummy has been bloated a lot (I'm pretty slim but sometimes look 5mts pregnant)
Flatulence.

Bad taste in my mouth
Serious thirst (but my skin is loving the extra water )
I realise from reading posts here that I was actually having mood swings but didn't notice it myself, I thought the kids were just driving me more nuts than usual, that has passed though (I think!)

Despite all of that, I'll take champix as long as I need to, for the first time in 20 years I am actually smoke free, and can see myself never again huddling outside in wind & rain like an addict puffing on a very expensive cancer delivery device
I have more energy, can walk further, run (a little) and don't wake up with one hand reaching for a lighter
My 4yr old has noticed I've stopped fobbing him off with a distraction so I can slip out for a fag
Every time I open my purse I'm surprised to find extra cash in it (must really start putting that away!)

Loving it

NATLOR · 14-05-2012 1:33pm

I took a lot of encouragement and positivity from reading so many success stories posted here so felt i should write about my experience to date on champix.

I'm 46 years old and have smoked roughly 20 cigs a day since i was 15, never once have i tried to give up,or gone a day without,to be honest i enjoyed it too much and fortunately never had a smoking related illness.but 2 children and a new relationship made me realize it was time to try to stop.

Went to the doctor two weeks ago and was prescribed champix,after 2 days i was down to only 4 a day and last Saturday,13 days in, was my 'give up totally' day.Ok so its only 2 days smoke free so far but that's a huge deal to me after so long,i cant believe its been so easy to do and i honestly believe i can kick the habit for good.i have zero willpower and lead a complicated stressful life,these tablets are nothing short of a miracle.

As for side affects i'm having the crazy dreams, sometimes good sometimes bad and i do feel a bit wired but i'll take that any day over being a slave to smoking.

i hope this encourages even one person to try and quit its a life changing decision,i will update my progress in a couple of weeks.

drunkmonkey · 14-05-2012 4:37pm

NATLOR well done, look your only 2 days off them, don't beat yourself up if you smoke an odd one over the next few weeks it's hard to brake the habbit of a lifetime, just stick with the tablets. Don't worry those one or 2 you do light if you do you'll end up throwing away anyway.
I've 29 days left on the champix and hopefully i'm cured, has been a struggle but nothing anything anyone can't handle.

Not sure if your drink, but the day I really gave up was the day I leased expected to, done a daytime session on a Saturday, one of the lads was smoking and every time he went out he gave me a smoke, must have had about 4 or 5 but by 9 in the evening I had to walk out of the smoking room, couldn't smoke any more and just went back in and drank pints until the wee hours without any interest in a smoke. I've been off them since, I tried really hard to stay a smoker but that day convinced me I wasn't anymore.
Pub is now not a problem.

m'lady · 14-05-2012 11:18pm

Can anyone tell me if I can start the champix 7/8 tablets in ( started them couple of months ago but then stopped). If so should I just take one of the two tablets or both??

NATLOR · 15-05-2012 3:45pm

Hi M'lady i think thats a question for either your doctor or chemist,going on your previous posts you have struggled with them so maybe wise to start again give yourself the best chance to quit.

NATLOR · 15-05-2012 3:49pm

Thanks D.M.good to here another success story hope you keep it up, day 3 for me and all still good!

Beldarin · 17-05-2012 6:23pm

M'lady:
I'm not a doctor, but i would say its fine to start again with that pack, maybe take 1/2 tablet twice each day for a week and then take a full twice a day
Set ur last smoking day for sometime near the end of week 2 and go for it

Natlor:
Wow! Well done man, this is a HUGE deal and fair play to ya
I know just how you feel, 20 odd years is a long time to have a habit,
I still can't quite believe its real, I've actually stopped smoking
Anytime I feel like I want a smoke, I realise I don't NEED one, and the craving passes

I'm only taking one tab a day now, and feel confident. Will continue with em for a few more weeks though just to be sure

Edit: Also, all of the side effects have gone now, dreams, nausea, thirst etc, I feel great!

NATLOR · 18-05-2012 7:28pm

A big well done to you too Beldarin,like yourself i NEVER thought i could kick the habit so why bother trying!Am nearly a week smoke free and can already see myself never going back, cant get my head around it!

Really good to hear the side affects have worn off for you, i am noticeably more irritable and my nights are totally mental but its a small price to pay specially if they only last a few weeks.

KEEP IT UP AND GOOD LUCK

spoofilyj · 22-05-2012 2:40pm

Finally went to the doctor today, got a prescription and just took my first chanpix tablet after luch, I've been procrastinating over it for ages and just decided yesterday that the time is now to give up the smokes.

I'm a bit nervious about it tbh as I've been smoking over 10 years but i'm looking forward to getting fit again and performing better at sport then now.

I'm not looking forward to the vivid dreams but I'm sure I'll get over it.

Anyway here goes!:D

Champix - anyone tried it?

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