Mayo Clinic Health Manager

Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.

Free

E-Newsletter

Subscribe to receive the latest updates on health topics. About our newsletters

• Housecall
• Alzheimer's caregiving
• Living with cancer

• November 17, 2009 7:07 p.m.

  Hi, I'm a student at Metro State of Denver. I'm researching a new product possibility; the product would be a "Quit Smoking" aide that offers a stepping down approach. I am a former smoker myself but I'm addicted to Commit lozenges and they contain nicotine. I would still buy them if they had zero mg of nicotine but they don't offer that. I would like to market a product that does. Anyways, I made this survey for my research project and it would really help me if anyone could take it [smokers, former smokers, and non-smokers are all welcome] Thanks so much. -- Casey Here's the link to the survey. http://www.surveygizmo.com/s/206243/r2zgt

  - Casey

• August 4, 2009 8:52 p.m.

  My husband and I quit together (AGAIN) July 17th, just before going on vacation with our family including his wonderful Mom and quirky brother. Change of scenery, none of the usual routines, blah blah. He used gum and I used it the first day, but after that I didn't need the gum. My problem isn't so much the nic as the habit. I feel like I have lost my "get a grip" tool. I feel so stupid, but I'm scatterbrained, I can't focus on ANYTHING, my work is suffering and we REALLY can't afford that. I'm afraid of Chantix because I have suffered with depression and it scares the what out of me. From what I'm seeing here it may be a mistake to try this cold turkey thing. I see failure in my future and I'm really upset to be a disappointment to my family, my kids, my friends and most of all myself. I know the resolve is strong at first but then your brain starts to play tricks on you. The angel on my right shoulder is getting her butt kicked by the devil on the left! I'll just keep praying and trying. My Mother has COPD and it scares me. Apparently not bad enough yet.

  - Elaine

• May 15, 2009 1:07 p.m.

  With over 45 yrs of serious addiction (2+ pks/day) I have tried it all. From the Patch (that released all it's nicotine at once while at an Air Show nearly killed me) to hypnosis and Welbuterine, but nothing lasted more than two weeks until now. I am on my 11th week of Chantix and it has not been easy. Although it's not the "Miracle" pill everyone thinks it is, it IS the best thing so far. It requires lots of hard work, but it made me more aware of the "habit" ones I didn't need. I still slip up with a few puffs now and then, especially under stress (I care for preschool grandkids and an aging parent) but I am quite proud of myself. My problem now lies with my insurance provider. Even with my Drs approval it seems they won't cover the cost after 90 days. I'm sure whomever made that decision was a nonsmoker as they have no clue. I'm afraid that after next week my brain will go into retrograde and I will be hooked once more. Seriously, quitting an almost lifelong addiction in just 12 weeks is totally unrealistic.

  - EB

• March 10, 2009 7:21 p.m.

  Today is my 7th day I quit. Prior I have been smoking cigars for 14 years(inhaling..forgive my spelling). For the last 2 years, I must have tried quiting atleast 50 times. Though I have a lonngg way to go..I learned a couple of things. Elore, I can relate and you can and will do it..I feel I am in great company with all of you. Alot of non-smokers cannot relate to the struggle we all go through on a hour by hour basis. But one thing is for sure: we all are taking responsibility for our bodies and our love ones by quitting. That is something I am proud of.

  - Lyle

• March 8, 2009 12:26 a.m.

  I am not having any luck trying to quit but after reading all your comments I think I will now, my biggest prob was the nights, I live alone and I was getting anxiety attacks in the evening without that smoke, dont really know anyone to call and talk to or visit so it has been rough, I start again, now, this moment, cheer me on please---thank you

  - Elore

• February 20, 2009 8:03 p.m.

  Through the Grace of God and his Son our Savior Jesus Christ I was able to quit smoking almost 18 years ago. I started smoking cigars here and there almost two (2) years ago. Though it was no big deal. In fact I work out almost every day. Lost 35 pounds from running, but ended up smoking two (2) to five(5) cigars a day (backwoods). before I new it, I was smoking them in the morning,lunch, on the way home from work, ect. I got very sick with the flew on january 2, 2009 and was not able to slepp for two days, could not eat for almost four (4) days. Beofore I new it, I had not had a cigar for two (2) days and through the grace of God and hs Son our Savior Jesus Christ have not had one since, almost 7 weeks. The last two (2) weeks have been very hard and especially the last two (2) days. I actaully found myself looking around the house for one and tonight I bought one. I am going down stairs right after this blog and ripping it up. I have not smoked it. I made a gratitue list with 100 items on it and I made a list of about 16 prime reasons to stay quit. Forget about the money. The best reason is freedom from the boudage of being addictive to cigars. I do it admit that I miss it and I am struggleing. Of myslef I am nothing. God does the work Bob

  - Bob

• February 11, 2009 8:52 p.m.

  On September 15, 2008, I found my only child, age 32, dead in her bed. Danielle was totally disabled by mental illnesses for about 12 years. She received mental health treatment with a facility named Valeo. They did wonders for her - counseling, case manager and medication's. The State of Kansas (SRS) assigned a primary doctor to her, Dr. N----. I took her to all of her appointments, due to her fear of driving. Three (3) times went to Dr. N----s office - NEVER saw the doctor. She saw two (2) different ARNP's. The office had all of her medications listed in her chart - the med.’s included but were not limited to: Risperdal 1 mg twice a day Zolpidem 10 mg per day Doxepin 150 mg per day Clonazepam 1 mg - twice a day Depakote Er 500 mg tablets x 3 at bedtime Then she wanted to quit smoking - one of the ARPN's wrote not one but two prescriptions for Chantix. Having her full medical history in a chart in front of her. The pharmacist did NOT say anything about possible side effects, nor did they call the doctor’s office with concerns of drug interactions.On September 7, 2008, she had talked her only friend out of suicide. The Sunday after Dani’s death I saw the Chantix commercial “The Tortoise and The Hare.” I called our local Coroner and raised my concerns. He called me back the next day after calling four (4) different labs of which none of them checked for Varenicline. All branches of the US Military have quit dispensing it. Is Pfizer's little pill worth a life??

  - Childless Mother

• February 10, 2009 3:34 p.m.

  I smoked from age 15 to age 42, and I smoked a lot (from morning to night, sometimes during the night). I quit 16 months ago after taking Chantix. The first week was really rough, near panic almost constantly, then things tapered off. I hardly ever think about smoking any more - thought this day would never come! There is no such thing as "I am trying to quit", that is just an excuse to make you feel better until you give up quitting and go back. Results may vary ;-) The best of luck to anyone quitting, but always remember, you are not alone.

  - Scott

• February 8, 2009 10:11 p.m.

  whew - badly need information tonight... Finally stopped smoking- 3.5 months ago. Friday, thought I do not need to spend $$$ on Nicoderm patches, lozenges, etc. anymore. Went out of my mind a bit... Unlike myself behaviour/ thoughts. Now, think it was too sudden - to zero nicotine after 40 + years... Question : is the nicotine THAT strong an influance on the recovering brain ? If so, please provide a realistic timeline for continuing patches, etc. many thanks, Col

  - Coline

• February 4, 2009 3:15 p.m.

  I had tried to stop smoking for years. i finally realized that I had change my routine. No smoking right when I got up in the morning. Then no smoking in the car. Then no smoking after I ate. Little by little I got used to not smoking and my "routine" was broken. I quit smoking the day Peter Jennings died from lung cancer. It also helped me to go to the American Cancer Society website and see the progression of not smoking for periods of time and the good it does for your body. Like after a few hours this happens, then after a week that happens, then after 5 years..etc. You can quit. Please try. I hope this helps.

  - Carol

• February 1, 2009 11:54 p.m.

  I am quitting. One at a time, per day, per week. It will take a little time, but so far, not feeling any effects. The hardest day, of the week, will be when I have only the last one left. I can do it. So can everyone else. Cold turkey is too hard. Baby steps ...

  - Janet

• February 1, 2009 12:36 p.m.

  I quit smoking for 3 weeks. I did fine. But one night I was so upset and angry that I felt like I was boiling. So I rushed to the gas station and bought a pack. Now it's been a week and I haven't stopped again.

  - Rebecca Hobbs

• January 31, 2009 3:44 p.m.

  I was being nagged by my family and my doctor to stop, but feeling pushed somehow made it worse. When I made the firm commitment within myself, TO myself, FOR myself, it was after months of mental pep-talks, working toward the moment. I struggled minute to minute at times but I shocked myself by making it for ten years now!

  - sseals

• January 31, 2009 11:38 a.m.

  I had an aortic dissection Dec 8th and have not smoked since. It helped I was in the hospital for 2 weeks. I feel better but now am hungry and I have to learn a new way to be-it is hard to do anything without smoking. I guess it is changing behaviors. I was trying to quit without much success before my dissection but this has been a blessing in disguise, I quit most of my bad habits at once and now try and focus on being healthy. It is worth the work.

  - Kathy

• January 31, 2009 10:57 a.m.

  When I quit more than twenty years ago, I quit only one cigarette at a time, over many weeks. First, I stopped the first one I had every morning.After awhile I stopped the one in the car on the way to work.Gradually, I pushed back further into the day when I had my first cigarette, one at a time, until post-dinner was my first butt of the day.When the current active pack was empty,that was it.You can implement this technique at your own pace, because postponing one cigarette at a time is easy because, you can still look forward to one until they are irrelevent. It woked for me.

  - DGG

• January 28, 2009 11:26 p.m.

  Hi I quit on jan. 15 2009 after atending an Allen carr's Seminar. I prepared myself with chantix a week before, and so far so good; The seminar changed my perception about cigarrettes and made e realize that I was a slave; My life was planned arround my cigarrettes, so right now, I feel empowered and happy; I want to become as non-smoker and not an ex-smoker. When the crasvings arrive, I just focus my mind in a positive tought, like I imagine myself playing golf with Anika and Lorena. I have smoked 15 cigarrettes a day for thirty years, and I'm sick of my nicotine addiction. Besides, I have always workout and eat healthy foods and my nasty addiction ruined everything. The only thing I noticede on the first thre days was a complete lack of energy; I stayed in bed the first two days drinking water.(thank god I quit on friday), and I imagined I had a serious case of flu. My prayers go to all the quitters and remember that we were hooked to an ilussion; cigarrettes don't make us skinny, cool, powerful, calm, happy or anything; they are not our best friends; they are our worst enemies. Take Care Marivi

  - marivi

• January 28, 2009 4:30 p.m.

  Jan 24, 2009, Janet wrote ..."that was over 27 months ago ... This is the longest I have gone without smoking and feel pretty sure that I have kicked the habit once and for all." I agree with you Janet, I believe you have. Rejoice in your new found freedom and don't return to the captivity for any price. God bless you and keep you.

  - Danny

• January 27, 2009 7:24 p.m.

  Using smokeless tobacco does not help smokers quit. At least, not in the United States, according to research from UC San Diego. Earlier research in Sweden has suggested otherwise. But, a study just released by the University of California, San Diego and Sweden’s Karolinska Institutet showed that there are important differences between the United States and Sweden about how people use—and quit—tobacco. The study is published in Tobacco Control. In Sweden, many smokers quit smoking by switching to smokeless tobacco. But researchers didn’t find a similar effect among U.S. smokers. This is important because there has been a vigorous debate in the international public health community about whether tobacco control programs should stop advocating complete tobacco cessation and start promoting smokeless tobacco as a less-harmful alternative to smoking. Over a one-year period, the UC San Diego study tracked quit rates, and the rates of switching from one form of tobacco to another, of more than 15,000 adult participants. It showed that: • Among U.S. men, less than 1 percent of current smokers switched to smokeless tobacco during the 12 month study. • Only 1.7 percent of former smokers turned to smokeless tobacco. • Men’s quit rate for smokeless tobacco was three times higher than for cigarettes. The Swedish data showed just the opposite: Swede smokers are more likely to switch to smokeless tobacco. Smokeless tobacco users in Sweden are less likely to q

  - jgogek

• January 27, 2009 5:40 p.m.

  i would like to know the best way to graually quit? is one day you smoke less then you did the day before?

  - joan

• January 25, 2009 10:29 p.m.

  i am entering week 3 without cigarettes ... i am having major problems because I am also on medications for MDD .... I have been having major anxiety symptoms, a return of major depressive syndrome disabilities, my sleep is totally consummed with dreams in whih I am battling myself re smoking.... i am definitely in grieving .... have lost most desire to continue on.... this is one of the worst depressive episodes I recall... i know the response is to see my dr re shifting my meds ... but i am so tired of being on meds

  - boatsie

• January 25, 2009 12:23 p.m.

  Good posts. I have been quit for 55 days and feel good except for one thing. I can't sleep at night. I can sleep in late in the AM and luckily am retired so i do sleep in. The nights are starting to get very long I quit with Laser therapy but don't know if that could affect sleep. I smoked for 50 years so I am aware of all the chemical changes and readjustments. Has anyone else experienced this? How long do you go with days & nights turned around?

  - Eileen Langstaff

• January 24, 2009 7:47 a.m.

  I smoked about 3/4 pack per day and had smoked for over 20 years. At the beginning of 2006 my employer announced they were going smoke free on Oct 2, 2006. That was when I set my goal to quit on that day. I lived in a household of smokers at the time. I did not tell anyone of my intentions. I did however make several changes. I started walking every day and started watching what I ate. One of my obstacles for quitting was the fear of weight gain. I started to losing weight and was feeling more and more confident that I could do this. My company told me about an online support group called quitnet.com so I joined that for support too. They offerred the patch free for 30 days at the strongest dose of 21mg. Because I smoked first thing in the morning I knew I would need the largest dose. Also during this time before I quit I started thinking about how bad it smelled and looking forward to feeling good and not being held captive to them. As my date approached I found myself praying that I would be able to do this. Once my date came I was well prepared to do this. That was over 27 months ago and for whatever reason I did not have all the cravings or desires that I had in the other two times that I had quit. This is the longest I have gone without smoking and feel pretty sure that I have kicked the habit once and for all. I still live in a household of smokers but I hope to be able to be their support in quitting this habit. I did gain some weight but I work out to help manage it.

  - Janet

• January 23, 2009 9:41 p.m.

  Had quad bypass Jan 7 and quit smoking Jan6. Has been one of the hardest things I have ever done after smoking for 39 years. So far so good but I could eat a pack right now.

  - Bill

• January 23, 2009 10:07 a.m.

  I have quit smoking for two months now with the help of Chantix. My major problem has been insomnia so I went down to one pill around 8-9am(two wks ago) and cut out the pm dose(with MD ok) and I am getting more sleep but not what I really need. I have been a smoker for 42 years and I call Chantix a miracle drug. I had no withdrawal and discovered how very much of smoking is a habit, so when you do quit, the habits change, I don't stink of cigarette smoke anymore, I can smell foods and odors better, and my taste buds have come alive again.I use a cinnamon stick at times and stick it in my mouth as one of those habits I can't break. Good luck to all of you Charlotte

  - Charlotte

• January 22, 2009 5:43 p.m.

  I have been a very heavy smoker for forty years and I have never had any will power to give up, always looking for an excuse to try giving up tomorrow but never sticking to the plan. I have chronic airways desease and am asthmatic lots of seroius reasons to quit but until three months ago I tried champix and found it really saved my life well prolonged it anyway .For the first time in years I can breath properly but I relize not to get to carried away as I still crave for them every day is hard but I have been told It gets easier I sincerly wish everyone trying to kick the worst habbit in the world all the best. Its good to know Iam not alone to do this very difficult challendge.GOOD LUCK ALL OF YOU.

  - shary