Day 1-4 without Chantix (still smoke-free)!
It has been a few days since I decided to stop Chantix for various reasons. To set things straight, I know that I wouldn’t be this far into being a non-smoker without Chantix; it was a strong and exceptional drug that helped me kick the habit.
But.
The side-effects were a bit too much for me personally to continue using the medication. Quitting smoking has been a delight. Quitting Chantix, honestly, has been just as much of a delight. The past few days, I have seen my amount of sleep get back on track and actually become routinized (sleep at a reasonable hour, wake early — no alarm clock needed).
I have more energy and I am still having VERY FEW urges to have a cigarette. I think Chantix got me through the hardest part (the beginning) of quitting smoking. For the first time since quitting, I am actually enjoying the fact that I don’t smoke. I have a lot more energy, don’t get as winded as I used to, sleep seems to come easier at night, and I don’t smell horrible. It was impossible to enjoy all of that while sleeping as much as I was while still on Chantix.
It has only been a few days since dropping Chantix, but I hope to keep on this track.
I’ve decided to quit taking Chantix
Chantix is not a miracle drug by any means. It has sufficiently taken the urge to smoke away, but leaves behind quite a few issues that need to be looked upon by current users, Pfizer, and potential Chantix users.
First off, Chantix is a very new drug (relatively speaking) and as more and more users give it a shot, there will be more and more side-effects coming to light. I have personally gone through a few side-effects that have been less than favorable; and have become too much of a burden for me.
I have every intention of continuing to be smoke-free. But the Chantix era of my life is in the past. Chantix, without ANY doubt, helps to fight off urges to smoke. However, if anyone is interested, here are my personal reasons for putting Chantix aside:
1. Sleepiness. For the past few weeks, I have slept more than I have been awake. At first, I questioned my health, level of activity, how lazy I can get sometimes, and etc., but in the end… sleeping 20 hours without knowing it is ridiculous. All of the sleep has also hurt relationships, business, and etc.
I am very confident that the Chantix is to blame: shortly after taking the medicine is when I am most tired. I’ve never been one to just zonk out, but it has happened quite a few times.
2. Chantix dreams. I loved them at first! They were fun, realistic and I could remember them after waking, but when I mixed all of those dreams with the boatload of sleep I was getting, it was honestly getting difficult to distinguish between dream and reality. I would have a discussion with my girlfriend who thought I was awake and then later not recall it — or have a dream and think it was real later.
3. An odd/new form of anxiety. I’m not exactly sure I can attribute this fully to Chantix, but I have been having a lot of anxiety since taking 1mg 2x daily. I’ve had anxiety issues in the past, but this one is a bit different and impossible to describe. But there is definitely an empty feeling from time to time.
I will continue to quit smoking. I am confident that I will continue making progress. Unfortunately, I do not know how my body will react to quitting Chantix (I have heard that it can be quite a task).
I do hope that all of you will still support me and I will surely continue to support fellow quitters out there. All of your support, suggestions and comments have been much appreciated!
I AM STILL SMOKE-FREE!
Article: MUST-SEE video of what just 400 cigarettes looks like in your lungs
Be sure to watch it until the end. This was pretty disturbing!
Still Smoking? Watch This !! - video powered by Metacafe
Happy Thanskgiving (day 13-14 of being smoke-free)!!!!!
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone out there! I appreciate all of the advice and comments each and every one of you have taken the time to send my way.
The quit-smoking crowd, I have found, is a very proud and giving group of individuals. All of you have been very supportive and encouraging — which has gotten me this far (I am on day 15, saved almost $50 already, and feel pretty good about myself).
Sleepiness is still there, but I hope it clears up soon!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO EVERYONE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!
Test: Using the FLOCK browser to update blog
Testing…
I’ve just downloaded and installed Flock — a new social browser (was tired of Internet Explorer locking up and Firefox bores me).
So far, this browser is kind of cool. A lot of potential!
Blogged with Flock
Day 8-12 of being smoke-free (sort of)
This past weekend and Monday of this week have been pretty good as far as the quitting goes. I had a few drinks this past weekend with my brother (Matt), Jordan and Jon. I was pretty good for the most part, but my brother smokes heavily when he drinks. He may not realize it, but he stinks.
I hate the smell of it these days, but I still find the urge to smoke a cigarette. I had a few puffs this weekend (I still see it as a successful weekend) and it wasn’t satisfying at all.
One thing I REALLY want to fix with this whole quitting thing (and it is really starting to take its toll): sleepiness. I honestly don’t get it! I set alarms, people try to wake me up, and there are things to get done, but for some reason, I sleep so much. Honestly, I find myself sleeping 10+ hours EVERY DAY.
Anyone have any ideas? Anyone else have this issue? It is really annoying me (and others). It isn’t just a matter of “stop being lazy” or anything to that tune; I genuinely feel the NEED to sleep and don’t wake up easily. Often times, I incorporate what is going on around me in my sleep into my dreams — i.e. the other day my brother tried to wake me up, needing a ride to pick up his car. I thought it was some crazy dream.
It is 6:00 right now and I haven’t yet slept. I’ve always had an odd sleep schedule, but not THIS bad and uncontrollable.
I don’t want to stop taking Chantix, but I do hope to find a way to fix this. Caffeine pills?
Day 5-7 of being smoke-free
Not a whole lot to report regarding my quitting. I have found a few new triggers that I have adjusted to, but have found a rather annoying side-effect of Chantix: laziness.
I am not sure if it is the medication, my body fighting off the urges/nicotine/changes, or what, but I am perpetually exhausted. Any other Chantix users out there experience this? No matter how much sleep I get, a few hours later, I am tired. I know I am not the healthiest of people and could benefit from some exercise, but while smoking I never had this issue.
Another hard part is waking up. I think I have issues waking because of the “Chantix dreams” (I enjoy them and want to finish them).
Any input from fellow quitters? Exercise seems to be a common tip, but to be honest with you, there’s no motivation… any tips to get over that hump?
Aside from the sleepiness, things are going well. I hope the slight urges will continue to become more infrequent with each day. It’ll be nice to be around family for the holidays without having to sneak out for a smoke or be embarrassed by the stench on my clothes.
Day 2-4 of being smoke-free
This Chantix stuff works.
Day 2-4 (take 2) of being smoke-free were quite enjoyable. I had a few slight urges to smoke here and there, but nothing that made me feel uncomfortable, anxious, or antsy. I even had a few alcohol beverages (beer) on Friday night. Usually with any alcoholic drink, I am smoking like crazy. On Friday, however, I didn’t have any urges at all.
Of course, it does help to get away from triggers and fellow smokers. The majority of my friends are smokers. This weekend, I headed to my business partner’s house (it is also where our office is set up); he and his wife don’t smoke. It was a nice change of pace and change of atmosphere. I think it helped quite a bit to keep the urges away.
Today starts the 5th day of being smoke-free. It’ll be a new record for me.
How was everyone else’s weekend? Thanks again for the comments and messages!
You know how I know I am getting old?
I’ve been on the Internet since I was in the 6th grade: since the mid-90s. Banner advertisements back then weren’t nearly as popular, colorful or as big as they are these days. The standard 468×60 banner was most common back then (although I suppose at the low screen resolutions of those times, that was a good size).
Now you see flash, sound and video, skyscrapers, big-ass squares, pop-ups and pop-unders, overlays, and a bunch of other shapes, sizes and concepts. Speaking of the sound advertisements, do you ever almost crap yourself when you accidentally roll over one with your speakers turned up?
“SAY SOMETHING!” “WHAAA?”
Bastard smileys.
Back to the whole point of this story: I know that I am starting to get old because I am losing touch with certain aspects of young, popular culture — I notice this because of some of the ads on popular social networks. Most know that question-ads (the ones that ask a question that you can answer) are a proven way to boost clicks; it is a basic Web Marketing technique. These questions are often outrageously simple or easy figure out; thus making people feel they’re gifted for knowing the answer… thus getting people to click them.
The past few weeks, I have noticed a bunch of these ads asking questions about pop culture, such as: Which reality show is Midget Mac on? If only I knew the answer, I’d win an XBOX 360! But alas, I have become out of touch with today’s hot topics. Other ones that have stumped me and have made me feel old show a body part and ask me to name the artist; where all artists have weird hip-hop names or something.
To be honest, my attention is being drawn more to credit card, mortgage loan, and ads for medications these days. It looks like I have begun the journey into a whole new demographic.
Oh well.
As a Designer with 10+ years experience and degree in Marketing, I may be wired to critique advertisements. At least I am sparing you a mindless rant with my thoughts on how the adult entertainment industry is headed for a moral and financial decline. “IMPOSSIBLE!” you say? Nope.
A full 24 hours! (take 2)
Today went surprisingly well. I was actually shocked when I would think about having a cigarette — thinking how odd it was that I hadn’t thought of one. It was a slightly busy day, but nothing hectic; leading me to believe the Chantix is definitely still helping quite a bit.
There were a few new triggers noticed today — especially the after-dinner moment with my girlfriend when we went out tonight. We both did well and laughed about it. We are so used to eating a good meal out and then smoking a cigarette before saying our goodbyes.
I am glad she’s quitting with me. We both weakened a bit earlier this week, but I think we’ll both be fine and get through the tough parts of this whole process. Locally, she’s the only other person I know that is quitting smoking — makes me consider building a web site with a database of people in certain areas that can team up to quit (likely a site out there like that, though). If it is a fresh concept, anyone out there want to team up and launch it? It is what our business does after-all: web design & development.
Nothing else to really talk about right now. The quitting process is back on track and, so far, doing well. Again, the weekend is coming up and things might get a little more difficult, but we’ve made plans that will help us stay away from smokers at least part of the weekend.
Thanks again to everyone for the comments and e-mails! I decided to reset my counter at the top of my blog’s home page so I stay accurate, too, to reflect my “Oops”.
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