Need help quitting cigs

[SocialDem]

Hey, I'm trying to quit smoking cigarettes and I looked into stuff like nicotine gum but its really expensive. I've tried to quit cold turkey before but it never works, I'll stop smoking for a week or two then start again. So I was wondering if anyone knows of any herbal remedies that can help me quit or if you guys have any tips. I'm a pretty heavy smoker, over a pack a day. Any help would be appreciated.

[justanotherbozo]

sorry i can't help you with any herbal remedies or anything. actually all i can offer is encouragement and to tell you what worked for me.
first, i started smoking cigs back in '66, they were $.28 a pack back then. i managed to work my way up to between 2 and 3 packs a day (Marlboro reds) and i think i've tried to quit more times than i have hairs left on my head!
i actually made it to 6 months once so i know what gets me in the end is the foolish belief (put in my head by my addiction) that i can cheat and just have 1.
i smoked my last butt back on Jan 14, 2008 and this time, i'm doing it cold turkey again, screw the pills and gum and patches and shit, i've tried them all, including hypnotism, yeah right, (LOL, that's why i still dance like a chicken) and none worked any better than cold turkey.
the truth is, you only feel the physical symptoms for the first 3 - 4 days, after that, it's all in your head. DON'T CHEAT !!!
you might also want to remind yourself that you are a slave, intentionally addicted so the tobacco company's can make money. they don't give 2 shits for you or anyone else, they only care about MAKING MONEY ! they don't care if you DIE
LOL, sorry, i guess it's true what they say about 'reformed' smokers.
i guess because we like having all that money back in our pockets and being able to breath again, that's a REAL plus.
my salvation, i think, has been the weed. i decided to just smoke weed every time i wanted a cig. in the beginning, my weed consumption almost doubled the first month but it has managed to come back to normal now so now i'm starting to enjoy the benefits of being a non-smoker for real.
anyway, good luck, maybe someone else will have a 'remedy' for you.

bozo,
peace, love, dope

[Weedhound]

Both my husband and I quit.....EASILY....using Chantix. Sorry but I won't listen to any moaning about how the gum/Chantix etc is "too expensive" when you're shelling out five-ish $ a pack for your cancer sticks.

If you REALLY want to quit......try the Chantix.....I've tried them ALL (including cold turkey which wont even work for me when it comes to corn flakes....or liquor......or cigs) and if you WANT TO QUIT.....not can you handle the withdrawl......just do you want to quit enough to not pick up the cigerette just because it's something to do.

Because this med WILL take away your desire to smoke. It makes nicotine gum and patches a JOKE imo! But it will NOT undo the itchy habit of what to do with your fingers etc while you yack on the phone or whatever you usually do while smoking.....that part is up to you.

PS...We had no side effects but I have heard that some people do...check with your doctor.

PSS....I started smoking at age 13..several packs a day...quit age 48 with this med. :thumbsup:

[zzdank]

Some of my family used chantix and had horrible side effects like terrible dreams sweating etc. But the med helped them to stop smoking i would also suggest giving chantix a try. Also avoid activities you do while smoking like drinking coffe and smoking in the morning.

[Mr. Clandestine]

I second the Chantix recommendation. I've been smoking for about 10 years, roughly a pack a day, give or take. I've tried everything from quitting cold-turkey, to patches, to gum... NOTHING worked for me. I'd be able to quit smoking while I had the nicotine replacement, but once I ran out of patches/gum/etc., I was back to a pack a day almost instantly. My doctor just prescribed me Chantix, and I'll start my first week of a 12 week program with it this Friday. I'm being told to keep smoking (if I want to) for one more week, then the medication is supposed to take over. I've been talking to a LOT of ex-smokers recently, many of whom smoked for 25 years or longer, and every one of them that stayed on the medication for the full 12-24 weeks have successfully quit, and stayed quit after the medication was gone.

Since it's not a nicotine replacement therapy (there's no nicotine in the drug), after the prescription is gone, you've completely ruled nicotine out of your system. The habit may still rear its ugly head for a brief time, as WeedHound pointed out, but that's far easier to beat than the psychological/physical addiction. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you, and hope you'll do the same for me. :thumbsup:

[bloodorflies]

i smoked for 16 years....2 things helped me quit...flavored toothpicks ( tea tree oil toothpicks or jujustix), the other is licorice chew sticks....or african chew sticks....these can be found online or in nubian/rasta/african stores they are about the size of a backwoods cigar...they also come in flavors i don't recommend straying from peppermint.

[SocialDem]

Ok so I was looking into the Chantix thing online and it doesn't say anything about affects of mixing it with marijuana or anything. I was wondering if anyone here smoked weed while they were taking chantix and if they did, where there any weird affects, did it decrease your ability to feel high? I've heard of other medications doing this.

[texas grass]

i recently quit smoking cigs. its been about 3-4 months now. quit cold turkey, no withdraws, didnt even care. i just felt it was my time to quit. my mind said i was ready to quit.

the only way to truely quit is if your mind is ready.

i wouldnt recomend getting nicotine aides, id try some activities or eat some fresh edibles to keep your mind off them bugars.

good luck and good health:thumbsup:

[Sweet Little Sister]

Hey, I don't know if you've started the Chantix yet.... I'm a little late to the party here. If you're srill looking for info, I'm on Chantix right now. I had the exact same fears. I HAD to quit smoking because the Dr. said I probably had emphysema, & I was scared outta my mind!!

Let me tell you that it will NOT take away your desire for weed. For cigs? Yup! I have no idea how it knows the difference. I was reading something about how it blocks the pleasure center of your brain & this is why you can't enjoy the cig any more. So I don't understand how I can enjoy weed, but I don't question it. ;)

Keep an eye on your moods though. I'm almost on my 3rd month, & I have to get off of them. I also hear that you cannot stop taking them suddenly. Some people report depression & suicidal thoughts.... I've always been prone to depression, but I've had weird, impulsive type thoughts. Don't worry, my doctor is aware of this. I've also studied a lot of psychological stuff in school & that's partly how I recognized something wasn't right with me. I'm cutting back to one pill a night & then I'll most likely end up stopping. Then my doctor said to maybe go on the patch if I have to.

But back to the Chantix.... I'm NOT knocking it. It's VERY good at taking away your desire to smoke, and when you DO smoke, it's not as enjoyable somehow. But it's just not for me anymore. It's becoming dangerous & it's not worth my life. Hopefully I'm far enough along where I'll be ok & not relapse on cigs.

Good luck to you on your quit, no matter how you decide to do it!! :)

[Sweet Little Sister]

I forgot to add this to my post above and I don't see an edit button:

Anything posts containing illegal or illicit drugs or activities are for entertainment purposes only! Nothing I write is to be taken seriously.

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[TokinChick]

Weed helps b/c you still get the sensation of smoking so you don't feel deprived.

I quit two years ago. I used to think I could never do it, but today I find cigarettes repulsive and wish my husband and mom would quit too.

One thing that helped me also was fake cigarettes. They contain no nicotine and come in either mint or cinnamon flavor. They look and feel like a real cigarette, you don't light them, just pretend to smoke them and get a nice flavor. Worth a shot!

They are called "Smokers Option" which you can Google to find them, one pack lasts a very long time b/c you can reuse one ciggie over and over.

[SocialDem]

Thanks for all your help. I actually smoked my last cig about a week ago. I didn't feel like going to the doctor to get a script so I just stopped. Its pretty awesome not having to smoke anymore although I do miss the extra buzz of smoking a newport right after getting high.

[silkyblue]

Im proud of you socialdem

you added 7 years to your life

I quit cigs [Marlboro Lites] some years ago

cold turk too

the lay em down
and walk away clean route

the extra air is nice


cigs cause 90% of cancers in folks

the "powers" has got to

legalise weed not cigs or booze!

[texas grass]

glad to here of your success socialdem. :thumbsup:
. keep up the good work. :stoned:

[epilepticme]

I am 5 weeks tobacco free with the help of the Chantix.
Sure I had some crazy dreams at first but that was a welcome
change as I typically do not remember any dreams.
It helped a lot. I have quit several times before and this is the longest.

Do what ever it takes to quit. Just quit. I already feel so much healthier!

[jordas]

Hey I stopped a few years ago and I used the Commit Lozenge. For me they worked out great and I have been smoke free for about 5 years!

[TurnyBright]

Use an electronic cigarette! Like NJOY.

[nicolse]

IF sitting in front of the computer constantly causes acne, it's probably because the "sitter" is constantly touching their face, which transfers bacteria, which causes acne. If they have some sort of anticeptic wash and cotton at their station, and clean their face, on and off, while they're sitting there, I'll bet they wouldn't have as much acne...also, a pump bottle of waterless hand sanitizer, like Purell, is good....you should keep your hands clean....there's a ton of bacteria that collects on a keyboard!

_________________________
Acne Treatment ( http://www.holisticacnetreatments.com)

[ijustloveweed]

My theory is that if you started smoking weed before you started smoking cigs you are alot less addicted to tobacco

[epilepticme]

FYI still Tobacco free and been of the Chantix for a couple months as well.

[Weedhound]

I'm with epileptic....Chantix RULES!! Worked beautifully for me. :thumbsup:

[Weedhound]

And Soc Dem.....your talk about methods to quit being too expensive is bullshit compared to what you are spending on cigs.

Within the last two months I've been diagnosed with lung cancer and told I have approximately one year to live. I was able to quit nicotine last year with the help of chantix so I can tell you true......you are making excuses.

If you REALLY want to quit smoking........spend the cash and use Chantix. You CAN quit with it. I smoked 2 packs a day for 35 years and had tried EVERYTHING. Chantix works.
How about you.....will YOU do the work??

Edit: I went back and saw that you had quit!! Good for you!! Hard work so VERY impressed that you were able to just quit. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Rock on!! :thumbsup:

[stinkyattic]

Some tidbits from a close friend who tried to quit for years before working with a hypnotherapist who also gave her some great pointers:
-Think of yourself as a non-smoker. BE a non-smoker.
-Where do you usually smoke? Take away all the ash trays. REplace them with things that keep your fingers busy- she put a basket of knitting next to her old smoking chair, and moved it away from the window so she couldn't cheat and flick ash outside.
-If you tend to take breaks from work just to go smoke, find another thing to do on your break, like take a walk around the block, or go make yourself the perfect slushie down at the quick-E-mart, or go hit on that hot new receptionist who wouldn't talk to you before because you stank smoke.

And don't forget to enjoy how much better the world will smell and taste to you once your senses have recovered from the layer of ciggy-gunk!

[jdmarcus59]

I thought we were talking about stop smoking..lol

[flyingimam]

was a heavy smoker from age 17 to 21... replaced my cig smoking with weed for about a month and did not expose myself to any cigs at all.

and remembered the notion that every 7 seconds 1 person DIES from negative effects of tobacco every time i was tempted.

the combination of above imo was highly successful cuz the taste of cigs was just awful the first time after my break and it remains that way till 2day. i can only tolerate it if im drunk or like on a road trip or somethin

now im an occasional smoker and have long quited buying cigs... only on few occasions of drunkness throughout the year i smoke cigs

[wishpotwaslegal]

i quit ten years ago by using oil i just used a littel bit of tobaco (a piece of a ciggerett) and spread a papper with good hash oil and it was a good anuff fix of nicoteen for me then when oil was all gone tobaco was all gone smokes did not taste the same as oiler and after a fiver of oil rolled up iwas cured give it a try.but remember PUFF PUFF PASS!!!

[seattlesmoke247]

my salvation, i think, has been the weed. i decided to just smoke weed every time i wanted a cig. in the beginning, my weed consumption almost doubled the first month but it has managed to come back to normal now so now i'm starting to enjoy the benefits of being a non-smoker for real.

this is exactally what i did, however my weed consumption went up from 4 waterfall gallons/2 hours to 6-7. It hasen't dropped back down yet, but haven't had a cig in over 2-3 months and don't plan on it ever again,

you can do it. :thumbsup:

[jaytug]

you could try buying a cheap vaporizer... even with cigarettes, I think most of the damage comes from burning the substance, and the chemicals that are introduced during combustion. im not a doctor, though, and i haven't really researched this.

[JakeMartinez]

You still get the heart problems since nicotine is a stimulant.

Personally, I've tried to quit off and on many times, and won't do Chantix because I'm already borderline diabetic (I've read it can cause diabetes in some people).

I'm with you, man. The hardest part about quitting for me is that when I've gone awhile (for me that's not smoking in a day...sad...) I know I'll get a nicotine buzz if I smoke one, so it gets pretty irresistible. That and I get extremely fucking anxious.

I'm nervous enough as it is!

I'm down to 8 in my pack, though. Going to try cold turkey again after I finish it. Maybe leave one out so that I can conquer the bastards with willpower.

Cheers, mate.

[LOC NAR on probation]

Have a heart ATTACK ! THINK about it !

OK long story, I smoked from 18 to 43 had a heart attack. Not too bad got a stinth on each side of my chest now from small blockage. All else clean. Healty on all other parts, Smoking had to be it no doubt.

I was working a job with lots of stress came home to 2 puters screwing up somked a pack in 4 hours and went to the hospital. Low oxy in my blood and small amout of blackage.

Best I can say is watch. THANK YOU FOR SMOKING.

Bin 6 years now. I burn when I can but as my name says, not lately but soon. The first year is the hardest then it only gets harder from there. LOL

[BlazeFace420]

Cold turkey is the way to go. and i know your probably saying its too hard or doesnt work. well hey you must not want to quit that bad. all it takes is one simple word. NO. do you want a cigarette...no, or if your feeling that you really need a cigarette just tell yourself no. all you need is self control.

[tomm01]

Cold turkey is basically proven to be the worst way of quitting anything.
For some reason I know it's weird but when I heard that the scillia (sp?) in your lungs become paralysed I decided I should probably quit.

Haven't yet though. I have a hatred towards nicotine gum and all that shit patches n stuff. Yes the cost is bullshit if they really wanted people to quit they would make them free or at least REALLY cheap. It's more then two packs of smokes. I know you spend more in the long run on smokes but it's just like why spend 30 bux on 20 pieces of chewy when I can get 40 cigs for 14 bux.

Anyway herbal wise the best way to quit would be Ibogaine. It works for Heroin and Cigs too but you have to really WANT to quit.

I quit for 6 months a couple years ago long with alcohol and weed both fairly heavy but alcohol heavier coz I could just steal it. But it was coz I was getting really paranoid (always been goin down that road) and I thought they would be poisoned or something. I felt like shit for that whole six months. I know what they mean by sobriety sucks.

One more thing texas grass you said you just felt like quitting like you didnt want to smoke anymore or whatever, this can (emphasis) actually be one of the signs of lung cancer. It happens a lot. Might wanna get checked out depending how old you are/how much you smoked.

Chantix sounds rather crap to me, I know if you never ever want to smoke again it sounds great but what if one day you just want to sit down and enjoy a cig like 20 years down the track? You won't be able to.

Anyway good luck with everyone quitting, it's a good choice. To everyone not quitting, good choice too. No choice is as bad as no choice.