Quitting smoking and the nicotine patch.

[ScrapMetal]

I want to quit, been thinkin about it for a few weeks now. The only thing that scares me is the withdrawel symptoms. I've been smoking since I was 14, I'm 24 now and smoke about 25 cigarettes a day. I have tried to quit cold turkey in the past but after about 3 days I start getting all depressed and in a bad mood.

Well enough about me, the reason I made this thread is because I've really been thinking about getting on a nicotine patch. I wanted to get some real feedback from Nico members who have quit and tried the patch. How was the withdrawel? What brand did you use? And anything else I may find informative. I'd also appreciate real feedback from members who have quite cold turkey.

When I say "real feedback" I mean no immature comments like "just quit, stop being a p****"

Thanks in advance for the help.

[Razi]

My dad quit many times, but ended up smoking again.
He even tried to nicotine patch, and it didn't work.

The only times he's been successful was when he quit cold turkey, including his friends, and I think he's going on about 3 months of not smoking so far, I hope he can keep it up!

[GrilledCheese33]

Smoking is good for you though

I smoke, tried to quit like 3 times and it didn't work lol. Maybe one day. Good luck! Oh and cold turkey and will power is the only way.

[alms24sebring]

This dude at school has been smoking the electronic cig for 2 years. I dont think hes been trying to quit but ironicly more healthy than tar smoke.

Quitting on the spot takes some prep work. You have to get yourself ready and willing to do so. If you have the courage and will to, it can work. So what if you have a week of where you are on your period, you'll get over it after the withdrawls. Whatever you do, DON'T SMOKE!

PS, this is why I never picked up ciggarettes

[LEMHEAD16]

I wouldn't worry about withdraws, 3-4 days and you are clean. The psychological fixations are what will make you smoke again. I'd recommend no patch, hard candy, and some guts to quit. I quit smoking cold turkey almost a decade ago, and dipping about 3 years ago

I'd also recommend looking at this every day

With the info available about the health problems smoking causes, I can't believe people still pick it up. Don't get me wrong, I am not a "Antismoker ultra right wing but job" in my life I've had my fair share of addictions.

[ADDirishboy]

Honestly, it was easy for me to quit smoking. Granted, I picked up chewing in the process, but hey, I can run without getting winded like I used to now.

I have actually heard good things about the electronic cigarettes. They have multiple nicotine dosages, so you can start off high, and work your way down to just smoking water vapor with no nicotine in it. Honestly, the most difficult portion of quitting smoking is the PHYSICAL act of smoking. Nicotine withdrawals go away fairly quickly. That's just my 2 cents though.

[AZ89two4Tsx]

Meh, you just have to find what works for you. To many, a aid like a patch/gum can help. To many others though, it's just prolonging the point to where you're just going to have to quit cold turkey.

I smoke, and honestly, if I was going to quit, I would slowly work my way down up until you're only smoking a few cigs a day. (25 is A LOT of cigarettes) Try to pick up another non-tobacco habit such as candy or gum, whatever works. A big part of the addiction to many (including me) is just the hand-to-mouth motion and having something to do. Occupy your time doing something else and try to keep your mind off cigs.

But don't do what Tyler did and start dipping, haha. It's a disgusting habit and is really easy to get hooked on. Imo, more dangerous to your body than smoking.

[nissangirl74]

Quitting sucked. The only thing that worked for me was surrounding myself with people who don't smoke. My parents didn't smoke and when I went to visit them, I never craved one. However, when I got back into my car to drive home, a cigarette was the first thing i wanted. When I lived in TN, almost everyone I knew smoked and it was hard for me to sit around a lot of people and not light up. I finally just said "F--- it" and quit cold turkey. Some days it is still a battle. The nicotine is long, long gone out of my system and there are days I'd punch a wall for one.

I never did try the patch but I know people who did. They were all unsuccessful. Some even said that they made them sick to their stomach and gave them headaches. I've heard gum helps, eating, more sex, push-ups, etc. You just have to figure out a way to occupy all of that time you spent smoking.

Good luck. I hope you are successful.

[s0m3th1ngAZ]

Yeah the patch made me sick to my stomach. Gum seemed to work pretty well though. I was never a heavy smoker though...maybe a pack every 3 days at the height. The worst part for me was the environment. If people are smoking around you...I'd always ask for one.

[frapjap]

Oddly enough, my grandfather went for the hypnosis thing. Its worked out for him for over 35 years.
My parents both quit cold turkey when they figured out they were pregnant with me. Maybe you should get pregnant with your other... just sayin'

[sbird1]

I never tried the patch, but I did try Chantix. It worked eventually. I did quit... for a while. But at the same time, I have never smoked as much as you. I go through a pack every 2 or 3 days, and I've even been cutting back from there lately. Chantix was good for me. I didn't get the depression and stuff that they say are the side effects. The lucid dreams however, are awesome. So in review, Chantix was effective, but I don't smoke that much anymore. I'm going to go have a cig now.

[Encryptshun]

I tried the patch, the gum and cold turkey. Wearing the patch feels like getting punched in the arm the whole time it's on there (to me, at least). It make me sore which made me want to take the patch off. Plus it didn't provide the right kind of buzz for me (I was as addicted to the act of smoking as I was the nicotine -- smoking to me was a way to get away from my desk, go for a walk down to the parking garage of my office building, and stand and inhale deeply for a few minutes.)

I tried Chantix and it worked for me. I was completely off cigarettes after 2 weeks and that was 3 years ago as of last fall. Chantix is not without its side-effects, however. While I was on it (2 weeks) and for about the same amount of time afterward, I had the most bizarre, effed up dreams I've ever had in my life. I also felt like I had a low-voltage capacitor slowly discharging directly into my heart.

[AppleBonker]

You go to a car forum for car advice. So why not go to a quit smoking forum for that advice? From people I know who quit, the hardest part seems to be mental (as in separating the things that make you want to smoke from smoking Edit: see triggers in the post below). Pretty sure this site has advice to go along with that. Maybe some of the ex-smokers on here can give it a look and let you know if there may be any validity to that...

I've heard good things, but I can't speak from personal experience: http://www.becomeanex.org/

[flohtingPoint]

The biggest thing in quitting smoking is you need to eliminate your triggers! I cannot stress this enough...

A trigger is anything that makes you want to smoke:
-Drinking
-Coffee
-Hot foods (spicy, not temp)
-etc

Quit partying for a few months, focus on something that can really attract your attention in a positive way. Quitting smoking isn't easy but there are things that can make it much easier on yourself if you work on it.

Obviously there are some exceptions. Stress is a big trigger, work usually causes stress, you cant stop working cause you'll be a bum.

[maxhopper]

I've smoked for about 20yrs. Tried the patch multiple times, but the longest I lasted was about 4 months. I'm currently taking Chantix with no problems as of yet.

[King Ranzo]

I quit because my ex wanted me too. Plus it became an annoyance when I couldn't afford any and got withdrawls. Honestly, cold turkey wasn't too bad for me. Then again, I didn't smoke that often so maybe I wasn't as addicted as you are.

[alms24sebring]

Alot of people say that Chantix gived you the wildest dreams ever. Is it bad for me if I dont smoke? Its not a nicotine patch. I really like intense dreams

[nissangirl74]

I tried Chantix once. I honestly believe the side effects were worse than what I imagined living with lung cancer could be. Made me sick to my stomach, I couldn't breathe, and I broke out in hives. I didn't notice any difference in my dreams like most people but I have always been a very vivid dreamer anyway so that's probably a moot point. I worked with several people who tried it. One lady had smoked for over 30 years and quit within 3 weeks. Another who had smoked just as long didn't benefit at all from it. I would bet a lot of it has to do with your body chemistry. I'd consult a doctor before i tried anything besides quitting cold turkey.

[Acecool]

The way my brother quit was to smoke while he would go out drinking. He would get really drunk, and smoke NON-STOP. The result is a nasty feeling of being drunk as well as the nasty non-stop smoking making him feel icky and then he just didn't want to any longer.

But yeah, the first 3 or 4 days are supposed to be the hardest.

[IanS]

quiting is different for everyone, but here are my experiences.

I quit absolutely cold turkey. I did not ween down, I did not plan it, I just stopped. I ran out of smokes one evening, and I just didnt buy anymore. This was 3 or 4 years ago. Its been long enough that I dont remember.

It was rough. For me, the first few days werent so bad, it was the 2 weeks that followed that were hell. I was so crabby it was nuts, and I hated everything.

That being said, once it was over, it wasnt so bad.

My brother in law though, he used the patch, and it dragged his 2 weeks into like 2 months. Nobody wanted to be anywhere near him.

Good luck. Being free is nice.

[alms24sebring]

They say its harder that heroin to quit

[breadbox]

yeah but for heroin you just need ibogaine, our gov't made it illicit, they don't want you getting better, they just want you to switch to their brand of methadone.

Smoking is hard to get over. Either stop cold or stop the next time you have a cold.

[carloslebaron]

To me, the nicotine patch stops you smoking and works great as long as you stick it on your mouth...

[audtatious]

Grow a back bone and just stop smoking.