Chantix not doing it for ya? Well then....

[Bramble]

tobacco companies don't add MAOI to cigarettes, it comes naturally as part of the minor alkaloids in tobacco. Nicotine makes up about 95% of the alkaloids with 4 or 5 others making up the other 5%. It is possible BT enhanced the effect somehow.

Wellbutrin (Zyban) was the only BP product that got me off cigarettes for any length of time in my 43 years of smoking, 3 months. I had no desire to smoke, hand to mouth was broken and I was feeling great about finally being successful. Then my script ran out. Within a week I was climbing the walls and started taking a few drags here and there. Within a couple weeks I was back to full time smoking.

Some of us need those MAOIs to function normally. When I started vaping, I still needed a half dozen cigarettes to feel normal. Once I found Swedish snus, the need for smoking went away and the need to vape constantly went away. I figure I have minor depression in my physiology and there's enough of what I need in 4-5 portions of snus to keep me level. He sounds like he needs more.

I think wellbutrin is used to help break compulsions. I quit biting my nails when I was on it and never started again LOL

And yes some of us benefit from some level of nicotine. I don't think it was entirely false when they used to say that smoking might actually help certain conditions in some way... it's just a deadly delivery system.

Going from the most recent study about nicotine absorption from vaping, if you get more nicotine in 5 minutes of smoking than you do by vaping 18 mg for an hour, my current nicotine level is a small fraction of what it was when I smoked. I am down to 10 mg... and of course there are only so many hours in a day you can vape. But if I always need a little nic in my life to stay on an even keel, I'm ok with that. I might even be ok to switch off with low nic gum sometimes but it isn't sustainably priced like vaping. They charge so much for the stuff that it becomes a burden for long term use. The markup on NRT must be high beyond comprehension.

 

[Tintreach]

All I can say is Chantix damn near made me check into the hospital. I hit that scary tipping point where I was at the point to check into a hospital, blow my brains out or start smoking!!

Needless to say I recovered from all of that and it's behind me.

Yes the FDA "approved" stuff is a crock if you ask me.

 

[sdennislee]

I went the Chantix route 2 years ago.

It started off well. I quit smoking on schedule. to long after quitting the dreams started. I had very vivid dreams of sitting at the end of my driveway and shooting myself in the head. These dreams happened every night.

One night I woke and found my hand on my pistol like i was stroking or caressing it. I got up and put the pistol in the gun safe and flushed the Chantix down the drain.

My wife bought me my first eCig, all is good.

 

[rothenbj]

I think wellbutrin is used to help break compulsions. I quit biting my nails when I was on it and never started again LOL

And yes some of us benefit from some level of nicotine. I don't think it was entirely false when they used to say that smoking might actually help certain conditions in some way... it's just a deadly delivery system.

Going from the most recent study about nicotine absorption from vaping, if you get more nicotine in 5 minutes of smoking than you do by vaping 18 mg for an hour, my current nicotine level is a small fraction of what it was when I smoked. I am down to 10 mg... and of course there are only so many hours in a day you can vape. But if I always need a little nic in my life to stay on an even keel, I'm ok with that. I might even be ok to switch off with low nic gum sometimes but it isn't sustainably priced like vaping. They charge so much for the stuff that it becomes a burden for long term use. The markup on NRT must be high beyond comprehension.

I currently pay less a week of vaping and snus than I spent in a morning of smoking.

 

[AgentAnia]

Has anyone seen the Chantix ad featuring the police officer? Having recently read that pilots and air traffic controllers are prohibited from using Chantix because of its side effects (physical and emotional), I cringe at the thought that my law enforcement people may be on Chantix...

 

[Rickajho]

I think wellbutrin is used to help break compulsions. I quit biting my nails when I was on it and never started again LOL

And yes some of us benefit from some level of nicotine. I don't think it was entirely false when they used to say that smoking might actually help certain conditions in some way... it's just a deadly delivery system.

Going from the most recent study about nicotine absorption from vaping, if you get more nicotine in 5 minutes of smoking than you do by vaping 18 mg for an hour, my current nicotine level is a small fraction of what it was when I smoked. I am down to 10 mg... and of course there are only so many hours in a day you can vape. But if I always need a little nic in my life to stay on an even keel, I'm ok with that. I might even be ok to switch off with low nic gum sometimes but it isn't sustainably priced like vaping. They charge so much for the stuff that it becomes a burden for long term use. The markup on NRT must be high beyond comprehension.

Two points:

I ran through the vaping numbers with both my MD and Allergist. They did the math and even with me vaping my crazy insane 24 mg liquids neither of them saw a problem with my nicotine intake. As it is I asked my MD to do my blood levels because I wanted to know. He refused because he doesn't think it's medically relevant. As far as he's concerned there's more placebo effect going on here than any serious nicotine intake.

We have a new member who just joined us overnight. He may have Parkinsons (waiting forever on a specialist appointment), is a long term ex smoker, and is now looking into vaping nicotine as a way to deal with his symptoms. So far his experiments on a small, unscientific scale are having a significant positive impact on his tremors. Nicotine is known to be beneficial for Parkinsons.

 

[Vermonster13]

Chantix made me want to strangle puppies and such. Psychotic rage bubbled up nicely with a dose of it.

 

[rothenbj]

Two points:

I ran through the vaping numbers with both my MD and Allergist. They did the math and even with me vaping my crazy insane 24 mg liquids neither of them saw a problem with my nicotine intake. As it is I asked my MD to do my blood levels because I wanted to know. He refused because he doesn't think it's medically relevant. As far as he's concerned there's more placebo effect going on here than any serious nicotine intake.



We have a new member who just joined us overnight. He may have Parkinsons (waiting forever on a specialist appointment), is a long term ex smoker, and is now looking into vaping nicotine as a way to deal with his symptoms. So far his experiments on a small, unscientific scale are having a significant positive impact on his tremors. Nicotine is known to be beneficial for Parkinsons.

I don't think 24mg is a crazy insane level and you'll know if you're overdoing it. The latest scientific research I saw was 5 minutes of smoking raised cotinine levels more than constant vaping 18mg for an hour (as I recall the quote).

 

[Stosh]

I don't think 24mg is a crazy insane level and you'll know if you're overdoing it. The latest scientific research I saw was 5 minutes of smoking raised cotinine levels more than constant vaping 18mg for an hour (as I recall the quote).

Nicotine absorption from electronic cigarette use: comparison between first and new-generation devices : Scientific Reports : Nature Publishing Group

 

[Rickajho]

I don't think 24mg is a crazy insane level and you'll know if you're overdoing it. The latest scientific research I saw was 5 minutes of smoking raised cotinine levels more than constant vaping 18mg for an hour (as I recall the quote).

I know. (Sarcasm, sarcasm...) But even we have moral crusaders in our midst that have barely quit smoking and jump right on that "bad person, monkey on my back" crusade and want to drop to 0 nic in a matter of weeks. I needed 24 and 30 mg to quit. All this time later? It's not as if I'm feeling any effects vaping at that level. But I'm not into blowing sub ohm clouds so big they can impact local weather patterns either.

 

[Vocalek]

Here's what kills me. I asked about chantix once. But because I'm on Celexa (an antidepressant) for my anxiety, I was told I can't be on Chantix. My husband had to take Chantix classes because he was going to use it. They specifically said you cannot be on any other antidressant/anti anxiety medication with Chantix (He never got his, because he was too busy doing his job to get the pills picked up before his little card expired. We're trying to make vaping his habit now). But if these are conditions for taking it WHY would the pair it with another anti-depressant?

I took Wellbutrin once to try and quit. it made cigarettes taste awful, but that's about it. And as a side effect made me a complete witch to everyone around me. Putting it with a drug that isn't supposed to be mixed with MAOI's and mixing it with an MAOI?? Really???

Wellbutrin (bupropion) is not an MAOI. It falls under the category of "other types." Here is information on the classifications of antidepressants. List of Antidepressants ? List of Medications for Depression - HealthyPlace

MAOIs may be the most problematic of the classifications because special dietary restrictions must be followed. On the other hand, the original types, called tricyclic, have a tendency to be sedating--which was the last thing I needed when attempting to withdraw from a stimulant.

Many symptoms that are coincidental with using a drug are assumed to be a drug side effect, but not all are true side effects. Sometimes they occur because the medication isn't working the way it should to prevent those symptoms. For example, many of the "side effects" noted for all of the smoking-cessation medications are actually effects of withdrawal from nicotine. These symptoms can and do occur even when no medication at all is involved (e.g., cold turkey). They include depression, irritability, anxiety, increased/decreased appetite, increased/decreased sleeping, constipation or ........, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, headache, and nausea.

It should be noted that there is no "ideal" antidepressant. What works well for some works very poorly for others.

 

[Rickajho]

Nicotine absorption from electronic cigarette use: comparison between first and new-generation devices : Scientific Reports : Nature Publishing Group

Thanks Stosh. I didn't even catch that that report had become available.

 

[Anjaffm]

But even we have moral crusaders in our midst that have barely quit smoking and jump right on that "bad person, monkey on my back" crusade and want to drop to 0 nic in a matter of weeks.

Never mind those.
They will be smoking tobacco again in no time.
In my home forum, this has happened again and again. Any new vaper who persistently ignored the advice of experienced vapers and tried to drop their nic level too fast - they all disappeared from the forum within a few weeks.
Some of them had the courage to return, after a few months or even a year, and to say "You were right. I dropped my nic content too fast. I realize now that nicotine is not the enemy. I will give it another try."

But most of those people who loudly claimed "I smoked for 35 years. Now I have switched to vaping and now I will drop my nic level to 0 within 3 weeks! I know better than all of you!" .. they disappeared after a few weeks. Never to be seen on the vaping forum again.

And... if they had really made it... would you not think that they would have returned to gloat?

Naaww... never mind those who have just started vaping and already "know everything better". Either they listen to experienced vapers - or they will fail and never make the transition vaping. Most of those will smoke again within a few weeks. And they have nobody but themselves to blame.

Just remember: You smoke for the nicotine. You die from the tar.

 

[Rickajho]

It should be noted that there is no "ideal" antidepressant. What works well for some works very poorly for others.

It should also be noted that approximately 17% of the population does not respond to them at all.

 

[olderthandirt]

he-he
Use Welbutrin meself. And also refer to em' as my happy pills.
Took that along with vaping to curb my snus, snuff and pipe habits.

But.

Used in combination with Chantrix? Just wow.

This has been a funny thread to read through. Tragically so!
"Hi. We're from the government and we're here to help".........

 

[Anjaffm]

It should also be noted that approximately 17% of the population does not respond to them at all.

count me in.
Instead of taking "serotonine reuptake inhibitors" (SSRI - like Zoloft) I might as well have swallowed breath mints.
That stuff is not all it is made out to be.
(And yes, most people do have episodes in their lives where they need a little ... something... to continue functioning.)

 

[Uma]

Has anyone seen the Chantix ad featuring the police officer? Having recently read that pilots and air traffic controllers are prohibited from using Chantix because of its side effects (physical and emotional), I cringe at the thought that my law enforcement people may be on Chantix...

Maybe this is what's causing the horrible cops headlines these past few years. I sincerely wouldn't doubt it.

My doc gave me Paxil, and while it was nice in some ways, I didn't like the way I could care less if the house burnt down around me. I also slept round the clock in 3 day stints. Even so, it never mellowed my desire for a cigarette. Needless to say, I stopped taking it. Later, they had a big recall or lawsuit or something with them. They might be better now, I don't know. I don't care to know either. I've found the eCig works great and when I start falling off the wagon, I just buy a new mod or atty instead of a pack of smokes. .
I do smoke when severely stressed though, (family crisis) but not the entire cig, just puffs. It tastes awful, but it's an old security blanket I guess, to light up and put it out. Weird, I know.

 

[jwoode]

Had I stayed on Chantix.. I would have wound up facing down a swat team.

 

[Devonmoonshire]

Hi Uma

Saw you posted here so I figure I better give my Chantix story as well:

I tried to quite smoking in 1998 and I was prescribed Chantix to do so. After about two weeks I started feeling very edgy and quit irritable. At the three week mark I got enraged at one of my Sailors and put my fist through, (yes straight through), a cinder block wall in a fit of rage not only destroying the cinder block wall but my hand in the process. To this day I still have a lot of pain in that hand and it will never go away and will most likely get worse.

Now on to the good part:

Lets take this to a chemical level shall we. What exactly IS Chantix, Wellbutrin, Zyban all these things they prescribe for stopping smoking??

They are Chemical concoctions developed to correct a chemical neural imbalance in the human brain. So When you take a drug designed to alter the neural/chemical makeup of the brain and balance it when there is no imbalance in the first place,(aka a NORMAL BRAIN), what happens?? The drugs have to affect something therefore they are most likely CAUSING an imbalance in an otherwise normal brain.

So, given the choice of taking a leap of faith and using less studied methods such as vaping and taking drugs which have been PROVEN to cause Death in a variety of unpleasant ways such as heart attack, stroke and suicide to name a few. I will take vaping any day of the week and TWICE ON SUNDAYS!


Thanks for listening to me babble
Much Love and keep on Vaping folks
Sincerely;
Nate

 

[RosaJ]

There is absolutely no mortality involved with Chantix, just successful long term quit success.

That they will quickly blame the death on smoking. It's a win-win for somebody other than the dead person...