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• August 31, 2009 7:32 a.m.

  I have been smoking and then became addicted to Nicorette gum about 8 years ago. Nicorette is not a soft gum and my teeth started to chip and move. I still smoked 5 cigs a day during all this eight years. I put myself in a motel room two days ago to quit and got off the gum and am down to a couple puffs off of 3-5 cigs a day. My legs have been aching and I took some Percocet which really helped and didn't add to any smoking urge. I am reading every one of your posts. Mark.

  - Mark

• August 25, 2009 6:17 p.m.

  HELP ME!!! I now want to quit, I realize it has been a life style, for the last four years one of BOREDOM. Purchased Lobelia yesterday as an aid to 'kick' the habit. Chantix does not seem to get positive reviews. Have tried the patch, Ziban still smoking. I hate it!!

  - Carol Lee

• August 6, 2009 9:51 a.m.

  Hi, I quit smoking 3 and 1/2 days ago. I started on Wellbutrin 2 weeks ago and finally I woke up. But on this subject, the weight gain is not happening yet, because in the same day, I started walking and started the South Beach diet and have lost 3 lbs. Now, this may not last, but I will never give up. I feel for me smoking, coffee, diet Coke and no-no foods all went together. If you going to change, you might as well work hard and do it all at once.

  - Mary

• July 24, 2009 9:53 a.m.

  I've seen the struggles of addiction on a daily basis. My husband has been a smoker since college and he really wants to quit now that we are starting a family. Not just everyday but every minute/ hour he needs to have the willpower to say no. While he has been going through all of this I've been researching quitting techniques. I stumbled across a website with anti-smoking commercials that might help motivate some of you or you may find them of interest as you are going through the same struggle. http://www.psastation.com/anti-smoking-psas I think this is a great blog to share ideas and I wish all of you the best of luck.

  - Hillary

• July 7, 2009 6:31 p.m.

  Mike, Nicorettes are virtually the same as smoking as they are just as habit forming as cigarettes. The idea is to use less and less of them and then quit altogether. I tried them and then went back smoking. See your doctor as there are some tablets that will allow you to just quit altogether.

  - Jiml

• May 29, 2009 9:59 a.m.

  This is a great blog. I encourage everybody to check out Corporate Accountability International's website http://stopcorporateabuse.org/category/sitecategories/tobacco . They are waging one of the biggest and most successful campaigns to date, so join up!

  - No name given

• May 29, 2009 9:58 a.m.

  This is a great blog. I encourage everybody to check out Corporate Accountability International's website http://stopcorporateabuse.org/category/sitecategories/tobacco. They are waging one of the biggest and most successful campaigns to date, so join up!

  - Jeremy

• May 4, 2009 10:09 p.m.

  First off, Suzi.. That is not your best friend.. that best friend wants to kill you.. enough preaching. I stopped smoking NYE 24 years ago after my son was born in Dec.. I rolled into town, rolled down my window, threw out almost a full pack, took one last hit off the one I had lit, threw it out and the rest they say is history.. I drove truck over the road for 16 years.. if you've driven any distance at all you know there is not a whole lot to do.. You can only pick your nose for so long, ya know? I smoked since I was 12.. when I quit I was smoking 4 packs of KOOLs a day.. hey, if your screw yourself up, do it right. The day I quit, Nebr. (where I'm from) was playing LSU in the Sugar Bowl.. (you talk about a test).. Ya really can't watch college football without having a beer or two.. and with a beer comes a smoke.. OR SO I THOUGHT.. Anyway, THIS WORKED FOR ME.. and I must point out I REALLY enjoyed smoking.. To satisfy my need for my hand to do something.. ya carry a Bic "stick" pen, same size as a cig.. and ya chew gum when you drink.. it helps cover the taste.. I used Clorettes(sp.?).. Had I started drinking BEFORE I started smoking, I would of never started drinking.. nasty.. I now own a Resturant/Bar.. it's been smoke free for over 2 years.. and I love it.. To everyone out there who want to quit.. IT TRULY IS NOT THAT HARD, but you really have to want it. Look at me.. Smoked over 20 yrs, drove truck, have 4 kids...STRESS, STRESS, STRESS..I DID IT !!!!! GOOD

  - Rick

• April 26, 2009 5:14 a.m.

  HI - my wife and I quit smoking 10 years ago - thank goodness! I was able ot use a 12 step program for support as I have other addictions, this worked well for me - my wife uses nicorette. I am wondering if there are any side effects to long term use of the gum? She chews maybe 10 pieces a day - wondering if there is any info or experience out there as i can't find anything specific on line. Thanks

  - Mike

• April 11, 2009 9:55 p.m.

  Hello, My husband and I are 54 Years old. We quit smoking 2 years ago. My husband had double pneumonia and I just knew I had to quit. He had the PATCH in the hospital. I Had only dum dum suckers......... We both were 3 pack a day smokers. Now we are smoke free and so happy we STOPPED.... If I can stop I know that anyone can.

  - Rose

• March 24, 2009 9:56 a.m.

  Suzi, Thank you for the comment - I am using a prescription patch with no side effects, believe it might have been the brand. Hang in there, I'm on day 16 and it is getting a little easier -

  - Nicole

• March 16, 2009 2:49 a.m.

  I always interested and happy with the good things to share together. but I more interested in the people who dare to opt out of bad habits. thank you for all and do not forget to visit: http://1quitsmoking.we.bs

  - Adhy

• March 13, 2009 10:12 a.m.

  It has been only 5 days today that i gave up my best friend. I realize that it is a silly thing but, it is a very intense, journey.Anyone else having a very hard time?

  - Suzi

• March 13, 2009 9:59 a.m.

  Nicole, i think you may be getting too much nicot, from your patch , that could be the reason for the nausea

  - Suzi

• March 11, 2009 12:02 p.m.

  I have a question - I have been smoking for 15 years, a pack a day. I quit 3 days ago and am using the patch. I am extremely dizzy, sick to my stomach and tired. It is not getting better, almost worse. Is this normal? If so does it go away? Or should I be concerned? I've tried without the patch and still feel the same symptoms.

  - Nicole

• February 11, 2009 8:25 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. Going along with mental illnesses, Dani drank and did drugs, finally she hit rock bottom. On March 11, 2008, my husband (Danielle's stepfather) and I drove from Kansas to West Virginia and picked her up to bring her home. She had agreed to our rules, which really were not many - having a saving account, learning to cook and shop for the best buys, house hold chores, etc. I had set up for her to receive mental health treatment in Topeka. KS 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 Danielle was doing really well, doing chores, playing with our pets, taking vitamins, was clean and sober. Then she wanted to quit smoking - one of the ARPN's wrote not one but two prescriptions for Chantix, one was a starter 0.5 and 1.0 mg and the other was all 1.0 mg. The first box(starter pak) has two (2) full cards

  - Childless Mother

• February 11, 2009 10:38 a.m.

  I quit smoking seven months ago after 43 years of smoking. I used the nicotrol inhaler and found it to be very effective. Well I'm still hooked on the inhaler but I got rid of the smoke and tar and most of the ongoing lung damage. I can stay off smokes with the inhaler but it is expensive. I considered Chantix but I would suggest reading some of the horror stories about that before trying . Just google it and start reading especially the difficulty in stopping Chantix and the suicidal behavior. My doctor knew nothing of this and it is another situation where big pharma is pushing their billion dollar profit goals at the expense of the patient (consumer) I have COPD and asthma from smoking. Quitting isn't all that difficult if you do nicotine replacement. You have to want to quit. The inhaler mimics so much of the smoking activity it really does work. You have to get used to the taste. I find it to cost about the same as smoking. Note to Jennifer- You seem to be very well versed on this subject, I'm wondering if you have ever been a smoker ?

  - Eric J.

• February 7, 2009 12:08 a.m.

  Well, it is the night after Day One with my husband. I finally convinsed his that I can't succeed with him having cigarettes around me. One of the things I miss the most is the company of my daughter, who is a heavy smoker. We used to smoke together and talk. This is like changing your whole life! Becky

  - Becky

• February 6, 2009 4:56 p.m.

  I quit "cold turkey" going on 2 weeks ago now. Have had several close calls where I really just about gave in but managed to make it through. When a craving got really bad I would repeat over and over to myself " with God all things are possible" . Haven't really had a craving for a few days now. My advise is to hang in there once you say its your last cigerette. Make it your last. Be in controll.

  - barb

• February 6, 2009 11:59 a.m.

  what gets me is that i have had many doctors tell me it is easy to quit. i keep telling them it is harder than it looks.

  - corey

• February 3, 2009 11:37 p.m.

  Just want to comment on Champix. I too am on this to stop smoking as I have now had four close friends quit for over a year now and they all did it with Champix. None of them had to take the full 12 week course, however the one who smoked the longest (34 years) and the most (1 pack per day) stayed on it the longest at 8 1/2 wks. They all said youll know when you're ready to stop but tobe careful not to stop too early as this could cause a relapse. I quit before my quit date as I no longer was getting any pleasure from smoking, however I still do miss it at certain times and have had to relearn how to do things without a cigarette. The support I receive from my children and friends makes it all worth it though and I am very determined to join my friends as a non smoker. Good luck to all.

  - annette

• February 1, 2009 2:42 a.m.

  I just had a cigarette while I comtemplated what I wanted to say here. Mine is a very long story so I will try to condense as much as possible. On Dec. 30th, 2008 I had my 16th serious surgery on my left knee. My last four surgeries have been at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN to try and help me walk again. I am the fifth person ever to have this state-of-the-art knee surgery. For the 10 years of attempts to correct the injury to my knee...I have smoked - sometimes as much as 2 pks. a day. To date, all my surgeries have failed. THEN - 5 days ago I learned that the odds of a smoker to have success are as extreme as a 90 percent FAILURE rate! On the other hand, the odds of a non-smoker's success is a 90 percent success rate!!!! This knowledge is a slap in the face and makes me want to throw up. My family all smokes and I know I can't quit if they are around me....especially my husband. He has agreed to quit with me as soon as we finish the last few packs. That will happen in a few days. I have decided to participate in Mayo's smoking cessation program to help me because I can't do this on my own. My husband acts like this is no big deal and won't even try to get help. I am terrified his attitude spells failure for us both even tho' we would pay any amount of money to heal me. For the first time I feel like my life will never be safe from the clutch of nicotine and its deadly effects. Please pray for me that I can get my life back.

  - Becky B

• January 30, 2009 3:48 p.m.

  I recently saw a comment on lobeline and its potental for reducing nicotine cravings. Are you aware of lobeline's mechanism of action on nAChr subsets a4b2? Before you make comments you should do a review literature.

  - John Bancroft

• January 18, 2009 2:27 p.m.

  Dear Wanda...well I am just giving you my personal experience with depression. First let me say that today is my first day of quitting smoking, and I came to this blog for support with my very strong cravings I am experiencing. I really want to be healthy, but the problem is that I want to smoke too. GRRRR!!! Why can't life be easy? LOL! Well Wanda, I went through a time in my life when I was depressed all the time and just didn't know what was wrong with me. I was prescribed a very mild antidepressant called Lexapro. It never made me feel drugged up, or not myself. It just simply made me happier and made me feel like I could deal with anything with my head held high. I would recommend this drug, it has helped me several times. I remember feeling quite anxious though during the first week. Another thing I wanted to add is about what I learned in my biology college course last semester....is that one of the worst things a person can do if they feel depressed is to just sit or lay down and do nothing. Movement and activity release important hormones in your body that counter react with depression. Something like that LOL. Good luck, and say a prayer for my struggle with not smoking!

  - Beth

• January 14, 2009 8:28 p.m.

  I guess I am a weird smoker. I did not smoke in my vehicle, hated to smoke in an enclosed space, and have not smoked in my home since the birth of my daughter 13 years ago - but I still managed to smoke 1.5 - 2 packs a day. I decided to quit smoking a few months ago (I recently celebrated my 45th. birthday and realized I was somewhat beyond my rebellious years) and decided that my quit date would be the start of the new year. I discussed this quit date and my options with my physcian. Like all smokers that "enjoyed" smoking, but knew they needed to quit, I was looking for the easy way out, to not take responsibility. My physcian recommended Chantix and wrote a script for me. Concerned with the horror stories of depression, dreams, suicidal thoughts, and eventual weaning off of it, I decided to bypass that drug. My way of thinking, in my nicotine induced haze, was why would I substitute one drug for another. I decided at that point that I would go cold turkey. I did not want to trade one dependancy for another. At some point I was going to have to be free of the addiction, so I went cold turkey at 12am on 01/01/09. That was two weeks and 500 cigarettes ago. Not to sound like a cliche' but I guess it was "my time to quit." The withdrawals have not been too bad - I just walk more than I did before. My wife and I try to walk every day before work, I try to add another in the afternoon. I have the support of a great family and are grateful for them. Good luck t

  - Mark