Since I have had alot of pulmonary function problems lately, I am gonna try to quit or majorly cut back smoking cigarettes. I got my doc to write me a script for Chantix. Has anyone out there tried it? I have tried the patch & the gum before with no help at all. Doc said Chantix has a 40% success rate over a 3 month period. That didnt sound very good to me. But, she said that is huge. I am also gonna take a 4 night class that is spread out over a month. Hopefully this works. I really enjoy smoking though. If I am drinking alcohol or after a big meal, i always smoke. Smoking is also a big source of stress management for me. This is going to be a very difficult thing, but I have to at least give it a real try. I smoke about a pack a day, give or take. Most of my friends smoke too, so I will be around it alot. I have had several docs warn me that if I ever try to quit smoking, I need to do it slowly or it will cause the RSD to flare really bad. I am starting Chantix tonight, but doc says I have to take it for a week before I start backing off, not sure why. Wish me luck!!

I wish you lots of luck and it did work for me but that was over two years ago, before my RSD became severe. Honestly, quitting is very stressful, even with the Chantix. Do be very careful not to try to take the pills near bedtime. The nightmares can be horrendous.

I do hope you cleared taking it with your RSD doctor and not just a GP.

I was a 3 pack a day smoke for 23 years. My wake up call came when me cervical fusion didn't fuse and I had other health problems all of which were likely made much worse by smoking. I was in the restaurant business all my life before RSD hit so believe me, I know how hard it is to quit when everyone around you is smoking.

I can also promise you that if you make it through the first few months, it's amazing how little you really ever crave it or think about it again. In two years, I've had a strong craving less then ten times and each time, it passed within 5 minutes.

I aactually only even took the Chantix for 6 wks, at that point, I was ready just to stop which I did. Ask your pharmacist if you can buy it in the smaller packs instead of the full kit at once. My pharmacist recommended this and I was so glad I listened or it would have been an awful waste of money.

Please do read the info in the Chantix brochure, it will explain why you are supposed to continue smoking during the initial period, there is very good reason for it. Also, not normally like me to do but I did make use of their telephone support system, website and daily emails and strongly recommend it.

I really think if you truly want to quit, as long as this is approved by your RSD Dr. ( I read other posts indicating you were flareing so please be careful) you really can do it. Just set your mind to it and consider getting through each day without a cigarette like getting through a really painful day of RSD. You've done that everytime and trust me, it's a hell of a lot harder.

Please PM me if you have any questions. I am flareing badly and just got back from the ER so maybe a little slow to reply but promise I will.

You can Do IT!
Dawn

Hi, I'm new to these boards but thought I'd share what worked for me. I was a pack or more a day smoker for 30 years but with all the health issues from these past few years I knew I needed to quit. Originally my doc wanted me to try Chantix but I wasn't ready to try quitting then. After this past year when I mentally got to where I thought I could try quitting, I asked the doc what he thought would help and he felt Chantix wasn't right for me now due to so much going on and depression. He prescribed a Nicotrol Inhaler which has worked for me. It gives me something to puff on (although it is much like puffing on an empty straw, there isn't any real taste to it) and it helps me through the nicotine urge. I still have to put some willpower with it. It's been three months now and I rarely use the inhaler except for those times stress makes me tempted to give in. I do still have the occasional urge but it has been easier to quite than I expected.

My SIL quit with Chantix a few years ago.

I wish you luck FG. I'm just not ready to do it yet.

I just found out about e-cigarettes on Oct.13th and havent had a "real" cig since-Check it out-Carol