Chantix and cigars

[N2Advnture]

Originally Posted by jonumberone

In an effort to be healthier and not require oxygen while chasing down the ice cream truck, I have decided to try to kick cigarettes, with the aid of the drug Chantix. I have been told the drug makes the cigarettes taste so bad you don't want to smoke. My question is will this drug have the same effect on my cigars? Does anyone have any experience with this?

Thanks

I tried Chanitx and it didn't make cigarettes taste different but it did make me not want to smoke them.

With that said, I would advise those close to you to monitor your personality as mine changed greatly without me knowing it and based on my experience would not recommend it at all.

Go cold turkey bro

[mash]

I agree that you need to be careful. There is now a black box warning for this drug regarding mood changes. I have had patients get significantly depressed on it.
I would look into other options.

[N2Advnture]

Originally Posted by mash

I agree that you need to be careful. There is now a black box warning for this drug regarding mood changes. I have had patients get significantly depressed on it.

I would look into other options.

Interesting. I believe I became a little depressed (I never had an issue with depression before) but the most noticeable and adverse affect that I had (completely without being aware of it) was the development of an extremely short temper that lasted well after stopping the medication.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am laid back so it was completely out of character for me.

Dangerous stuff IMHO.

[jkim05]

Originally Posted by N2Advnture

Interesting. I believe I became a little depressed (I never had an issue with depression before) but the most noticeable and adverse affect that I had (completely without being aware of it) was the development of an extremely short temper that lasted well after stopping the medication.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am laid back so it was completely out of character for me.

Dangerous stuff IMHO.

Depression can present itself in a variety of ways and one major symptom is irritability or shortened temper. Some people feel down when they get depressed, others just get pissed about everything, it just depends on the person. As for chantix, it really depends on the person, but just like any drug, you want to carefully monitor for any side effects, especially when they are as well documented as with this one.

Originally Posted by N2Advnture

the most noticeable and adverse affect that I had (completely without being aware of it) was the development of an extremely short temper that lasted well after stopping the medication.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am laid back so it was completely out of character for me.

That was what I got from it. Tried it about 2 1/2 years ago right after it came out on the public market. I'm normally extremely laid back and relaxed, and my wife said I turned into a real asshole while I was on it. A quick temper and just really fast with mean comments. Nothing seemed different to me though. I still don't think there was anything different from my perspective. After she told me to stop taking it, she said it took me 3 or 4 more weeks to get back to normal.

The coolest side effect was the vivid dreams. I normally don't remember what I dream about. I might remember 1 dream every 6 months or so. On Chantix I remembered dreaming every night, and really vivid like they were actually happening. That was a nice change for the few weeks I was on it.

[jonumberone]

Originally Posted by N2Advnture

I tried Chanitx and it didn't make cigarettes taste different but it did make me not want to smoke them.

Originally Posted by Dark Jester

That was what I got from it. Tried it about 2 1/2 years ago right after it came out on the public market. I'm normally extremely laid back and relaxed, and my wife said I turned into a real asshole while I was on it. A quick temper and just really fast with mean comments. Nothing seemed different to me though. I still don't think there was anything different from my perspective. After she told me to stop taking it, she said it took me 3 or 4 more weeks to get back to normal.

Did either of you find that the drug lessened your cigar smoking experience?

Originally Posted by jonumberone

Did either of you find that the drug lessened your cigar smoking experience?

At the time I took chantix, I hadn't started cigars yet. It changed the flavor of the cigarettes a little for me. Made them taste more dry, or almost stale. Hard to explain.

[JJG]

The nicoderm patch worked fine for me, no adverse side-effects. However, I did not smoke cigars while quitting cigarettes. I would recommend if you REALLY want to quit, that you abstain from cigars as well for at least a few weeks after stopping any sort of nicotine replacement to make sure you no longer have any cravings.

Originally Posted by N2Advnture

Go cold turkey bro

I'd have to agree here. 95% of the ex-smokers I know, that lasted more than a month and are still off of cigarettes, did it cold turkey.

You just need something to get you through that first 72 hours, and I'd suggest no cigars or cigarettes during that time period. Any new nicotine in the system will just prolong the withdraw symptoms. I'd probably recommend leaving the cigars for a full week, just to keep the body from getting confused.

For me the cure Cranberry juice and (*cough*Pot*cough*). I rarely smoke MJ, but it worked to keep my mind distracted from the lack of nicotine. I took a few days off from work and just stayed stoned off my ass the whole time. Only thing I drank for that 3 days was cranberry juice to detox.

After 3 days, the nicotine is out of the system fully, and everything else is just the behavioral triggers that ya need to work on. Like smoking while driving, or right after a meal. That's a really long process, but there is no physical addiction anymore. I've seen guys that haven't smoked for 15 years still reach for their shirt pocket after a meal.