So I started Chantix 5 days ago and I'm still smoking. I think I misunderstood what the drug was about. I thought that I would stop enjoying the taste of cigarettes like I did when I took Zyban. But now I'm starting to realize that maybe it just makes the quitting easier? My cigarettes still taste fine to me. Which is it? Am I supposed to lose the taste for a cigarette or am I just not going to freak out as much when I quit? Thanks in advance folks.
Chantix - Why do I still want to smoke?
Question posted by Anonymous on 22 June 2014
Last updated on 29 January 2018 by Pops12345
8 Answers
Pops12345
29 Jan 2018
Because you Really don't want to Quit..
dbehre
18 Nov 2017
Pick a quit date and stuck to it. It takes about 7 days to get fully into your system. You will keep smoking if you want to keep smoking probably die from it with an oxygen tank. The pill won’t whack you on the head. The trick to this is to pick quit date you are completely ready to commit to taking care of yourself and your family for the rest of your life. I am confident that if you just go one whole day with not one cigarette, they will start to smell bad, and you will notice the smell in areas you used to smoke. Your coats will smell like tobacco, when you walk by those poor saps that go outside every hour to smoke at work and lose so much productivity it will smell awful, and when those same people walk back to their desk you will smell them from across the room. When you talk to a friend that still smokes and just had one you will definitely know.
If anyone out there smokes and doesn’t think non-smoking co-workers, other kids sports parents, church, EVERYBODY doesn’t know you smoke your wrong they know. Maybe you don’t care what THEY think but the point is if you can just go one day with no cigarettes at all, you’ll be really proud of the accomplishment for one, and you WILL start to notice the strong unpleasant smell. That is how Chantix works. Your probably not even really craving right now but it is part of you that YOU need to stop NOT Chantix. Get a calendar, put a huge red VICTORY X through the prior day you did NOT smoke first thing every morning. Do that for the rest of your life.
Missygrl30
14 Sep 2017
I just started chantix myself and I haven't felt a difference either, it's only been 3 weeks. I read that around the 12th week is when you will start seeing a change.
ribpain
29 Oct 2014
I have tried Chantix also after several years of smoking. The medication was very helpful in helping me cut back greatly. However, I found the side effects to be so extreme. I stopped taking the medication and have not tried cessation products again. I have a friend who was able to quit with Chantix and had not smoked for several years. She did suffer for a long time from cravings for a smoke.
Inactive
29 Oct 2014
Hi everyone. Thanks for the words of encouragement. I must admit I misunderstood what Chantix would do for me from the beginning. I thought it would make me not want to smoke. I was wrong. Let me tell you my experience:
I took it for several weeks before I tried to quit. I became more and more irritable everyday. I literally got to the point where I wanted to rip everyone's face off. Now, I've quit smoking a zillion times using other methods and even cold turkey didn't make me as angry as I was with Chantix. On top of everything else, I couldn't go poo which may have made me even more irritable... who knows? (yes I'm totally serious).
In addition, Chantix definitely made me gain some weight. I was eating very well, but I couldn't lose a single pound. I eventually had to stop using the Chantix because I felt as though I would get fired from my job for saying the wrong thing to the wrong person... plus it was a particularly busy time for me. Once I stopped the Chantix, I was able to lose weight and I most definitely calmed down. The anger subsided.
The two benefits to Chantix was that I slept better than I had in years and it definitely made it easier to "not smoke." Funny how I didn't mind not smoking, but I wanted to murder everyone I saw because of the pills (not literally).
So a couple months later, I decide to tackle quitting again. I did use the Chanitx sparingly. I started taking the lowest dosage the day before I quit and once a day for a week just to take the edge off. Then I stopped it completely. It helped with the first week and the rest is on me. I'm 3 weeks cigarette free and I'm very determined to keep this going.
Unfortunately for me... though the Chantix does work, I could not tolerate all the irritability, anger, and poop-less days. Hopefully this will work out this time. I'm really optimistic about it.
Good luck to all!
Trinabell
24 Oct 2014
Hi Kubert. 5 days in isn't very far in yet even tho it is a fantastic start! Congrats for starting the quitting process!! With Chantix depending on the Dr & their opinion on how long they tell the patient they can smoke. The recommended stop date varies from 5 days to 21 days after starting the Chantix. What you have to understand about chantix is its not a fairies wish granted that'll just make you quit. It is a tool that will help you quit. Your gonna have some cravings to smoke & its up to you to find the will power, self control & distraction to keep you from giving in to that urge. Right now tho you havent been on chantix long enough for it to be fully working. It'll ease the craving a little more. Stay strong. You can do this!
DzooBaby
23 June 2014
There is nothing that will "magically" stop you from smoking! You have to make an effort. With Chantix, you should pick a date (usually within a week of starting the medication) as a "quit date". The Chantix should help you have less cravings. It doesnt work for everyone and it wont do it without effort on your part.
Inactive
27 June 2014
Thanks... I had taken Zyban years ago and I eventually just didn't want or like to smoke. I was kind of imagining the same thing with chantix, but I understand how it works now. Definitely makes it easier to stop smoking. I haven't quit completely yet... I'm tapering off. But the urges aren't nearly as strong so it seems to be working. I hope to quit by the weekend. Thanks!
pahalady
28 Sep 2014
I am on Chantix right now as well. I have spoken with many friends who all said something different about quitting.. One friend said he didn't actually stop smoking until 11 weeks on Chantix, another said she took it for 8 months because every time she stopped taking Chantix she would start smoking again. I have been taking it for 5 weeks now and I am still smoking but I have noticed that I am not thinking about smoking as much, maybe because I am suffering through the side effects lol I was told Chantix will not make cigarettes taste any different, just acts as a "medicinal hypnosis" so to speak to wean you off craving cigarettes.. I'm trying to hang n there but the side effects are killing me! Good luck to you xxoo
Pops12345
29 Jan 2018
You got a Want to Quit.. or don't even try..Yes you have to give it some effort...
kaismama
22 June 2014
Its supposed to decrease the craving for a cigarette. They say you can smoke the first week.
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