smoking / PW

[ProteusMR2]

I wasn't sure where to put this but after checking out a few threads i think it belongs here.

I have been smoking for about a year now and recently quit for about 6 weeks... then started again. during those 6 weeks i experienced some weird things that i just attributed to quitting smoking but i think it might also tie into PW. I experienced rage and random twitches or jerks. also, during those 6 weeks i didn't use any quitting aids like the patch or the gum. I want to quit .... again.... but actually do it for good this time. i have two concerns: 1) if quitting with no aids brings back PW symptoms should i wait until its been a full year sinc ei have been off the stuff? and 2). will an aid help prevent flare ups of PW symptoms? I am also concerned about my weight since im about 30 pounds heavier than i was when i started paxil.

any suggestions/tips/concerns?

[safarigal]

I had been off Paxil almost 2 years when I attempted to quit smoking. I experienced terrible symptoms from quitting even while using a nicotine patch. These symptoms included: anger, depression, restlessness, brain fog, and nervousness. They were all symptoms of nicotine withdrawal.

Do a search on the effects of quitting smoking, there are plenty of great websites out there.

You've been smoking a short time. Do yourself a favour and quit now.

[Delynbetter]

Another "drug" that I believe in tapering off of. Don't get me wrong. I haven't been able to do it yet, but even just cutting down one cigarette a day or every couple of days isn't too bad. Unfortunately, I can never seem to get past less than 3 per day - then someone/something pisses me off and I'm back to 1/2 pak/day. But I have faith that someday it will happen.

Someone send me Ricky Martin in a big, red ribbon and I'll quit as soon as he gets here! (Just a quest for a little motivation. )

[ProteusMR2]

well i got some patches this morning and im gonna use those. I will see what happens. my only concern thus far is after i put one on i basically felt high as a kite. I think im going to stay on the patch until i have the time and means to go cold turkey from tobacco all together.

The easiest day to quit smoking is today.

[mach3939]

ProteusMR2, I too smoke and have for years. I was told not to try to quit while I was going thru Paxil withdrawal. Good Luck

Motdelyhwell, I agree with you that smoking is something that you need to quit like you started one cigarette at a time! One day I look forward to being a quitter.

This is a U of M study on the brain chemicals and smoking.
http://www.webmd.com/content/article/96/103554.htm
Oct. 27, 2004 -- Just like heroin and morphine, smoking cigarettes triggers the release of addictive "feel-good" brain chemicals, new research shows.

I have also read that Women have a harder time than Men? My mom and sister-in-law have tried everything except acupuncture. I just warned my sister-in-law about SSRI's because she got a prescription of Welburtin from her DR. to try to quit smoking.

Debbie
mach3939@netzero.net

[elisa]

I tried accupuncture to stop smoking once (one session). After that, these ciggies REALLY tasted AWEFUL for a week. Too bad that I thought the bad taste would last for a liftime and therefore didn't quit.

I would love to quit some day and certainly will try accupuncture again combined with a real effort to quit.

BTW: have been a smoker for 46 years.....

[Buxy`s Back]

me too guys would love to stop think my longest has been 2 hours without and during withdrawal i smoke ridiculous amounts,agree with delyn like anything slowly surely has to be the best way.Im gonna try when i feel withdrawal is almost gone but am going to cut down over months i think and get out the habits of,one fag after meals,one fag and then i,lll !!,one fag and then i,ll !!! im sure if we could break the habit eventually our bodies will accept that its no longer gettin nicotine,good luck all that attempts it and elisa wow thats a long time i thought i was a long time at 22 years,but hey if we can kick seroxat surely we can do this in time too

[Shellshock]

I too would love to stop smoking after doing it for 16 years, but just could not handle another withdrawal fight at the moment. I have discussed quitting with quite a few people who have all said that attempting this would not be a good idea whilst withdrawing, so i'm gonna give it a few more Months, hopefully give it ago in the Spring next year, as by then I will be 18 Months free of meds and SHOULD be free of all symptoms (Here's hoping eh?)

Good luck to everyone with this one, like Jo says if we can all survive this very difficult withdrawal, quitting smoking should be easy.

Shellshock

[elisa]

Yea, I figure if we can beat these psychotropic drugs, we can beat anything, even smoking.

I've thought about quitting next year... two at the time would have been too much and setting myself up for failure.

Mind you, I quite twice, once for 9 months, another for 3 with another smoker in the house and it didn't even bother me.... the smoke....YES. But then, I'm allergic to smoke to begin with.... as per an allergy test done decades ago.

[ProteusMR2]

this is the end of day two with no smoking. I forgot to put a patch on this morning but that wasn't much of an issue. I had lots to do today, including resigning from my job for reasons not related to smoking or withdrawl..... the reason i quit has to do more with legal matters.

but i haven't smoked in two days and i have no real desire to smoke.

[elisa]

GREAT Proteus!!

[mach3939]

Great! I wish you luck. The more quitters I know about the easier it will be for me when I quit!
Hang in there!
Debbie
mach3939@netzero.net

[ProteusMR2]

Originally Posted by mach3939

Great! I wish you luck. The more quitters I know about the easier it will be for me when I quit!
Hang in there!
Debbie
mach3939@netzero.net

i have actualy tried quitting with much less success many times. each time it gets easier. at first iw ould make like 9 hours with out a cigarette. then the next time i quit i would make it a day, then two and so on. but having motivation helps.

while meditating a few days ago i came to the conclusion that even though im single and i probably haven't met the girl im going to spend the rest of my life with, smoking now is still disrespectful to her. I don't know her now, i don't love her now and i most certainly don't know her name. but one day i will. so i quit out of love for someone i don't even know yet.

[zappelina]

Well done, Proteus! You haven´t been smoking for long and if you can quit now it will be easier than in a few years from now. I have smoked for 35 years and although I would love to be able to quit I could never do it while having this bad withdrawal, it´s the only thing that stops the trembling and involuntary movements.

[elisa]

Originally Posted by zappelina

I have smoked for 35 years and although I would love to be able to quit I could never do it while having this bad withdrawal, it´s the only thing that stops the trembling and involuntary movements.

The cigarettes stops the trembling and involuntary movements for you?

I've been smoking for 47 years and plan to quit next year.

[zappelina]

To a certain extent they do but not completely. I´ve noticed that smoking makes some things worse and some things better, it´s very strange. It reduces the trembling and involuntary movements and starts the impulse to keep breathing which stops now and then but of course nicotine makes the cold hands and feet and generally bad cirkulation that I´ve had since the first dose reduction worse.

[mach3939]

ProteusMR2- - hope all is still going well for you!

Debbie

[ProteusMR2]

i made it four days.

thursday night was just high stress and tons of things going wrong.... so i went and got a pack. but thats done now so tomorrow (sunday) i will be quitting again.

[mach3939]

4 days is 4 more than I ever made it! Good Luck
Debbie

[ProteusMR2]

im thinking about giving up quitting.

it makes no difference to me.

[mach3939]

ProteusMR2
You have only been smoking a year or so. I have been smoking for more than 25 years. I will give you the same advise that I give my boys teenage friends when I hear that they are smoking. "You have not been smoking that long, quit if you can! Buy the time you feel the effects of your smoking it is too late."

Only you can make that choice cause only you know if you are ready or not. If your not ready today, maybe tomorrow!! One day we will all be quitters. Just heard on news tonight that there was something new on the market that give you a 70% chance of quitting. I wasn't listening that close so I cant tell ya what it was. But now that we know how bad smoking is for us all they are working on stuff to help us all.

Hang in there either way!
Debbie