question about quitting - Smoking Cessation Message Board

infantrywife · 03-19-2004, 06:20 AM

Hi,

I am new to this board. I am starting a tobacco cessation class on April 29th. That is my quit date and they have a class that I go to every week for 8 weeks. Anyways when you are in this class they give you zyban or the patch. I was wondering which one would be better. I have been smoking for about 15 years and I smoke about 1 1/2 packs a day. I am ready to quit. I a starting to get that cough and I don't want to die before my children are raised. Anyways I will need lots of support once I do quit.

badbackdavid · 03-19-2004, 06:43 AM

Good morning,

That's a tough question and is really going to rely on the individual person. (Patches or pills.) I am using the patches and having success. My suggestion would be to study up on this as much as possible from the past postings on this site. I've found that education is very important and I wish you the best of luck!

Dave

infantrywife · 03-19-2004, 08:21 AM

Dave,

I did the patch a couple of years ago and it make me irritatable. I think a lot of it though is because mentally I wasn't ready to quit. Now I am ready to quit. I really don't want to smoke any more. I am looking forward to the classes that I am going to take though. I am sure that they are going to educate me on things that I have tried to blind of. I know the damages that smoking does, but when you smoke who wants to know. Anyways my main focus for quitting is doing this for my kids. They deserve their mom and they deserve her to be healthy.

smartgal · 03-19-2004, 12:43 PM

One of the keys in deciding which to use, have you ever been depressed for any period of time? If that has been a factor the Zyban might help. It made me jittery and I actually smoked more! I think my brain chemistry isn't normal though. I use patches. It's been 9 weeks now and I'm dropping down to the 7 mg this weekend. I've said before, I don't care if I have to stay on them forever as long as I stay quit. Good luck!

Tobias · 03-19-2004, 02:57 PM

Are those your only two choices? And is it one or the other? The reason I ask is: there are other forms of nic replacement besides patches and one's choice might be influenced by the characteristics of their addiction. I didn't use zyban. I found that nic gum helped me keep other things out of my mouth! such as food and cigarettes! Also available are lozenges and inhalers (Rx needed for inhalers).

Also it is possible to use both Zyban and nic replacement and there are those who have used both. So if you try zyban to start and it works for you and you don't slip, fine. If it doesn't you could investigate adding nic replacement to the mix.

Whatever you do, good luck on your class and your quit.

Tobias