I agree with what gonnadoit said about Chantix being an aid and not a cure for learned responses. I would think (and this is based on my own experiences with past quits involving a "crutch", even if that "crutch" was just sucking through straws and eating jalapenos) that there would be a HUGE *psychological* relapse when coming off chantix if you've been relying on it and not behavioral changes. A whole "oh no, that's my last chantix" the same as a "oh no, that's my last cigarette".
As I've said in other posts, I've been taking advantage of Chantix to go out of my way to invite every trigger I know of because I figure it's never going to get easier than now and I don't want a mountain of "first time as a nonsmoker" experiences staring me in the face when I come off the drug. I'm going to do as many 'first time as a nonsmoker' experiences now while I am on the drug, even if I have to manufacture them.
And *that* is what I am thankfully for chantix for. In previous quits (including one that was cold turkey so I was well past actual nicotine withdrawal) I've always avoided triggers or if I had to endure them (like at the bar) I *substituted* behavior, like compulsively cracking and eating pistachios or whatever. Now, on Chantix, I just do things -- as my husband likes to say -- "like a normal person". I like to think I do things like someone who never smoked.
Chantix has given me that freedom, in my opinion, and I am taking full advantage of it.
It's effect on the brain in terms of reward (dopamine increase) is so minor that I am no longer particularly worried about *physical* side effects when I go off. I'm more just considered -- and hoping to actively counter preemptively -- *behavioral* ones; i.e., I don't want to go off thinking "i don't smoke because I take this pill." I intend to go off thinking -- as I already do -- "I don't smoke because I don't smoke".
But, I've four weeks of the 12 to go, so we'll see what my outlook is like then. :)
[B]My Milage:[/B]
[B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/6/2007
[B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 49
[B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,097
[B]Amount Saved:[/B] $245
[B]Life Gained:[/B]
[B]Days:[/B] 4 [B]Hrs:[/B] 9 [B]Mins:[/B] 29 [B]Seconds:[/B] 40
-
Quit Meter
$222,402.38
Amount Saved
-
Quit Meter
Days: 6035
Hours: 13
Minutes: 19
Seconds: 3
Life Gained
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Quit Meter
45621
Smoke Free Days
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Quit Meter
684,315
Cigarettes Not Smoked
