Chantix has been found to be one medication that has finally helped people to quit smoking when others have failed. Working like a nicotine blocker in the brain, it attaches itself to the nicotine receptors and blocks its absorption. And because there are fewer feel good receptors that the nicotine can freely attach itself to, it lessens the desire you have for a cigarette.
A lot of folks have quit relatively easy using this method. And on top of that, there has been amazingly few withdrawal symptoms. Surprisingly, even two pack a day smokers are at times successful. But the first thing is to check and see whether your insurance company will cover it as Chantix is only available by prescription and many companies are reluctant to cover stop smoking products in general. If it is indeed covered, expect at least some level of pharmacy co-pay.
The first two weeks of taking Chantix are simply to allow the medication levels to build up in your system. However, since Chantix contains no nicotine, quitting smoking before you start taking it it not necessary.
Whether you pick a quit day two weeks or three weeks out in order to allow the medication to build up even further is unimportant. The important thing is that you do pick a quit day and stick to it.
Several side effects to Chantix have been recorded. Naturally they vary from person to person, but are normally short-lived. These effects can be anything from headaches, excessive gas, nausea or in some notable cases, extremely vivid dreams.
To help with your efforts, Chantix even comes with a very good free online support system that not only sends you daily emails to keep you on track, but also provides stop smoking projects to help remind you as to why you wanted to quit in the first place.
Chantix in itself works very well, however it may be more effective on smokers who are physically addicted to nicotine as opposed to those psychologically addicted as it seems to work much better on the former. Talk to your doctor and see. If you are more psychologically addicted, they may have a different medication which they would recommend for your situation.
Whatever you do, do not think that Chantix, or any other stop smoking aid for that matter, is the magic pill that is going to make you quit. Only medications used with a strond desire to quit have a chance of being successful. The medications, Chantix included, are only there to give us an edge in quitting, not do it for us.
