Daily Chicken Scratch

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

SuperPill



Quitting smoking is probably one of the worst experiences for a smoker. First you have the short-tempered powder keg of a personality followed by the I am a bottom-less pit of an eating machine. It seems like a downward cycle that is actually more dangerous than just the harmful effects of smoking. I say this not because I am a person who studies product labels or some person that reads WebMD on ways to influence people to quit smoking, I say this because I like many others, am a slave to the Tobacco Industry Giant.

Yes, for many years I have lit up and savored the flavor and feeling I got from my Marlboro Lights in the Flip-Top box. I would enjoy my morning coffee and smoke, the after lunch cigarette and last but not least my after dinner one.

Since having a daughter a year and a half ago, I have started to think more about my health and what I can do to ensure her that she has a father for many years to come. I also want to do what is in her best interest to prevent her from the nicotine addiction. The hardest part is not saying I am going to quit...it actually is the quitting part.

It is so hard when you are having a hard nicotine fit not to throw in the towel and go bum a smoke. I get this feeling in my chest as if it is going to explode. My head is throbbing and the little voice in the back of my head is saying "you know you want just one." The internal conflict is enough to drive someone insane. When I am around my wife at this point, she is begging me to please just have a cigarette. She hates when I quit smoking because I am a ticking time bomb waiting for that one moment when my hair-pin trigger is pulled and then booom.

But there is hope. I have seen it with my own eyes and thought I would share it. Hope comes in the form of a pill, called Chantix. IT REALLY WORKS! I have been taking it for about 2 weeks now and I can already see an amazing difference. My nicotine cravings aren't even that noticeable. This evening was the first night at work where I have not had or wanted to smoke. I know another person I work with who is taking it and says that they are very pleased with what they are seeing and feel that they will be able to kick the habit this time.

It is quite an amazing drug. I have noticed that cigarettes are starting to taste awful. My mouth feels like it is coated in chemicals when I smoke (I guess now I can actually taste all the chemicals and additives in the tobacco). I don't sit and think all day and night about having a cigarette. I feel like I don't even need one. I would recommend this to anyone who has tried and tried to kick the habit but has been unsuccessful.

The downside – I am a conspiracy theorists in sorts and I strongly believe that the Tobacco Industry lobbyists are working with the insurance companies to make sure that this drug is a premium. It is not covered by insurance which means I paid a little over $100 for a months supply but think of how much you would spend in a month on cigarettes. I firmly believe the Tobacco Industry, who manufactures the nicotine supplement products, does not want the American people to have the ability to buy this medication because it really works. The Tobacco Industry probably know that as this drug becomes more known and popular they are going to be losing customers left and right. Isn't that ironic, the Tobacco Industry worrying about losing customers.

The medication itself has been used in Europe and Canada for about the past 10-20 years and has shown great results. My brother in law used it to kick the habit and after seeing him do it I decided it was time for me to. The only really weird side effect are the dreams. I have done some intense dreaming since I have been taking the medication.

Anyhow if anyone thinks that this may be right for you, call your physician and talk to them more in depth.

When you start seeing the commercials about how dangerous Chantix is keep in mind who doesn't want you to quit smoking.

For anyone who decides to try Chantix, I wish you the best of luck. I think you may surprise yourself with the results.

Labels: , , ,