Questions about the patch

[waywardsister]

Hi everyone,

I am quitting (again) on the 21st, and am going to use the patch (Habitrol). I used it for my JUne 1st attempt, and found it worked well on days 1 and 2 but days 3 and 4 were rougher. (I didn't make it past day 4!)

I am wondering if anyone else experienced insomnia while on the patch. Is that just a side effect of quitting? I had it bad when I was on Zyban my last quit, which is one of the reasons I don't want to use that method this time (I also felt very 'medicated' and had panic attacks, which I found out later were an interaction with the med and caffeine)

Also, how long did you use the patch? Is it hard to wean off of? Will I get withdrawal from it? Did you wear it while sleeping, or take it off at night? Will it stay on if I am sweating a lot? (I run 2-5 miles at the gym every day and do weights, and I sweat like crazy)

Any input will be appreciated!!!!!

[historyteach]

Hmmmm, you have a lot of questions here, which I will try to help with. I too "quit" smoking - many times. Most successful was with zyban and the patch. Lasted 3 1/2 months before I fell. "junkie thinkin" got to me! That and total stress, and....down below...
I had insomnia for a while, until I took the patch off overnight. I reasoned that I never smoked while I slept, so, why wear the patch? I was fine afterwards.
The patch helps me definately! It should not fall off when you sweat - no matter how much. I went to the gym, swimming, in the steam room, exercising and everything else. Never had a problem with it falling off.
No problem weaning off. It is a step down affair. Of course, I only got to the second step. It was stress that got me; not the step down of the patch.
What you say about the interaction of zyban/welbutrin and coffee interests me, though. It was after I started zyban that I began having panic attacks. I did drink a LOT of coffee at the time. Doc never asked me about that at all! Just put me on benzodiazapans to calm me down, and sleeping pills and another doc put me on soooo very much more, until I was completely zoonkered out! Stoned out of my mind! In the hospital.
Thank heaven I had the wherewithall to get myself off. Ironically, I stayed on the welbutrin! It was an antidepressant, and I was depressed - the (now) ex and son's addictions and behaviors....Just makes me wonder....
So, if you want to be quit buddies, I'm game...Friday evening is my date. What is yours? Or do you have one yet?
See ya soon...
Shalom!

[waywardsister]

I only found out about the caffiene thing in a quit forum. I was totally out of my mind, crying and shaky and terrified. I hadn't had a panic attack since I was 18. Someone else had posted that the same thing was happening to them, and their doc said to cut out caffiene. I did, and the attacks stopped immediately. I have no idea why this isn't listed in the insert! It should be. I couldn't figure out why, since i was on an anti-depressant, I was such a total mental mess! That's why I'm going with the patch this time. I don't want to give up my precious tea...and I really can't handle panic, esp living alone!

I have set a date...the 21st. Well, I am going to give it a whirl tomorrow actually, and have the 21st as my absolute must-be-quit date. My bf (the A)has quit, which is a huge relief even if it doesn't last (which I don't expect it to)..all I need is the first few days. And, of course, you as a quit buddy!! I will be on here all the time once I quit, so be warned!

I am going to get stickers to stick on my patch to make it more fun. Whoopee. And I actually bought gold stars to stick on my calendar for every smoke-free day...if I (whoops...when I) go a week, I get to reward myself with something under $30, like a manicure or a good book. It can't be a food reward. I could easily eat $30 worth of cheesecake in one sitting. Honestly, if I did drugs, I could whip my A's butt in the consumption category.

Friday I will be thinking of you and I will check in here to see how it's going! You'll do great. Are you going with zyban again?

[historyteach]

Yes, I am on it now. No panic attacks now, but, I don't drink as much coffee, and the coffee I do drink is "lite" 1/2 reg and 1/2 decaf. I agree that it should be listed in the insert! On occassion, I have a tight throat - but not a panic attack. I wonder...
Anyway, I am doing it Friday evening. I'll see you around.
Shalom!

[mnj1024]

Hey teach and sister! glad to see your doing something good for yourselves. Your lungs will appreciate it I'm sure (did you guys see the lung cancer pic I posted a couple weeks here ewwe) I quit a long time ago using welbutrin/zyban and was pretty successful until I stopped taking it, lasted about 3 months. the side effects and inability to sleep while on it was very uncomfortable for me. That is why I tried the patch this time, and its been working great so far. I myself wear it 24 hrs and it doesnt affect my sleeping at all, but the plan that comes along with the patch igves you the option either way. The best advice I can give ya is stick to the plan, thats whats worked for me so far. good luck to you both!!! mike

[historyteach]

OK, wayward;
Depending on you to hold me accountable here, OK?
I started becoming an unsmoker tonight. Last butt at sunset - even had to throw the last one away!!! (Yea, down to the wire, planning on them ciggies till it was time to quit. )
Thanks for the good wishes Mike. Hope to see you around, and please feel free to hold me accountable too - K?
Shalom!

[historyteach]

Mike:
"(did you guys see the lung cancer pic I posted a couple weeks here ewwe) "
No, I have never seen one. I have read about them; never seen one. Can you post the link to it? Not sure if it would help or not.
Shalom!

[waywardsister]

Hey teach...I too became a non-smoker as of yesterday (Sunday). Threw my last two away! Good thing too, cuz I would have smoked them. Let's be honest...I'd smoke 'em now! But I'm on the patch and feeling pretty good today. Although my mind keeps thinking things like: screw this. Why quit? Quit after the summer. Just have one....

I spent yesterday totally rearranging my kitchen cupboards. It helped!

So how are you doing?

Thanks Mike for the encouragement! I'm removing the patch at night, and so far haven't had any trouble sleeping. How long have you been quit?

[waywardsister]

Okay...I switched from Habitrol to Nicoderm Clear. They keep falling off, either in the gym or in the shower. The Habitrols never fell off...they just looked ugly! I have 3 bandaids over my patch now, which defeats the purpose of them being clear...

I am going to complain to the Nicoderm ppl and see if I can get a free box!!! Hee hee. But it really is pissing me off.

[mnj1024]

LOL waywardsister by the time you get the free box hopefully you wont need it. keep doing it though it gets easier 40 something days here and now sometimes I will go a whole day with out even thinking about smoking once.

mike