Help smoking Team-BHP members quit smoking

[bblost]

Celebrating life.
One year without cigarettes.

One interesting thing I have observed.
Maybe its foolish, maybe its just all in my head.
Maybe its more blood going thru, maybe the nerve sensations are better.
I don't know, I don't care.

If you see me smiling, make a guess why.

[Spitfire]

Originally Posted by bblost

Celebrating life.
One year without cigarettes.

Add to the list '"I have become poetic too"

Awesome job I know how difficult it is to stop.

[vasudeva]

Originally Posted by Spitfire

Add to the list '"I have become poetic too"

Awesome job I know how difficult it is to stop.

It is difficult for the first week or so, but definitely worthwhile. I have been off since Dec 2006 (after a previous attempt in Jan 2005 which failed by Oct 2005). From Dec 2006 onwards, it has been successful, and I use Nicorette (from UK) sparingly. That costs Rs. 4-5/pc. approx the same price as a cigarette.

[mobike008]

Originally Posted by vasudeva

I use Nicorette (from UK) sparingly. That costs Rs. 4-5/pc. approx the same price as a cigarette.

Is this available over the counter at medical stores?

[Gansan]

I have not gone through the entire thread, but having quit the habit twenty years ago, I think I can safely assume that I am one of the senior most quitters! I stopped smoking the day my marriage was fixed. Prior to that I had been smoking for about 8 - 9 years, and averaged 4 - 5 cigarettes (Wills Filter/Goldflake Kings) a day, not counting the occassional binge. I know it was not high, but a habit is a habit.

I would like to share a few thoughts with guys who are planning to quit:

1) The first is the fact that the urge for a smoke may never go away completely. Even now I get an occassional pang. A smoker in the vicinity does not affect me, but if someone opens a new pack - aaahh, that aroma! Just learn to ignore it.

2) Even if you do give in and have a smoke, don't lose heart. Just having one smoke after abstaining for months / years does not erase your "record' and set the clock to zero. Just tell your self "Ah, that was just one smoke in --- months/years" and carry on. Many people lose heart after having one such smoke and think "what is the use? I can't quit this habit". Don't fall prey to it. It is not virginity, to be lost forever!

I do have the occasional cigar/cigarette (may be 3 - 4 occassions a year ) when I attend parties and think nothing about it. It is statistically insignificant, so I am still a non-smoker!

3) The best time to quit is now, not from this evening / tomorrow morning. Put out that cigarette and throw away the packet in the dust bin, however full it is. Don't think you can reduce gradually and then taper off, that will mostly not work.

4) AFAIK, props / substitutes don't work either. Don't worry about withdrawal symptoms, you are a man and can overcome them by sheer will. Will power does over come Wills power, believe me! If you absolutely must, than pop a Polo / Halls when you feel the urge.

5) Last, but no the least, for God's sake do not switch to Gutka/Pan masala instead of cigarettes. That will be jumping in to the fire from the frying pan.

Best of luck!

[vasudeva]

Originally Posted by mobike008

Is this available over the counter at medical stores?

No it is not. I get it from my brother in the UK. Indian generic substitutes such as Nulife etc are available in standard strength of 2 mg and 4 mg. 2mg is what is typically inhaled from the cigarette. As to whether it is harmful, at least most reputed Indian and international specialists do not think so, if the alternative is smoking (though some people disagree). Nicorette is pure nicotine and gum, without the cigarette carcinogens.

As to Nicorette, I get 2 mg and 4 mg boxes from my brother in the UK. he gets 2 mg Freshmint and Freshfruit and 4mg Freshmint and Freshfruit at prices of around 7-8 pound per box of 105 pcs. I cut 4 mg into 2 pcs so that it becomes 2 mg. I typically consume 7-8 pcs of 2 mg per day. This is quite enough though it could go to 10 also very rarely. At 8 pcs per day (2-3of pure 2 mg, and 5-6 of 2mg derived from cutting 4 mg), my cost per day works out to Rs. 35-40, which is equivalent to perhaps smoking 5-6 India Kings. Do not know the rate since I have not bought any cigarettes since Dec 2006.

In India, Nicorette may be available at very reputed stores but the price may be high. I have found these to be much better than the generic crap sold at Rs. 4-5/pc. The generic crap is generally foul tasting rubber.

As to whether they are harmless, google on Obama, Benowitz, Nicorette etc. I think there are some sites in UK and US which deliver to India, but there are shipping costs, and I found that buying 6-8 mths of supplies gives reasonable cost. Have not bought it though. My brother gets it from UK OTC stores, and usually there is a 40-50% on cover price. So he gets 105 pcs of 2 mg at around 6-8 pounds, and 105 pcs of 4 mg at around 7-9 pounds. There is not much of a price diff. in 2mg and 4mg.

[bblost]

Originally Posted by mobike008

Is this available over the counter at medical stores?

Generic Substitutes are available..

I have seen it on display at
Familia pharmacy, Banjara Hills Rd 12.
Harmain, First Lancer, Masab Tank. Its between the Balaji Grand Bazaar and Police Officers Mess.

These are quite regular pharmacies. Am sure these substitute are available elsewhere as well.

You should check out Mor at Basher Bagh.
MOR should be able to source anything you want.
They are very good. In fact IMHO the best in Hyderabad.

Its beside Ohri's and you are there today evening.

Your question indicates a desire to quit smoking.
Try passing the evening at the Haleem night out without a cig.
Best of luck.

As Gansan just wrote. The best time to quit smoking is NOW.

[mobike008]

Originally Posted by bblost

Generic Substitutes are available..

I have seen it on display at
Familia pharmacy, Banjara Hills Rd 12.
Harmain, First Lancer, Masab Tank. Its between the Balaji Grand Bazaar and Police Officers Mess.

These are quite regular pharmacies. Am sure these substitute are available elsewhere as well.

You should check out Mor at Basher Bagh.
MOR should be able to source anything you want.
They are very good. In fact IMHO the best in Hyderabad.

Its beside Ohri's and you are there today evening.

Your question indicates a desire to quit smoking.
Try passing the evening at the Haleem night out without a cig.
Best of luck.

As Gansan just wrote. The best time to quit smoking is NOW.

Thanks. Yes, i have been contemplating for a long time. But never gave it a serious thought.

I am aware about MOR as that is the only medical store we go to in Hyderabad.

In emergencies we go to Vasu at Himayathnagar, who are equally good.

[vasudeva]

I think Champix from Pfizer? is available in India at decent medical stores. This is a non-nicotine based prescription pill. It is taken orally. For the first three days, the dosage is 0.5 mg once daily (the 0.5 mg tablet is white). For days four to seven, the dosage is 0.5 mg twice a day. From day eight until the end of the treatment, the dose is 1 mg twice a day (the 0.5 mg tablet is blue).

Talk to your doctor about this, but do quit smoking, as an estimated 50% of smokers will die from cigarettes, largely from lung cancer and COPD. These are terrible diseases with very high mortality rates.

[vasudeva]

Originally Posted by mobike008

Thanks. Yes, i have been contemplating for a long time. But never gave it a serious thought.

I am aware about MOR as that is the only medical store we go to in Hyderabad.

In emergencies we go to Vasu at Himayathnagar, who are equally good.

if you are really serious, start on a weekend as you may feel low and useless for 1-2 days. Also, talk to a qualified doc. who may start you on other alternatives such as Champix (I read that a 12 week course costs 9.5K which is high but nothing considering the damage being caused by cigs.). All drugs have side effects, but I have noticed for almost all drugs, that side effects reported in prescription info. are a lot more than those in practice. Ask any doc. about this.

[Gansan]

Originally Posted by mobike008

Thanks. Yes, i have been contemplating for a long time. But never gave it a serious thought.

My friend, please do stop immediately. A Doctor once told me that just driving through traffic twice a day in a big city, inhaling the vehicular pollution was itself equal to smoking a couple of cigarettes every day. Don't aggravate the situation further by again smoking on top of that!

[mobike008]

Originally Posted by vasudeva

if you are really serious, start on a weekend as you may feel low and useless for 1-2 days. Also, talk to a qualified doc. who may start you on other alternatives such as Champix (I read that a 12 week course costs 9.5K which is high but nothing considering the damage being caused by cigs.). All drugs have side effects, but I have noticed for almost all drugs, that side effects reported in prescription info. are a lot more than those in practice. Ask any doc. about this.

Originally Posted by Gansan

My friend, please do stop immediately. A Doctor once told me that just driving through traffic twice a day in a big city, inhaling the vehicular pollution was itself equal to smoking a couple of cigarettes every day. Don't aggravate the situation further by again smoking on top of that!

Thanks for your encouragement my friends. I smoke about 5-6 cigs in a day. Is it still a problem?

Jokes apart, i know its a problem. Let me dwelve on it deeper

[vasudeva]

Originally Posted by mobike008

Thanks for your encouragement my friends. I smoke about 5-6 cigs in a day. Is it still a problem?

Smoking is a risk factor, and not the number. Epidemiological, longitudinal studies have shown that lower cigarette smoking do not lead to significantly reduced risk of fatal and non-fatal myocardial infarction (heart attacks) and lung cancers compared with smokers who did not reduce their cigarette smoking or reduced risk for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Lung cancer risk for lower usage is only about 25% less.

A widely quoted and reputed meta-analysis was published in International Journal of Cancer in 2008: 122, 155–164 (2008) titled Tobacco smoking and cancer: A meta-analysis. According to this, for lung cancer, dose-response estimates were available in 44 studies: 19 with estimates only for men, 11 with estimates only for women and 14 with separate estimates for men and for women. Overall, the risk of lung cancer increases by 7% for each additional cigarette smoked per day. Separate risk estimates for men indicate a 39% higher lung cancer risk for 1-9 cigs/day; 167% higher risk for 10-19 cigs/day; and 13 times higher risk for >20 cigs/day.

[anujmishra]

I would like to take part in "Iss Jungle Se Mujhe Bachao - Season -2" where no Cigarette shop in vicinity. Otherwise will go to Himalaya for tapasya .

I tried many times to quit, never succeeded though.

[bblost]

@anuj.
Why don't you do a Sabrimala trip this year.

Sabarimala - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The pilgrimage to Sabarimala is a singular example of one where pilgrims, without consideration of caste, creed, position or social status, go with one mind and one mantra dreaming constantly of the darshan of the presiding deity at the Holy Sannidhanam. Vehicles can go up to Pamba River. However no girls/women between the age of 12-50 are allowed to visit this temple. This temple is very popular amongst all South Indians. The devotees are expected to follow a vratham(41-day penance), i.e. during this period they are to refrain from meat, fish, alcohol, tobacco, sex, using foul words, refrain from hair cut, shaving and should visit the local temples regularly and wear a special Mala( A garland made of Rudhraksha or Tulasi beads) and only black coloured dresses. Presently the conditions for Vratham are not as strict as it used to be earlier.

or find something equivalent to it.

I used Ramzan last year to get rid of smoking.