Antidepressants and Smoking Cessation

[Enraged_Ape]

I know that Wellbutrin is often prescribed for people quitting smoking (as Zyban), and I've read that other antidepressants as well have helped with smoking cessation. Has anyone out there actually had any kind of experience with this?

[Madrone]

1. I'm a non-smoker for the first time since I was 14, and only

because of Wellbutrin! FYI - if you or your doctor are afraid your insurance will not pay for smoking cessation, get a script for Wellbutrin and not Zyban - then it will likely be covered.

Anyway, I seriously think this stuff is a miracle drug. I've taken it 3 different times before *really* quitting. The first time I took it to humor my doctor - I did not believe it would work for me, and I didn't want to quit smoking. I didn't choose a quit date, I just continued my habits as usual. Oddly enough, a few weeks later I not only didn't care about cigarettes, I didn't really even think about them anymore. I was going 3-5 days without smoking, then smoking one w/ a friend, then 3-5 days without when I started dating someone that smoked a LOT. Back to my regular habits I went. (as I said, I didn't really *want* to quit)

I started taking it again late last summer, but then started going thru an unexpected move, and a lot of stress. Decided against it again, and kept up the regular habits.

Started taking it AGAIN about 4-5 months ago - and when I got to the point where I didn't care about cigarettes any more, I stopped. It's helped that in the early periods I wasn't really around any smokers. Although you don't care about smoking, it doesn't gross you out either, so it's easy to fall back into when someone is smoking around you, even when you don't really get any satisfaction from it.

It's now been 3 months. I don't think about them, I don't dream about them, I don't crave them - nothing. It's like I never smoked. I haven't taken the pills in over a month now either. The pills really are a miracle drug for me - as I wasn't mentally committed to quitting - but was able to ANYWAY. And with no anxiety or problems. Cake. I'm 32 by the way - and started buying smokes regularly at the age of 14.

I've smoked more than half my life.

[Enraged_Ape]

2. Wow. That is great information.

Thanks for that! I'm exploring all the options. I've heard wonderful things about Wellbutrin, and you've provided a great, detailed testimony.

To be able to look at cigarettes as if you'd never smoked--that in itself is nothing short of a miracle.

[Scout1071]

3. I had a not-so-pleasant experience with Wellbutrin

As I understand it, it was originally prescribed for people with depression and severe anxiety.

My Doc prescribed it, told me to continue smoking and that the pill would kick-in after about 2 wks because it takes a while to build in your system. I took it for 2 days and stopped smoking completely. That stuff affected me right away. I didn't think about smoking, didn't care..I loved that about Wellbutrin. I was really bizarre how a pill could erase years of habit.

Anyway, my problem was that I began to suffer severe anxiety attacks after taking for a week or so. I had never had an anxiety attack in my life, but I found myself feeling very panicked in everyday situations, feeling unable to breathe, etc. It was really scary. Aside from that, I suffered depression, indescribable anger, and more. After having dinner with my mother one night, she insisted that I call my doctor immediately because my behavior was so unusual. I called and the Doc told me to stop taking immediately.

All symptoms disappeared after I stopped taking Wellbutrin. It could be that I'm just very sensitive to it, but it is only available in one dose. So, if you decide to try it, be cautious and any change in behavior should be reported immediately. These types of drugs can cause suicidal and violent behavior without you even realizing that you are being that affected by it.

It was very effective in helping me to stop smoking, it just came at too high of a price for me personally. Unfortunately, after I stopped taking Wellbutrin, I started smoking again. I popped on tonight to figure out a new way to quit!

[Madrone]

4. Wow!

You really must have been sensitive, if you stopped smoking with it almost immediately. Scary, though!

The only side effects I had (and that I should mention for the benefit of our Engraged friend) are:

1. Dry mouth that drove me up a freaking wall! It finally went away after a few weeks, and it was worth puting up with in order to stop smoking.

2. For about 2 weeks, a very subtle "off" feeling. It didn't change my perceptions or personality, and I'm not sure really how to describe it. It wasn't that bad, and as I said it was very subtle, but it bugged me until it went away. It was almost a surreal feeling just around the edges.

Interestingly enough, by the third time I took it, I didn't get either of the above mentioned side effects. I did the first two times. Also, I've never experienced any weirdness coming off it either. I just stopped every time - no withdrawals or mental breakdowns of any sort.

I was extremely skeptical the first time I took it - and as I said only did so to humor the doctor. I really thought that if the stuff *did* work (and I doubted it did) then it certainly wouldn't work for ME.

[Enraged_Ape]

5. Thanks to you and Scout

This is all great information.

[ebayfool]

6. I had a similar reaction before. Almost felt like the old time double ...

cross diet pills. Mostly couldn't sleep, dry mouth, short fuse. Only took it for 2 days, then quit. I'm going to try it again, half dose (handy little pill splitter, will be cheaper too ... stuff is expensive & I'm on the pay cash as you go 'insurance' plan!) so hopefully it will be less wierd. Doc suggested it was more of a physical withdrawal symptom, just like any other addict quitting their drug of choice. He's never smoked :P so he's not exactly 'clued in' on how this goes.

[meow2u3]

12. I put on almost 100 pounds because of Wellbutrin

My doctor prescribed Wellbutrin to me about 5 years ago, when I weighed about 190 lbs.(I was a bit overweight back then). From the time I was on it till about 2 years ago, my weight ballooned to 290 lbs!!! Needless to say, my clothes size went from an 18 to a 24W!
But since my doc put me on another antidepressant, my weight dropped to about 265, which it is now. I lost one, maybe two, pants sizes, but then again, my appetite has decreased, too.

[etherealtruth]

7. I know I'm late to the conversation ...

I quit smoking after 24 years of 1-2 packs a day. It's been 15 months... Most of the symptoms I experienced (I believe)resulted from withdrawal from the smokes. I was initially on it for 3 months.

I recently started taking Wellbutrin again because (for whatever reason???) I really want to smoke...

[BiggJawn]

8. Zyban success story here...

On it for 2 weeks, quit. got off it 6 weeks later "Hey, Doc! I haven't smoked in almost 2 months, can I quit the Zyban yet?"

The worst part was when all the cilia or whatever they're called came back on line and started moving 35 year's worth of SHIT out of my lungs...Yech!

[Madrone]

9. Hey -

How long did it take for the shit to start moving out of your lungs? I'm 4 months "clean" now - and don't feel any different at all. Other than my asthma got worse when I quit.

[BiggJawn]

10. Hard to say actually, I caught a chest cold after I quit.

And THAT really sucked! mild cold for a coupla weeks, then I lost my voice for a MONTH! Felt like I had snot-balls wrapped around my vocal chords.
Then it all broke loose and I started hacking up giant grey-green oysters.

All in all, the unpleasantness went on for about 3 months.

That may not be your asthma, that might be the crap trying to break loose. Keep well hydrated and avoid dry air. I used an expectorant.

[Idylle Moon Dancer]

11. wellbutrin - mixed results

I'm not all that committed to quitting myself, and I actually sort of
enjoy smoking. It means a lot to my girlfriend that I quit, so I got
a script for wellbutrin since everything else I've tried failed
miserably. If I had just a little more willpower and/or didn't enjoy
smoking the stuff would work great I think. I have cut down almost by
half without even trying, and it takes at least five hours of not
smoking before I start feeling anything unpleasant physically.

Other side effects, one good, one bad:

getting to sleep and waking up are a lot easier,
and I have more energy.

I have very little interest in sex.

[Misunderestimator]

13. Wellbutrin rocks!

I have quit dozens of times... cold turkey, nicotine gum, nicotine patch, nicotine inhalors.

I started on Wellbutrin TWO DAYS AGO... and this is the EASIEST time I've ever had quitting... even though I am only two days into it, those first days are always HORRIBLE, but not this time. I'm not using any nicotine replacement therapies either... all they've done in the past is keep me hooked on nicotine. I want this poison out of my system!

[politicat]

14. Best part, worst part....

I've quit 3 times with welbutrin/zyban and once with commit lozenges.

It was always easy to quit with the welbutrin. I ate less, wanted more sex (but getting to the finish line was harder) felt just slightly manic.... but 6 months or so down the road, I'd want to smoke again, and it was so easy to quit that I'd let myself slip and end up smoking again.

So the last time, I did it the hard way: patches and lozenges and altoids in the off moments, long walks and lots of exercise. I made it worth it to myself to quit, and now when I think about a cigarette, I think about how I don't want to have wasted all that work. I'm coming up on a year now without a cig, the longest I've ever gone since I started smoking at 16.

I couldn't concentrate to write while on welbutrin; I could and did on the patches and tablets. Since I really want ot get novels out the door.....