Cold Turkey Or Try Patches/gum?

Been on 2+ packs a day of Marlboro reds for near 10 year. Got two packs from a carton left and I'm done with them (or gonna try). Whats best, cold turkey quit or try some of them stop smoking gums/patches etc...???

Only thing that ever helped me quit is illegal..

I'd get a large quantity of marijuana and just roll up a joint instead of a cigarette, lasted me a couple of weeks before running out, didn't smoke again for months and months (wife got hit by a car and I was freaking out)

Need to find something to keep your hands occupied though.. Preferably not something you already do, because you may have built a habit of wanting a cigarette while doing familiar things, which will just makes things worse.

its different for everyone. might wanna talk to your doctor (if you can) about it

I quit cold turkey after putting a daily limit of myself for 1 month of 4 cigarettes /day then I just got tired of smoking period and tossed everything lighters and what ever was left in the pack...so yeah..been smoke free now for 6 yrs!! Going on 7^ And no.. I do not miss it ONE bit.

Or do like i did! I was unemployed and couldnt find a job so my wife just stopped buying them for me lol. I was pretty mean for about a month but then it was just w/e. Even after finding work i dont buy them due to it saving thousands a year so i just buy games instead :D. Not to say i dont think about it cuz i do but i refuse to waste the money again or smell like a pile of ashes.

I get ya there Slip, but I'd need to quit FFXI cos for some reason I REALLY want a smoke bad when I'm playing that. Esp. stuff like NM camping and LS events I'll chain em'. Pot I can't do cos I'll just end up replacing the cigs with it LMAO. Haven't had a doobie in 3yrs kinda wanna keep it that way ^^.

About the smell, ya I agree. Don't smoke indoors either ***turns your stuff brown ><

I just meant find something to do in your spare time something simple like making those. Just not something else you already used to do. I don't mean go and change your entire life style around and stop doing everything you used to <_<

i used to make those things so much when i was young @.@ also there is these replacements that seem to work rather well you can smoke indoors and crap let me see if i can find it

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005DL1OEC/ref=asc_df_B005DL1OEC1939834?smid=A3QGTRL0G4B98R&tag=pgmp-728-95-20&linkCode=asn&creative=395133&creativeASIN=B005DL1OEC]

a few people i know uses those its like a cigarette without the nicotine or something

I'm not sure how those electric cigs work. I think they got a cartridge or something that gives the nicotine and makes you feel like your smokin but it dosent make smoke.

it still gives off some smoke when you inhale but its invisible when you exhale or shortly after, a bit more than a pack of cigarettes but its worth a try. Whats the worst that can happen? You try and it not work? If it does work it will save massive amounts of money i saved about $606 a year with how much i smoked so you would save about $3640 a year if you smoke 2 packs a day >.>

Blu E-Cigs

This site changed my life. There is NO smoke, unlike the other comment made. Its called vapor and it has no carbon monoxide or any of the other deadly chemicals found in cigarette smoke. it does, however, contain nicotine, which is exactly what you want. If you decide later to cut the nicotine down, it comes in various levels and even a nicotine free version for when (if) you are ready.

I suggest a starter pack and 2 packages of cartomizers on your first order. If you have any questions, call them...they are very helpful.

This is the future of smoking and can be done anywhere at the moment.

I smoked 20 a day for 20 years and gave up with no help, it was costing me way to much in the end and when the price went over 5 pounds per pack, i finished what i had left over the course of a few days (7 smokes i had left) then i just stopped. It was damned hard, i wont lie. The main reason i didnt use patches or any other quiting aid was due to the reason i wanted to quit in the first place, cost. No point swapping one thing for another in my opinion, if you really want to quit.. quit. Just make sure you do it for you, not someone else. I quit 3 years ago and i feel better for it, gained 40lbs over that time, and thats not a bad 40 either lol i now weigh around 195. As long as the reason you want to quit is a good one you should be able to cold turkey without to many issues.

However you decide to do it, good luck.

I understand your point here, but I am going to offer several reasons why a person may want to use e cigs instead of cold turkey. Of course, I am in no way downplaying your achievement. Congratulations on quitting, man, its difficult.

E Cigs are a good way to go if you:
1) aren't really at a point on your life where you feel like you want to quit. You will never quit smoking cigarettes cold turkey if in the end you just don't want it.
2)Don't mind paying about a dollar or two a day to smoke. This is after the initial 100 you will spend on supplies. At this point, I can buy a "carton's worth" of e cig juice for 10.80. Since I was a pack a day, that puts me at about a dollar a day to continue to "smoke" without all of the negative effects that come along with it.

If you don't want to pay anymore money to support the habit and you are ready to be done with nicotine forever, then I would suggest chantix if you have insurance or the patch if you don't. Cold turkey is a very hard route to take and is not even advised by doctors. If you live in NY, you can call the smoking cessation hotline and get several packs of free gum or about a month's worth of patches.

I think cold ham would work better. Turkey is too lean and after smoking killing your tastebuds you'll want that full flavor.

Willpower is the most important part. If you don't really want to quit you'll just start up again. Gum has an added benefit, though. The chewing (go with sugarless) keeps you from eating instead of smoking. That helps the pounds many people end up putting on when they quit.

36 year smoker, since I was 15. Have to quit so I can have some vertebrae fused (surgeon won't do it if pee test shows nicotine in system, as nicotine retards the bone growth needed for successful fusion.)

Use Chantix and E-cigs. Chantix blocks the receptors in the brain for nicotine, so you don't have that chemical craving to deal with. You do need a prescription for Chantix!
The E-cig helps with the "hand to mouth" urge. Use the no-nicotine mix.
Works like a champ. Good luck to you!!
{and yes, after the bones are fused, about a year, I plan to go back to tobacco. I enjoy it!}

Smoke a pipe bro!

Looks cooler.

Less than 10% of smokers who try to quit "cold turkey" style actually achieve lasting results. It's essentially futile ... don't waste your time and energy.

Nicotine patches *when used correctly* definitely increase your chance for successful quitting.

Ultimately though, it's been shown that the BEST and one of the most important factors determining successful quitting is HAVING A CONFIDANT or "cheerleader" (or ideally, more than one person!) who is equally-invested in your success, and is willing to "be tough" on you when the worst cravings arise.

If you happen to be a loner, have no fear! There are several acclaimed *free* volunteer "quit assist" phone hotlines, where you can dial-in for psycho-emotional support while you're quitting. It may seem corny, but it actually works for many people. Don't be afraid to try them out.

My G/F just quit smoking by using those new E-Cigarettes. Electric Cigarettes. She hasn't even had a craving whatsoever.
Electronic Cigarette

I used to smoke a pack and a half a day. In NY the cigarette price keeps going up all the tim which was the easiest way for me to quit. Just gotta think of the money you're spending, and your health of course. But if u break it down, about $10 a pack, 10 packs a week is $100, with 4 weeks a month is $400 dollars. Quit smoking and buy a new car! Oh and I used nicorette gum too for help. Stuff works good

Smoking Ew!!!

Here's how I quit:

I took Bupropion (Zyban) for approx. two weeks. It's a medication similar to Chantix, but it's used in conjunction with nicotine supplements whereas Chantix allows you to smoke like the first week or two before quiting completely. With Burpropion you let it build up in your system and soon cigarettes will start tasting funny...like metallic.

Some people prefer Chantix instead, but it really upsets my stomach and gives me weird and vivid dreams.

Yea patches are expensive, but think about it like this: if you're successful you'll be saving tons of money. It's an investment toward a healthier (and cheaper) lifestyle. Personally, I used two or three 21mg patches everyday. It's not recommended, but hell, you smoke two packs a day already. Think about how much nicotine you're getting already. I used to smoke one to one-and-a-half packs a day. The whole goal is to kick your habit of smoking...not the actual nicotine addiction just yet. Once you get rid of the habit, your chances of being successful are far greater. That's why patches are great because they can deliver nicotine to your body, feeding its addiction, while you're getting used to the smoke-free lifestyle. Make sense?

As for using the patches, this is going to sound stupid to a lot of you but it worked for me and I'm sure I'm not the only one. I'd go to work in the morning without one on, I'd then wait about an hour, till I got very strong cravings for nicotine. Then I'd escape to the bathroom...sit on the toilet, put the patch on the inside of my arm, and hold it there with my eyes closed and my head tilted back. I'd imagine it rushing through my veins as I relaxed, like heroin. Sounds crazy but it really has a good effect on tackling those cravings. Treat putting on a patch like a "fix." It seems a lot more satisfying this way, especially when you're feening bad. This is why I used so many patches everyday. I needed those moments of artificial euphoria so-to-speak.

After about two weeks of using the patch, I just simply quit that cold turkey. Was very easy actually. The hardest thing is just making an adjustment to physically not putting a cigarette in your mouth...especially after meals, in the car, after sex, when you're drinking, etc. I'd recommend not drinking for at least a month. And find new hobbies to do after meals. Chew gum while you're driving...or eat a Blow Pop. Something to keep you occupied and not thinking of a cigarette. Take care of that habit of smoking first. That's most important. Kicking the actual addiction is a lot easier.

Everyone is different though. This is how I quit. You'll find out little quirks about yourself that keep you distracted. Just experiment and find out what works for you.

I tried chantix. Worked well, but the first time I went to a bar and smelled smoke, I started right back smoking the same pack a day I was before.

I tried cold turkey. Worked well, but the first drink I took, I started right back smoking the same as I did before.

I tried the gum, tasted bad so it didn't last for me.

Finally, I tried the patches. I decided to do it just as the instructions said. THat finally worked. I still get the urge to smoke from time to time, but it is not so bad I cannot overcome it.

Basically, some things work for some people, and for others it doesn't. You just gotta find what works.

I was forced to quit before because I was seriously ill around 5years ago and never looked back, but I would try the patchs/speaking to doctor first.

I can't stress this enough either. A good support group makes all the difference.

Association is a huge factor in addiction. For me I was drinking and playing FFXI all the time. The only way I was able to kick the habit was by quitting FFXI. You wouldn't believe how effective it actually is. If you get the desire to smoke when you play FFXI, I'd say FFXI sadly might have to go, at least temporarily.

I'd also look into gum. I have no idea what nicotine withdrawal is like but keeping mentally stable may be an important factor to kicking the addiction. Then again, for me, the best incentive not to drink was just how horrible I felt so being on the fritz might be good for you.

That said, no two people will quit the same substance the same way, so you need to try and see what works for you.

They work for some people because of cue <-> reward feeling of habits.

you can get the cue still because you taste the smoke, but no or reduced reward of nicotine comes so you unhook the cue from the reward. subconsciously it becomes harder to associate smoking cigarettes with the reward of nicotine. it only works if you have the willpower to follow through though, if you still have to have that reward you won't get any benefit from the electric cigarette because you'll just go back to smoking to get the reward.

On the subject of "Cold-Turkey", it also gives a heightened risk of heart attack for the first 48 hours. In which i read in the paper around a year ago when i quit so it may be wise to talk to a doctor first if you have any medical problems. Also i walk into bars and near people that smoke all the time and the smell makes me sick and i cant stand it now, but yes having a real reason and goal helps like trying to quit so it isnt around your daughter etc

Honestly you should just try cutting down. 2 packs a day is a lot. I used to smoke a pack a day several years ago. Now a pack lasts me about 5-7 days. I don't have any desire or need to quit atm, but I would think cutting down would help.

I've heard of and know stories of people going cold turkey, but that's not for everyone. Also I believe there are serious health risks going cold turkey when you're at 2 packs a day.

So my advice would be just to cut down and see how that goes.