Posted by wondering on November 15, 2003, at 9:34:44
In reply to Re: wellbutrin to quit smoking, posted by vanessa33 on November 14, 2003, at 19:11:33
I struggled to quit smoking for years. Hated it, but just couldn't stop. Zyban/Wellbutrin + Nicotine patch made it possible. I had tried the patch alone, hypnotherapy, cold turkey, many techniques. It was not until the combination of Zyban + patch that I was able to quit. It was a challenge, but very manageable – surprisingly so.
I think finally quitting smoking was about the best thing I've ever done for myself. (I started at 13 and smoked for 27 years -- with several serious efforts to quit over the last 10 years.)
I would think that the stimulant effect of nicotine might actually be contributing to problems for you -- or masking problems. A couple years after quitting, I was diagnosed with ADHD, inattentive type. I think all those years of smoking, I was "self-medicating" for the ADD.
The course of Zyban for quitting is limited. Seven to ten weeks usually. Once you are off both cigarettes and Zyban, you may find that you feel a lot better. When I quit, I felt physically better immediately. And feeling healthier, I started exercising and taking care of myself in other ways. I think smoking takes a lot out of you (at least that was my experience, but I smoked A LOT).
Some people do have a negative reaction to Wellbutrin. My sister was prescribed it for depression and did not like how she felt on it at all. I, on the other hand, didn’t notice much effect, aside from the fact I was able to make it through day after day without smoking. I tended to wake a bit earlier, feeling more ready to start the day, but that side effect I liked.
Even if you are not scheduled to see him (or her) for some time, you may want to give you psych. doctor a ring to check in before starting. If you have a negative reaction, I think you’ll know it pretty quickly, and can stop. In that case, you might want to try quitting with the Patch alone.
poster:wondering
thread:279783
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031111/msgs/279984.html