One reason why it is so difficult to quit smoking is due to the extreme addictiveness of the chemical nicotine that is found in tobacco. When people stop smoking, their body goes into withdrawal, causing them to crave the nicotine from their cigarettes. Many products and medications are available to help with the physical symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. One medication that alleviates these symptoms without supplying any nicotine is the drug Chantix.
Step 1
Talk to your doctor before you plan to quit smoking. Chantix is available only by prescription and works best if you start taking it before you try to quit smoking.
Step 2
One week before your scheduled "quit date," start taking one of the white Chantix pills daily. Take Chantix after eating and with a glass of water. Do this for the first three days.
Step 3
After you have taken Chantix for three days, begin taking two white pills per day. Take one white pill in the morning and one in the evening, again only after eating and with a glass of water. Do this for four days.
Step 4
Once you have been on Chantix for a week (three days of one pill a day and four days of two pills a day), switch to taking two blue pills each day (one in the morning and one in the evening). This should also coincide with your "quit date," so you can try to stop smoking now. Follow this routine for 11 weeks, which will complete a course of your medication.
Tips and Warnings
- If you slip up and smoke while taking the blue pills, you do not need to start over. Just continue taking Chantix and try to avoid smoking.
