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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Ame Sans Vie on May 13, 2004, at 17:00:13
Okay, so some of you may remember that I quit smoking a while back using the Nicotrol Inhaler. Well, I started back again when my father passed away Feb. 7... and now that his good-for-nothing daughter is contesting his Will which leaves the estate to my mother (claiming my mother *fraudulently* created the document [and apparently *fraudulently* BECAME my father for a moment so she could appear in person to file it at the Courthouse... that delusional, reprehensible little..................]).
Okay, that was the rant, and I swear it's leading up to something. My grandfather and his new wife (his last wife died of cancer three years ago) are coming from Florida to Texas to visit us for the first time in five years... I woke up today realizing I *gotta* quit smoking, but I needed a little chemical assistance. Called my pdoc first; he's all out of Nicotrol samples. Not even any lousy Wellbutrin XL pimp-packs to give me! The nurse offered to phone in something to the pharmacy for me, but all three prescriptions I receive on Medicaid are used up for the month. We're really scrimping and saving right now, what with the upcoming court battle and all... oh, and still paying off his funeral/cremation... <sigh>... I simply don't have the hundred bucks (the price *DOUBLED* in six months??) to spare at the moment. So, I went to see my family doctor, thinking he surely had some samples of *something*. No such luck.
But he gave me a much, much less expensive alternative -- looks like I'm gonna give amantadine a whirl for smoking cessation! Hey, if it's been helpful in breaking cocaine abuse, surely it'll do something. And meanwhile I guess I'll finally get to try this med that I've always been so curious about; other than it's sister-drug, rimantadine, it's the only primarily dopamine-releasing drug I can think of.
Oh, and I figured, you know, since I was there and all, why not ask her for some Somas? Thirty of the delicious round whiteys with two PRN (i.e. non time-restricted) refills. Heh.
Looks like I'll be waiting till tomorrow though... huge storm tonight. Tornado watches, power outages and all that great fun to look forward to. I'm definitely going to that quaint little pharmacy I mentioned in an above thread, though -- Walgreens and Eckerd each wanted a total of about $40 for amantadine 100mg x 30 + carisoprodol 350mg x 30; this place quoted me $8.75! ;-)
Anyway, maybe I'll hate the stuff, but it'll still be $3 well-spent. Will be updating!
~Michael
Posted by chemist on May 13, 2004, at 19:45:39
In reply to Wasn't expecting *this* when I woke up today..., posted by Ame Sans Vie on May 13, 2004, at 17:00:13
> Okay, so some of you may remember that I quit smoking a while back using the Nicotrol Inhaler. Well, I started back again when my father passed away Feb. 7... and now that his good-for-nothing daughter is contesting his Will which leaves the estate to my mother (claiming my mother *fraudulently* created the document [and apparently *fraudulently* BECAME my father for a moment so she could appear in person to file it at the Courthouse... that delusional, reprehensible little..................]).
>
> Okay, that was the rant, and I swear it's leading up to something. My grandfather and his new wife (his last wife died of cancer three years ago) are coming from Florida to Texas to visit us for the first time in five years... I woke up today realizing I *gotta* quit smoking, but I needed a little chemical assistance. Called my pdoc first; he's all out of Nicotrol samples. Not even any lousy Wellbutrin XL pimp-packs to give me! The nurse offered to phone in something to the pharmacy for me, but all three prescriptions I receive on Medicaid are used up for the month. We're really scrimping and saving right now, what with the upcoming court battle and all... oh, and still paying off his funeral/cremation... <sigh>... I simply don't have the hundred bucks (the price *DOUBLED* in six months??) to spare at the moment. So, I went to see my family doctor, thinking he surely had some samples of *something*. No such luck.
>
> But he gave me a much, much less expensive alternative -- looks like I'm gonna give amantadine a whirl for smoking cessation! Hey, if it's been helpful in breaking cocaine abuse, surely it'll do something. And meanwhile I guess I'll finally get to try this med that I've always been so curious about; other than it's sister-drug, rimantadine, it's the only primarily dopamine-releasing drug I can think of.
>
> Oh, and I figured, you know, since I was there and all, why not ask her for some Somas? Thirty of the delicious round whiteys with two PRN (i.e. non time-restricted) refills. Heh.
>
> Looks like I'll be waiting till tomorrow though... huge storm tonight. Tornado watches, power outages and all that great fun to look forward to. I'm definitely going to that quaint little pharmacy I mentioned in an above thread, though -- Walgreens and Eckerd each wanted a total of about $40 for amantadine 100mg x 30 + carisoprodol 350mg x 30; this place quoted me $8.75! ;-)
>
> Anyway, maybe I'll hate the stuff, but it'll still be $3 well-spent. Will be updating!
>
> ~Michaelexpect it to work. amantadine derivatives bind with higher affinity than nicotine itself in the neuronal nicotine receptor......all the best, chemist
Posted by Sabina on May 13, 2004, at 22:59:03
In reply to Wasn't expecting *this* when I woke up today..., posted by Ame Sans Vie on May 13, 2004, at 17:00:13
Good luck to you, with both quitting smoking and the upcoming challenges in your life. I'll be keeping you in my thoughts.
Posted by Ame Sans Vie on May 14, 2004, at 7:07:07
In reply to Re: Wasn't expecting *this* when I woke up today... » Ame Sans Vie, posted by Sabina on May 13, 2004, at 22:59:03
Posted by Racer on May 14, 2004, at 12:48:57
In reply to Wasn't expecting *this* when I woke up today..., posted by Ame Sans Vie on May 13, 2004, at 17:00:13
For those of us who also want to quit, but have found it impossible so far, please keep us posted!
Not to mention anything I might be a little sensitive to, but would you also mention whether you gain weight, and if so if it's a function of eating more?
Thanks and good luck! Remember, you're quitting for us all, so if it's hard, that's why.
Posted by rod on May 14, 2004, at 19:39:21
In reply to Let us know how it goes! » Ame Sans Vie, posted by Racer on May 14, 2004, at 12:48:57
I am a smoker, and noticed not a single bit of an anti nicotine craving effect from Amantadine.
Memantine did a lot. I even forgot to dring my coffee after lunch (very very unusual), much decreased need to smoke etc. Thats one of the few positive things I can say about Memantine.
Posted by patricia leahy on May 14, 2004, at 22:31:24
In reply to Wasn't expecting *this* when I woke up today..., posted by Ame Sans Vie on May 13, 2004, at 17:00:13
> nice to meet you, can you explain what these things are your talking about? my pdoc gave me the nicotrol inhaler too but with alot of S--- going on around me havent had the guts to use it, but do want to quit smoking too. thanks
Okay, so some of you may remember that I quit smoking a while back using the Nicotrol Inhaler. Well, I started back again when my father passed away Feb. 7... and now that his good-for-nothing daughter is contesting his Will which leaves the estate to my mother (claiming my mother *fraudulently* created the document [and apparently *fraudulently* BECAME my father for a moment so she could appear in person to file it at the Courthouse... that delusional, reprehensible little..................]).
>
> Okay, that was the rant, and I swear it's leading up to something. My grandfather and his new wife (his last wife died of cancer three years ago) are coming from Florida to Texas to visit us for the first time in five years... I woke up today realizing I *gotta* quit smoking, but I needed a little chemical assistance. Called my pdoc first; he's all out of Nicotrol samples. Not even any lousy Wellbutrin XL pimp-packs to give me! The nurse offered to phone in something to the pharmacy for me, but all three prescriptions I receive on Medicaid are used up for the month. We're really scrimping and saving right now, what with the upcoming court battle and all... oh, and still paying off his funeral/cremation... <sigh>... I simply don't have the hundred bucks (the price *DOUBLED* in six months??) to spare at the moment. So, I went to see my family doctor, thinking he surely had some samples of *something*. No such luck.
>
> But he gave me a much, much less expensive alternative -- looks like I'm gonna give amantadine a whirl for smoking cessation! Hey, if it's been helpful in breaking cocaine abuse, surely it'll do something. And meanwhile I guess I'll finally get to try this med that I've always been so curious about; other than it's sister-drug, rimantadine, it's the only primarily dopamine-releasing drug I can think of.
>
> Oh, and I figured, you know, since I was there and all, why not ask her for some Somas? Thirty of the delicious round whiteys with two PRN (i.e. non time-restricted) refills. Heh.
>
> Looks like I'll be waiting till tomorrow though... huge storm tonight. Tornado watches, power outages and all that great fun to look forward to. I'm definitely going to that quaint little pharmacy I mentioned in an above thread, though -- Walgreens and Eckerd each wanted a total of about $40 for amantadine 100mg x 30 + carisoprodol 350mg x 30; this place quoted me $8.75! ;-)
>
> Anyway, maybe I'll hate the stuff, but it'll still be $3 well-spent. Will be updating!
>
> ~Michael
Posted by harryp on May 15, 2004, at 3:44:53
In reply to Wasn't expecting *this* when I woke up today..., posted by Ame Sans Vie on May 13, 2004, at 17:00:13
This may seem gross--but I actually think it's good for smoking cessation. And it's cheap!
Leaf chewing tobacco.
(I think Lancaster Premium is the best)(Keep in mind that I do NOT recommend snuff (i.e. Copenhagen. It is highly processed and adulterated for max. nicotine release, can damage the mouth, and is possibly more addictive than cigarettes. Its effect is almost like a nicotine injection.)
Advantages of Leaf over Cigarettes
1. Your lungs start to heal
2. Exercise becomes easier
(which is itself a great alternative to nicotine)3. You stop smelling like smoke. (Although for heaven's sake use mouthwash and breath-mints before kissing anyone!)
3. Habit is kind of gross--you probably don't want people to see you doing it, so you have a natural tendency to do it less than smoking.
4. Easier to reduce dose of nicotine by using smaller amounts.
I recall reading a medical journal article in which chew tobacco was suggested as an healther alternative to cigarettes for patients with lung problems who simply could not quit. The author admitted that publicly advocating leaf tobacco to smokers for health reasons was politically impossible!I use leaf rarely, but it is invaluable when I'm on a long drive across Texas and need to stay awake. It's also helped me get over anxiety/writing blocks. Nicotine is truly an amazing drug: stimulating and anxiety-relieving at the same time!
Too bad it's so addictive.
Best of luck with the legal mess and your relatives' visit.
This is the end of the thread.
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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