Questions for my fellow smokers, nicotine gum?

30 Comments

I really want to quit smoking, and am having alot of trouble because I, of course, feel like shit whenever I try to. I'm tight on money, and nicotine gum is so much more damn expensive than the one dollar packet of Swisher sweet cigars that I've been smoking for over a year now. I want to get the gum but I first want to ask any of you on here if you've tried quitting with gum, and if it was successful or not.

If nicotine gum really gives you at least some of the same feeling that a few drags off a cigarette gives you, I know that I can continue to settle my nicotine cravings without fucking up my lungs anymore with smoke and toxins.

I am tired of knowing how much my lungs are fucked up and all nasty-ass black and tary now from all my smoking, but I'm also sick of having so much trouble trying to quit. And since the nicotine gum is so expensive, I just want to know if I'll be wasting the minimal amount of money I've got on them. I just want to know by asking around anyone who's already been there, how effective is the nicotine gum on reducing cravings to smoke?

Very effective 0
Sorta effective but not that much 1
Not worth a shit, you'd feel no better than if you quit cold turkey 8
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Comments ( 30 )
  • leggs91200
    4 years ago

    First you would have to quit smoking THEN have to quit nicotine gum.
    Probably better off to slow down on smoking until you quit completely.

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      4 years ago

      I read that tapering off of smoking doesn't work like with some drugs like opiates. Whether you smoke one puff a day or 2 packs a day, withdrawal is just as bad either way. That's what I read anyway.

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      • leggs91200
        4 years ago

        I have a hard time believing that.
        When people say that, I like to turn it around and ask, "So if someone hasn't quit yet, they might as well smoke their full amount rather than cut back?"
        Indulging a bad habit LESS is always at least a step forward.

        If you want to quit, just do it before you end up with some kind of cancer. Some people quit only when it is truly life and death.

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        • Anonymous Post Author
          4 years ago

          I read a couple of articles that said that quitting after one cigarette a day gave you the same level of withdrawal as cutting 20 cigarettes a day. These weren't personal comments saying that, they were published articles.

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          • leggs91200
            4 years ago

            I was off smoking for 1.5 years and recently smoked about 6 out of a pack but didn't like it. I figured "do i really want to go back to this?" and had my room mate destroy the rest. I haven't even wanted one in a week. Of course the "experts" think thst is impossible.

            The only reason these articles make it sound like quitting is harder than it is is so companies can sell stuff like gums or patches.

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            • Anonymous Post Author
              4 years ago

              The experts saying that it's impossible doesn't make it so. There have been many things in this world that experts have claimed to be impossible which have turned out not to be so. You are more than correct about people who say that withdrawal is long and difficult just to sell patches and gum. It's like those infomercials that claim to have this groundbreaking new item which in reality is nothing better than something you can pick up for cheap at the store around the corner. I believe now that I was wrong to be gullible and believe those articles. I haven't smoked in a day and I'm really not feeling as bad as I thought I would. I think I can do it this time, and I will.

              I guess that I got it all cooked up in my mind on thinking that it was gonna be an excruciatingly bad deal. They do say that withdrawal is always at least 50℅ mental. But, I'm not going to say that there isn't physical withdrawal as well because there is, especially with harder drugs and alcohol

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  • LloydAsher
    4 years ago

    You are better off vaping If you want to keep the sensation of smoking. Nicotine gum is too much nicotine at once and will make your mouth go all tingly.

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      4 years ago

      I'm not sure about vaping because you're still inhaling toxins and prolonging healing your lungs, aren't you? With nicotine gum, you're no longer harming your lungs.

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      • LloydAsher
        4 years ago

        If you are so concerned with your health. Go cold Turkey,if you want to ease into it and cut 95% of the poison crap from your lungs, vape.

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        • Anonymous Post Author
          4 years ago

          Ok. I just wasn't sure if vape was that much safer for the lungs or not

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          • LloydAsher
            4 years ago

            Vape usually contain just three ingredients and water. Nicotine, flavoring and vegetable binder to bind the nicotine to something so it doesn't clump up. Of course dont go overboard with it but it's a hell of a lot safer than cigarettes with tar and crap.

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            • Anonymous Post Author
              4 years ago

              Yes. Anything's better than inhaling smoke directly into your lungs. My mother once said about smokers, and she was a quit smoker at that time and she never started again thank God, anyway she said that you might as well literally suck on an exhaust pipe while the car's running because either way you're breathing horrible toxins straight into your lungs. I haven't smoked in about 24 hours now and I'm determined this time to stay with it. I'll use my mom as an example actually, if she succeeded in quitting smoking, then so can I

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  • Batman950
    4 years ago

    Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW. They are a great resource and will coach you through it and depending on your age they will mail you nicotine gum or patches for free.

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  • SwickDinging
    4 years ago

    Nicotine withdrawal only lasts 72 hours. Everything else is psychological. All nicotine gum does is prolong your physical addiction to nicotine. Bite the bullet and go cold turkey.

    Not drinking or doing drugs will help - those were always my trigger situations and I'd instantly cave. If you stay sober for a couple of weeks and exercise your will power you will succeed.

    I went for a run if I was really desperate for a cig, even at night. It helped massively.

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      4 years ago

      I'll quit cold turkey then if it's really better after only 72 hours, I can sweat that out. I just heard people say before that the physical part can last a month or more, and one woman told me that the physical withdrawal can last numerous months. I guess they were wrong. Thank God. That's what made it so difficult to quit, me believing that I have months of it ahead of me. But me quitting on the mindset that it would be rough for only 3 days, that'll make it much easier

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      • SwickDinging
        4 years ago

        It will be rough for longer than 3 days, for sure. I'm afraid it's true that it will be hard for months. But you will not suffer from physical withdrawal symptoms for longer than 3 days, I promise you that.

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  • litelander8
    4 years ago

    The gum burns my throat. If I'm flying, I'll chew about half and spit it out as soon as I feel it. I'm no expert, but from what I've heard it takes three days for the chemical addiction to leave. It's the physical that's hard to get over. Get some regular gum and a fidget spinner.

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      4 years ago

      You mean that the worst of nicotine withdrawal is over after 3 days? I thought that it was alot longer than that. I heard that you're battling physical withdrawal for about a good month or so, and mental withdrawal can last several months. That's what has made me quitting so hard, me mentally knowing how long I'm going to feel awful from withdrawal.

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  • CountessDouche
    4 years ago

    I've quit & done both the patch & gum.

    So the gum:

    first off, it's pretty gross. The mint doesn't taste awful, but the release of nicotine makes your mouth tingle & feel numb & weird. You also have to hold the chewed piece against your gums like chewing tobacco for nicotine absorption, so it's overall unpleasant.

    Also, it's slow release, so it doesn't give you a "hit" of nicotine like smoking would.

    It does help with strong cravings, but nicotine replacements in general are something you have to decide on. They do help ease the quitting process, but also prolong it quite a bit. So you have to decide whether you want an agonizing, quick experience, or a slow one.

    For me, the hugest factor in being able to quit was recognizing my "triggers." There were certain things that I strongly, strongly associated with smoking, so I had to replace smoking with something else. This is why a lot of people have success with vape- it weans you off the nicotine while giving you the physical feeling of smoking.

    There's some book by a guy named Alan carr that a lot of ex smokers swear by. You might want to check that out.

    Anyways, congratulations on making the decision. For me, that was one of the hardest parts. You should be proud of yourself.

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      4 years ago

      Thank you. It is a decision that I really would like to succeed at. When you're still keeping yourself addicted to nicotine through nicotine gum though, you're at least no longer harming your lungs with smoke and toxins, that still seems like a step forward to me. I could continue to battle getting off the nicotine gum but at least my lungs would be healing.

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      • CountessDouche
        4 years ago

        Oh yeah, you're definitely right about the gum being preferable health-wise. I was just trying to let you know about some of the negative aspects so you could make an informed decision before you purchase it.

        If you've had trouble quitting cold turkey, it's definitely a useful crutch.

        Quitting in general is the best choice. Do whatever you need to do to get there.

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        • Anonymous Post Author
          4 years ago

          Ok. Because gum is less harmful for the lungs than smoking, I'll do that so I don't have such bad withdrawal. I'll switch to the gum

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    • CountessDouche
      4 years ago

      Oh also, for me the gum was better than the patch for a few reasons.

      It was faster because there was no constant supply of nicotine, so I could use it only when I had a strong craving.

      It was gross AF, so I didn't want it unless I needed it.

      Be careful though, because there are tons of people who get addicted to the gum.

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      • Anonymous Post Author
        4 years ago

        Getting addicted to the nicotine gum though, at least you'd no longer be messing up your lungs and blackening your lungs, would you?

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        • leggs91200
          4 years ago

          No. Gum has no effect on your lungs.

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          • Anonymous Post Author
            4 years ago

            Good, I didn't think so. It's the smoke that blackens the lungs. I'm going to quit smoking now. I'm actually starting to feel pretty stoked about it now, I'll probably soon be able to breathe easier than I've been able to in months. And risk of stroke goes down too if you quit smoking, doesn't it

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            • leggs91200
              4 years ago

              Yes it does.
              BTW, use that motivation to start a solid quit.

              I would say the best time to quit is when you will have at least two or three days to suffer in peace, like say at the start of the weekend. That way you do not have people at work pissing you off and making you want to light up.

              The point is, try to plan for a day when you can get your heels firmly planted to get the best start.

              ALSO, toss out any tobacco as to avoid temptation. Now me, honestly, if I had cigarettes laying around I would smoke. I bought s pack a week ago and smoked a few but had my room mate destroy the remaining ones cause I simply cannot resist smoking if there are any available.

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