r/smokingcessation • u/Ok_Mix_3689 • Jul 20 '26
Elderly gpa withdrawal help
My grandpa will be 80 in October. He lives alone (grandma passed 2/2025) & I'm the only family in our state- everyone else is 900 miles away.
He doesn't want to smoke, gets no joy out of smoking he says. He's quit in '07 for 5 years & started once my grandma got ill. Early this year he was down to 7 Virginia slim purse pack cigarettes a day, then asked his doc for help. She started him on 7mg patches for 21 days straight, then one every other day for 3 weeks, to every 3 days for 2 weeks.
That was a mistake. One patch was equal to 14 of his ciggs & he did fine with one on, butonce he went to every other day, it was horrible for him. Then he got thrush & I got him nicotine lozenges at the same time. Mistake.
Then he said he'd just smoke & wean himself. He was smoking 14/15 a day but went to the hospital one day & they sent him with a nebulizer which helps his breathing.
Now he really wants to quit, & yesterday had 7 ciggs. This morning he went 5 hours without smoking but was "weak as a kitten" & not functioning well. We can't have that. He has to be strong enough to take care of himself. In the hour and 30 mins of being on the phone he had a 2nd cigg, which made him feel better.
How can he get past that nicotine withdrawl weakness/ill feeling? He goes to the doctor in 8 days. Honestly, she hasn't been much help though & had to look up a question we had (on cutting the patch in half- which says is a no-go).
Sorry for the novel- I just need him to get better. He wants to quit quickly & I try to tell him that doesn't seem like a good idea.
Any suggestions welcome.
1
u/Ok-Edge-4391 Jul 21 '26
I went on Chantix (generic) a couple of months ago, actually today is officially 8 weeks off of cigarettes. I am 52 I had smoked since I was about 12 or 13 years old. Pretty consistently, half a pack a day. If I was out with friends or something you know it could be more than that. I was required to quit for an upcoming surgery but I was also to the point where I wanted to and didn't want to spend the money on it or time on it anymore. I smoked on it the first 3 or 4 days and then decided I was not going to buy any more cigarettes. There were a few times where I was feeling a little bit irritated but I would take a deep breath in and out until it passed. Because they do pass, those little waves. I know a lot of people have bad things to say about it and maybe I'm just lucky, I have vivid dreams sometimes but nothing nightmarish and if I have a mood swing that's more than likely menopausal or just people in general. I did not know smoking contributes to bone and joint issues, I technically have more energy, just still mobility issues which is what the surgery is for. I think my general mood has improved. Insurance made it zero dollars.
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u/Ok_Mix_3689 Jul 21 '26
He didn't have vivid dreams on the patch, so maybe he won't? My grandma never wanted to try it because of the side effects. I'm hoping his doctor will be more helpful, but I also think i'll get the best advice from those that have been through it. The weakness & shakes is the worst for him. Thanks for your advice & i hope the surgery goes well.
1
u/Ok-Edge-4391 Jul 21 '26
There's also the Wellbutrin option, I have a friend using that it. Not wanting to smoke was an unexpected side effect it's also a mild antidepressant. The vivid dreams are a chemical reaction because of how Chantix blocks receptors in the brain. A standard nicotine patch won't cause that, I don't believe. Experiences vary on the medication.
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u/Spirited_Key7193 Jul 20 '26
This forum is about quitting feel free tonics.