Quit smoking a year ago - sick ever since!

Well I wrote a very long post but the site decided to cut it off at the first sentence....what I was saying is that look at askapatient's nicorette review page and browse the horror stories of people taking it long term at 20mg+ daily - teeth fall out, so does hair, depression, wrinkles, etc..horrible stuff. So I think 1-5mg daily maximum. Someone back said after 3 years of feeling bad they started smoking 3 a day and their illness went away..Another thing worth experimenting with are adaptogenic herbs(Rhodiola Rosea in particular).

Seems like stopping nicotine abruptly can trigger some sort of hormone oscillations that can last months or years.

Yes, that is what I have tried several times with the lozenge and it works but with blurred vision. I am trying to figure out if it's the nicotine or something else in the lozenge that is causing it. No point in ruining almost 2 year quit for something that will not work. But I do agree with you that a very low dose of nicotine might cure the problems.

And of course yes the issue with a low dose nic is that you have to deal with 24/7 cravings for more...but if it helps better than feeling like s*** i guess

Yes, must be careful about smoking more or having cravings but last time I quit for 4 months, I went from 1 pack a day to just 7 cigs a day with very little effort. 7 a day was what I wanted. No cravings, no health problems like now. It worked. I think if you NEVER get used to smoking more, you are happy with less. This was before lozenges and vaping were around so can't do comparison. It was cigs or patches. For me, I am wondering if vaping small amounts would "cure me" and be the least amount of nicotine and hopefully controllable so I don't vape a lot.

Clearly it's the Nicotine for me...Again I'm not suggesting having TAR but lower dose of Nicotine through Vap. For me Nicotine Gums and Lozenge didn't do it. So everyone should find they own Nicotine dose (Without TAR) method. BTW I met a women a few month ago that has been having 2mg Gums 4 time a day for the last 5 years. She's ok and she does not feel bad or Ill

Kathy I am also trying to start nicotine lozenge or vaping if it helps but just scared that I will start it but don't get benefit so I need some assurance. For you information brain fog I faced as well in the first year after quitting smoking but I got rid of brain fog in few months. I think all the old 6-7 years smokers of this site should come back and let us know about their lives after 6-7 without nicotine

If four 2Mg gums a day keeps me going I will be very happy as four 2 Mg wont be bad for the pocket and health both

I can understand why people would want to continue getting nicotine into their system then live without it. I smoked for 25 years and quit a year ago. I started when I was fourteen and at that time had horrible anxiety. In some weird way smoking/nicotine helped. But by nineteen, I was at a psychiatrists office getting anti depressants and Klonopin for my severe anxiety borderline agoraphobia. I never gave up cigerattes until one year ago. The side effects of horrible depression are a daily struggle for me even being on my meds. My anxiety has been fine, thank goodness, but my depression is severe. I never want to get out of bed and some days I don't . I can sleep twelve to fourteen hours straight which I could never do before quitting. I never feel happy. I am snappy and short tempered, where I had always been told I was patient and kind. I'm so sad I ever put nicotine and all the harmful chemicals in my body. I also gained twenty pounds and can't lose a pound. I'm so sorry for all of us that are struggling and I am trying to stay strong, nicotine free.

Sorry it has been rough for you. I hope we ALL find peace from quitting smoking.

But nicotine gave you some relief for 2 decades as well ,through negative effects of smoking are associated as well.

When Tar is involved it’s not good...cigarette is TAR.

I quit cigs about 5 years ago and replaced them with vaping. I quit vaping 5 days ago. I experience what I think is brain fog. My head gets light or dizzy anf I then feel like c**p. Sprinkle in a little depression i believe.

Could low blood sugar cause my foggy head?

No it's unfortunately not that simple. How many mg were you vaping a day?

Makes sense for low dose nicotine to fix things, because a lot of the symptoms people describe here sound like Antidepressant Discontinuation Syndrome. It happens with lexapro, etc. when you stop it abruptly, you get flu-like symptoms and malaise for up to 4 weeks. But I guess for long-term users(many people here smoked for 20+ years) it can last even longer. Since nicotine and antidepressants share some mechanisms it makes sense. ADS resolves within 24hours of starting back on the drug...

Brain fog gets over in few months