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1. lil_duckie

   

   7 posts
   Registered:
   23 May 2024
   14 Nov

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   Hi. I've been trying to quit smoking for about 8yrs. I was offered the patch in hospital after 1 of my bypasses. There's probably been 3 or 4 now and I'm told there's no more room for more.  I tried it only to have blood pressure spike to over 200. I've since tried all the other products but with the same results. Does anyone know of anything I can discuss with doc. My apps is in 2 weeks.   And yes, I've tripped again. 
2. efram, quit coach

   

   242 posts
   Registered:
   29 Nov 2017
   04 Dec in reply to lil_duckie

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   Hi lil_duckie,
   
   Sorry that I'm just coming across your post now, after you've probably already had your doctor's appointment. Hopefully your doctor was able to offer some suggestions for you. If not -- you said that you've tried all the products and had the same results for your blood pressure. 
   
   Just in case there might be a product that you've missed trying so far, it could be good to explore medication options with your doctor, including Zyban and Champix in case it's the stimulant effect in the nicotine that's causing the spike. The medications contain no nicotine. There is also a natural health product which was approved by Health Canada in recent years called Cytisine (available over the counter and marketed under the brand name Craav in Canada). 
   
   Other options to consider would be perhaps talking with your healthcare provider about a low dosage regimen of NRT  (nicotine replacement therapy), or cutting down to quit. Depending on how much you are smoking, cold turkey could potentially work as well. 
   
   I'm also wondering if there might be some medication adjustment that a doctor could recommend for your blood pressure to go along with using a quit aid. 
   
   Hope this helps and wishing you much success.