Paul, funny you mention drugs.

My sister is a pediatrician and of course had been after me for years to quick smoking.

When I finally did, she had me go to my GP for a script for valium to go along with the patch.

I'm pretty sure the valium kept me from going insane. Quitting smoking was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life.

It is still hard. I don't care about smoking but it is the nicotine I still crave. I saw a pack of cigarettes a couple of weeks ago and actually thought about eating a cigarette.

It's tough.

I was addicted to tobacco for 21 years. Buy a package of nicorette gum for her. It relieves the craving for nicotine and chewing gum also has a calming effect. She will get through the flight without problems. Nicorette freed me from nicotine addiction six years ago without any relapse.

oh my gosh, thelmaandlouise, the exact thing happened to me. I remember saying to myself,"That's my last cigarette." and it was. I just didn't want one anymore. Believe me, I was totally shocked that I actually succeeded because I had tried everything else. However, I'm scared to quit taking the wellbutrin--I'm afraid that I'll start smoking again.

I'm afraid I am guilty of not being clear in my previous posts. It is definitely NOT advisable to smoke while wearing a nicotine patch. My intent was not to recommend this - heaven forfend! - rather to respond to the post that seemed to advise against using the patches at all. They have proven very useful for many smokers and should be considered as an option.
I will say, though, that the Xanax recommendations do scare me a bit - Xanax is a popularly used/abused drug but does not remove the urge to smoke; you just wind up with a groggy smoker. Buproprion - the same drug is marketed as an antidepressant under the name Wellbutrin and as a stop smoking aid under the name Zyban, and both are now available in generic form - does tame the cravings. It is not without side effects, though, including an increase in blood pressure, headache and insomnia, and must be started gradually over a few days. Also please note that it is only the timed release form that has been proven useful for quitting. The latest research sugegsts that whatever replacement product is used, it should be continued for at least a few months for the best chances of a permanent quit.
What started as a plea for strategies to tame the nicodragon for a few hours has evolved into an interesting discussion. Please remember that kicking the nicotine habit is an individualized thing, and while some folks are able to just go cold turkey, most cannot, and if using any sort of a replacement therapy, please discuss with your health care provider. Congratulations to all you former smokers and future former smokers!

Will chewing tobacco help through the flight?

Hm. I don't know much about chewing tobacco except that peopkle who use it spit a lot. Not a good thing for the person sitting nest to her - aka, me.

I asked at the drugs store for the nicotine water called Nico, Rite Aid here no longer carries it.

The gum or lozenges sound like good possibilities but they are really pricey and my budget for this trip has been stretched as far as I would like it to be. If I knew she could adequately take care of this herself at the airport I wouldn't bother.

Seamus is right about people's reactions to various methods. I was really glad that the Zyban worked for me but my father did and was unsuccessful. I won't know of course whether his resolve was was strong as it needed to be. I know when I quit I was so sick of being contolled by smoking that a little physical help was all I needed.

And doxungirl, I stayed on the Zyban as directed for use as a smoking cessation aide, I think six weeks total including the first two weeks of smoking while on it. When I went off I didn't feel any greater urge to smoke. I think by then I was well on the way to detoxing.

So thank you all for the helpful input...and good job an all your quittings! Leaves more $$ for travel!

FainaAgain, The tobacco i was addicted to was Chewing Tobacco. It is more addictive than cigarettes. Most first time users of chewing tobacco throw up the first few times they use it because it is so strong and they don't have the ability to keep it in their cheak and out of their throut. I don't think anyone wants the throw up on a flight and develop another habit.

Congratulations to everyone who successfully quit smoking. I know it's a tough habit to break. My husband quit smoking and drinking (cold turkey) at the same time and he told me he never had the urge for another drink, but everytime someone lit up a cigarette, he wanted one too. Quitting smoking was the hardest thing he's ever done. He's in AA and that made it even harder because at the meetings there is a lot of smoking going on!
Thelmaandlouise, you are so considerate to worry about your sister's anxiety during the flight. And I totally agree that a vacation is not the time to try to get her to quit smoking. I pressured my husband to quit for so long and he would not even try. When I stopped bugging him, that's when he decided on his own to quit. The same with my father who smoked for over 50 years--just up and decided to quit one day on his own. He hasn't smoked since (about 10 years)!

Wemr, you gave me an idea... where is that thread about obese people on the plane? Just put tobacco in your mouth, throw up - ditto, you got few seats for yourself! ;)

antlori, I have heard from many people that quiting smoking and drinking at the same time is dangerous. The body has to go through too many changes at once. Congrats to your husband. He went through hell and got extremely lucky.

I would certaninly not recommend that the poster's sister quits smoking while on vacation. It is a very miserable event. Quiting, that is! Extreme irritability is one of the side effects in many people. But a week later you start feeling really better than you ever have.