I've been trying to give up smoking for years - I am absolutely broke and really can't afford to, my chesty cough is awful; I'm in my mid 20s and I worry about getting COPD or cancer when my DD is young and leaving her early.
However, I've never managed to do it in the past. And I recently got diagnosed with ADHD, and have been prescribed stimulant meds for this which massively help my symptoms, but make me want to smoke more than ever. I used to work at a doctors (left a few weeks ago) and upon hearing my cough, one of the doctors prescribed me champix. It has worked amazingly! Within 10 days I had no urge to smoke, and a week later, I'm smoke free.
However, he only prescribed me 4 weeks worth (this is the usual prescription at first, I think). But you're supposed to take it for 12 weeks. I'm really scared that if I stop taking it, I'll start smoking again.
But.. I have a history of depression (never formally diagnosed but had a brief stint on antidepressants), antenatal depression which I saw a counsellor for, and anxiety. A lot of this was situational based; I've had a pretty shitty life so far in a lot of respects and mostly doctors have agreed that this is the cause. I've never been on long term medication or have been suicidal or anything like that.
I've since read that champix shouldn't be prescribed to people with a history of mental illness. The doctor didn't know this when he prescribed it to me - he didn't ask. I get that this is probably bad practice, but he is one of the loveliest doctors ever - plus he always said about how happy and smiley I always was so probably never thought this.
I want to go to my own doctors and get a further prescription, but I'm not sure whether to say I'd got prescribed it before - I don't want to say this if I could get the guy in trouble; he was doing me a favour, and I am very fond of him. Never known a doctor who cares about his patients so much, and I definitely don't want him in trouble with the GMC or anything!
Although - I was put on at my workplace as a temporary patient (to get the flu jab, not just for this) which meant he was able to prescribe it; so maybe my normal doctor would have got a letter or something anyway?
I don't think they'd prescribe it if I didn't tell them that I've been taking it and my mental health has been fine. Better than ever I'd say, as I feel so bloody proud, healthy and have £200 or so less money worries a month (the absolute primary cause of any anxiety I do suffer with is money issues). The only other thing is if I said I got given it by a friend? I really really don't want to stop taking it and go back to smoking. I've managed to quit several drug addictions throughout my life, but never smoking. I'm so scared I'll start again.
What do I do?