Quitting isn’t a single event—it’s a process that begins days before you stub out your final cigarette. The first stage is starting your quit‑smoking medications on schedule so that varenicline and bupropion have time to reach therapeutic levels, prazosin steadies your nerves, and ondansetron stands by to calm any nausea. When Quit Day dawns, your brain chemistry is already shifting away from nicotine, giving you a head‑start onsuccess.

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1. Why Timing Matters

Nicotine addiction is partly chemical. Varenicline occupies the same receptors nicotine loves, reducing cravings and making any “just one puff” far less pleasurable. Bupropion lifts dopamine and norepinephrine, easing withdrawal mood swings. Both drugs need at least seven days in your system to work at full strength. Beginning them on time means you’ll fight urges with medicine, not just willpower.

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2. Your Seven‑Day Lead‑In Schedule

Day –14 to –8 (Optional jump‑start)
If stress or a heavy smoking pattern worries you, you may start bupropion up to two weeks before Quit Day. One pill in the morning for three days, then morning plus late‑afternoon thereafter.

Day –7
^{Begin varenicline. The starter pack steps up the dose:}

• Days –7 to –5:     0.5 mg once daily after food
• Days –4 to –1:     0.5 mg twice daily (morning and supper)

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3. Medication How‑Tos and Pro Tips

Varenicline

Always take with a meal and a full glass of water. Nausea is far milder when your stomach isn’t empty. Shiftthe evening pill to dinnertime rather than bedtime to reduce vivid dreams.

Bupropion

Morning dose + second dose at least eight hours later.Evening pills keep some people awake, so aim for mid‑afternoon. Dry mouth? Chewsugar‑free gum and drink extra water.

Prazosin

Swallow right before lights out. Rise slowly the next morning to avoid a head rush. If daytime anxiety surfaces, talk with your clinician about advancing the dose to an earlier hour.

Ondansetron

Melt one 4 mg tablet under your tongue at the first hint of queasiness. Repeat after four hours if necessary. Staying hydrated and eatingprotein‑rich snacks (cheese, nuts) also helps.

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4. Aligning Medication with Daily Life

Morning Ritual
• Swallow bupropion and the morning varenicline with breakfast.
• Log the dose in your phone or a pill‑tracking app.
• Do a 60‑second breathing exercise to reinforce a calm start.

Midday Check‑In
• Take the second bupropion (if on twice‑daily dosing).
• Quick self‑scan: any nausea? Pop ondansetron if needed.
• Hydrate—finishing your first full water bottle by lunch reduces headaches.

Evening Wind‑Down
• Second varenicline dose with supper.
• Bedtime prazosin once teeth are brushed.
• Plug in phone—alarms set for tomorrow’s meds so you never miss a beat.

Consistency trains your brain and body; every on‑time doseshrinks nicotine’s grip.

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5. Troubleshooting the First Week

Lightheaded after prazosin? Sit on the bed for 30 seconds before standing.
Vivid dreams? Shift varenicline to the earlier dinner slot; dreams usually fade within two weeks.
Forget a pill? Skip and resume the next scheduled dose—doubling up canspike side‑effects.
Still feel strong cravings? Medicines blunt urges but don’t erase them.Use your “Try It Today” techniques (Part 3) and text your quit buddy for a quick morale boost.

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6. Mental Preparation Counts

Starting meds on schedule builds chemical momentum. Pairthat momentum with mindset:

1. Visualize Quit     Day each morning while you     swallow your pills—imagine taking a deep breath that feels cleaner     already.
2. Review your     reasons to quit from Part 1;     repetition keeps motivation sharp.
3. Remind yourself that side‑effects, if they     appear, are usually temporary—minutes to days—while the benefits of     quitting last a lifetime.

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Key Takeaways

• Begin     varenicline exactly seven days before Quit Day (or earlier if your     clinician directs).
• Start bupropion seven     to fourteen days before quitting for mood support.
• Use prazosin     nightly for the first six months to soften anxiety and sleep disruptions.
• Keep ondansetron     on hand; treat nausea quickly so it never undermines your plan.
• Phone alarms, a     pill organizer, and daily visualization make dosing automatic and     purposeful.

With medications underway, you’re approaching Quit Day with both biochemical armor and a confident mindset. Next in the series: how to conquer the first 24 hours smoke‑free and turn chemical support into a lasting habit.

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