Any side effects while on Chantix?

[Tricia]

AZQuitter wrote:

Tricia,
My husband and I both quit using Chantix. The quit was relatively easy. Before starting the Chantix, we moved the smoking outside, and cut back to 12 to 15 cigs a day (from 20+). Then we started the pills. I took the lower dose for the first week, then took the full dose for 3 days. I recognized that it was too strong for me, and dropped back to a full pill in the AM and a half pill about 4 pm. Both times with food. I quit smoking on day 13, I think. I took the 1 1/2 pills for about 10 days, then cut back to a half pill twice a day. After 10 days or so, I cut back to a half pill once a day. Then a quarter. I felt very confident in my quit, and stopped the Chantix completely 8 weeks after I started it. That was almost 15 months ago. My husband took it for only 3 weeks, and quit cold turkey. He had a lot of stomach problems, and said later that he really should have weaned off of it. We had both smoked for over 30 years. We both know we could not have quit without the Chantix, but it has had an effect on us. I do think it changed our brains, but that could be the lack of nicotine.....

Yes it seems that almost everyone has one thing in common- they quit smoking. Even those who had the horrible side effects don't want to smoke anymore.

How do you feel your brain has been changed? I know going off of nicotine will have an effect on your brain but I have never heard of anyone having lingering adverse "brain changes" from quitting without Chantix....like quitters using the patch or going cold turkey from smoking, etc... What you've said interests me greatly. And thank you for responding to my post! I appreciate it! Congratulations on your quit as well!

[Peggy]

My husband took Chantix and is changed for life. He is now diagnosed as bi-polar. He never had any problems before the Chantix.

[Det Bailey]

Det Bailey wrote:

I smoked for 40 years and quit using Chantix. This stuff is great. No cravings, very few side effects. I had the dreams, unusual but not bad, some nausea until I figured out taking it on a full stomach. My big thing is that I have a blister on the inside of my lower lip and another one starting. I have been off of the drug for 4 months and this has been present since I shortly after I started it. I have been trying to find photos of what they describe in the product warnings but have not been successful yet. Anyone else have this? I went to me doc and he thinks it might be a squamous cell carcinoma. I have looked at hundreds of photos of them and don't think so. I will find out tomorrow when I go to a specialist.

Just got back from the doc and found out it was just a mucocele. Whew! Not bad, not contagious, but kind of hurt having it cut out. I still stand behind Chantix. I tried quitting using the patches and gum and lozenges , fake cigarettes, hypnosis, you get the idea. Nothing worked. I took Chantix for one week, put down my smokes, and have been smoke free for 6 months, no cravings, no urges, nothing. I will recommend this stuff to anyone. Of course the side effects can be a problem, but if you pay attention to them and do what they tell you, they can be conquered. The minor ones are a small price to pay to be rid of the cigarettes.

[mememarg]

Det Bailey wrote:

<quoted text>
Just got back from the doc and found out it was just a mucocele. Whew! Not bad, not contagious, but kind of hurt having it cut out. I still stand behind Chantix. I tried quitting using the patches and gum and lozenges , fake cigarettes, hypnosis, you get the idea. Nothing worked. I took Chantix for one week, put down my smokes, and have been smoke free for 6 months, no cravings, no urges, nothing. I will recommend this stuff to anyone. Of course the side effects can be a problem, but if you pay attention to them and do what they tell you, they can be conquered. The minor ones are a small price to pay to be rid of the cigarettes.

OUCH...I had one a few years ago when I was still smoking. Glad it wasn't serious.

I had smoked for over 40 years. Chantix is the only way I would have even attemped a quit so I understand.

CONGRATULATIONS & keep your quit! It keeps getting easier.

[SAS]

mememarg wrote:

<quoted text>
OUCH...I had one a few years ago when I was still smoking. Glad it wasn't serious.
I had smoked for over 40 years. Chantix is the only way I would have even attemped a quit so I understand.
CONGRATULATIONS & keep your quit! It keeps getting easier.

WOW!!! 40 YEARS??? WOW!!!

[Alice]

Tricia wrote:

<quoted text>
Yes it seems that almost everyone has one thing in common- they quit smoking. Even those who had the horrible side effects don't want to smoke anymore.
How do you feel your brain has been changed? I know going off of nicotine will have an effect on your brain but I have never heard of anyone having lingering adverse "brain changes" from quitting without Chantix....like quitters using the patch or going cold turkey from smoking, etc... What you've said interests me greatly. And thank you for responding to my post! I appreciate it! Congratulations on your quit as well!

It does change how your brain works. It kills the dopamine system.

[Alice]

Peggy wrote:

My husband took Chantix and is changed for life. He is now diagnosed as bi-polar. He never had any problems before the Chantix.

Are you sure the doctors are right and he is bi-polar? Is he manic or mostly depressed? Is he sufferering akathisia? I believe chantix acting, as a pesticide, has advanced Parkinson's to the level where is in not seen as killing off enough of the dopamine yet for the tremor to be present.

[Cate]

This is day five of no cigarettes and day 8 on chantix. I am horrendously nauseas. Headaches, fatigue, vivid dreams, trouble staying asleep. I am going to try spreading out the doses but have to get them all in by 6 or I dont sleep. The good news is no cigs. I set a quit date about a month out. Started Chantix a few days before and so far, so good.

[mememarg]

Cate wrote:

This is day five of no cigarettes and day 8 on chantix. I am horrendously nauseas. Headaches, fatigue, vivid dreams, trouble staying asleep. I am going to try spreading out the doses but have to get them all in by 6 or I dont sleep. The good news is no cigs. I set a quit date about a month out. Started Chantix a few days before and so far, so good.

Hi Cate....Sounds like the quit is going well but the side effects not so good. I hope you've talked to your doctor about them. Do make sure you have eaten plenty or it WILL make your stomach not feel good.

Some of us here took half the dosage & it worked well for us. Many of us now have fairly long quits. I've been quit for over 21 months & loving being smoke free.

The other thing I learned from people who posted before I quit was to wean of the Chantix. I did it hoping to not have a HUGE urge hit me & gave me more time to learn how to handle it.

Good luck to you!

[Peggy]

Alice wrote:

<quoted text>
Are you sure the doctors are right and he is bi-polar? Is he manic or mostly depressed? Is he sufferering akathisia? I believe chantix acting, as a pesticide, has advanced Parkinson's to the level where is in not seen as killing off enough of the dopamine yet for the tremor to be present.

Sorry I did not reply sooner.

Yes the official diagnosis is bipolar. The manic depressive episodes cycled quickly for him in the beginning but now the episodes are spreading out. They dont happen as often now.

[Gail]

I was just wondering if anyone commenting on here about chantix/champix could give me some advice heres my situation my uncle has just committed murder after being on the drug for 1 week he has had prior depression and suicide thoughts so i'm not sure why he was prescribed this drug. He says he went into a fit of rage and he was so angry that he strangled her, this is not in his character to do this we are all so shocked.....PLEASE HELP!!!!!!

[Akathisia]

Gail wrote:

I was just wondering if anyone commenting on here about chantix/champix could give me some advice heres my situation my uncle has just committed murder after being on the drug for 1 week he has had prior depression and suicide thoughts so i'm not sure why he was prescribed this drug. He says he went into a fit of rage and he was so angry that he strangled her, this is not in his character to do this we are all so shocked.....PLEASE HELP!!!!!!

I am so sorry to read your post but not surprised. It is not the first one like this or the last I suspect. I believe your uncle and hope you will too and stand by him. I am sorry for the woman who enraged him so and her family some people do not know when to stop.

http://www.antidepressantsfacts.com/Akathisia...

http://www.lucire.com.au/documents/pdf/akathi...

"Both clinical trial and pharmacovigilance data point to possible links between these drugs and violent behaviours. The legal cases outlined returned a variety of verdicts that may in part have stemmed from different judicial processes. Many jurisdictions appear not to have considered the possibility that a prescription drug may induce violence."

http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info:doi/...

I hope this helps. Again sorry Pfizer cared so little to take the effects of their drugs seriously and properly test them and that doctors do not believe in the power of their drugs to change brain chemistry in a not so beneficial fashion. I bet he also wished he has never taken this poison.

[Cody Houston tx]

My first dose of Chantix was this past saturday evening, took a dose sunday morning and I was pretty out of it, nothing to horrible but yesterday I smoked considerably less cigarettes. I didnt take it this morning but I did take it this evening and I notice the cravings already reduced. The short time I have taken I have only noticed the burning stomach feeling and some of the same withdrawl symptoms I had when I quit before. I am the type that would love to quit because It is just so dang expensive now and to keep my health. I am also the type that really does like to smoke so I am hoping this helps. I have read all 81 pages of this thread and after all that reading I am so ready!!! Lets hope this works and I am going to go through the side effects as long as it doesnt cripple me!! To all those that have quit, more power to ya and CONGRATS!!!!

[Joseph]

Hi everyone, Im on the 1mg now, and still no effects. I keep smocking normaly, No side effects. The only concern that I have is why I paid 125 box for this if have no effects on me. I'll just wait to see what happend. Good luck !!!

[Get a REFUND]

Joseph wrote:

Hi everyone, Im on the 1mg now, and still no effects. I keep smocking normaly, No side effects. The only concern that I have is why I paid 125 box for this if have no effects on me. I'll just wait to see what happend. Good luck !!!

You can always get a refund. Do you really want to fry your brain on their poison? It can also block the dopamine from drinking, eating, sex, and anything else you love doing.

[glowchild]

Det Bailey wrote:

<quoted text>
Just got back from the doc and found out it was just a mucocele. Whew! Not bad, not contagious, but kind of hurt having it cut out. I still stand behind Chantix. I tried quitting using the patches and gum and lozenges , fake cigarettes, hypnosis, you get the idea. Nothing worked. I took Chantix for one week, put down my smokes, and have been smoke free for 6 months, no cravings, no urges, nothing. I will recommend this stuff to anyone. Of course the side effects can be a problem, but if you pay attention to them and do what they tell you, they can be conquered. The minor ones are a small price to pay to be rid of the cigarettes.

Morning Det Bailey,
I am very glad to hear that you dodged the big C bullet on that lip lesion! I am also pleased to hear that you had such a good experience with Chantix. Your description of the process is very close to my own except that I have had a few long lasting side effects. I am not sure I would ever take Chantix again based on this result, so it is a fantastic motivation to remain smoke free!!!

I do feel as though I was lucky to have found these Chantix threads on Topix. It gave me a lot of helpful information regarding the side effects and treatment of them. I was not able to handle the full dose and found many others here who had to take a reduced dose to avoid more severe side effects.

I am aware of many people who could not take the drug at all and suffered most severe side effects. It is a very powerful drug. Looks like Pfizer may be in trouble for some shady dealing with an antipsychotic med that they marketed in an illegal manner. I am surprised that the story has not been discussed here yet. VL must be napping.

[Michelle]

Started taking champix 2 months ago and have not smoked for 6 weeks! My side effects are i cant sleep, sore legs and my periods all over the place! but its worth it. if i can give up anyone can, ive smoked for over 30 years and nearly a packet a day so hang in there PLUS you have to want to give up and BE STRONG ENOUGH

[Teresa]

Maria wrote:

Quit 4 months, off Chantix for 1. No side affect during or after. Everybody is different and you MUST pay attention to what your body is telling you and not freak out about everyone else's reactions.
To the anti-pharma freaks - what about big tobacco? I didn't know what I was getting into at 16 years old and thought it was cool to smoke. It's taken me 25 years to finally break the addition. I hate big pharma's lack of ethics, too but I'm thrilled I was able to handle Chantix.
Good luck to everyone out there trying to free themselves from the nico-demon!!

You're not out of the woods yet as far as the after effects from Chantix. I hope you don't get the sudden onset of anxiety that happened to me about four months after stopping it.

[You people are nuts]

Teresa, repeat the following until you understand it completely:

There is no way that Chantix could cause anxiety 4 months after stopping it.

There is no way that Chantix could cause anxiety 4 months after stopping it.

There is no way that Chantix could cause anxiety 4 months after stopping it.

There is no way that Chantix could cause anxiety 4 months after stopping it.

[Stupid]

You people are nuts wrote:

Teresa, repeat the following until you understand it completely:
There is no way that Chantix could cause anxiety 4 months after stopping it.
There is no way that Chantix could cause anxiety 4 months after stopping it.
There is no way that Chantix could cause anxiety 4 months after stopping it.
There is no way that Chantix could cause anxiety 4 months after stopping it.

Wrong again