Chantix - Does any one else feel a little crazy on Chantix?

[obviously TERESA]

Debbie wrote:

Well, it has certainly been a "trip" to say the least. My whole life has changed and not exactly for the better. I have had bazzar thoughts. Nothing I felt like taking action on, but wild stuff. Like, one morning after eating a bowl of cereal, I thought "I should pour this left over milk into the toaster"! Crap! I don't know!! When I drink beers, I have blank spots in my evening. I have never done this before Chantix. Thought about driving off of the highway for no aparent reason. Didn't think of getting hurt or wanting to hurt myself, it was just a real thought. I was completely fine before Chantix. I can't concentrate anymore. I use to be a very organized person. I've almost lost my job due to anger outburst. Hopefully this will be out of my system soon! I really do not like myself right now. but I'm Not Smokin!!!!

"trip" is an interesting choice of words. When I first started taking chantix, I remarked to myself "this is like just a little bit of LSD" like there could even be such a thing. Just the slightest adjustment in colors and sounds and perception. I realized that this is a very powerful mind altering drug and I am thankful and grateful that it helped me quit smoking.drinking beers has been known to cause "blank spots" in people's memories of what they did last night. I haven't had to do battle with the ALCODEMON but addiction is addiction and YOU are stronger than any demons and YOU are in control of yourself. If you are not in control then WHO IS? Or if you truly have lost control PLEASE seek professional help IMMEDIATELY. You might want to consider weaning off of the chantix. My personal opinion is that it should not be quit cold turkey.

[Jenni]

Just wanted to tell you, I have had some of the "Chantix dreams" everyone talks about, and yes, they are bad. But moreso than that my girlfriend and I were both taking them at the same time. We bot progressively got more and more aggitated at the smallest things. We NEVER used to argue like this until we both started taking Chantix at the same time. There was not ONE day that passed that wasn't some knock down drag out screaming match. We were talking and it clicked that the ONLY thing we were doing different;y and the ONLY thing we were BOTH on was Chantix. I got online and THANK GOD we am not the only ones! I have to tell you it made us BOTH feel better knowing we can STOP the chantix...and we are not EVIL BANCHEES! She has been smoke free for a week now, and I am WELL on my way. Please be careful with this drug, and KNOW yourself. Please do not make your loved ones SUFFER while you SCREAM AND YELL.....it COULD be the Chantix!

[Winston]

For me Chantix is doing the job, although I've been on it for only 7days now. The dreams are crazy and vivid. Last night I had a few beers, and this morning I was awakened by my wife. She was freaking out, and wanted to know how long our 3 month year old was sleeping out on the sunporch. The last thing I remember is putting him in his crib. So I must have slept walked with my boy!!! Crazy!! I may discontinue the med, gonna see if it happends again. If it was winter time the situation could have been deadly!

[Charlie]

Hey guys, you are right! Chantix makes me feel hyper and a little crazy too, I seem let my anger a lot faster than I used to, I think I will quit today too.

Jane in Minnesota wrote:

<quoted text>Hey Bill, I felt the same way. Just not myself at all, plus very intense headaches. I stopped taking Chantix after 11 days. I will try to quit another way. It took about a week after stopping for my headaches to go away and to finally feel like myself again. I am happy to feel normal again. My husband also had really bad mood problems until he quit the drug. He is still smoke free and Chantix free and much nicer now!

[Big T]

JENNI, WINSTON, CHARLIE! THANKS FOR YOUR POSTS.

[Freddie]

Jenni wrote:

Just wanted to tell you, I have had some of the "Chantix dreams" everyone talks about, and yes, they are bad. But moreso than that my girlfriend and I were both taking them at the same time. We bot progressively got more and more aggitated at the smallest things. We NEVER used to argue like this until we both started taking Chantix at the same time. There was not ONE day that passed that wasn't some knock down drag out screaming match. We were talking and it clicked that the ONLY thing we were doing different;y and the ONLY thing we were BOTH on was Chantix. I got online and THANK GOD we am not the only ones! I have to tell you it made us BOTH feel better knowing we can STOP the chantix...and we are not EVIL BANCHEES! She has been smoke free for a week now, and I am WELL on my way. Please be careful with this drug, and KNOW yourself. Please do not make your loved ones SUFFER while you SCREAM AND YELL.....it COULD be the Chantix!

Maybe the agitation you felt was from nicotine withdrawal! Chantix, fom what I understand, doesn't replace nicotine it blocks it on the receptor level in the brain.Take note , nicotine is also physically addicting!! FYI

[anne]

danvers wrote:

<quoted text>
hi Bill:
I understand. I too was told the same by co workers and was SEVERLY DEPRESSED! I stayed on it for one month -- I only took .5mg once a day and had all those side effects AND the side effect of not smoking. I am now one month off Chantix and 2 months smoke free. I hung in there as long as I could, on the .5mg dose... I still don't want to smoke -- had a really bad day today and have thought about smoking all day, and was going to bum a cig from somebody but you know what: I don't want to smoke and that is thanks to Chantix. I have qut many times before once for almost 5 years... I don't know, but I do understand what you are saying... I was SO irritabile and angry and so unbealivably depressed, so depressed, that there were a few nights that, well lets just say, I was looking forward to death. that was then, I feel better now, off chantix and as a non smoker.

Wow it is2 a.m. now and i have been having almost verbatim the same symptoms ans did the same skipped night dosage. it goe right down to the dream of my husband cheating!! Unfortunately, i take other meds and a new headache one was introduced recently (the headaches are from something else) i have been feeling detached, and cant hold a thought, wow. I am not taking this drug tomorrow.

[Kas]

I quit taking this the day I ran a red light and came about 6 inches from smashing in the drivers side door of a police car with a policeman in it. I knew it was affecting my brain but thought it was worth the risk because I just wanted to stop smoking. Two days after that I woke up with the bottoms of my feet BLACK with dirt. So I know I was outside sleepwalking. Those are only two of the incidents. My opinion- this drug should not be on the market. Oh---yesterday I received a notice of 6 month suspension of my license- yes I will be fighting it- and I am getting every bit of information on side effects of Chantix to take to my lawyer. Is it worth losing your job because you cant drive to work? And is it worth dying in a car accident? I have been smoke free for 2 1/2 months but I can honestly say that being able to quit was not worth this experience.

[anne]

I already have emphysema, anxiety panic disorder, agorphobia, arythmea (rapid heart rate) and I can't believe that my doctor prescribed this for me. I trusted his judgement. the chantix website said that doctors do not know alot about Chantix so we should ask our pharmacist if we have any questions. I take numerous prescription medications, and every time I called for a refill on any of them the pharmacist or technition asked only about how I was doing on the chantix.
Now I dont know if I am paranoid or not, i feel so horrible and have for weeks, but I am wondering if the pharmacist knew something I didnt or maybe it was just a coincidence.
I am afraid to state my fears because I dont want to get locked up and told I am delusional, all because I have emphysema and desperately want to quit smoking.
I just hope these affects are not long term or permanent! i would rather die from lung disease than to feel like this for one more day!! I am absolutely horrified and it takes an hour to put one sentence together so anyone can half understand it.

[Kas]

To Deb in MI: I never suffered from shortness of breath when I smoked- I do now and I have been off the Chantix for a month. I am also getting the headaches and muscle tension. A few side effects????? Death, kidney failure, sleepwalking, psychotic episodes????? the list goes on--------NO I WOULD NOT RATHER SUFFER THROUGH THESE SIDE EFFECTS! Obviously they are not mild or there would not be so many forums on this subject. If you havent lived through them you dont know how truly scary they are. And when you are going through them, you dont realize how bad they are- if you realize at all. If I hadnt run that red light, I would probably still be on the Chantix and still be sleepwalking outside. Would that scare you? Nausea and insomnia- yeah I could handle that, but too many people are having the -what the maker calls "infrequent" side effects- I cant even believe this drug was approved. And why cant you find the "fine print" side effects on the official Chantix site? Answer that one.......maybe its because they dont want people to know them until they open the box they just paid $130 for.

[livsmom]

Hello, I'm really glad I found this site. I started Chantix 9/12 and quit smoking on 9/19. I have had a rough time the last two weeks and yesterday went on Chantix's website to see if what I was experiencing could have been a possible side effect. Well I couldn't find anything there! I have found a lot of info here thanks to you all. I now know what it feels like to be depressed! I sleep all of the time and when I'm awake I'm so full of anger and lash out at my family. I can't focus/concentrate and seem to be very forgetful. I haven't gone to the office much (twice I think) and haven't been social with friends. This is not the person I am! I guess I can be thankful that I haven't completely lost it yet since I recognized that something was wrong and sought some answers. I don't think I ever had any side effects from medications so this would be the first in 32 years! On a happy note, I have been smoke free for 16 days! After reading these comments I think I'll try and cut my 1mg pills in half and see how that goes before completely stopping. It's really nice to read success stories from people taking Chantix and even better to see how you all support each other! Good luck to all of you that are on Chantix.

[Virginia]

The best thing you can do is file a report to the FDA. It will be counted and you will receive a receipt of your report. Just be sure to print your report before submitting it to them to have the same kind of documentation I am compiling. I don't believe a letter writing campaign will help unless it is to your local political reps. Posted below here is the link and I hope you and others will file your reports to them too. The numbers of us real American's will mount up quickly once they see the advertisements on TV that iI have heard about from my friends and family. Maybe it will take innocent victims to add to the number for I certainly do not want others to suffer or be killed before someone can afford to step up to the plate to take a legal swing at this new brain chemistry alerting drug. I am now asking for side effect printouts for all medicine prescription and over the counter before I decide to pop a pill.

https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwat...

[anne]

Freddie wrote:

<quoted text>Maybe the agitation you felt was from nicotine withdrawal! Chantix, fom what I understand, doesn't replace nicotine it blocks it on the receptor level in the brain.Take note , nicotine is also physically addicting!! FYI

It takes 72 hours to physically withdraw from nicotine. I believe it is blocking or screwing up all the receptors in my brain, I am an intelligent 42 year old,

I am a certified Paralegal and since i started taking Chantix, I have had the scariest nightmares every night, I have slept very little, i am foggy headed, My headaches are worse, I can't concentrate, this list goes on and on. the worst part is i am smoking more than ever!

i stopped taking Chantix when my friend emailed me about similar "side effects" I was horrified because I thought I had some type of flu. He has been off Chantix for 3 months and is still suffering!
this stuff is poison!

[Virginia]

Chantix alters your brain chemistry in ways the manufacturer doesn't know. It does help some people but hurts others. Please report what you feel to the FDA.

https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwat...

[Morning Show]

Hello all,

I am a Production Assistant for a nationally broadcast television morning show. We are looking for someone (either patient or Dr.) who opposes Chantix because of its side effects, and a lot of posts on this website seem to relate to the direction of our segment.

If you have a story about Chantix, or are an expert in the field, and would like to talk about it on TV, please email me at [e-mail].

Thank you so much
Best,
Matt

[SallyToo]

Sally from Grand Rapids, MI - How are you doing today, two weeks after stopping Chantix?
I also have been off Chantix about two or three weeks, have had two 'angry' discussions with my boss, and am somewhat depressed. I'm wondering if the depression and anger/anxiety will lessen with time.

[Shazzy]

Bill wrote:

Since taking this drug, it’s been a strange experience. It feels as though I’ve been hyper-aware, prone to outbursts of anger (not like me normally at all). The anger thing has worried me so much that today is the last day I will take this drug.
I work at the Chicago Board of Trade. It’s an aggressive environment, and yelling at people is the norm, part of daily life, but since I’ve been on Chantix, I’ve noticed an abnormal, and unnecessary amount of aggressive behavior, and so have my co-workers.
My head feels constantly foggy, almost like being hung over, but at the same time, I’m jittery and people just don’t seem to move fast enough; total hyper-awareness.
Last night and earlier tonight, I went out with two groups of friends. They both noticed a slight change in my behavior. When I said that I was taking a new drug, both groups said that I’ve been saying weird things; that my interaction with strangers has not been as normal and as pleasant as it normally is.
Yes, I’m smoking less, but not much less, certainly not enough to become some weird social pariah, and it’s certainly not worth compromising my position at work.
So, I think I’m going to sit this one out, and wait for the next “miracle” drug. Because as I sit here typing this, feeling weird, I don’t feel like I’m myself, and I’d rather feel sane and in control then smoke free.
Bill
Chicago.

I've been on Chantix longer than anyone else I know -- 6 months now. I have quit smoking except when I drink which isn't often and I am now able to job for 3 miles a day -- something I could never do in the 30 years I smoked. I'm still a little heavier than I was before I quit and I always feel bloated. I also get angry more quickly than usual, but quite frankly I assumed that was from nicotine withdrawal. Everyone knows that nicoltine withdrawal causes many of the symptoms that you and others on this blog are blaming the Chantix for. Let me tell you, there is no easy way to quit smoking and certainly no effect-free way. Nicotine is a drug and you will experience withdrawal symptoms unless you slip into a coma and wake up 6 months later. I look at it this way -- being a little more angry and a little heavier than I used to be is nothing compared to lung cancer or breathing through an oxygen tank the rest of my life.

[Shazzy]

Morning Show wrote:

Hello all,
I am a Production Assistant for a nationally broadcast television morning show. We are looking for someone (either patient or Dr.) who opposes Chantix because of its side effects, and a lot of posts on this website seem to relate to the direction of our segment.
If you have a story about Chantix, or are an expert in the field, and would like to talk about it on TV, please email me at [e-mail].
Thank you so much
Best,
Matt

Sorry, but I believe Chantix saved my life. I smoked for 30 years and tried everything available to quit. I've been on Chantix for 6 months -- much much longer than most. I will admit that I don't control my anger like I used to and am more depressed than usual and always feel bloated. But I am now working out 5 nights a week and that is helping. Also, I believe my symptoms are more related to nicotine withdrawal than the drug. For me Chantix is a godsend because smoking was making me sick -- like it does everyone. I couldn't breath, was always getting bronchitis and was diagnosed with COPD. Now I jog 3 miles a day and don't even cough when I laugh any more. I ask you, which is the worst of two evils?

[Les]

Debbie wrote:

Well, it has certainly been a "trip" to say the least. My whole life has changed and not exactly for the better. I have had bazzar thoughts. Nothing I felt like taking action on, but wild stuff. Like, one morning after eating a bowl of cereal, I thought "I should pour this left over milk into the toaster"! Crap! I don't know!! When I drink beers, I have blank spots in my evening. I have never done this before Chantix. Thought about driving off of the highway for no aparent reason. Didn't think of getting hurt or wanting to hurt myself, it was just a real thought. I was completely fine before Chantix. I can't concentrate anymore. I use to be a very organized person. I've almost lost my job due to anger outburst. Hopefully this will be out of my system soon! I really do not like myself right now. but I'm Not Smokin!!!!

I have tried Chantix 3 separate times over the last year. Each time I have experienced severe outbursts of anger. I will
seemingly be fine one moment, then something is said or done and I'm Mr. Hyde, rude, crude and obnoxious. It has caused some embarrasing moments
at home and at work. I've gotten angry many times
in my life, but nothing to compare to the outbursts I've experienced while on Chantix, it kind of makes me feel like I have some bizarre form of tourettes syndrome. It's a great drug for
most people but I just can't take it.

[Virginia Lee Commonheath]

Regardless of what your personal opinion is of Pfizer, Chantix or lawyers, please report any and all side effects you are experiencing to the FDA. The numbers will only add up to more then what the trial test subjects are by reports from regular people and real users of this product. The FDA will then decide if this medication should remain on the market or if more studies should be done. We are the people of the United States of America and we all have certain inalienable rights under the constitution. Everyone has an opinion and I do not need to reference what else we all have one of but I say mouth ;-)

https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwat...

I am asking nicely to please, pretty please with sugar on top to speak up before more people are affected by the known or unknown side effect of the smoking cessation drug.