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

[Wendy]

mememarg wrote:

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Hi Wendy - I'm glad you are doing well on Chantix & have had very few side effects. I also quit smoking on Chantix & didn't have all the effects that some have talked about BUT I have a friend who just couldn't stand taking it.
You say you're almost finished taking the Chantix. How long have you taken it? I'm mostly on another Chantix thread here on topix & within the last few days someone posted a wean schedule from Chantix that lots have found helpful. Scroll down the page to find the other thread "Has anyone heard of Pfiser's Chantix". Tell us about your quit - it might help someone else who is trying to quit.
Margaret
After 44 years I'm smokefree for 74 days & Chantix free for 21 days

CONGRATULATIONS Margaret!!! You are doing great!

I only filled out a prescription for the starter pack which was a 2 week supply and being that I was able to quit on the 7th day of it I won't be filling out a continuance prescription. I'm taking day 12 of the drug now and am riding it out till day 14 and then quitting the drug cold turkey on my own. I don't think I've been on it long enough to have to be weaned off it. I guess I'll find that out on Monday...LOL! I was going to stop taking the drug on day 9 but thought against it. I was afraid I might slip but now I'm almost certain I won't be slipping. I do not want to go thru this again....LOL! I miss the habit more than I miss the nicotine. I smoked for 30 years and a cigarette became my best friend for 30 years but again..I don't miss it enough to want to be reunited with my best friend. Those types of friends I can do without....LOL!

The brand of Champix I was using was Pfizer's as well. I know in the States the drug in called Chantix but in Canada it's called Champix and it's made by Pfizer and that's my experience on Pfizer's Champix.

Thanks for your help Margaret and again ..... Congrats on your 74th smoke free day and 21st Chantix free day. Do you miss the habit or are the memories slowly fading for you or did you miss the nicotine as well???

[Wondering]

Anyone know what happened to the Chantix April thread? Thanks.

[Wendy]

Wondering wrote:

Anyone know what happened to the Chantix April thread? Thanks.

Hi Wondering....just scroll to the bottom and Chantix April thread is there.

[moonmaden]

Has any woman wo has taken Chantix experienced severe migraines, hot flashes, dizziness, vertigo? I am 5 months post starting Chantix, which I took for only 10 days before having to stop. Made me crazy. Now I suddenly have these severe symptoms with no other explanation. Help!

[Chantix Tinnitus]

http://groups.google.com/group/chantix-or-cha...

Brandon Campbell wrote:

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I know what you mean, I feel like telling them to f*ck off and get a life. Just because some people were fine taking the drug and successfully quit doesn't mean everyone is going to be this way. Everyone is created different. I still feel like a fruitloop 3 months off the drug. Eyesight still messed up, brain feels altered, ringing in the ears, unable to fully concentrate and focus... depressed and somewhat suicidal, now im on antidepressants.. holy shit this is insane. Guess I was one of the "few" unlucky ones. I am back at work for the first time in 2 1/2 months.. this is my 4th day back.. I was hoping that this would help my situation, but last night I had a break down from the stress of working. I am sick of feeling this way, I am sick of doctors telling me it is going to take time, Hell my psy told me yesterday that this may be permanent! WTF! I don't wanna live like this forever! I am sick of doctors making it out as if I am the only one in the world with this problem and that it may not be caused from the chantix. I WAS COMPLETELY FINE BEFORE IT! and for all you people reading this saying it is all in your mind, I want you to do a brain altering drug like lsd and try to feel normal. I bet you a million bucks you can't! It's my fault for taking that crap but it isn't my fault it has done this to me.

[Eric]

I'm reading this and I may as well have been typing it all out myself... I've had the same outbursts of anger and agression... even after a month and a half of taking Chantix.

If it truly blocks nicotine receptors in the brain as it says it does.. I would have been over the nicotine withdrawal symptoms by now, so I dont think that is why.

I'm stopping taking the medication as well because I'm tired of being angry all the time and getting upset over every little thing that happens in my life. It was so bad I almost lost 2 friends.

Eric
Chicago

[Eric]

BTW.. within 3 days of stopping I feel like my normal laid-back self again.. I am still smoking much less down to half a pack from over 20 a day.

Going to wait for the next drug or whatever and try to quit again later.

[Martin_Estonia]

Eric wrote:

BTW.. within 3 days of stopping I feel like my normal laid-back self again.. I am still smoking much less down to half a pack from over 20 a day.
Going to wait for the next drug or whatever and try to quit again later.

Eric, just a question; what nicotine withdrawls were you over?
The way i read it you never stopped smoking.

[A Sad Brother]

My brother committed suicide at age 43 taking this horrific drug one week. I was within for two days before he blew his head off. He had horrific dreams, insomnia for days, and did not know what was real or unreal, if he was in reality or a dream, or nightmare. He was a non smoker, but "dipped." He was a manufacturing eecutive, had just seen his daughter graduate from an Ivy league school six months prior, and was ready to hire his son for the summer at his company after completing his first year of college. This drug is fatal, extraordinarily dangerous, and will have a ate similar to other drugs which the side effects have been determined to cause death. It lures some into a fixation like a magnet, to suicide. PLEASE ALL- avoid this drug. It is not worth risking death. Within one hour of his son getting a hug as he went back to college for finals, his father shot himself in the head, after weeks of remodeling his home, and within seven days of being on this lethal medication.

[marcy]

I have an unopened box of Chantix sitting in front of me, and despite all of these bizarre accounts of weird dreams or anger or depression, I will still be taking my first pill with breakfast in the morning. I watched my dad (who smoked for 20 years) waste away from lung cancer in just over a single year. the constant pain and anxiety, the mental and physical anguish for chemo and radition, and worst of all-- having to leave his family before he was ready to go; all because of cigarettes. He was only 48, and a completely healthy individual in every other way. He tried everything, and surely would have tried this had he had the chance.
I don't smoke that much or have smoked for that long (1/2 pack a day for five years)but I'm going to take whatever help I can get because I've tried before and its maddening. I'm doing it for him and for me. Trust me when I say that there are very few worse ways to go than a long and painful battle with lung cancer. Bouts of anxiety, agression and depression (all of which are nicotine withdrawal symptoms) are nothing compared to lung cancer.

[Mike]

Started on the Chantix and got really aggressive. Since I'm a type A personality anyway, this was not a good thing. Couldn't sleep, foggy headed, hurt in every joint in my body, and cost me a relationship with someone I was deeply fond of.

Now my blood sugar is through the roof, cholesterol is too low, and I'm hungry all the time. Still smoke.

My sister went through the same thing when she tried it. She recognized the behavioral change sooner and got off it.

[Martin_Estonia]

marcy wrote:

I have an unopened box of Chantix sitting in front of me, and despite all of these bizarre accounts of weird dreams or anger or depression, I will still be taking my first pill with breakfast in the morning. I watched my dad (who smoked for 20 years) waste away from lung cancer in just over a single year. the constant pain and anxiety, the mental and physical anguish for chemo and radition, and worst of all-- having to leave his family before he was ready to go; all because of cigarettes. He was only 48, and a completely healthy individual in every other way. He tried everything, and surely would have tried this had he had the chance.
I don't smoke that much or have smoked for that long (1/2 pack a day for five years)but I'm going to take whatever help I can get because I've tried before and its maddening. I'm doing it for him and for me. Trust me when I say that there are very few worse ways to go than a long and painful battle with lung cancer. Bouts of anxiety, agression and depression (all of which are nicotine withdrawal symptoms) are nothing compared to lung cancer.

Marcy, can't tell much about lung cancer, but I sure do not want to get it!
Do know that I took Chantix (Champix)and still do (weaning) for more then 3 months without any real side eefects and today am more than 90 days smoke free and solid as a rock.
BTW I smoked for 39 years, 35+ a day!
Go for it, good luck!!!

[Martin_Estonia]

Mike wrote:

Started on the Chantix and got really aggressive. Since I'm a type A personality anyway, this was not a good thing. Couldn't sleep, foggy headed, hurt in every joint in my body, and cost me a relationship with someone I was deeply fond of.
Now my blood sugar is through the roof, cholesterol is too low, and I'm hungry all the time. Still smoke.
My sister went through the same thing when she tried it. She recognized the behavioral change sooner and got off it.

Mike, I do have a lot of respect for people who cannot tolerate Chantix, but I feel some just give up at the slighest "hick-up" and I do not mean to upset anyone.
I am no youngster and have been through a few things in my life, from experience I know "cold turkey" is very hard (I could not do it!), but I also know people who had much more severe side effects, hung in and are now smoke free for more then a year.
I am one of the lucky ones and have no effects at all (this time around) and have been smoke free for 3+ months.
I can be aggressive (and have been in the near past) but I do not really care whether this is from the Chantix or withdrawls.
I do know that my wife will forgive me especially if I compare it with some of the alternatives.
Just want to give you a perspective.
Good Luck!!!

[Lisa]

WOW !!!! I just went to the docs to get another RX, took Chantix last year about this time and it did not work. So I thought I would try again. Went searching for coupons and this is were I came and started reading. The thyroid thing is really sticking out. I have been to the doc's several times during the past year, I feel a lump in my throat, been through scans, ultra sound, and an ear nose throat doc-all say everything is fine. I woke up and couldn't breath one night and got scared, now the docs think I am crazy! Still have the lump and pain in my breast bone??? Humm. Now I'm not to sure if I want to try it again!

[falcon]

I have been on this chantix for 4 weeks and wow look at all the side effects. My mood dipped,irritability,loss of attention span,living as though I was in a fog,tired. The feeling I didnt give a f--- to alot of things. I was slipping in depression. I stopped taking the pill maybe again after my situation(stress)level goes down and a new more pleasant work environment happens will I try again. Do your research just dont read the top side effects but look up up all of them known that is.

[girl next dor]

I am 34. I've been on Chantix for about 2-3 months, but I am talking to my doctor this week about going off of it. I don't know if my changes lately are related to Chantix or not. If anyone understands what I'm talking about though, I could really use support.
My problem has been memories. It's like memories are haunting me. I have vivid memories constantly. I wake up every morning taking a sad walk down memory lane. I regret and feel guilty about my past. Out of the blue, a life-changing event memory will pop in my head. Other days, I'll dwell on an insignificant memory like watching a particular sitcom in the 80's or missing high school friends. These memories are driving me crazy. For a month now I feel like I've been living in the past instead of the present.
By the way, I wandered into this forum by hapenstance while just browsing the internet and following links. So I won't be able to come back to read comments and check replies. If you have experienced the incessant reminiscing I've written about, please feel free to email me. [e-mail]

[Dan]

I will not be taking this drug EVER again. I am terrified of it.

I got Chantix and follwed the instructions to the letter...eat the initial low dose pill with food and at least 8 ounces of water.

If this is what the low dose pill does, I cannot imagine what the full dose for 12 weeks does. About 1 hour after taking it I started to feel funny. It's hard to describe, but I felt light headed and dissociated from what was going on. Then the nausea started and lasted for exactly 32 hours, none of it relieved by the 5 bouts of vomitting that went along with it. Oh, there was also a terrible headache, gas, and the bizzare dreams.

I cannot belive this was the result with a mere .5 milligram dose. I couldn't bring myself to take it again the following day..I was still nauseated and weird in the head the next day. All I wanted was for this to be over. My doctor told me to take half instead. I told him I wouldn't be taking ANY.

On the upside, the main function of Chantix DOES work..during the day and a half episode I had only 1 cig and had no desire for nicotine..not sure if it was because I was vomitting, but that non-desire for cigs lasted 2 days.

Doctors should be able to dispense sample packs of Chantix..low single dose..to see if the patients have a reaction. All my research shows that some people have similar reactions, and some have none at all. It would help to know before shelling out 110 dollars to puke in a delerious state for a day and a half.

[Thor]

My sister had to stop because she was fighting with her family (very unlike her). A co-worker of mine who was on for 1 month and just stopped taking them last week was fired today for a melt down at the office. Last week I told a 20 year old I was going to kick his "butt" (and I meant it). I haven't done that in over 28 years. After the girl got fired I looked at my own behavior and realize I've been going "off" at the smallest thing. I'm starting to re-think this whole magic drug thing.

[Joe55]

According to the American Medical Association, the withdrawal symptons related to nicotine cessation include: insomnia, difficulty in concentrating, irritability, depression, fatigue, headache, tightness in chest and constipation. These are many of the same side effects I have seen mentioned by a lot of the other posts and attributed to Chantix. Quitting nicotine cold turkey is going to have repercussions on your body- and very difficult ones.

This is probably the 4th or 5th time I've quit smoking. I've smoked for over 25 years. I have been taking Chantix for about a month and I am having the same side effects that I have always had when trying to break my nicotine addiction: depression, insomnia, can't get up in the morning, can't concentrate etc. I have no doubt that these symptoms are not related to Chantix. I know this because they are not new- I feel them everytime I have tried to quit. These symptoms are WHY I haven't already quit and probably why most people haven't quit. The power that nicotine has on your mind and body over the course of decades is much more dangerous than anything Chantix could do in two months. I have no doubt that taking Chantix has its risks, but, at least in my case, I want to put the blame for the yucky way I feel right now where it belongs- on my habit that I am now putting down. I'll keep taking it unless I get some weird new side effect like wanting to fly out of my window or seeing Elvis in my kitchen. For now, though- so far so good.

[Lauri Beamish]

Good luck to you. I've heard a lot of good things about Chantix, unfortunately I've heard the bad ones also. Just keep an eye on your irritability and depression, as one of the side effects of this drug is suicide.(39 suicides from Chantix, 84% in the US). From a lot of the message boards I'm reading, a lot of people don't experience violence and psychotic episodes until they "quit" the drug vs. "weaning" off of it.