The FDA today announced ongoing safety reviews of the drug varenicline, marketed as Chantix and designed to help smokers quit smoking. You may remember the drug’s commercials with the rabbit and the turtle / tortoise in a race.
The early communication by the FDA about this ongoing safety review has to do with the possibility of increased suicidal and aggressive thoughts while taking Chantix.
Ostensibly, the FDA is going to try to determine whether the anecdotal evidence (at this point) regarding suicidal and aggressive behavior has to do with the drug Chantix, or the fact that those taking it are experiencing nicotine withdrawal symptoms – or both.
So far Pfizer, the makers of Chantix, are cooperating and have provided the FDA with cases that may be similar, according to an FDA statement.
For what it’s worth, I tried every quick-smoking gimmick in the book for about a decade: Patches, Pills, slowly going off, sudden cold turkey… Most of them worked temporarily, but none of them made me a “non-smoker”. I would still think about smoking and feel like I was missing out on something. Like I was denying myself something. Then I read a book called The Easy Way to Stop Smoking and it changed my whole outlook. I continued to smoke while reading the book, as instructed, but by the time I got to the end I really, honestly, truly did not want a cigarette anymore. The best thing about it was I didn’t miss them one bit. It really WAS easy. Just thought I’d throw that in there for what it’s worth, since I see a lot of people commenting about the Chantix recall are having trouble with quiting. I wish you all the best of luck. I know it can be hard, but stick with it because being a non-smoker is wonderful.
I have been on chantix for five weeks. In the begining I had weird dreams and got a little snappy but after about three weeks those side effects went away. I smoked for 12 years; having about 20 ciggs a day so I strongly feel that those side effects were from not smoking at all. I will say that chantix is the only thing that has helped me to break my once had habbit!!
My boyfriend and I started taking it on the same day. I was sick every day I took it. He began a immediate depression downward spiral.
He stopped taking them when I caught him looking up “the Hemlock Society” on the web.
We both stopped taking it and hope they will recall it with refunds. They come in such intensive little weekly cards with daily pillsto punch out the back side. Then they are in boxes that come in even bigger boxes. They probably spend more on packaging than the pills themself.
Saff
I smoked for over 22 years and finally tried Chantix. I started my 3 month treatment and was smoke-free after completing my second month. I decided against purchasing my third month refill since I really couldn’t afford it and it had been, at that time, 50+ days since I smoked a cigarette. I felt and still feel it is too big of an accomplishment for me to light up again. Tomorrow will be 80 days I’ve been smoke-free and I’m very grateful to have finally kicked this terrible habit. I was told by my Dr. that I wouldn’t be living healthy past 40 due to early stages of emphazema. I am only 33 and still have a lot of life to live. I will always be grateful that someone finally came up with something that helped me break the habit. THANK YOU CHANTIX!!!!
My first week on Chantix was interesting. I was really jittery, but that went away. The second week I started having horrific nightmares and odd erotic dreams. Toward the end of the second week severe depression started followed by rapid mood swings and extremely violent thoughts. I have no history of violent thoughts or uncontrolled aggression. This is the middle of my third week and I don’t think I can take this stuff anymore.
I am a 50 yr old female. I put a cigarette in my mouth the first time when I was 9 years old…started smoking reg. when I was 12 maybe 13…
Without Chantix I could never have stopped and I would have died from the ill efforts of smoking..I still may…but at least now I am a non smoker.. I remember one time I tried to quit on my own without Chantix and became VERY VERY depressed..I felt like I lost my best friend..
It isn’t the Chantix that needs to be sued and hung up to dry..IT’S BIG TABACCO!!!!It’s so sad to me that something that has helped so many people may be taken off the market..Sounds to me like perhaps The Marlboro Man is sneaking around speading rumors….
I have smoked for 26 years and have tried everything to quit smoking. Chantix made quitting easy. I am on my 2nd month of pills and plan on taking the 3rd month to be safe. I spent a lot more on cigarettes then I am on Chantix. I am extremely moody and very testy with everyone and actually have had a few suicidal & homicidal thoughts that I know I won’t follow through with…but I know if it is the Chantix, it’ll pass. I want to be able to walk my daughter down the isle some day and if I continue to smoke, I know that won’t happen. I am finally free 🙂 THANK YOU CHANTIX!!!
The first week I began taking Chantix I felt fine. About the end of the second week I began to throw up in the mornings. When i quit smoking, I also quit taking the pill. I would take it every couple of days whenever I felt like I was going to want a cigarette. On the days that I took the pill, I would go to sleep and dream the weirdest things ever. You wouldnt even beleive some of the stuff I dreampt. I would have the most horrifying nightmares. I was always irratable and got mad over the smallest things. I absolutely hated taking the pill and stopped as soon as possible.
My doctor recommend Chantix to me. I’m not a heavy smoker, I smoke 2 packs a week. When I was taking Chantix I had trouble sleeping, gas, mood changes and violent thoughts.
I didn’t go back for my 3 month refill, because i’ve been reading and hearing more about the side effects. I haven’t completely stop but i’m down to one pack a week.
I felt pretty much like crap for about 2 hours after taking the pill for the first 2 weeks. I would be jittery, naseous, and have a mild headache. None of the symptoms were disabling, just made me feel pretty much like doo doo.
Then it went away. I have virtually no side effects at this point. I think people need to man up and take the opportunity this pill provides more seriously.
I haven’t smoked in 5 weeks. I smoked for 12 years a pack a day.
I have been on Chantix for 6 weeks. I became a non smoker 30 days ago today. I feel wonderful other than a little sleepy. I smoked for 24 Years about a pack and a half a day. Food tastes better and I can actually smell the roses now. THANKS CHANTIX!!
I started taking Chantix mid June.I experience nausea after taking the morning dosage. It took some getting used to.The first week I continued to smoke… as tolerated I experienced nausea,extreme gas, hot flashes that turned my face beet red with extreme sweating. I felt very anxious and short of breath. I had a bad taste in my mouth. At this point I was smoking 4 cigarettes a day sometimes less.I completely laid down the ciggs. Labor Day weekend. I also chose to stop taking the chantix too.(I hadtaken 11 weeks of chantix). The next week was a dern nightmare. Called the doctor told him I felt like I was jumping out of my skin, irritable, agressive, snappy, impulsive, shortbreathed, like I needed a quick fix from h*** and NOW..but I still did not want to smoke. He then tells me I need to gradually come off the chantix like a gradually went on it. So, he called my pharmacy and ordered me a “reversal” starter pack. I picked it up from the pharmacy, but challenged myself to “get over it” without the meds. Deal with it, work it out and whip this with will power.I am still medication free..(except for the fact I still posess the reversal starter pack .)I am still smoke free. Chantix did help me get here. Now here is the flip side: My side effects are extreme drowsiness, fatigue,lethargy, headaches, ringing in the ears, blurred vision, flu like symptoms, gigivitis, muscle cramps, disturbance in attention, detail, memory and organization, aggitation, mood swings and pressure in my head. I have had some erotic dreams and vivid dreams. I feel as though I have traded one consequence for another.I am still evaluating the progress. Chantix did however..give me the help I needed to quit. Now I want to quit the side effects!
I am on my 7th day and will smoke my last cig in 43 minutes at 11:50PM. I am so looking forward to ending 40 years of smoking! Oh! The $$ I have spent on Cigs!
The first few days (one pill) was a breeze..I ate and drank a bottle of water each pill and never got nauseated. The 3rd day (and since) I wake up with a roaring headache that goes away about 40 minutes and a 16oz bottle of water & cup of coffee later. Then I have been fine for the rest of the day.
The 1st 2 days on the after dinner pill I fell asleep for 3 hrs and never even knew it until I woke up..which was pretty weird.
I was home so no problem.
Over this 1st week I have cut back from 2 pks to 1 pk a day without even trying..I only smoked when I wanted one..Not Bad for a chimmney like me! Ha!
I am a bit afraid with all of the rumors and recall scares going around..
My main reason for quitting is so I can see my Grandchildren grow up and so I can travel with my husband when we retire. My husband is also on this and we are both quitting at the same time. He has heart trouble so I hope it doesnt kill him…I would rather have him than the Trillion Bucks I would have to sue them for…Being alone is no fun when you are old!
So, Chantix, our lives are in your hands..please cancel this stuff if it can kill us..If this is all rumor..please let us know..
Don’t risk our lives to save others OK? Our Famlies need us and so do the families of all people taking this to IMPROVE their health! Thank you!
My husband and I both took chantix to quit smoking. We smoked for over 20 years more than a pack a day. We have now been smoke free for 6 months. I feel we would have never quit without the help of chantix. altough we only took it for 30 days, there has been no desire to start again. We did experience gas, some nausa, wierd but pleasent dreams, maybe a little irratable at times but who isn’t after they put down the cigs.
all in all I feel our life has been lenghtened. I would agree with one of the other comments that said its the cigarette companies we should be looking at.
I started chantix late Sept. 2007, of which the Dr. suggested through a routine physical question of are you still smoking? I responded with “yeah, but I really need to quit” needless to say my response was to please the Dr. not myself. The Dr. then picked up his prescription pad and wrote this prescription for Chantix, he explained the side effects and he more or less told me to not ruin his success rate of everyone quitting. Needless to say, I went home thought about it and decided what the heck why not try. So I filled the prescription, picked Oct 1st for my quit date, (my father-in-law’s birthday, (lung cancer surviver) and needless to say I smoked the first 7 days, maybe 4 cig. a day, and thought to myself who am I fooling, just myself. From that day on I have been smokefree now 3 and 1/2 months. Only got sick when I smelled smoke or I thought about smoking, so needless to say I didn’t want to smoke anylonger. I took the chantix for 5 weeks like your suppose to take it and then for 2 weeks cut the dosage to 1 pill a day. I had shortness of breath but I truly believe the shortness of breath was due to withdrawl. For me, I thank you Chantix, never could have done it without the help!
I started taking chantix in late december and continued for four weeks. In my fourth week of taking it I HAD SUICIDAL THOUGHTS and had to be hospitalized. Since i stopped taking it i am completely fine. I think that if you already have a little depression chantix exacerbates the symptoms. I would not recommend this drug to anyone. I have smoked for ten years, through my hospitalization for a week i havent had a cigarette nor do i want one and that isn’e from the chantix because i had discontinued taking it when i had my suicidal thoughts. Just being away were i coulnd’t smoke for a week is what has stopped me from smoking. CHANTIX COULD HAVE BEEN THE DEATH OF ME!!!!
A.T.
As with any drug, the side affects effect everyone differently. I smoked a pack a day for 20 years, from age 18 to 38. I started smoking even before that. I took Chantix last spring and coming up on my one year quit date. I will be celebrating on March 3, 2008!! Thank you Chantix!!!
Its a pity, because so many people will miss the opportunity to quit smoking. My husband and I only took the chantix for as long as it took to be smoke free for three days. For me that was 2 1/2 weeks and for him closer to a month. I started a downward spiral immediately and it lasted for about three months. I had suicidal thoughts and it was really rough!!!! My husband was really cranky and we were also maniacally hysterical at times.
We quit once before cold turkey 7 yrs ago. That also made us a little crazy….we drank alchoholicly and come to think of it my husband kept saying he would be dead soon…..and he crashed his car into a telephone pole…Suicide attempt? was like a seven month crave We think quitting smoking will make some people crazy anyway.. its called PAWS syndrome..we’ve been thru it. We are more than five months and done for good !! And we feel about 95% normal in attitude and action….so glad we had the opportunity cuz we don’t believe that we would have ever quit without it!!!
Janet and Kenny
Well my cousin was on Chantix. 25 year old EMT student, father of 2 girls iand now dead. Took his own life because of suicidal thoughts he got after taking Chantix!
for those of you who took chantix and had no problems consider yourself lucky and i am glad it worked for you but my husband took it for one month and had violent thoughts and then he tried to take his life thank god he failed he has been off of chantix for 2 weeks and is still having mood swings and violent thoughts
I have been on Chantix for seven weeks now and been smoke free for six. I have read through all of these comments and I’m sadden about the attack on Chantix. Before taking the pills my husband and I both read through all of the possible side affects and did our research before opting to take the drug. See the possible side affects below that are from the Chantix website. I do experience the side affects but know I could not have stopped without Chantix!!! It has possibly saved mine and my husbands life. As with taking any drug, there are always going to be side affects. All of us were aware of these side affects before voluntarily getting on the plan!
The most common side effects include nausea (30%), trouble sleeping, vivid, unusual, or increased dreaming, constipation, gas, and/or vomiting. If you have side effects that bother you or don’t go away, tell your doctor.
If you have ever had depression or other mental health problems, tell your doctor before taking CHANTIX. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience changes in behavior, agitation, depressed mood, or have thought about or have tried to hurt yourself while trying to quit smoking with CHANTIX, or if your family or caregiver observes these symptoms.
I have read through all of these comments. I wonder what people are like without taking Chantix!!! I think we should look at the slower rate of suicide all of us smokers buy into every day when we buy a pack of cigarettes. No one is recalling Marlboro. I too became very nauseous with Chantix. However, when I ate, it went away. Small price to pay to reclaim my life. My kids are so happy that I quit after 20 years. I could never have done it without Chantix.
Been taking Champix for six weeks stopped smoking after two weeks on it. Amazing that it stopped me smoking this long…never thought it would be possible as tried eveything else…BUT I don’t think I would recommend it to anyone else because of the side effects described by everyone…I am actually scared I may do something dangerous whilst i am sleeping, I am not sure if all these thoughts caused are because of what i have read about other people so it is in my mind already….I must say though that everytime i have done something weird or worrying, I HAD BEEN DRINKING ALCOHOL THE SAME NIGHT. So the one thing I would say to anyone taking Champix/Chantix is DO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL!! Also you do have very vivid dreams and i did notice that the night i vevidly dreamt of having my legs cut off by a madman I had also watched half of the film ‘the texas chainsaw massacre’ so my advise is do not watch horror movies whilst on Champix either. Last night I dreamt I had a gun and was nearly caught by the police…I always seem to be on the run in my dreams…sooo strange…I wish you all good luck but pleae be carefull.
I think it is shameful that something that has helped so many people to quit smoking is being blamed for depression and other vile things. I took Chantix for 7days before my quit date, it has now been 23 days of being smoke free and I have been off of Chantix for 5 days. It seems to me that people are looking for an easy fix or someone to blame for their lack of will power This Chantix allowed me to quit smoking with almost zero stress or anxiety. My dr told me of the side effects, odd dreams, stomach issues, mood changes, but he also said they are minimal and pass, and he was correct, any kind of side effect was temporary and mild. Make up your mind to quit, don’t read the “horror” stories regarding chantix and join the rest of us non-smokers! Best of Luck to all!
I took Chantix for one week and smoked twice as much as I did before I started taking them. So needless to say I threw the remaining pills away. They may work for some people, but they sure didn’t work for me.
Its wonderful this mediation has helped many people quit but please dont disregard the warnings. My daughter is prone to depression but has been on medication for years and has been doing well, until she began chantix several weeks ago. Immediately her behavior was erratic, depressed, sleeplessness, but she continued to take the meds and did not smoke. Suicidal thoughts came into play last week and she became terrified so for first time in her life she had to check into a hosptial for depression/anxiety/suicidal thoughts. Apparently people prone to depression are especialy susceptible as her husband took the chantix, and it made quitting easy for him with no adverse effects. We cannot ignore the fact that for some it is a very dangerous drug just because it helps others. Be grateful and not so judgmental just because you were one of the lucky ones.
I started Chantix on V-Day becuase I love myself and life. Smoking since I was 22years old now at 52 hit the 40 old nasty habit anniversary for me. It was time for a change. I want to live longer. I want to enjoy life and be around for family & friends. Chantix has really made this choice of mine easier. I think people do maybe have some side effects but some of these effects may have been existant prior to taking Chantix. It is very difficult to STOP smoking but so are the side effects than smoking can cause. We have more to lose each day and we continue to SMOKE.We must look at the hard facts, be honest within ourselves and face the TRUTH. Many aren’t ready to give up smoking so it is easy to make an excuse and continue. Chantix has been a grrrreat crutch for me at this point. I have tried to give up smoking by cold turkey, patches, zyban, hymnosis. All never worked like the Chantix has so maybe I have finally kicked the habit with Chantix’s help. THANKS :):)
I took chantix for four months as recommended.I was a 2 pack a day smoker for 30years. I have now been smoke free for 148 days. I did have the bad gas, and weird dreams (not nightmares) just very vivid ones. I did go through a depression stage the first couple of weeks but I really believe mine was from giving up smoking. I know for a fact without Chantix I would have never quit. I know drugs after different people in different ways. We must all do what is best for our situation but we must also be responsible for our decisions. If you have feelings of sucide stop what you are taking and get help.
I am a 50 year old male. I smoked a pack a day for 28years. I had a light heart attack and was hospitalized for four days. I started chantix my second day in the hospital. I noticed the vivid dreaming before I knew it was a side effect. I noticed the gas right away. I stopped taking Chantix after three weeks. I noticed some anger controll problems about a week after stopping the chantix. It didn’t loose contol or do anything stupid, it was noticed that when I became angry it was more intense and lasted longer.
Please note that I reseached Chantix on the webb months before I had the heart attack. They don’t claim that it does anything for withdrawl. You will still have to go through it. What it does is and how it can help is:
It will block the nicotine receptors in the brain, and thus stop your brain from releasing dopamine if you smoke a cigarette.
Now in plain english. Chantix will fix it so that if you fall off the wagon after ceasing to smoke for a while, so that you don’t feel the calming effect of the nicotine. In short if you relapse and buy a pack of smokes while your on this stuff, you won’t enjoy them like you did and the idea is you well resume your smoking cessation. I won’t say I have quit smoking, I’ve been cold turkey about six weeks, three on chantix and three without. Be informed, Be careful, maybe it can be dangerous to some people, but then again so can lung cancer, stroke, and heart disease.
How can so many blame Chantix for their side effects? Maybe it’s from NOT getting the nicotine and other substances that are in cigarettes that’s causing all the suideal thoughts and other side effects. I think they should look and see what is really put in cigs that makes people think they have to have one. I have been around many people that would actually hurt you if they don’t get a cig. They are aggressive and rude and that’s without taking chantix. So tell me is it from Chantix or not having cigarettes?????
I started taking chantix (a quit smoking drug) about a month ago, at first it looked like this was the ticket, I went from a pack a day to nothing in 1 week, cool huh? Then it hit me.
It started with a low level irritated feeling then went to extreme agitation to border line homicidal thoughts, ended up at suicidal.
I have never had anything that has screwed up my thought process like this in my entire life.
I stopped taking it about a week ago but still my brain hasn’t recovered, today I contemplated checking myself into a psyche ward as 1 minute I’m fine the next I have overwhelming thoughts of the most severe agitation you could ever imagine.
This drug is in my estimation very dangerous, you want to feel HELL take it.
Nothing on this earth is worth what chantix has made me feel, I hate the fact that a substance has made me feel this way, for what it’s worth don’t take this drug, this is by far the worse ride I have ever been on and I can’t wait till it’s out of my system, I pray that it doesn’t have permanent effects.
Buyer BEWARE.
I started chantix after having Bronchial Pnemoneau Ive smoked 25 years. week 1 was good but viscios nightmares about killing people. 2nd week I was very nervous, argumentative. week3 not smoking much but having homicdal thoughts.Strongly debated ripping out my coworkers throat when she was leaning over my shoulder.
Left work went to DR. they put me on something to bring me down, but still highly aggittated, memory loss lack of concentration. Was put on medical leave part tyime but couldnt handle it. So I was fired while on Family leave act well that dont cover people who work at a employer with less then 50 people. So now Im applying for SSI I cant work hard to leave the house. great 90 days while wellfare makes up their mind and 120 days for SSI the dogs food is looking good.
I have been on Chantix for 4 months. About 2 weeks into starting it I had one isolated incident of rage. I had no idea where that rage came from. This week I missed an evening pill and missed the consecuative morning pill. At noon I was a wreck. Cold sweat, hot from the neck up, DISORIENTED, nausea, tingling in the hands, short of breath. I almost called my wife to come get me at work. I was crying as I drove home and really broke down when I got home. I didn’t know what was going on. Thought I was having a nervous breakdown. I took a pill at 1pm, took a nap and was feeling better a few hours later. My doctor would have me believe it was stress related, but at the polar opposite my pharmacist thinks it could’ve been withdrawl. After reading these posts I think I’ve got my answer. I’m not giving up on Chantix, just a lot more careful to wean myself off when the time comes.
okay. chantix is awesome. i took the first week normally, then lowered to one pill after that. it still worked, and i only had to buy three months instead of six. i think all the freaks out there who want to kill themselves have already had those thoughts. nothing new for them. look at antidepressants. they help alot pf people, and sure, some people kill themselves, but there is always a risk. and they still prescribe them. people need to quit blaming thingsd on medication and stop trying to get rich with these lulu lawsuits. can somebody, somewhere, please take responsibility for their actions????
amy on March 16th, 2008 5:28 am okay. chantix is awesome. i took the first week normally, then lowered to one pill after that. it still worked, and i only had to buy three months instead of six. i think all the freaks out there who want to kill themselves have already had those thoughts. nothing new for them. look at antidepressants. they help alot pf people, and sure, some people kill themselves, but there is always a risk. and they still prescribe them. people need to quit blaming thingsd on medication and stop trying to get rich with these lulu lawsuits. can somebody, somewhere, please take responsibility for their actions????
WHAT A BITCHY THING TO SAY! I dont WANT to kill myself but this drug, while I did stop smoking, is making me insane! I have 2 children to take care of, and I can’t be having nervous breakdowns for the rest of my life. I cry on and off, I cannot function the way I should….like an earlier person stated: “I pray the effects of this drug aren’t permanent”, I can’t stand feeling this way. Maybe the world would be a less depressing place if people like Amy understood and were supportive.
I smoked for 19 years up to 2 packs a day, I am 38 and have been smoke free for 31 days! thank you chantix!
I have been taking Chantix for about 7 weeks. I was not aware of the mood disturbances until today when I finally started to put two and two together and started some research on-line. I have been suffering with depression and it’s getting much worse despite some very positive events taking place in my life. I’ve been perplexed as to why I’ve been thinking about suicide, overwhelmed with fear, dreading every day and have been on the verge of tears all the time when there’s nothing wrong in my life. I have a history of depression and have attempted suicide in the past. I am not at risk of suicide and I have plenty of support in place, however I wanted to chime in with another report about the seriousness of the side effects. I am going to stop taking Chantix immediately.
I am glad i found this website. This is my 7th day on Chantix. I feel like doo-doo. Lots of sleepiness and tingles with horrible gas and nausea. I started smoking at the age of 17, I am now 41. For me in just this short week with side affects and all, about two days ago I just wasn’t getting the high from the cig. It’s not the same anymore. I don’t enjoy puffing and waiting for that rush beause it’s being blocked. I smoked 4 cigs yesterday when my usual pattern is to go thru 2 packs a day.
My partner is also on Chantix, one day behind me. Yeah we are irritable and lash out, but we also understand that not only with the medication but not smoking as much and slowly withdrawing from the nicotine our bodies are cleaning themselves out and the cravings of a familiar habit are slowly being stumpped.
I have had serious bouts with depression and I do not feel crazy or suicidal. What I do feel is hopeful and excited that there is a medication out there for me that will finally help free me from a horrible and lethal addiction. I think and this is my opinion that those who have sadly ended their lives while taking Chantix may have done so without the medication. If people suffer from depression they need to be treated by a psych.
Tomorrow is my quit date…I am nervous but I have enrolled in the “get quit” program offered by Chantix and doing all the assignments and it is really helping me out. Yes, it’s only been a week for me but I do see huge benefits already. It will be great to run again and hit the gym and do all those things that I have eased on because of this nasty nicotine addiction. Thnx readers for your stories of encouragement and those of you who had bad experiences on chantix, gd luck to you all.
I took Chantix and immediately started having night mares and homicidal dreams. I had extremely vivid dreams. I could not sleep more than a few minutes without waking in a dead sweat from my horriffic dreams. I would wake up and not be able to tell if I were awake or dreaming. During the day I was sick to my stomach and would snap at everyone and everything. My husband begged me to stop taking the pill. I did.
I did not take any other meds or alcohol with the Chantix. I have never had depression or sucidal thoughts in my life. But the thought in my head were so horrible that I only took the Chantix for 10 days.
I consulted my doctor about the side effects but was blown off by him. He told me that was too bad and he never had another person he gave the Chantix complain about it. I have no clue if he reported this to the FDA but I doubt it.
I reported the side effects to Phizer and they sent me an email that they would look into the matter. I never heard back from them again.
The one good thing about this is that I stopped smoking for the ten days I was on Chantix and did not crave a cigarette at all during that time. Now 4 months later I smoke more than I ever have in my life.
Thanks Phizer for nothing but memories of a horrible event.
Well, some of you may say chantix is great, others not. I”m one of the nots and believe me, this drug should be taken off the market asap.
I had been on chantix for 6 weeks, then I had a mini stroke (TIA), spent 4 days in the hospital and I know it had to be from taking chantix.
I was a totally healthy, active 53 year old women, never ever have taken any other kind of medications, never been sick, I just had a physical 1 month prior to taking chantix, everything was normal,
After taking chantix and having a mini stroke, now I don’t even want to get out of bed, I have mood changes, I get very winded now, I can’t sleep, up EVERY hour or less all night long, I am so exhausted. It has been a little over a month since my mini stroke and I still don’t feel like myself, I want my life back, but I don’t know if I will ever get it back, all for the price of wanting to quit smoking, and I didn’t smoke that much to talk about, but just wanted to end the habit, I did quit smoking, but was it worth it?
Where is the contact form that will find you a suitable attorney in your area if possible? I can’t find it.
Well where do I start, I started the Champix on Oct 6 07 n on Oct 27th quit smokin wanted to quit be4 my first granddaughter was born. I quit takin the drug the same day I quit smokin n I’m glad I did cuz on Nov 2nd I ended up in hospital with convulsions, stroke n brain bleed spent 12 days in hospital n didn’t kno anyone from the 2nd till the 11 so all I can say is DON”T take this drug it’s scary shit.
I have to say that until this morning I had not heard that Chantix was realted to these problems. I started taking it last October. Within a few weeks, I had not only suicidal thoughts, and extreme anger problems. I spent more nights than I could count ether crying or fighting mad. The wonderful 2 year relationship with my boyfriend was forever ruined. I litereally just kicked him out of my life one night.. without there even being an argument. I actually hit him. We’ve never even yelled at one another. I missed tons of work and ended up laying in my bedroom for days. I went to the doctor months later and asked for help. I have to tell you… I have never been an angry person.. or a depressed one. I am the one everyone says never quits cracking jokes or smiling. I am finally finding my way again mentally.. but have ruined everything that once did make me happy. And I did not quit smoking. Has anyone else had female related problems while on this drug? I have starting the first week I started taking it. My Docotr has yet to be able to tell me what is causing the problems that I still have.
I started Chantix a week and a half ago. Haven’t had a cigarette in 5 days. I am edgy, and get pissed off at minor things, but I attribute this to nicotine withdrawl. What scares me is that some people report the serious mental effects didn’t take hold until after 2 weeks. Some people are reporting lasting effects anywhere from 3 days to a YEAR after quitting taking it. So far the side effects are very mild, but I hope this isn’t a pre-curser to more serious effects.
One thing I will mention that I haven’t seen on any Chantix message boards, although you can read it yourself on the offical Chantix website is that this drug does more than simply block your dopimine receptors… it fills them. Chantix constantly releases 60% of the amount of dopimine you would get from smoking. This would explain why some people report craving the pill, and/or going apeshit if they quit taking it all at once.
I have 14 big blue pills left. I plan on cutting back to one pill a day for the next week, then half a pill a day for the following week. I am not a bio-chemist, but I am surprised that Pfizer recommends stopping this medication all at once considering how it works on the brain.
My husban has been taking Chantix for almost three months. He has said he was having strange dreams after he started taking it. He is also a very heavy drinker and since not smoking, he uses chewing tobacco. Two nights ago, he verbally and physically attacked me. Shoved me down and tried to slam the door on me while is was lying in the doorway, half in / half out the door. He was screaming and saying horrible things. He has never been physically abusive to me. I couldn’t believe my husband was doing this to me!!! I still don’t believe it! The next day he was fine, acted like nothing had happened, except for being a little nicer than usual. I have read these horrible things about Chantix and now believe it played a role in his behavior. After the way he acted though, I’m scared to even mention anything to him about it.
My husband used Chantix for 3 mts and he became extremely abusive and violent to the point I had him arrested one night. This was not his character at all. It’s a dangerous drug stay away from it.
Someone mentioned female problems on Chantix. I, too, started my period 4 days early . . . I am on the first week of pills and still smoking as I was told to. I told my Dr. and she said there is no connection between Chantix and menstrual problems. I am ALWAYS 25 or 26 days, not 22! No chance I am pregnant either. So it MUST be the Chantix. Just wondering if I’m supposed to wear some sort of protection for three months, or in 22 days, or in 26 days . . . Also, on day 5 of the prescription, I woke up with a slight headach that got worse and did not go away with pain reliever. When I woke up the next morning, I was fine until I took my morning dose, then came the headache again. It did go away this time with 2 motrin, followed an hour later by 2 tylenol. Once again, Doctor said there is no connection between Chantix and headache and wanted me to come in (and give her some more of my money) so she could check my BP. Do these doctors even know what they are talking about??!?! Do they not read anything on the internet at all of others symptoms?!?
I was one Chantix for four months and quit smoking a week later. I smoked two packs a day to zero in a week!!!! Was those first weeks easy, no, did I feel like crap, yes! Was I depressed, yes, I just gave up a very addictive habit that was my best friend. Was I pissy, yep! Not having nicotine with or without a pill will make you that way! Headaches, had horrible ones couldn’t what to go to sleep at night, would feel better when I woke up but they would start again about 10 am. PEOPLE it is the NICOTINE WITHDRAWAL!!!!!!! Was there times I wanted to rip peoples heads off, yep, just like before I quit smoking and didn’t have a cig for too long of a time!! You people that smoke and have smoked know if you can’t get your fix you would do almost anything for just that one cigarette! So if it has that much control on us when we smoke what does it do when we try to give it up? Chantix is a great aid that allowed me to quit not so gracefully sometimes.
I also had several of the symtoms I had read about. The nightmares, shortness of breath, tired, angry and short tempered is bad enough and a living HELL but I had also had a real bad pain in my back in the general area where your lungs are. This has kept me in severe pain. I am curious to see if anyone else has had this pain? It has been a month and I still have the WORST back ache or lung ache?? Not really sure but I am real curious to see if I am not alone with this symptom.
Let’s see now. Pilots, air traffic controllers, train operators, truck drivers, and bus drivers can not take Chantix and be medically certified. Well, I predict automobile drivers are next. Pfizer should take stuff off the market, take there lumps and move on.
My husband and I both started taking Chantix over a month ago. I did experience strange dreams the first two weeks, but they weren’t bad – just weird and very vivid. My husband told me he was experiencing the same thing, just strange dreams. So far we have been smoke-free for about three weeks. I haven’t noticed any other side effects in either one of us.
I started June 5, 2008 right after my physical, I wanted to Quit for at least a couple years and planned to eventually. Now it was time. Hey I smoked for 35 + years and Chantix has worked so far. Sure there are some minor side effects but not being able to breath can kill you. I am currently on week 9 and haven’t had a smoke in 4 or 5 days. That may not be typical but even when I cheated it was like not smoking. So maybe I smoked 1 or 2 a day but it had no effect. In any case I think this is currently working quite well. Time will tell.
My experience with Chantix appears unique. I was on it for 10 days and discontinued it’s use after many side effects. I have quit smoking now for 90 days after 2 packs a day for 27 years. Chatix not only got rid of ALL withdrawl symptoms for me..I had absolutely no interest in smoking whatsoever. It completely rid me of the habit, not only the urge. How? My buddies smoke around me constantly and I could care less. I am not sure I am capable of smoking again even if I chose to. This is obviously disturbing. It appears to have rewired my brain.
I have developed suicidal thoughts. Why am I hear? Why bother? I have never had any suicidal tendencies at all..life was good, everything in place by design and through effort. I also get violent, have strong dreams, sleep for only 4 hours a night..every night. I have no joy, lost my motivation, difficulty concentrating and assimilating. I get teary eyed at inapproprote times. These are all inconsistent with who I am and how I live and view life. MY SYMPTOMS HAVE NOT GONE AWAY 10 WEEKS AFTER I HAVE STOPPED USING IT. No joke. My symptoms started when I took it and they have not yet left and are not slowing down. I have seen my Dr, A nuerologist and pshchiatrist and they are clueless. I’m actually getting scared.
Anyone hear of anything like this? If you have, please share your experience.
I started smoking, like most boys, in my early teens. I took Chantix for about 5 weeks and put the smokes down a year ago. I am now 51 years old. I did suffer from bizarre dreams and restless nights while taking the drug. During that time I had the misfortune of losing a job I had for twenty years. I was plagued with suicidal thoughts, but I can’t honestly attribute it to the drug. The smokes were going to kill me anyway; I would have just suffered longer. I know as I am a registered respiratory therapist (another of the many ironies of life:)
If I had it to do over again, I would still take Chantix. The stuff works. I enjoy saving the money, my breath and clothes smell better, and I think I feel better. My only regret is I have gained about 15 pounds. I am fortunate to have a lot of support as no one in my family smokes.
If I could, I would smoke a few cigarettes per day. However, I would not keep it at that. If one chooses to stop smoking, he must have the mindset that smoking is no longer an option; no, not even just this once. It is just a reality. I commonly have a strong desire to smoke. I just don’t entertain it as an option.
Good luck and if there’s anything I can do to help please let me know.
Brian
p.s. In answer to the person that had “lung pain”, there are no pain receptors in the lung. The pain is coming, most likely, from the chest wall. Could have been because of coughing a lot. Might need to check with a doc.
DO NOT TAKE CHANTIX AND DRINK ALCOHOL!!!!! There is no warning about mixing the two on the packaging or insert. Apparently they are not allowed to do research on the side effects where the combination will alter the brain. It will make you violent to the point where you will hurt a loved one and not think twice about it. It brings out a manic and highly dangerous monster. After the irratic behavior is over the individual responsible will NOT recall the events entirely. I have seen this act first hand from someone who wouldnt harm anything or anyone or who would want to display violent and abusive behavior sober or intoxicated. I had my suspisions that the medication had something to do with this incident but upon reading the warning insert front to back found there was no warning for concern with taking chantix and consuming alcoholic beverages. Then I began online research and found this site amoung many others with similar encounters. Please be very mindful of this drug especially while under the influence. It all started with vivid dreams and him talking in his sleep. I’ll never look at him the same way again…
I have smoked since I was about 15 years old. I grew up in a smoking household. I have three children and quit through every pregnancy without problems only to restart after the birth of the children. However, I suffered through a miserable abusive marriage in the 1990’s that left me with PTSD as well as severe anxiety and depression. I am currently able to work full time and I live a very productive life. However, stopping smoking has become my life quest and a very difficult one at that. I have tried all smoking cessation aids with various tmeporary results. In July 2008 I decided to try Chantix. My best friend and husband had both been successful on it without harsh side effects. I took the drug as prescribed by my doctor and pharmacist. Both of whom are aware of my stress disorders. I felt very jittery and anxious on the drug and my doctor said that would go away after a few days, it did not. The jitterieness was soon followed up by intense mood swings and a feeling of walking around in a fog. My ability to work had not been impared.But I was very non productiveat home. I did my best to keep my foul mood to myself. But I became progressively more anxious. On day four I got a speeding ticket. I was completely unaware of why I was even being pulled over and still feel that there must be some huge mistake with the radar. I simply do not speed! The anxiety and fog continued to build but I was determined that if others could do it that so could I. On day eleven, the day I was suppose to stop smoking I got pulled over again. Yes, another speeding ticket. By this time my perception of reality was so warped I couldn’t even hold a thought for more than a few seconds. I had not had a speeding ticket in more than twenty years! Why was all of the happining now? I quit taking Chantix that day. Over the next few days I had a few very scarey moments that I really felt like I didn’t even want to live anymore. It took at least two weeks before I felt as though I had my thought process and brain back under control.Currently I am trying the patch and I have five days as a non smoker with no side effects. I an thankful to Chantix for assissting my best friend and husband in quiting but it was a demon drug for me!
I started taking Chantix about 5 weeks ago. I immediately had a bad reaction, vomiting violently after every meal, then came dreams- weird, vivid and sometimes terrifying dreams. Then on week 4 I started getting high anxiety and feeling rage inside me. I couldn’t figure out why I was so angry inside. I have had several bouts of depressions and suicide. I called by doctor and he took me off of it immediately. I’m still very depressed but the dreams and vomitting have stopped. I haven’t had a cig and it feels great-but are the side effects really worth it?
I have smoked for 30 plus years. I have also been addicted to drugs and alcohol over the years. Cigarettes are no different. We are addicts. First and foremost we must really truly want to stop “using” otherwise nothing will work.
I have been taking Champix (Canadian name) as directed and it has been invaluable. I had tried the patch and gum in the past with no success. Then I found out that I was treating nicotine addiction with nicotine. Doesn’t make much sense, does it ? That’s like treating an alcoholic with alcohol.
Through the Champix program,I haven’t smoked now for several weeks. I feel so liberated. I do not drink or take any other medications or drugs while taking these pills except for my blood pressure prescription. I have had some weird dreams but I also had weird dreams when I was coming off of other mood altering substances. It is important to note that addicts quite often go through depression and suicidal tendencies as their bodies readapt to not having their ‘drug of choice’ anymore . So alot of the emotional side effects I’ve read here sound like normal reactions to withdrawal. They may not actually have anything to do with the medication. Everybody’s physical reactions to withdrawal are different…some people get jittery and anxious, some people become depressed and have suicidal thoughts, some people are drawn to other compulsive behaviors ie eating, gambling… Some people are actually fortunate enough to have no withdrawal symptons at all.
I think it’s important to remember that this is a drug addiction and our bodies will respond the same way as any alcoholic’s or junkie’s does when they stop using. The body/ brain will send whatever messages it can in whatever form to try and get nicotine again. No two people will be the same.
Personally, Champix (or Chantix as it is written here) has been a great tool for me . I love living and smoking is simply a slower version of suicide.
I am so glad that our experience whit chantix is over. It did help my husband quit smoking but the side effects were extremely terrible. I could hardly deal with the mood swings, and depression he was going through while taking it. Plus, he smoked up to 4 packs a day and never had a touch of asthma, but once on chantix, he was doing up to 4 breathing treatments aday, plus inhalers. We even took him by ambulacne t the hospital because he couldn’t breathe. Now that he has been off of it for awhile the side effects have went away. Be causious if you or a loved one are considering taking this product.
I have been smoke free for 39 days thanks to Chantix. There are side effects to every medication and you just have to be aware. I smoked for 37 years and Chantix is working for me. The side effects have subsided for the most part. I still have some insomnia and vivid dreams. Alot of gas, some nausea and I have had thoughts of sucide but nothing compaired to what smoking was doing to me. I just hope it’s this easy not to smoke after I come off of it. I did go through a stop smoking class sponsered by the American Lung Association. Education along with drug theropy seems to be the best way to go. Nicotine is a drug as strong as cocaine or herion so remember, your are a drug addict. Once you face this, it’s a little easier to except the help needed to quit.
I’m sittnig here smoking a cig now>>why? Cantix helped for a minute, but, I couldn’t handle the vomiting and feeling tired and withdrawn from everything that I love. I thought it might be the stress all around me, but, hey, who doesn’t have that! Right now, I’m feeling stupid thoughts of suicide, not any anger towards anyone, just myself. I quit taking them a couple days ago , I was on them for about 9 months…too long. They’re supposed to be a mind altering drug to quit smoking, not to quit living and caring. I’ve always been a very caring person, not lately. I pretty much keep to myself, hardly leave the house, have no intentions to get a job, even though I need one…just stuck! Hopefully, being off this stuff will change my mindset. I wish everyone the best luck with whoever tries it, It might be different for u. For me, it was a TOTAL NIGHTMARE AND STILL IS. I just got off the phone with my best friend and told her to just throw it out..cold turkey or something else is the way to go.
i started chantix about 1 1/2 weeks ago. The second day of taking it i was only smoking 4 cig. a day for 2 days then i went down to 2 cigs. for about 2 or 3 days when i started my 2nd week of pills i went into some kind of weird mood and depression that i left my husband for no reason at all. So, I quite taking the med. and we got back together but i started smoking again about 1/2 a pack a day i cant do this. I need some way to quit because i have asima and cronic cough from smoking and it is just getting worse i am on attibotics cough med. and 4 2 different kinds of pumps i take treatments often at the dr. and i use my pumps seams like all day. Enough is Enough I dont know what else to do. Can someone please help me! or tell me the best way to handle this is. I dont want to lose my family again and i have a 7 year daughter that is worried about me and my health. I crying out!! Please someone help me!!!!
Chantix is a drug with side effects. I did the research before I knowingly entered into this program. In order to get the most from a medication you have to read the directions. Take it in the morning on a full stomach with a full glass of water. You will not get nauseous. For me, the pill I need to take at night needs to be 2 hours before I go to sleep or I will get heartburn. The dreams are intense and so interwoven I could write science fiction novels from them. Those are the only side effects I’ve had.
Since I’ve quit smoking I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I enjoy my morning email from the GetQuit support group (now part of Chantix perscriptions) and my nightly check in. Seeing how much money I’ve saved after only 10 days is enough to keep me going. That and watching all my co-workers huddle outside in 25 degree weather. They all smell disgusting and look disheveled with their haggard faces and leathery skin. That’s what I used to smell like and that is NOT what I want to look like. Once you find your true motivation it becomes much easier to resist those occasional urges. Vanity and money are my top two reasons for quitting smoking. Oh yeah and health.. but honestly that doesn’t even figure into my reasoning right now. What are your reasons?
Chantix is a very dangerous drug, and good luck to those of you who use it without suffering from the side effects. I hope all goes and stays well…
But for those of us who have had serious problems due to the side effects of this drug, where have you gone for help? My boyfriend started taking this about a year and a half ago, and hasn’t been himself since. He never got a call from his doctor about the recall, and neither of us had no knowledge of it until last night when I stumbled across it looking at toy recalls… Who should he call? He needs help, what do we do??
This is in reference to “Barry on September 2nd, 2008 3:32 am”. He states the following:
“I have developed suicidal thoughts. Why am I here? Why bother? I have never had any suicidal tendencies at all..life was good, everything in place by design and through effort. I also get violent, have strong dreams, sleep for only 4 hours a night..every night. I have no joy, lost my motivation, difficulty concentrating and assimilating. I get teary eyed at inapproprote times. These are all inconsistent with who I am and how I live and view life. MY SYMPTOMS HAVE NOT GONE AWAY 10 WEEKS AFTER I HAVE STOPPED USING IT. No joke. My symptoms started when I took it and they have not yet left and are not slowing down.”
My reaction to Chantix is the same as Barry’s. I started taking Chantix the 3rd week of October 2007. I stopped smoking the day after Thanksgiving and stopped taking Chantix at the end of December 2007. I didn’t take it for 3 months as suggested because of the side effects. As of this writing (December 2008) I am still experiencing the same thoughts and feelings as Barry. It’s so bad I don’t want to socialize with friends or family (I force myself to). My husband is the direct target for all my anger, rage, vioent temper tantrums. He at least realizes where this is coming from. I have lashed out at my mom who is my best friend and truly is a saint, she would never hurt anyone. I cry in the middle of the night for no reason at all and for more than an hour at a time. I keep this hidden from people because I don’t want them to think I’m nuts. I have never experienced depression or anger of this magnitude before in my life. Never had a bout of depression ever. I was one of those people who didn’t understand depression, I just figured only weak people got depressed. But I understand it now. Loss of joy in life, no motivation, all the things Barry mentioned above, I am still feeling a year later. I do not smoke anymore, I started when I was 19 smoking a pack a day, I smoked between 2 to 3 packs a day for the last 4 years until I quit at the age of 54. I feel so much better without the cigarettes, had tried everything on the planet, including alternative methods such as accupunture, nothing worked. So Chantix did take away the desire to smoke, but it certainly has screwed with my brain. I tell anyone who asks, not to take it; if they are still determined to do it, to make sure their personality is such that they don’t think they will give in to the suicidal side effects of this drug. I just found all these web sites about everyone’s experiences and I don’t feel so alone anymore. I don’t feel like some crazy lunatic. I am going to be strong and beat this so I can be my old self again now that I understand better what has happened to me. Good luck to everyone!
my reaction to chantix was helpful in helping me quit but disscourageing in the way it made me feel emotionaly. I became very depressed and emotionaly drained and unfortionaly my family were the ones to suffer I began to get agressive toward my family which has never happened before I also had issues with sleep most times i would have weird dreams and trouble getting to sleep after 8 months i decide to go off of chantix because of the side effects
I started taking Chantix on November 10, 2008, quit smoking on the 17th. I quit taking the Chantix almost 3 weeks ago and since then I have been a mess! I had the side affects that most everyone seems to experience such as secluding myself bizarre dreams and extreme nasuea. Since I quit taking them I can be fine one minute then postal the next and for no reason. I have so much anexiety that I can’t sleep, I almost feel like I’m going crazy. I mentioned what I waqs feeling to my Dr and he ask me if I wanted to go back on it that maybe what I was experiencing was withdrawal from the cigarettes. I told him no way! It seems to be getting slightly better but when will it go completely away? I don’t know how long I can handle feeling like a freak!!
Chantix….well, I smoked for almost 40 years. I know other drugs had caused a friend to go off the wall with quitting smoking and was afraid to take any medications. The other drug was not Chantix. I know that a person who quit smoking that had lived with me…got homicidal one day when I lit up a cigarette, and he destroyed my cigarettes and locked me in a room. He didn’t quit with Chantix, he went cold turkey. He had been off the cigarettes for about six months. I didn’t want to take pills. I talked with nurses, and I talked with chantix users and I talked with others who knew of those who took chantix…and I found that someone was afraid of blood clots being caused by chantix. I was petrified of quitting and petrified of not quitting. So I listened to my doctor, she increased my dosage of Lexapro, and put me on Chantix. I smoked for three weeks with it and quit on January 22nd 2008 after only smoking 4 cigarettes a day and not wanting them, just did it out of habit. I took chantix for a total of 8 weeks and then gave them up weaning myself off them. I’ve heard of others that have taken chantix for two years. I know one thing for sure. It helped me quit. And I haven’t looked back.
I’ve been quit for almost a year and a half, thanks to Chantix. I tried to quit smoking 6 times in 10 years, and could never manage to do it. Zyban, patches, gum, if it was on the market, I tried it. No joy. Diagnosed with the fist stage of COPD before I was 30, I still could not quit.
Then came Chantix.
Yes, I had physical side effects. Yes, I had emotional side effects. Yes, some of those side effects included the published neuro-related side effects: depression, suicidal thoughts. Yes, these side effects were severe. Yes, I called in sick to work a lot, withdrew from family and friends, considered suicide. Why didn’t I actually commit suicide?
I did my research before beginning this medication, as I do the first time I take any new medication. The internet is the consumer’s best friend, and it’s the educated consumer’s guardian. Because I thoroughly researched this medication in advance, I knew about the possible neuro side effects, and since I’ve been diagnosed with depression in the past, I was ready for the neuro when it came, when it hit me, and hit me hard.
Because I was prepared, I was able to see the depression and suicidal thoughts for what they were — Medication side effects that would wear off as soon as I quit taking the pills. As a result, every pill I took was an academic commitment (because I was no longer capable of an emotional one) to a better life, and every depressive or suicidal thought I had was a tick mark confirming the Chantix was bonding with my nicotine receptors and therefore throwing my other brain chemicals into a tizzy. Even if the last isn’t exactly an accurate scientific explanation, these two concepts helped me get through the neuro side effects to finish ***three courses*** (2 back-to-back and then 1 more six months later) of Chantix, becoming a non-smoker a year and a half after my first Chantix.
I am truly, truly sorry for anyone who experiences any of the neuro side-effects of Chantix and can’t/couldn’t see them for what they were, anyone who couldn’t wait them out. Although deaths or attempted deaths are no laughing matter and a true tragedy, I honestly believe that removing this medication from the market is not the answer. Education is the answer — Long gone are the days when we blindly follow our physician’s orders (and none of us should ever have blindly been listening to pharma ads).
Balancing the risk of side effects with the benefits of a medication are the responsibility of the physician and of the patient. Assuming that it’s not shown that Pfizer has intentionally hidden data showing patient damage (as with the Vioxx scandal), then leave them alone. At the end of the day, the patient is responsible for educating himself regarding the possibilities of every pill he swallows.
I did the research. I took the pills. I experienced the side effects. I was ready for them. I got through them, but I could’ve quit taking the pills (and stopped the side effects) at any time, and I knew it. As a result, I am a non-smoker. Pls don’t take Chantix away from those of us who are willing to be responsible for ourselves, those who make the educated decision to see if it will help us quit.
Thank God for Chantix.
I stopped smoking May 2008 by using Chantix. I have to say, I still want a cigarette every day.
Because of Chantix, I vomited for almost a month, became extremely depressed, could not sleep, was scared all of the time & had suicidal thoughts.
Almost a year later, these symptoms are still with me.
Most people say, I bet it was the best thing you ever did (Quit Smoking).
Honestly, I feel worse now than I did when I was smoking.
I believe that every medication works differently for different people. My experience with Chantix wasn’t a pleasant one. A couple days after starting the Chantix, I had severe stomach cramps and gas. I continued to take the medicine as my doctor said it would go away. A couple days after that, the stomach pains had gotten much worse and I was in the bathroom every 10-20 minutes. When I called the doctor, they said to keep taking them. At the worst point, I couldn’t ride in the car for 20 minutes without stopping 3 times to use the bathroom. I don’t know if it was for that reason or because of the withdrawals or the Chantix, but I was extremely irritable as well. I decided on my own that these weren’t side effects that I could deal with. I called the doctor again and the nurse said to stop taking it for one day and I did, but the side effects didn’t go away. I didn’t start taking it again the next day and I continued to have the same side effects for two weeks.
I have been on chantix for 2 weeks. I am having severe anxiety and panic attacks. I am also very irritable, like, PMSx10. I don’t know if I want to keep taking it. I am also still smoking about 4 cigarettes a day. All I want to do is QUIT SMOKING!!! I started smoking at age 13 and I’m 31. I smoked about a 1/2 a pack to 1 pack a day. So I guess going from 1 pack a day to 4 cigs a day is good, but I can’t stand the panic. I had panic attacks before, but I had not had any in a year until I started taking chantix.
I’m going to Keep praying to God to help me Quit once and for all.
Alot of the side effects people are speaking of comes from the cigs. I have yet to try Chantix but am in the process of doing so. i have tried to quit on my own, and got the pressure feeling in my head, the hot flashes, aggitation, and aggression. Now I have not taken Chantix and can not speak about the side effects but i do know that most of the stuff people are complaining about I feel without the Chantix.
I have been thinking about quiting for quite some time. Tried the patch, hypnosis, acupuncture, cold turkey, praying..you name it. I have the presciption on file for Chantix wiating for me, when I’m ready. I heard it was possibly going to be taken off the market. Seriously, after reading these notes, I’m NOT going to take it. I have suffered depression for most of my life, but it has been under control (finally) with the right medication. I DO NOT WANT TO GO DOWN THE ROAD AGAIN!. ..I”m not going to take that chance. My doctor was happy that I wanted to quit, but he also said, that people who have psychotic tendencies may become more psychotic. (nice huh)?….None for me thanks!
I am a 50 year old female and have smoke since I was 23 yrs old. I had been in a car accident and the pain management physician recommended I quit smoking. After 2 months I asked for Chantix Rx and filled it. I followed the directions. I did have very strange dreams the second week, a bit jittery, but it worked. I took the Rx 3 months. I am almost at my 1 year anniversary. Non Smoker!! could not have done it without this Rx.
Within 4 days of taking Champix (what we call Chantix in Canada) I had completely lost the urge to smoke so I stopped. I had weird dreams and a couple sleepless night, but it was well worth it for me. My co-workers also took it and we have a completely smoke free office now! I got a little moody too, perhaps I even felt a little bitchier, but my husband said he could barely tell the difference! LOL
I ran 2 miles yesterday…try and do that while you’re smoking!!!
Well, I was directed by my doctor to stop smoking after 36 years due to COPD. I am a 50 year old male who started smoking early on in life. The COPD was not the bad boy one with Bronchitis and Emphaseyma, just the one with Bronchitis. My pulmonary doctor prescribed the Chantix and I started it 8 days b/4 my quit date which was Jan 1, 2009. Well, it did help me to stop, or perhaps I was just ready enough to do it. After about 1 week the weird dreams started, creating a lack of sleep. I was waking up every two hours from a ‘dream’. I felt pretty good for about 3 weeks, and then the weird thought patterns began to develop..nothing suicidal, just very agitated, irritable, angry, upset, no motivation, very tired, sleeping a lot, or trying to anyway to catch up. After 5 weeks on it it was just too much to deal with and I stopped it and began smoking again. I guess this drug is just not for everyone. It took me a long time to come down from it once I stopped taking it. Now I am ready to try again. I think hypnosis will be the next way to go for me, as it worked for my mom who was a smoker for as long as I have been and she stopped 25 years ago and hasn’t smoked since. Good luck to anyone who takes this drug, and please pay attention to your mind/body with regards to the side effects.
My friend’s husband did commit suicide after taking and stopping this drug. Now she is a widow with 3 young children. I find it absolutely unbelievable that he died as a result of taking an FDA approved drug and that his doctor did not even mention the warnings of this drug. Please do not risk your life by taking this drug! PLEASE contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 800-273-TALK if you are thinking about suicide or call 911. Your loved ones and especially your children want you here!!!!
I will be 60 years old in June. I am a divorced woman, live alone and support myself with no outside help.
I smoked for 42 years. Cigarettes were my best friend and you were putting your life in danger if you even THOUGHT about trying to deny me a smoke. I can not find a single candid picture ever taken of me without a cigarette in my hand since 1967!! I have tried patches (still smoked with them), gum (same thing), cold turkey (that almost cost a few lives) and every other stupid or sensible stop smoking aid or idea there is. Needless to day, I wasn’t successful. Then I woke up one morning and out of the clear blue decided I wanted to quit. It was no longer convenient or socially acceptable, not to mention the health risks which were unknown when I began my wonderfully expensive addiction. My health and the money it cost each week was never a consideration I took seriously. It was MY life and MY choice. If I paid for it & died, so be it. But this time something was different. I really WANTED to quit….and that, as I discovered later, was the real key to success.
I went on Chantix & yes had some pretty weird dreams…some of them were pretty cool actually. And as a few other side effects popped up I found out how to avoid them through the Chantix support system. So here I am, 120 days later. I am still smoke free & I owe it ALL to Chantix.
Now, I have read all these comments and the same theme and questions keep popping up as I read. To keep it short, I will list them by number and after you read my list, think really hard about how many of them apply to you and or your personal circumstances.
1. How old are you? Are you a woman of menopausal age?
2. Have you ever been treated for depression or anxiety?
3. Are you bipolar?
4. Are you employed? Have you recently lost your job?
5. Do you have a good marriage?
6. Do you have a good support team to back you up?
7. Did you eat something before you took the Chantix and drink the water you were told to do in the instructions?
8. Did you go online and register on “Get Quit”? If so, did you check in & do the exercises every day?
9. When you were having what you thought may be side effects from the drug did you call their hotline & talk to their counselors?
I found that by following the instructions, checking in EVERY DAY, doing the excersises as directed, and calling their hotline when I needed to (sometimes several times a day) I finally can say today that I am a non-smoker. I won’t lie and say I don’t miss it or want one several times a day, because I still do, especially when I’m stressed out. I probably always will. But I won’t ever smoke again. Not now. It took too much effort, hard work & will power I never knew I was capable of to make it.
I’ll just end this with two things for everyone to think about. First, you will NOT stop smoking if you don’t TRULY WANT TO!!! And second, think more about your own life and situations in it before you blame a drug for YOUR failures. Chantix is there to help you every step of the way & it’s your own damn fault if you fail due to neglecting to follow the directions!!!!
I had smoked for 34 years having starting young and was smoking 3 packs a week when I was 10. I honestly didn’t remember ever NOT smoking. I was able to quit using Chantix. The main side effect that I had was severe neuralgia in my jaw. My husband was so surpriised that he started taking it. 2 years later he still isn’t the same. He got severe depression and did attempt suicide and he also starting drinking hard liquor. We are miles away from where we were 2 years ago. This was not from withdraw as he only took it for a month and never did cut down much-let alone quit. He was a social drinker (a few beers on the weekend) and within days of starting Chantix was drinking either gin, vodka or bourbon. This actually has continued 2 years later. We have been married for 26 years and are not even sure we will be together by the end of the year. I recently started taking the Chantix again but have kept it at 1/day but most of the people I know that had anger/depression/suicide reactions (yes, he has all 3 now) were all men. I do know that I don’t really care for alcohol except for the real fruity drinks or cream-types. All I know is that while it helps me it has come at such a high price and I see both sides of the issue. I don’t think all the info has been released on this issue. For those who quit-Congrats! For those still coping with side-effects–may God be with you.
The nature of quitting smoking… without Chantix I had weird dreams (nightmares even), fell into a profound depression, and had panic attacks. I do not have those problems on this quit, with Chantix. I do feel sick and nauseated for a couple of hours after taking it, but hey… smoking makes you sick and nauseated too – I hear that end stages of cancer are awful =:P
I’ve been on Chantix for 3 weeks and during the second week I was already down to 1-4 cigarettes/day from 3/4 a pack/day. I’m not craving them anymore or feeling the need to have one if I smell someone else smoking-which is nice! I’ve also lost a few pounds since I started! I’m not having any crazy side effects, no crazy dreams, or anything of that nature. For those worried about the side effects, just remember that every cigarette you smoke-you’re putting at least 4,000 chemicals in your body. So naturally, your body will react differently when it no longer has access to it.
I love it-it has helped tremendously. I am in week 3, and I am proud that I can do this-it is very hard, I have smoked for 40 years. My mother died in April of lung cancer (at 88) and my husband quit smoking 7 years ago cold turkey-I was actually mad at him when he quit, because it was one of things we had in common. The water helps a lot with controlling any side effects of the Chantix- the dreams are a little weird sometimes, but I wouldn’t call them nightmares. My biggest problem is that I am having hot flashes again-I thought I was past that-but I am sure they will too pass. I just need to get past the physical need to hold a cigarette-maybe I’ll just get a pencil-mornings are tough-the first thing I did every morning was light a cigarette-but luckily no one around me smokes so I don’rt even get to smell it at all. I am very happy I am doing this for a number of reasons, but especially my health. Thank you Chantix!
Yes on my 2nd week . And feel sick like a few said the first couple hours . Hope that is the worst .Oh yes headake too . And stomach . But will keep trying and hope in the end its worth it . I have to quit for myself and the people that love me . And nothing else has ever taken the desire to smoke away . I don’t even enjoy it . But am down 50% or more and that is a good thing . Hopefully by next week down to 25% or less . But will not push it . That seemed to be the problem the first time I tried it .
I tried taking chantix about 6 months ago and for the first few days I was okay then every time I took a pill within an hour or so I was vomiting horribly so a friend recommended I try taking it with a full stomach which I did and still it made me very sick. I broke them in half hoping that would help but it didn’t then one night was the end for me. The dreams were real intense until one night, I woke up in the middle of the night after about 2 weeks of being on chantix thinking my house was on fire. I open the window, kicked the screen off and started putting all the animals outside while I was screaming for the rest of the house to wake up. My roommate came running in asking what was wrong and when I told her the house was on fire she said no its not. We turned all the lights on and did a walk of the house and the house was fine.
I knew then chantix was not for me.
After 21 years, everything on the market, and months of consideration I decided to try Chantix to kick my smoking habit. Of the 10-15 people I had talked to the had quit smoking and chewing on Chantix, only 1 had side effects, so I was really positive this was going to be the best answer. OOPS! Day 1 (Nov 8th,09) I take my first .5mg pill, and I’m fine for about 20 minutes being my go-go-self as normal, then out of nowhere I start sweating, my stomach starts cramping, and I feel like I haven’t slept in 6 days. I spent the next 5 hours on the couch feeling horrible. I figure it’s only a day or so ordeal and my body will adjust. On day 7 I leaened that I can prevent being so sick for hours by drinking Pepto Bismal, so I start that. Day 14 I’m in the doctor’s office and have only smoked a half of a cigarette in 3 days, but I still feel hideous. The nightmares are horrific, the stomach issues awful, insomnia (despite taking Ambien every night), mood swings, headaches, but at least I’m not suicidal and I’ve now stopped smoking. I report my symptoms to him, he says he can’t do anything about it, and I stop taking them that very day.
Today is Dec 9th, 2009. I’m still having horrible stomach problems and can’t eat without feeling like garbage. I haven’t have any energy since day 1 of the Chantix, and I still have some residual moodiness. I haven’t taken a Chanitx since the 22nd of November.
Will this happen to everyone, no, but it’s worth saying that this pill isn’t for everyone too.
I also had a horrible nightmare experience from using chantix. For me the worst part was trying to get off the poison. Two years later after filling a lawsuit, it lead me to the obvious conclusion, chantix is an antipsychotic type drug. Stopping it cause akathisia which Pfizer should be well aware of due to zoloft and other pysch drugs. They make and promote, even some illegally, as shown by the huge fines recently paid. Beware of AKATHISIA and EPS from withdrawal or better yet keep your money and just quit cold turkey like I did. After what I went through quitting chantix stopping smoking was a breeze. Too bad my faith in medicine has been damaged beyond repair. I call it health careless now and avoid those who are so GREEDY that my life means nothing in light of them making money. It goes againt the oath to practice medicine, DO NO HARM!
Been married to my husband for 16 years. He’s now on his 4th week of Chantix. He hit me for the first time in our marriage. Actually it’s more like punching me 3 times while our kid was in the room. This is AFTER punching the wall. Trust me … over 16 years of marriage I’ve given him PLENTY of reasons and times that even I would have wanted to hit myself, but he’s a calm and loving man who never gets physical, until Chantix came into the picture.
I’m bipolar and I would lose control of myself (just short of physical abuse) before I was on medicine. Funny how a medicine can do the opposite.
I have tried taking chantix twice. The first time I was so sick taking it I couldnt keep nothing down. I am talking about nothing, I had the crazy dreams and t he suicidal thoughts. I evenj questioned my doctor about t aking them since I was already depressed. I only lasted the first time taking them 4 weeks. By the end of the 4 weeks I was ready to kill myself and everyone I came into contact with. A month or so ago my gyno suggested I cut my pills in half. I tried it for 3 weeks this time. With the smaller dosages I didnt feel sick all the time. They were working great for me the 2nd time intill I was ready to kill my roommate and all she was doing was something on her phone but the clicking sound of it was to much for me. Then that same night I kept thinking it would be so much easier if I would just go jump of the freaking bridge I even had it all planed out. So the next day I stoped taking them again.I know quiet a few people who have tried it and have had the same outcome. I had better luck and longer sucess quiting cold turkey atleast I made it 6 months compaired to 1. I wouldnt even have my worst enemy take this drug, it will make you go crazy or atleast feel like you are.
Hello to anyone to reads this and finds similarities in our stories, please contact me at the email address you will find at the bottom of this. Please enter Chantix in the subject line when you email me back. I am searching for people who experienced severe panic/anxiety after taking chantix. I suffered a nervous breakdown and severe panic attack 5 months after stopping 4 weeks of chantix. Since January of 2008 I have been dealing with severe panic attacks, lost my job, am unable to drive and now am feeling more social phobia as well as severe depression. I just spoke to the FDA and they are unaware of those of us who feel that chantix left us with the long time gift of panic/anxiety, and after reading over 200 posts today I know there are others out there just like me.
Please if you would like to tell your story and have it presented to the FDA to that others might be spared what we have been through, please email me your story and contact information and I will get this information to the proper people You can email me at daveindy820@aol.com and remember please put chantix as the subject line. Thanks for your time in reading this and I look forward to hearing from some of you folks.
David
Did you know that USA and Europe blocked Wikileaks? What do you think about it?
Hope for no silence
I am starting my third week on chantix. I had extreemly odd dreams the first week and a half. Not to metion the mood swings. My husband already thinks I’m crazy but it has been a lot worse lately. I feel more depressed than ever. But I feel if this gets me to quit smoking it is all worth it. I’m still smoking about a pack a day. How long until I don’t have these ciggarette cravings anymore?
I took Chantix.
I am a shell of who I used to be, its been several years now and it is only getting worse. PLEASE try every other option out there before risking losing yourself to Chantix.
I took Chantix before enough studies were done. I did not realize that it would alter the state of my mind, slowly over a period of time, and by the time you can clear the fog enough to have a brief moment of clarity its too late. The real problems are when you realize the small side effects aren’t the problem, its months and even years down the road that you realize you are inflicted with something uncontrollable. The fog in your mind doesn’t let you see it until its beyond controllable.
I battle to stay alive one more day EVERYDAY. It would be so much easier to just go ahead and kill myself… just to get some rest. I do not know why I’m even prolonging the inevitable. The Paranoia controls me, I have not felt loved or close to anyone in years. Things that I think are real are not, my reality is not the same as your reality…. how does anyone ever learn to live with that? The voices, the experiences that have to be real, but they are not. And memories, I’m missing big chunks, whole years, people I know but don’t remember knowing or how I knew them. Vocabulary distress, being unable to use a simple word, not knowing a word mid sentence. A numb region on the top of my foot that has been there since 2010. This is just some of my post Chantix reality.
Please consider all options and educate yourself. Chantix only has a 10% success rate after 1 year….. meaning 90% are smoking again before a year has passed. I wouldn’t wish the hell I live in on my worst enemy..