This Is My Brain on Chantix
I’d heard it was the most effective stop-smoking drug yet. So I took it. Then those reports of suicidal ideation began washing in.
I have read a lot of the stories about what happens to people on Chantix. This one is very scary, but for me I see a common thread in all of them. DON’T DRINK ALCOHOL WHILE TAKING CHANTIX! Also, this guy had some weird nightmares which I have not experienced, maybe that is related to suicidal ideation. At any rate this is something that everyone should read if considering taking Chantix. Just be aware if this kind of stuff happens to you to quit taking it or call your Doctor immediately. Fortunately, I and several other people I know who took Chantix did not have anything near this type of side effect.
Let me know if you have experienced anything like this guy did when you were taking Chantx. Everyone that has commented or other blogs I’ve read about Chantix has been nothing but praise for this ‘Miracle Drug’. I’m curious if this is more Media Hype because it is something that really works! Please post you experience with Chantix. Thanks!
addiction
quit smoking
chantix
July 5, 2008 at 8:48 pm
This Pill has changed my life and not for the better. Mt twin Sister along with my older sister – we all decided to take the chantix drug. After 4 weeks we all became very sick. Leg aches – our feet felt like they were being crushed. So tired could not get out of bed. Terrible dreams – lossing our hair. I thought I was having a heart attack. This medication has ruined my last two years of my life – along with my sisters. We have been doctoring every since. Thyroid problems are the one thing we have figured out and not been able to get under control. There were many days I was in so much pain I just wanted to die. I would never suggest this drug to any one. This needs to be taken off the market. They owe me 2 years of my life back – and who knows how much longer I am going to suffer. Please think good and hard before taking.
July 7, 2008 at 7:48 am
Oh Joan, Thank you so much for sharing your story with me. I am so sorry you had a bad experience with Chantix. I appreciate you sharing your experience.
Everyone who decides to try Chantix needs to be aware of the risks involved. It is such a new drug that you don’t know what all the side effects really are. This Thyroid problem is news to me and I have been trying to follow the effects of Chantix for quite a while now.
Again, thank you for making me aware of this and I wish you and your sisters the best of health and God’s Blessings.
March 3, 2009 at 9:46 am
Was prescribed chantix by my family dr. I had no history of pshychiatric behavior and am/was a totally mental and physcial healthy human being. Was nervous about getting drug rx filled. Ask pharmacist if there were any horror stories, she had none to share but I was still nervous about filling. Gut feeling was so bad, that I wrote a note that said, if anything happens to me, blame it on the chantix, put it into a top drawar in my house in case anything bad happened. I asked my friends and they just said be careful, its a weird drug, but they didn’t provide specifics on the weirdness mainly bad dreams. Ended up taking drug for 2 weeks and ended up in the emergency room, had ALL symptons of heart attack. Drs say I have a heart of an 18 year, thank god, but I know if I had one tiny flaw in my heart, I would have had a heart attack. ER drs said it was severe panic attack from nicotine withdrawal (yeah right, I smoked when I wanted to). My chest/heart was sore for two days after my ER visit. Started taking chantix on 1/18/09, stopped taking chantix on 2/4, went to ER on 2/5 and had severe panic attacks w/ pshcho behaviors until 2/27, if this would have continued, then I wouldn’t have wanted to live……went on short term, lost wages, and now have astounding ER and Dr. bills. This drug is dangerous and drs and pharmacists need to recognize. I should a went w/ my gut feeling
March 3, 2009 at 11:20 am
Thank you for sharing your story with us Anja. I am amazed at all the different side effects I have heard about. I agree with you though, always trust your gut! God Bless You!
March 6, 2009 at 4:28 pm
I started taking Chantix last week, and so far so good…..we will see what the results will be….the warning on the package did say it does disrupt sleep and can cause other problems….my quit date is on Sunday the 8th….let’s follow and see where the story goes from here huh? I am scared to quit, but I am more scared of getting cancer, so hmmmmm..right???
March 8, 2009 at 7:11 am
Oh Tara! You go girl! I hope you read all my stories on quitting smoking and Chantix. I quit over a year ago on January 2, 2009 and I could not have done it without Chantix. I gained 30 pounds and have hypothyroid, (which I didn’t have before) but that is all. Big deal compared to Lung Cancer! I wish you the best and please do keep me informed on your progress! Quitting smoking was the best thing I have ever done for me. Blessings!
March 30, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Chantix is a miracle drug and I would recommend to anyone who wants to quit smoking. I smoked for almost 30 years starting as a kid and after 2 weeks on chantix, I just didnt think about cigarettes anymore. I did not think I would ever be able to quit but I am so glad I tried chantix. Luckily I had none of the bad side effects not even the nausea. I feel like I am embarking on a whole new life as a non-smoker and it feels great.
March 31, 2009 at 6:25 pm
I give the drug some credit, it worked for me! I am 33 years old and smoked for 15 of them. As of the last couple years smoking heavily. It was nothing for me to hammer down 2 1/2 to 3 packs a day depending on the stress level at work. Cigarettes ran my life!! I got a rx for chantix a year ago but never filled it after hearing stories about the negative sides of it. Beginning this year I decided enough is enough. I have tried the patch and gum in the past with no success so I talked to my dr about it again and got another rx. Jan 31 I took the first pill, at the end the first week I had cut down to about 6 a day. I was impressed. I started having weird dreams but didn’t pay much attention to it. I had known about them going into it so I paid close attention what I watched on tv. After the second week the cravings were no longer there. I work with people who smoke alot, when they would light up it wouldn’t bother me in the least. Wow! I thought I would never see that day. My dreams were still there and around that time the paranoia slowly started to kick in. I have always been a easy going, confident person. The anxiety and paranoia kept getting worse and worse to the point were my marriage was suffering. Relationships with other family members weren’t the same. I would go from being a loving husband and father, to a raging lunatic in a matter of minutes. When I tried to quit smoking in the past I would get the mood swings and being on edge. This was something totally different. Something was not right. A week a ago today it got worse. I walked around like a zombie not knowing whether I was coming or going. Staring at the wall without a thought going through my head…. is that even possible? Start crying for no reason at all.My wife and I went to a work function of her’s at the end of last week. The whole night went well we had some drinks and were having fun. Towards the end of the night I took some things that were said by people there the wrong way. Out came Mr. Hyde! I was accussing my wife of doing things she didn’t do! I wouldn’t let it go. That was my whole problem I couldn’t let anything go! It drove me nuts! We got home fought some more! I ended up leaving in a rage I have never felt in my life. I did things that night that I wish I didn’t do. Nobody is got hurt physically, But close enought to scare the crap out of me. I haven’t taken a pill since. It has only been 4 days, so to early to tell. I’m just lucky enough to have a wife that loves me enough to not leave my side and help me through this.
April 1, 2009 at 5:07 am
Thanks Jason, Alcohol is not an option with Chantix. Period!!!!!
Blessings,
Eileen
April 1, 2009 at 5:09 am
Tracey,
Thanks for sharing with us. I agree, it is a miracle drug but, some people cannot take it, because of the side effects. Congratulations and I am still smoke free!! Keep me posted. How long has it been for you since your last cigarette?
Blessings,
Eileen
July 3, 2009 at 8:19 pm
I will agree that after 10 years of smoking, I was willing to try anything to quit. My doctor had prescribed me Wellbutrin, which had no effect on me, positive or negative. Months later a visit to the doctor resulted in me getting on Chantix, although it was not covered by insurance because it was such a new drug, I was willing to foot the bill in order to quit. The first two days I was a zombie! Couldn’t concentrate and felt like I had taken some sort of sleeping pill. I will say, though, I had, finally no cravings for a cigarette. I honestly was AMAZED. I quit smoking before the recommended time because I had no desire to light up…but. During the second week the “drugged feeling” went away and I started to halucinate. I would hear a voice saying my name, very faint that I passed it off as my imagination and I would also see things out of the corner of my eye. I stopped taking Chantix a week later after I started having dreams so vivid ( i really think I was awake) I was afraid to go to sleep. Dreams where people would be telling me to do bad things. Chantix definitely took ALL the cravings away, but I wasnt willing to give up my peace of mind, my sleep…I can honestly say that Chantix was the scariest thing I have ever experienced. Would not recomend to anyone. Shortly after quiting, I heard the story of this guy who shot his neighbor while he was on Chantix?? Long story, but I really can understand how that could happen. Its a drug that should not be on the market. Scary shit.
July 6, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Thanks for sharing your story Vanessa! That sounds scary. You did the right thing not taking it any more. I wonder why some people have such awful side effects and some don’t. Interesting stuff and I think it definitely needs more research.
August 17, 2009 at 9:17 pm
I was thinking about taking Chantix, but have a question? Maybe someone can help…Once they stop taking it, after all these bad things happen. Does the urge to smoke come back or do you remain not wanting to smoke because you have already over come that period of “i need it”?
August 18, 2009 at 9:39 am
Great News Nikki!!
Adrienne-the urge to smoke is always with me but, since I quit in January 2008, I have only had one “urge” that I gave in to about two months ago and I puffed on a cig and it tasted like crap and I through it out the window. Without Chantix I couldn’t have quit after all these years and I am amazed everyday I wake up and am not a smoker! It is a great feeling and even with the side effects I would do it all again. It’s a lot better quality of life now.
Blessings,
Eileen
September 7, 2009 at 10:20 am
I’ve been successful on Chantix for 10 months, gradually decreased the dosage over a two month period to .25mg and then zero for the past three days. And it is definitely not without its side effects, though I haven’t experienced the common nausea related ones – just sleep disturbance and mood effects. And now, the coming off the Chantix phase, I’m just hoping some of the mood disturbance and labile states do go soon. I’d be interested in comment from anyone else who’s taken Chantix over a longer period than the 12 or 24 weeks.
November 4, 2009 at 8:52 am
This is my 4th day and no side effects so far, and I already start to feel “not need to smoke so often as i do”, i’ll try to keep you posted.
November 4, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Way to go George! Keep up the good work. It does get easier. Please keep me posted. I will have two years on January 2, 2010. Chantix works!
Blessings,
Eileen