New To Chantix

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I talked to my doctor about wanting to quit smoking and he prescribed Chantix, I will start in about 3 days. Can someone please be honest and tell me what I am about to start going through? I am a stay at home mom of a 3 year old, my husband is only home 1-2 days a week and I have heard this will be a mistake for me to take and that I will have horrible dreams, suicidal thoughts, ad much worst. Can someone tell me if me taking Chantix is a bad idea? I have not heard of many people who have not had bad results and hope this will have different answers. Thank you!

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1

I have been on chantix for a coupl of months now. I have been a smoker for twenty plus yrs. I had a few weird dreams. No nightmares. I think everyone is different. I'm down to 1 or 2 a day. I could of quit completly if I really wanted to. It took a couple of weeks before it started working for me. Its worth a try if you really want to quit. If nothing else you can always quit taking them. Good luck

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2

There's actually a number of different threads on here with people posting their personal experiences during their time on Chantix. And I get the sense that most people taking this medication are saying that it works for what it is, but the strange side effects and withdrawal symptoms are often too unbearable to continue taking it.

Not everyone has a bad experience with Chantix, but I believe there are safer, less riskier options out there (acupuncture being one of them) that can also be effective in helping you to quit smoking.

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3

I just started taking chantix for the second time about 6 days ago. I was able to quit the first time with no problems. I did however develop one side effect about 2 months into taking the med. it was severe nausea and I just could not deal with it that I stopped the medication and unfortunately I was back too smoking in a week. They told me that I could even take half of the dose 2 times a day as opposed to the full dose 2 X day. I tried this and tried taking it with food and water with no luck. This time when I got the prescription for chantix I also had the Dr. give me zofran (which is an anti nausea medication). I take this 20 to 30 mins before taking chantix and so far so good. No nausea. I do also suffer from depression and currently take an anti depressant. I was doing this as well the first time on chantix. I never had any problems with an increase in my depression or suicidal thoughts. I never had nightmares, just very vivid dreams, which were actually rather pleasant. I hope this info helps a little bit!

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4

I have been taking chantix for two weeks I was done smoking aweek ago. I'm not a heavy drinker but like to have a beer after work at home to unwind before I start laundry, dinner etc. I noticed I didn't even want a beer, this is all good. Except, I think it is important to really know how YOU are and pay attention to any changes. I haven't had any bad dreams, slightly nauseous, but the last few days I have been raging or in tears. I have a pretty stressful life and have to deal with a lot always, but I usually handle things way better. I haven't wanted to get out of bed the last two days, and the day before that I truely raged so bad I scared myself. I have no suicide thoughts, but absolutly no joy or happiness. I'm not sure if my life is just catching up with me or if it is the chantix. I am going to call my doctor tomorrow to find out her thoughts, I like the not smoking but I don't like me right now. My thought is it is worth a try if you notice anything out of the ordinary check with your doctor.I know people it has worked for.

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5

I too was nervous about starting Chantix. I am a 44 year old regular happy female with no issues. I was so affraid of how I would react after reading info and seeing the commercials about it. I started it Monday March 25th and was disappointed that I was still wanting a cigarette the following Monday (my 8th day)when I was supposed to quit. The only two side affects I was having were the very vivid dreams ALL night long. It is kind of cool and Im still enjoying them.The other side effect that had started on about day 3 or 4 was a bad taste in my mouth every time I had a cigarette. Every cigarette I smoked tasted worse than the last up until my 9th day Tuesday. I was so pleasantly shocked when I woke up that I honestly did not want to light up. The thought of that horrible taste I think is what helped me quit. After all the research I did before taking Chantix, I am so shocked that no one has mentioned how Chantix makes a cigarette taste...maybe that only happened to me? Today is April 14th so, almost 3 weeks on Chantix and 2 weeks quit! I am not having any crazy nicotine urges...sometimes I go for hours without even thinking about smoking. Sometimes i think about it as habbit after eating or getting in the car but have not yet contemplated actually having one. My boyfriend is amazed I seem my happy self and not acting aggitated or cranky. And I would like to say I've been smoking for 28 years....1 plus packs a day and truly enjoyed it on a social level. Anyone thinking about it should give it a try.

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6

Oh, please do not take it! My aunt just committed suicide while taking this for a short time. She did not have any history of mental illness or depression and did not drink. This is a scary drug from some people, I hope that you try other methods to quit smoking.

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7

I have had excellent result with Chantix. It does give me some stomach issues and if I don't take it after a substantial meal, I throw up. It does not make me depressed at all, in fact, quite the opposite. I am energetic and focused on it. There is nothing better for quitting smoking. At the same time, I caution you that if you are alone alot, you may be at risk for mental health changes that go unnoticed. It's important with this type of drug to have someone who can observe for changes in your behavior. Maybe you can keep a diary of your thoughts and have your husband read it every day to help monitor. Try to spend time with friends or family during the day. Quitting smoking is important for you and your baby, but so is your mental health. If you have no way of monitoring your behavior from the outside, then perhaps you should think twice about taking this medication right now.

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8

Today was my first day of taking Chantix. I, like you am nervous about this medication because of so many horror stories about it. All I can say is I have to keep asking myself which one is worse, the smoking or the POSSIBLE side effects. There is no promise that you will have any effects at all. I have a history of depression and that scares me but I know I am being so cautious that I will toss these pills at the first sign of problems.

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9

I took Chantix 4 years ago for several months, suffered many side effects, but remained off nicotine for 4 years. I had 2 different troubling side effects. One was just a few days into taking the drug. A black cloak of despair clutched me out of nowhere which was so acute, it was beyond all physical pain. It was short lived, though, and I knew had amazing support to keep going, so I did. The next was several weeks into taking the drug. I had all the regular side effects but in addition, black depression lasting days and extreme bouts of feeling acute rage took over my life at random times. I had experienced depression before, but never like this. I read many Buddhist books over this time, while learning to manage the excess emotions overtaking me. I have no doubt the horribly intense mood swings were caused by the drug, but also that they were compounded by not having my crutch (smoking) available. Nevertheless, I had amazing support and kept going. I think it took several years (approx 3 years) for my body chemistry to stabilize after going off the drug, which I took only for several months, so yes, for some people, extreme caution is in order.

Addendum: Unfortunately, I started smoking again one month ago, and am planning on using Chantix again to help me stop, in spite of knowing about all the severe adverse side effects. For me, the addiction of smoking is like living alongside your own slow death, which I had not really realized until well after I had quit, and felt my life energy gradually returning to my body. My advice to anyone who is considering using the drug is to secure your support system beforehand, use several different methods of support including 24/7 computer chat support, enroll in a program or support group for smoking cessation, increase your outside leisure activities where you have contact with nice people, reduce stressful things in your life, prepare those closest to you about what lies ahead, schedule regular visits with your doctor, consider reading books such as Allan Carr's famous guide to stopping smoking, and books which can give you emotional or spiritual support. or relaxation/hypnotic/meditation audios. Above all, reach out for help on this difficult but courageous journey.

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10

I smoked for 24 years. I got on Chantix and I am 7 weeks and 1 day without a cigarette. Yes I had dreams. But they were not bad just weird. They went away. Everyone one complains about being depressed on this drug. YOU ARE DEPRESSED BECAUSE YOU QUIT SMOKING. I would rather have bad dreams then cancer. People want to say bad things about this drug but I think they are excuses. You are supposed to take 2 pills a day. I only take one. My husband and I quit at the same time and he chose the patch. He still craves a smoke many times a day and has become addicted to Tooties Pops. I have maybe one or two cravings a day and they go away pretty fast. I think the side effects suck at first but they get better and go away in about two weeks. Stop making excuses and just quit. With or without the pill. I am super proud of my husband and I.

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11

I started taking Chantix eight days ago, Today is suppose to be my quit date but I am not ready for that yet. I am a 59 year old female with severe copd and told to quit or die. So far the only thing I have noticed is the cigs are beginning to not taste like they did and I am unable to smoke a whole one. I have read where some people have to smoke longer but it still works for them. I have ordered the no nicotine e cig to give my hand something to do when I finally drop regular cigs. So far the only side effect I have had is the constipation. I have tried everything on the market to try and quit - this is my last chance or I will just smoke myself to death. I think it is worth the risk.....................

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12

Hello. I have been on chantix for 4 days and I haven't noticed any difference, so how long do I take them? I take 1 mg two times a day.

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