Comments on: Chantix – Varenicline and Suicidal Thoughts

By: Jim

Jim — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 16:59:12 +0000

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 .

By: Suicidal Thoughts and Rage: What are Causing Your Symptoms of Side Effects

Suicidal Thoughts and Rage: What are Causing Your Symptoms of Side Effects — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 03:45:01 +0000

[...] diseases like Lyme disease, or could be side effects associated with certain medications, such as Chantix and Welbutrin. Below is a list of diseases and conditions associated with symptoms like Suicidal [...]

By: FDA Announces New Warnings on Chantix, Zyban and Wellbutrin - US Recall News Alert

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:00:31 +0000

[...] reported in this recall alert from November 2007, the drug varenicline (marketed as Chantix and used to help patients quit [...]

By: Marci

Marci — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:42:58 +0000

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!

By: Bonnie

Bonnie — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 01:12:57 +0000

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.

By: cathy

cathy — Mon, 11 May 2009 19:31:18 +0000

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

By: wen

wen — Sat, 09 May 2009 00:00:14 +0000

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.

By: Silver

Silver — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 02:26:18 +0000

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!!!!

By: Amy

Amy — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 04:23:43 +0000

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!!!!

By: David

David — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 20:59:09 +0000

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.

By: Smoke free in Canada

Smoke free in Canada — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 14:11:23 +0000

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!!!

By: Patricia Cooper

Patricia Cooper — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 02:26:55 +0000

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.

By: Lori

Lori — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 18:18:07 +0000

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!

By: Dre

Dre — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 00:24:41 +0000

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.

By: Tonya

Tonya — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 23:07:23 +0000

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.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:48:07 +0000

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.

By: Netta Kausalik

Netta Kausalik — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 17:08:11 +0000

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.

By: Mel

Mel — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 02:41:23 +0000

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.

By: Charlene

Charlene — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 02:38:43 +0000

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.

By: Susan

Susan — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 03:13:08 +0000

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!!