Chantix - Varenicline and Suicidal Thoughts
November 21, 2007
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.
Click Here to speak to an attorney about this recall!
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49 Responses to “Chantix - Varenicline and Suicidal Thoughts”
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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.