Has Anyone Tried Champix/ Chantix To Quit Smoking?

[Tinyflame]

Any experiences with it? Thanks.

 

[BewitchedBewildered]

I know a lady who smoked for over 30 years and she quit with Chantix. I believe she only took it about 3 months and hasn't smoked now for about 4 years. She did not have any side effects.

I haven't tried it, possible side effects scare me.

 

[CrazyHorse]

If you would like to stop smoking I will strongly recommend Allen Carr's book ' Easyway to stop smoking'. I don't know if you have heard of it. He does not use scare- tactics etc. Allen Carr was a heavy smoker himself. The book is absolutly amazing. For me ( and millions of people) it was nothing short of a miracle :)

 

[mamachick]

I am going to check it out Crazyhorse-thanks. I have quit before with patch for 2-3 yrs at time, but smoking again.

Junebug-I went on Chantix before any ptsd diagnosis, so stable time but... months following a head injury. Dont know if that made difference. As I recall, you take one pill a day for couple weeks and then up to 2 pills. I could never get past the 1 pill as it caused me to be very nauseated. My dr. said to just keep taking the 1 and see if symptom went away but it did not. The other thing was it was the start of a major depression (never had a major depression in my life). I was also very agitated.

That being said, I might have had those things anyway because of the traumatic brain injury. I really needed to quit because I was recovering from a collapsed lung as well but I did not and not tried since.

If you try it, I hope it works for you. I have heard other success stories.

Brat

 

[intothelight]

Junebug,

Chantix can have some really nasty side effects, especially increasing depression in those who are already predisposed to depression. Do some reading on it and then definitely discuss your own history with a doctor before taking it. There is a definite correlation between the use of Chantix, depression and suicide.

It is really hard to quit smoking, but try to use every safer alternative and exhaust those before considering this.

Deb

 

[The Albatross]

Couldn't do Chantix, Zyban, or Wellbutrin ... that whole class of medicines gives me random suicidal thoughts.

 

[Jenfa]

I watched my brother use wellbutrin and chantix to quit and boy did he have some bad side effects. He's a doctor, and even he didn't see the toll it was taking on him until others sat him down and told him. Creeeeeepy.

 

[WillThereBeCake]

The side effects of Chantix scared me, so I never tried it. The patches caused me to have horrible nightmares. I did quit my 20+ year habit using the lozenges. The mini lozenges seemed to work best. The larger ones caused some stomach distress, which might be due to other ingredients they might have. You can try them with pretty low risk and they are available over-the counter or by mail order.

I will add, I won't be one of those preachy ex-smokers (they drive me nuts) but will share that once I quit, I found I could breathe. Once I could breathe, I found I could walk. Once I could walk, I found I could run and kick and jump. I now do walking or aerobics every day. The exercise is the best thing I've found to help relieve the anxiety and stress from the PTSD. I used to grab my cigs for anxiety but it was just a small fix until the next one, and my anxiety really didn't decrease. I hope you have similar results when you quit. Good Luck!

 

[Tinyflame]

Thank you everyone, Deb and Jenfa, I hear you. I had a co-worker on it for 2 weeks, thought well, I know of the possible side effects but she seemed to be doing well. Until I found out yesterday, needless to say she's off it and not going back. They have a class-action suit out here. But I figured, well, who knows, maybe I wouldn't have the side-effects. Or something- Idk. :confused:

I had a friend die years ago with spontaneous heart failure on Zyban. From what I've read Chantix IS Wellbutin, re-packaged. I've known 4 or 5 people who tried Champix, one said it was good, the rest had to go off.

CrazyHorse that is very interesting. The book is not available here at the moment (but will be, or I can eventually find or get it). But, I know smoking stimulates dopamine and 'happy hormone' production- so does any 'reward', (and of course exercise, many of my 'favorite' (my body craves) foods). So I'm wondering if that is the premise of his book? I am trying to go by that, to think differently. Because it doesn't even require affirmations or great self-esteem and such, just recognizing all the little ways one can view each moment as having something rewarding in it. To view it as positives.

I think there's much truth in that (for myself), when one has 'white-knuckled' through many things, and does not give one's self 'rewards' or does not really see accomplishment along the way.

Dear WillThere BeCake, I quit once for a year, once for 2 1/2 years. I have a pretty physical job, and lots of walking (which I love because it reduces ptsd symptomolgy for me) but yes going by how I feel I don't think my ticker is enjoying this. And I hate the cost ($). :(

Thank you everyone.

Oh ya, for now I am smoking the least I can, and since reading this I am considering what I smoke as 'nicotine replacement'. I did the patches before, but have become awfully allergic to the glue, I think :( , not an option anyway. The gum gives me chest pains (how ironic is that, :depressed::roflmao: ), but I'm using Vitamin C drops, which do seem to help.

Thanks to all. :hug:

 

[Blondie362]

If you would like to stop smoking I will strongly recommend Allen Carr's book ' Easyway to stop smoking'. I don't know if you have heard of it. He does not use scare- tactics etc. Allen Carr was a heavy smoker himself. The book is absolutly amazing. For me ( and millions of people) it was nothing short of a miracle :)

He used to run classes and let people smoke during them- he died from lung cancer I believe I read his book- it was very good, partner went on Champix and after taking them for the two weeks prior to his quit date, he just stopped smoking after that, had no craves for a cig. no side effects from the tablets- guess he was lucky.

 

[Tinyflame]

Well though I haven't started using it, I bought a skipping rope for a dollar, it it just so funny, it's so much fun, like I've reverted to a happy childhood thing. :laugh:

 

[conniepeace]

I did it, I was the best smoker ever, I never hid it and I smoked for 30 years, this medication I took for 2 months and haven't touched a cigarette in a year.... good luck