Comments on: Chantix side effects and adverse event reports outlined by non-profit group

By: terri

terri — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:47:23 +0000

‘m a 55 yr. old wife of 35 yrs., mother, proud na na of 6!! LOVE my job of 22 years and ALWAYS the eternal optimist!! Filled two Chantix scripts between 10/06 and 10/07. Took both as directed along with a low dosage of Zoloft, which I had been on for ten years for mild depression.

Two hospital stays in ‘08

JAN. ‘08 – - taken by ambulance in middle of nite with heart attack symptoms, severe headache, shortness of breath and low stomach pains. Put on morphine and oxygen, while SEVERAL tests were done. Released after a week…diagnosed as possible “virus…”

MAY ‘08 – - had great day at work, daughter called when I got home, said, “mom, I’ve been elected to tell you…you’ve changed…you are NOT yourself…” Thought, hmmm…tonite’s a good nite to die…I don’t have to put up w/this…my job is done here.

Took ride to rural area several miles out. Purchased 3 bottles of sleeping pills and little, diabetic razors…why? “ve NO idea. I didn’t even know those existed until that nite! Parked on an angle on used car parking lot, wrote short note, downed over 240 pills, cut self w/razors, which were found all over the car and outside on the lot…obviously, I got out during the nite as my keys were found in front of my car. Found by owner next morning, woke up six days later in ICU, surrounded by family and was on a vent/respirator. Spent time in psyche unit.

NO ONE COULD BELIEVE WHAT I DID!!!! Nor, could I. THAT was not me!!! Babysitting my precious grandbabies was the worst privilege taken away. For a year and a half, I have walked around CRUSHED.

I am just NOW being returned to my former life/privileges. I feel as if I’m FINALLY crawling out of the depths of Hell. To learn that this MAY HAVE NOT BEEN MY FAULT…was a Godsend!!! I pray for my day of vindication.

By: kim

kim — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:23:56 +0000

I took Chantix for about 1.5 months before I quit smoking, then 2 weeks later I stopped taking Chantix, I didnt have any negitive reaction to the drug, but I was wondering if there are any long term effects. I havent had a cigarette in 4 months, or taking the Chantix in 3.5 months.

By: Ben

Ben — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 06:29:40 +0000

I’ve been taking Chantix for 1 an a half weeks now. I really don’t feel a change–I still smoke like a freight train. I do have some pretty cool dreams. The dreams I kinda like, but I wish I could just not want to smoke. It has been a part of my life since I was 13, now I am 38. If Chantix Doesn’t work I feel I am going to die a early death—- so it has to work.

By: Karen

Karen — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 22:35:54 +0000

I am 55 and have tried other methods of quiting. Each and every time I went through a period of suicide, depression, heart palpations, anxiety, rage, just to name afew. I am giving up my best friend, after all, and it is an awful drug this nicotine. Chantix good or bad, if you continue to smoke you will end up with heart disease, dibetes, and all of the above diseases so in my opinion as a smoker of 25 yrs, we are all just in a no-win situation and cannot put the blame on Chantix, but rather on ourselves for smoking, and the blame and suits should be aimed directly at the tobacco industry for putting the nicotine drug in our systems to begin with, with NO WARNINGS AT ALL about the dependency in nicotine for life. I hope all of your attorneys have you up against the tobacco industry as well. I plan on starting Chantex in 2 weeks, and nothing could be worse than how I feel now as a smoker. I’ll let you know how it turns out.

By: Carol

Carol — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 16:33:56 +0000

CORRECTON: I started taking Channtix on Sept. 4th, 2009

By: Carol

Carol — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 16:32:41 +0000

I started taking Chantix on Sept. 24th, 2009. the first week was good, I gradually stop smoking. The wierd and crazy dreams started, thoughts of something happening to my kids. I got depressed and on my days off, all I wanted to do is stay in bed all day and I did. My knees hurt an I gained weight, around my stomach. I have become cold and unemotional toward people. No suicidal thoughts, but thoughts of harming others, if they have made me mad. I stopped taking Chantix the of Oct. 5th because of these side effects, my gravings are getting stronger to smoke. I was so happy that I stopped. My house smelled good, the car, my clothes, an I felt good.

By: Carrie

Carrie — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:36:22 +0000

I took Chantix and after only a month I had Type 2 Diabetes. It’s been a year now.

By: Melodie

Melodie — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 01:44:42 +0000

I had several people at work tell him that they took chantix and stopped smoking so I asked my doctor about it and she prescribed it for me. I did good for the first 3 weeks and then one night I just got the feeling that I couldn’t breath and I went to the hospital. After several test they said I was having a panic attack. Which I have NEVER had any problems before with anything like this. I was told that most likely taking Chantix and my thyroid medicine did not mix (BUT could not be for certain) and my doctor was not even aware that the two would not mix. I had even asked the pharmacist if they were okay together and was told yes. I was put on a relaxation medication for when I feel them coming on which I do not care for because I had never needed this before. I believe they should test chantix with other medications a lot closer so that doctors will know they cannot be combined. I am still not back to my normal self and believe I will not be. Please check and double check with your doctor and pharmacist about medications.

By: steve

steve — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 14:09:48 +0000

Well…. All these testimonials confirms what I suspected already…
I am a smoker for over 20 years… Someone told me about chantix. I simply said no.

By: Gayle

Gayle — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 22:56:21 +0000

I took Chantix for 3 weeks starting mid February 2009. I experienced nausea immediately and therefore kept myself on a lower dose until the 3rd week. I was quitting through a group experience. Starting in the second week I became very upset, agitated and crying at the 2 meetings I attended each week. The nurse, who was leading us, finally told me that I needed to call my Dr and get off the medication. I have been smoke free for almost 5 months however I would go back to smoking, in an instant, if I could get rid of the crying and anger. I feel like a chemical change happened in my brain. I am a school teacher and I must control my feelings when I am with students however with colleagues, my administrator and my husband I consistently fall apart crying. I am 60 years old and have always been a light hearted, fun, hard working, and organized person. I am none of those things now. I cry uncontrollably for hours at the drop of a hat. I frequently think that I and my husband would be better off if I were dead. I have tried to get medical help, but feel that my Dr. and the Psychologist I have seen have abandoned me and made light of my circumstance by telling me that when people reach 60 years they frequently have trouble dealing with life’s changes and are prone to depression. After 2 visits I think I must have done something really bad in the Psychologists office because he told me that he didn’t see a need for any more visits. I can’t figure that one out as I was crying inconsolably for at least 20 minutes and then he is pushing me out the door. I have told all the Drs. I have seen that this change occurred while on Chantix and was like a switch in my brain. For lack of a better way to describe what has happened to me I would call it a nervous breakdown. I have been hoping that when school got out this spring that with reduced pressure my symptoms would start to go away. I haven’t been crying as much but still probably at least 2 times a week uncontrollably and most mornings when I wake a small amount. I am just not myself anymore and I am scared that I will never be the same person again. It has been 5 months of very deep depression. I realize that no one will probably read this before taking the drug, but if so I would tell you that you do not want to risk the side effects of this drug. Find another way.

By: Shannon

Shannon — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 20:07:06 +0000

I took Chantix in May or June 2008 and then on January 18th, 2008 I had a massive stroke, stroke is not listed as a possible side effect but at the age of 31 I never did any kinds of drugs or drank and none of the doctors or sprcialists could figure out what caused my stroke:( I beg people to not take it! If you cant quit smoking naturally then keep smoking!!!!

By: Dean

Dean — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 18:37:37 +0000

I have been taking Chantx for 6 weeks now. I went from 2.5 packs a day to none. Thank You Chantix! I have had some wild dreams but I actually like them. I’m wondering- If I take two pills, do I get to watch a double feature?

Since this is a lawyer based web site, I would imagine there is a lot of drama involved with some of the comments.

By: Richard

Richard — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 03:17:20 +0000

I started taking Chantix in March 2008 and after two months I had quit smoking. I was glad that the medicine had worked. Seven months later though I started back and called my Dr. for a new prescription. I figured that because I quit the program early maybe I should give it another try. For some reason it didn”t work like the first time. My experience with the drug the first time is it really made me forget about smoking. I never thought about cigarettes after the first week. The second time round it wasn’t that way, I couldn’t tell that I was taking anything. The craving was strong. Then in Feb 2009 I was diagnosed with type two diabetes. Along side of the diabetes my legs are starting to have the sensation of a tooth ake. I never knew that a medicine could do so bad. I feel really bad because I talked my mom into taking the medicine and after she had took it for a short time she started having burning sensations in her arms. She said it felt like fire was flowing through her veins. She quit taking it but she still complains about her arms aching. She did successfully quit smoking for almost a year.

By: marco

marco — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 06:26:26 +0000

.I’m 50 y.o.I took chantix for 3 months. It really worked, after the first pill I just didn’t look for cigarretes anymore.But now I have diabetes and had a heart attack, in my family nobody has heart problems or heart linked deseases, after read those comments above I think that there chantix has terrible side effects.
.Other noticeable side effects, headache, suicidal thoughts, vivid dreams, depression. Good luck to all