[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Chantix??? (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 2/16/2009 1:14:05 PM EDT
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I'm really considering taking this stuff to see if it helps me quit smoking.
Only thing is, I am cautious of taking anything that can mess with your mind. Who wants me more unstable than I already am? 
Anybody use this stuff and have some stories to share? Also, does insurance cover the prescription? |
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It did take away my desire to smoke, BUT......
I had crazy, wierd, very vivid dreams and woke up in the morning feeling like I hadn't gotten much sleep due to waking up several times each night from the goofy dreams. I stopped taking it after about three weeks, and after about another week I fell off the wagon and was smoking again. By all means try it. For everyone that has had side effects like me, there are 2 people that tried it and successfully quit the first time. Good luck. |
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A very well liked local musician, never violent by all accounts I've heard, was shot & killed recently as a result of his crazed violent behavior - Chantrix is blamed.
I will say that he had some alcohol however, a few drinks. Like most medications you are instructed not to drink if you take Chantrix. Article as follows about this case - you decide. There is quit a bit of speculation that the side effects of the ant-smoking drug Chantix might have been responsible for ending Carter Albrecht’s life. Carter Albrecht, a prominent Dallas musician died a violent death earlier this month. In the week leading up to the tragedy, Albrecht had been reportedly suffering from vivid, hallucinatory dreams; a Chantix side effect.
Albrecht, a member of rock group Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians, was on the verge of promising solo music career. He had started taking Chantix a week before he died. The drug Chantix, approved by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) just last year, is meant to assist people who want to stop smoking. Albrecht was reportedly desperate to quit, as a doctor had told him smoking would damage his singing voice. According to the Dallas Morning News, Albrecht began complaining of vivid dreams as soon as he started using Chantix. While the Chantix labels list “changes in dreaming” as a possible side effect of the drug, Albrecht’s girlfriend told the newspaper that what happened to him went far beyond that. She said Albrecht would awaken in the middle of the night, not sure that what he had experienced was real or a dream. One evening, after Albrecht had a few cocktails, he started lashing out violently towards his girlfriend – something she said had never occurred before. Albrecht’s girlfriend told the Morning News that he seemed confused and terrified, and looked at her as though he did not recognize her. Somehow, Albrecht ended up at the home of a neighbor, banging violently on the back door. A call was made to 911, but before the police arrived the terrified neighbor had fired a warning shot from his rifle, which accidentally hit and killed Albrecht. Albrecht’s girlfriend told the Morning News that she is convinced that Chantix played a roll in his death. And since the drug was approved last year, evidence is emerging that it could very well cause side effects similar to what Albrecht suffered. Since the drug was approved, reports of users suffering from suicidal thoughts and bizarre violent behavior have been cropping up in media outlets. One Chantix user told the Morning News about feeling as though he wanted die after having had a couple of drinks. Once this man stopped using alcohol when he took Chantix, he said the suicidal thoughts ended. Side effects like nausea, changes in dreaming, constipation, gas and vomiting are prominently listed on the patient handout that pharmacies include with Chantix prescriptions. But only in small print in the original box insert is there mention of rare episodes of psychotic and suicidal behavior. |
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2 guys at work tried it. One guy said his dreams seemed very real. Extremely real. His dreams seemed very real, when he was awake he thought everything was a dream.
Other guy said he had very vivid nightmares. They both said they quit taking it after about 2 weeks. |
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2 guys at work tried it. One guy said his dreams seemed very real. Extremely real. His dreams seemed very real, when he was awake he thought everything was a dream. Other guy said he had very vivid nightmares. They both said they quit taking it after about 2 weeks. So I'm guessing I should lock myself in a hotel room for a couple of weeks. 
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the side effects seem to be related to a family history of psychiatric disorder. i took it for a month, and self-monitored very closely. i had no adverse reactions at all, and within 3 weeks i was down from over a pack a day to 4-5 cigarettes per day. it quite literally eliminated all desire to smoke––as though i had never started. towards the end, i only smoked out of inertia, or to kill an odd 5min before class. i cannot emphasize this strongly enough––it did EXACTLY what it claimed to do.
unfortunately, my first month's scrip ran out almost precisely at finals, so i wound up with no time to renew during a highly stressful, sleep-deprived time. i plan to renew as soon as i free up the cash for the scrip. |
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Varenicline (Chantix) partially binds to the receptors that nicotine normally binds to. So you get a weak sensation without smoking or having a nicotine patch/gum.
Regardless of the chemistry it is up to you in the end if you want to quit. It will help but it won't guarantee it. Disclaimer: I don't smoke, I'm just a biochemist. |
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2 guys at work tried it. One guy said his dreams seemed very real. Extremely real. His dreams seemed very real, when he was awake he thought everything was a dream. Other guy said he had very vivid nightmares. They both said they quit taking it after about 2 weeks. So I'm guessing I should lock myself in a hotel room for a couple of weeks. Do you have underlying mental issues that are being suppressed by the smokes? |
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I've posted this before - my wife who didn't really want to quit found out that one of her girlfriends had quit using Chantix so she went to our family doctor and asked him about it. He said "I'll write you a scrip right now - that stuff is fantastic and has the highest success rate of anything I've ever seen". Or something to that effect since it has been over two years. At any rate he wrote the scrip for 6 months but the insurance would only cover the starter pack and one more month. And they did cover that so that is what she got. She started taking it and would forget to smoke. Used to be a cigarette in the morning before she did anything else and then the normal times but she would just forget to light up during those times. And when she did, she would only take a couple of puffs and put it out. She kept butts for several days smoking a couple of drags and putting them out. She had one of those snuffer deals that would just put out the butt without having to crush it.
She didn't even finish the starter pack which I think was supposed to last for 30 days before she had totally stopped. She did have nausea in the mornings after taking the dose but she hasn't picked up a cigarette in over two years this month. Good luck - try it. Apparently it really messes with your mind but if you can get by the side effects it does work. Maybe reducing the dosage will lessen the side effects. YMMV |
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2 guys at work tried it. One guy said his dreams seemed very real. Extremely real. His dreams seemed very real, when he was awake he thought everything was a dream. Other guy said he had very vivid nightmares. They both said they quit taking it after about 2 weeks. So I'm guessing I should lock myself in a hotel room for a couple of weeks. Do you have underlying mental issues that are being suppressed by the smokes? I'm pretty sure I would be considered fucked up if examined by a professional. |
| They're touting "laser acupuncture" to stop smoking here locally. Normally I wouldn't buy into it - but one of the Chief's from my FD just retired, and that man lit cigarettes off of his own cigarettes all day long from waking till sleeping. His son said he got lasered and quit immediately. Said he no onger had the urge or cravings -even after eating, or when at the bar. Just thought I'd pass it along. I quit smoking 4 years ago because I thought I should stop. No drugs, lasers, needles, or relapses - but I don't have a very addictive personality. |
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I've taken it, and I was successful in quitting. (for a while)
I didn't notice any side effects that weren't attributable to quitting smoking. They have to list everything that happens above a baseline as side effects, but people who quit smoking tend to have issues, if you've been functioning on nicotine for 20 years getting off it can cause all sorts of mood and behavior weirdness. You're going to feel tired and irritable whether you take it or not, I've quit every way imaginable and Chantix was the easiest. Just never smoke again, you'll feel like you can cheat and it isn't a big deal while you're taking the drug, because it's filling all the millions of receptors you've developed as a smoker, they'll still be there when you get off the drug, and even a little nicotine will reawaken the addiction. Good luck. |
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OH YEAH! The dreams. WOW. Man the shit is worth it for the dreams alone, seriously. I had some CRAZY fuckin nightmares, and some CRAZY fuckin cool dreams. Like so vivid I woke up in the morning and was about to call my grandparents to ask them why the hell they moved to Mexico cause thats what I dreamed.
Yeah, I had some crazy dreams but otherwise no effects. |
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OH YEAH! The dreams. WOW. Man the shit is worth it for the dreams alone, seriously. I had some CRAZY fuckin nightmares, and some CRAZY fuckin cool dreams. Like so vivid I woke up in the morning and was about to call my grandparents to ask them why the hell they moved to Mexico cause thats what I dreamed. Yeah, I had some crazy dreams but otherwise no effects. I have not tried Chantix yet. One of my coworkers did and less then a month later he was smoking again. Tried quitting using the patch a couple of times, if you wear the patch to bed you have the most vivid dreams. Some people report having nightmares, but my dreams were anything but. Thought I was going to wake up stuck to the sheets a couple of times. Supermodel orgies FTW !! |
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OH YEAH! The dreams. WOW. Man the shit is worth it for the dreams alone, seriously. I had some CRAZY fuckin nightmares, and some CRAZY fuckin cool dreams. Like so vivid I woke up in the morning and was about to call my grandparents to ask them why the hell they moved to Mexico cause thats what I dreamed. Yeah, I had some crazy dreams but otherwise no effects. I have not tried Chantix yet. One of my coworkers did and less then a month later he was smoking again. Tried quitting using the patch a couple of times, if you wear the patch to bed you have the most vivid dreams. Some people report having nightmares, but my dreams were anything but. Thought I was going to wake up stuck to the sheets a couple of times. Supermodel orgies FTW !! IIRC, you don't sleep as heavily while wearing the patch, so you remember more dreams. I remember 1 I had 3 or 4 years ago that was vivid and memorable enough that I think I could turn it into a script and sell it to hollywood today. DO NOT wear the patch to bed - it'll drive you insane.
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I've taken chantix twice. The first time I was smoke free for 32 days, the second time for 46 days. It works pretty good, but the side effects were a bitch for me. Most notably was the heartburn. I'd never really had trouble with it in the past, but as soon as I started taking the Chantix, I had heartburn several times every day.
The stuff works though. I'd still be without cigarettes if my stress levels allowed for it. I have no other outlet. |
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You'll be fine.
I took it for two cycles, worked like a charm. If I can do it without the whole "water tower / rifle" thing, you'll be fine.* Good dreams, even better farts. Go for it. Best thing I've ever done for myself. *(Seriously...do you know anyone more inherently unstable than me? Let me remind you....) 
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I used chantix...the first time I had to quit as it was making me sick to my stomach. The second time worked and I stayed relatively smoke free for about 6 months.
Then Obama won the White House and I've recently started up again. 
I plan on quitting again but I'll probably do it without Chantix this time. I realized in those six months that not smoking isn't all that horrible. If you're going to do it, prepare to change your diet as well.. Eat TONS of white rice when you take it. Drink plenty of water. Basically, you need to dilute the drug as much as possible. This was how I was able to take it the second round. Take it in the afternoon with white rice lunch. Edit: Also consider asking for a ten script of valium, no refills. Use for emergency situations. They will chill your ass out on the really hard times. |
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After my experience with Wellbutrin/zyban I was not up to trying chantix. Quit using the patch + willpower. I only used the patch for about a week.
8 months or so now. I am pretty sure I got it beat. What helped was not keeping track of how long it has been and not setting a hard date to quit. No psyche out before the quitting that way and no constant reminder that i used to smoke. Deep breaths were more effective than the patch. Forcing myself to do things that used to require a cig also helped. Used to not be able to shoot without a smoke. Or drive. Or wake up. Do not. I repeat do not try to replace smoking with candy or gum or nuts etc. When you run out you end up needing a smoke. You gotta break that habit at the same time. Funny thing is that when I quit smoking I also quit chewing my nails. Weird. Still hack up a tarball from time to time. |
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After my experience with Wellbutrin/zyban I was not up to trying chantix. Quit using the patch + willpower. I only used the patch for about a week. 8 months or so now. I am pretty sure I got it beat. What helped was not keeping track of how long it has been and not setting a hard date to quit. No psyche out before the quitting that way and no constant reminder that i used to smoke. Deep breaths were more effective than the patch. Forcing myself to do things that used to require a cig also helped. Used to not be able to shoot without a smoke. Or drive. Or wake up. Do not. I repeat do not try to replace smoking with candy or gum or nuts etc. When you run out you end up needing a smoke. You gotta break that habit at the same time. Funny thing is that when I quit smoking I also quit chewing my nails. Weird. Still hack up a tarball from time to time. Oh yeah, I was getting some good ones. Your lungs really do begin to clear up. I think my eventual failure was an inability to find a replacement activity during a very long and crappy winter. Sitting around with nothing to do. Better get some hobbies. Build a house, paint a self portrait. |
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My wife has been smoking for 24 years. Started Chantix 3 weeks ago, has been 2 weeks without a cigarette. She's also using an e-cigarette and sometimes puffs on a swisher sweet cigarillo (no inhaling). She says the cigarillos are going to go very soon.
So far so good. You have to want to quit, though. |
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After my experience with Wellbutrin/zyban I was not up to trying chantix. Quit using the patch + willpower. I only used the patch for about a week. 8 months or so now. I am pretty sure I got it beat. What helped was not keeping track of how long it has been and not setting a hard date to quit. No psyche out before the quitting that way and no constant reminder that i used to smoke. Deep breaths were more effective than the patch. Forcing myself to do things that used to require a cig also helped. Used to not be able to shoot without a smoke. Or drive. Or wake up. Do not. I repeat do not try to replace smoking with candy or gum or nuts etc. When you run out you end up needing a smoke. You gotta break that habit at the same time. Funny thing is that when I quit smoking I also quit chewing my nails. Weird. Still hack up a tarball from time to time. Oh yeah, I was getting some good ones. Your lungs really do begin to clear up. I think my eventual failure was an inability to find a replacement activity during a very long and crappy winter. Sitting around with nothing to do. Better get some hobbies. Build a house, paint a self portrait. I know all about having nothing to do. I work 12's on a rotating schedule. That was causing me to smoke like a stack. I did everything the opposite of how you are told to do it. I faild at least a dozen times before by following the guidelines so this time I went with what worked before. I quit during the work week. I did not set a date. I did not have a support plan. I did not try to relax. I just had an epiphany. Maybe the methods we are taught are meant to not give you the best chance at success. Extra tries means more sales of product. Seems plausable to me. |
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you need to ask yourself do you really want to stop smoking and ready to give it up !!!
i smoked for 30 yrs ,, 2 to 3 packs a day . my wife and kids all wanted me to give the smokes up . i did the Chantix and it's the best thing i ever did , i tried alot of times to give them up but i failed both going cold turkey and taking the patches . Chantix states you should be on the program for 90 days .. you take the one 0.5 mg pill the first week and you can still smoke during this time period , on the second week you start to take the 1 mg . pill twice a day and you should either stop smoking or really try to cut down the amount of times you smoke during your day . you shouldnt take Chantix on a empty stomach , i took mine at 4:00 am when i got up for work in the am , then i took my 2nd one in the afternoon around 4:30 pm with a snack i never took the pills right before i went to sleep i think that helped me out on my sleep . the only side effects i had was the dreams i had for a week , yeah alot of people died but i have had bad dreams for years so it wasnt anything new . i started the dreams on my 3rd week . at the end of my 60 day period i got off the program , i didnt think i needed the last month , on my second week i had no desire or thoughts of smoking ,, Feb 3 of 09 was a year for me with out a smoke and it's the best thing i have ever done ,, for me Chantix was what i needed to give them up for good . Good Luck and if you need any support you have it here , you can do it TS2 |
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I am on day 12 of no cigarettes thanks to Chantix, but I quit taking it after day 8. It gave me all the extra willpower I needed to get 8 days of no smoking, then I decided to do it on my own from there. To be honest, I didnt want to drink while I was taking it so the Chantix had to go. As of right now it has been 288 hours of constantly thinking about smoking. I have a pack in my pocket, but there is no way in hell I'm going back. I wanted to quit, so I quit. Chantix helped.
The dreams were intense, but mine were all good - except for the first night. The first night I dreamed my wife and I were riding in the bed of my dad's truck and he was driving us through this open air Church's Chicken out in the middle of the woods somewhere in Alabama. He drove right up to the counter and backed us up to the guy at the register, who I first thought was one of my good buddies, only to realize upon getting closer to him that it was my good buddy's black Doppelgänger. The guy messed my wife's order up and when she asked him to fix it he screamed at the top of his lungs and out of the woods, (or, more accurately, out of the kitchen of this open-air Church's Chicken we were in, er... at), came an entire war tribe of Zulu warriors screaming and chucking spears at us. I started screaming at my dad to get us the hell out of there, and he starts putt-putting toward the road at about 15mph. The more I holler at him the slower he goes and the closer Shaka and his buddies get. Of course I'm unarmed, (which is even more unrealistc than an open air Church's Chicken), and I am under extreme duress at this point. I woke up pouring with sweat and wound up waking my wife up laughing when the absurdity of the imagery hit me a few seconds later. So yeah, Chantix helped me quit smoking AND gave me an epic visual metaphor for my subconscious political and cultural fears. |
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It worked great for my wifey in the regard that it help her to quit smoking completely.
Fail though for the depression, nausea, headaches and insomnia tht continues to this day - she has been off Chantix completely now for a year. If I had known what this woudl do to her, I would have told her to keep smoking, and forget Chantix. |
| I am going to help you. If you want to quit, you will. No drug, pharmaceutical, narcotic, herb, laser, hypnosis or any other form of replacement/therapy is going to help you as much as your want to quit, the power of the human will is greater than any of those "remedies". I quit on New Years Eve at 11pm, i have not had a cigarette since. I do not want a cigarette, i do not have any cravings and my withdrawal symptoms were minor and only lasted 3 days tops. I did not want to smoke anymore, it was that simple. The first few days suck only if you "want" to smoke. You have to want to not smoke. It seems simple enough, but the mindset has to be there. I smoked for 25 years, with a 1-1/2 pack a day habit when i quit. Good Luck in your quest, it is worth it. |
Chantix helped me quit. I want to emphasize "helped". I really wanted to quit. Smoked for like 30 some years and tried to quit a couple times. I used the whole program which includes the meds, a membership to a support website, etc. Been smoke free now since May 2007. I didn't have any of those weird dreams ya'll are talking about, if you don't count that one about fuckin' the dog. Or maybe that wasn't a dream..... 
Ha!!! Had you goin' there, didn't I? |