My experience with CHANTIX

Hi LCB family.
      I know alot of us are smokers. I also know alot of us have tried to quit in the past and failed. Myself included. 
Just last week my doctor perscribed me CHANTIX. It is that new drug to help you quit smoking by working on the nicotine receptors in your brain.
I heard all about the side effects that are possible with this drug. Some are quite serious actually.  I am on the watch for depression,  or suicidal thoughts, and vivid dreams.  (another side effect possible is GAS. hahahahahahahaha. GREAT!!!)

I started this drug on the fourth of November.
You start out with just a small 0.5mg dose a day for 3 days, then gradually increase the dosage according to the instructions.

The thing I like about this drug so far is you can continue to smoke on it for appx a week, but then you must eventually quit and let the drug do it's work.

So far it has not done anything except make me dream crazy. Now they are not nightmares, just a the most vivid, realistic dreams I have ever experienced.  I dream about people I have not seen or talked to in years. I dream of things that arent possible, yet they happen in my dreams.  I tell you, it is a bit of a concern as the dose increases, if these dreams get any more crazy than they already are.  So the side effect about dreaming we have all heard rings true for me as well.
I have not decreased my smoking, nor has my desire to smoke left me at all. Again, it has only been a few days, but I just wanted to give my account of the drug incase anyone else out there was considering it.


Thanks for letting me share, and I'll update you all in the next few days and let you know how it is going. Who knows, maybe I'll just posts my dreams every day. They certainly are entertaining if nothing else.


                                                    PMM

Hey PMM, thanks 4 the info..... I've been smoking since I was 16..... I'm now 43     I always said I'd quit when I decided 2 have a baby, but....... as fate would have it, Bruce & I met later in life & have opted not 2 have children............ !!!!!!!!  So there goes my last excuse!!  I've known a couple people who took Chantix, & the reactions have varied.  One friend stopped taking it when he started having ideations of killing his wife.... oy!!!!  I'll b SO curious 2 know how it goes 4 u!  I would LOVE 2 quit if 4 no other reason than health, but I SO LOVE MY MARLBOROS   GOOD LUCK

Well, that's interesting. I'd wait till I got ins, but that might be a plus for me...

Been smoking solid since 17 and now 49.

  Alot of insurance companies are not covering it, yet I was so fortunate, and it was covered by mine 100%.  I counted my blessings at that moment. Just the starter pack (the first month) was $143.00.

This just has to work for me.  I too have been smoking since I was 18, and I turned 41 in May. I smoke two packs of Camels a day. Not good. My blood pressure is still good, but who knows how long that will last at this rate.

Yes, the side effects can be quite severe I hear. I am anxious about taking a higher dose.  The biggest safety net is just to be aware of the possibilities of what could happen. Just being on the lookout for it.
Regardless of the risks, I just have to try. 


                      Thanks for the responses gang....

                                                        PMM

Good luck on your journey to a smoke-free life.  This is a great step you are taking, and I wish you all the luck in the world. 

Wow Pam  - this sounds like a really scary drug to me.  I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole but that's my personal opinion.  The fact that it could make you suicidal or that you could become depressed and/or have these vivid dreams, which you already are having (the vivid dreams that is), would be a huge worry to me.  

Once you've taken them for a month, what happens then?  Do you stop taking them or do you have to "come down" to get off them i.e. reverse the dosage and drop it  and then stop?  What would happen if you stopped taking these pills straight away? If you haven't stopped smoking and you are still taking them, then is it really working?

Have you tried nicotine patches?

What ever you do Pam, I do wish you success in your quest to give up.

blue

PMM,

Good Luck  ...........Be Safe..........keep us posted.:)

Morning Gang:

     Just an update about my CHANTIX experience.

I am on day 8 today, and I start my 2mg tablet, twice a day instead of the 1mg I have been taking.  As of now, the dreams have subsided.  I have a feeling they will be back though with this new higher dose I begin taking today.
As of right now, the desire to smoke has not been any less at all. Again, when I start this higher dose, I may see that change.

This is a three month program, and I dont know exactly how one gets off this drug when they are done with the perscription. I dont know if it is a gradual thing, or once your done, your done, and there are no withdrawl side effects.  I see the doctor on the 23rd of this month, and that is something I most certainly am going to ask her.

I did have a few days were I felt rather down, but I cannot say it was from the drug or just outside factors. I am a very happy person, and for me to feel "blue" is odd.  Yet, it was nothing like they speak of, feeling suicidal or anything like that.

I have exactly 10 cigarettes left. By the time folks read this I will likely be out. Thats it for me, I will let the drug take over and hopefully I do not have the desire to smoke anymore.  

I cant tell you all enough how I appreciate the well wishes you have sent my way. It is so appreciated.
I'll update again in a few days.

                                                                     PMM

I hope all goes well and you keep us posted so we know u are ok.....

Take care ,

T

Well here I am,I have been about 8hrs without a smoke. I can tell you I feel the need to smoke really bad. This drug is not doing what ever it is supposed to be doing. Perhaps it will get better tomorrow.  Perhaps I smoke to much, and need a higher dose. All I know is I want to smoke.
    Oh, and by the way, I took a nap today, and the dreams are back. They are so real. I can smell the flowers in my dreams.  Hear the peoples voices after I wake up. I can feel the people when I touch them, just like in real life.  This last dream I was flying, in an airplane, and I felt the plane lift off, and my stomach dropped.  It was so real. Pretty amazing to feel considering I have never flown in real life.  I almost dread going to sleep tonight. I just never know who or what my dreams will be of next. Yet I have to keep trying to let this drug work.

No worries gang: Besides some bad dreams, and feeling pretty cranky with no nicotine in my system, I am fine.

                            Stay Tuned:
                                    PMM

Glad you are persevering Pam.  I really hope it does work for you and all your dreams are happy ones.

blue

Keep it up Pam! 

Wishing for you to have good smells, funny things and nice people in those dreams.........:)

chantix is a wonder drug i smoked for23 yrs. started taking the wonder pill and before i knew it i had quit smoking . i experenced no side affects from it at all .

bigjay,

How long since you've had a cig?

medtrans

Good for you I hope it works for you.  I did quit in may 2009 I did cold turkey.  Very hard thing to do I think about the cig every day.  But still struggling to smoke. 

Just be strong don't let the cig control your life

Have a great day all

Happy gaming

I'm on my second year now no urge to smoke . but i do have dreams that i still smoke , and that's a little weired i think . also when i quit i really didn't want  to  just started taking pills to shut my doctor up , and with in , i don't know 3 or 4 wks i wasn't smoking anymore wasn't even trying to quit besides just taking them little pills . actually was so impressed by the way they worked i sometimes find myself talking to people i don't even know that i see smoking and telling them about chantix . but one thing the cost per pill is very high i think they were about $4 a pill and you had to take 2 in the morning and 2 in the evening . so if no insurance or if not covered for them type of pills like i wasn't it is very hard to put out  $400 month on a maybe , but it really works the program is 3 months  but after i quit my Dr. and i decided be a good idea for me to be safe and do 5 months

Bigjay:  Thanks.  Very encouraging.

PMM:  How's it going?

medtrans

Just wanted to know how are you doing PMM2008.  Are you still hanging in their.  It is a very hard thing to do.  Keep us updated on how you are doing.

Happy gaming all

Hi Gang:
    Thanks for your interest in my quest to be a non-smoker. 
It's been a rocky couple of weeks.  I can't say I have not smoked a single cigarette, but considering I smoked two packs a day, a single smoke every few days is quite an accomplishemnt to me. Won't be long I'll be able to give up that last little smoke and be completely smoke free.

I see the doctor Monday and I'll explain to her that CHantix hasn't relieved my desire to smoke completely. ( I know alot of this is still up to me.) I'll take her advice word for word, and I'll update again after my doctor visit.

I wont quit quitting...

                                                          PMM

Thats a pretty amazing achievement Pam.  You should be really chuffed with yourself.

Well done.

blue

In case anyone is wondering who Sheba is:

I was babysitting for my brothers beagle, and her name is Sheba.
While I had her she got sick and had a prolapsed uterus that was literally hanging outisde her body.  I was beside myself.  The surgury was $1300, but the vet came thru and allowed my brother to make payments.

It was a terrible experience to say the least but I am happy to report Sheba had the surgury and is doing just fine.

                                                        PMM

WTG on the smoking PMM. 

Keep us posted.

medtrans

  I know you can do it. Deciding you are going to quit and attempting it, to me would seem to be the hardest part. My mom sent me Nicorette for my birthday after I said I would try and stop. It's been 6 months now and I haven't even opened the package. And I'm smoking twice as much. The only way I'm gonna stop is if someone cuts off my my head. 

I felt that way too. I smoked so much I amazed myself at the amount I could smoke and not get sick. My body just adjusted to it each time I increased my cigarette intake.
      It really got to me when I turned 41. I heard alot about family member dying young in our family, and sure enough, all the young ones that died were smokers. I don't want to die young. I love life, and it boils down to a battle in your own body.  Nicotine or me. Who will win.  When Chantix came out I just had to say I tried.
It's one thing to say you want to quit, but another if you never try to quit.

I struggle. I can't say that Chantix is some miracle drug for me. I have the desire to smoke each and every day.  Yet each day I cut down what I smoke. Is it the medicene? Or just my overwhelming desire to quit this terrible habit.

It is a love-hate relationship. Cigarettes are my best friend. I have the urge to cry when I run out. Panic, anxiety attack. What will I do without them? How can something you love be so bad for you?  How can something so enjoyable be so bad for you? They are lying to me, thats what I have come to realize. 

I wont quit quitting. At 41 it is not to late to reverse the damage I have done to my lungs and body.  There is always hope.


Thanks for letting me rattle.....

                                                              PMM

Hang in there PMM. You have already won your battle with your strong desire to truly quit and you're doing great!
The Chantix will help take care of the addictive cravings, but your desire to quit is what will get you to your goal.

Stay strong and Congrats on your accomplishment

Hi Gang:
    Day 20 on this medication. No further side effects have come to me, and I am smoke free EXCEPT for a couple of cigarettes in the morning.
    I was honest with the doctor about it, and she was still mighty pleased with me that I could go from 2 packs a day down to only 2 cigarettes a day in such a short time. I am rather pleased with my self too.
I still need that little crutch of a cigarette when I have my coffee in the morning. She assured me if I am strong I will be able to cut that in half, and move on to eventually no cigarettes at all.  Won't that be awesome.

I have noticed when I do smoke in the morning that the cigarette just doesnt taste as good due to the medicene working against it.  I do alot of lighting up and putting it out beofre it is all smoked.
 
                                  I may kick this habit yet.  YES!!!

                                  Feel'in good....

                                                        PMM

Im so pleased for you,  I know I need to quit.  So other than the dreams have you had any other side effects? And have the dreams subsided?

Thank you so much for sharing this with us,

T

So pleased for you Pam.  You've come a long long way and it looks like you are going to beat it.

Keep up your amazing fight.

blue

That is great PMM.  I am on the verge of calling my doc for a prescription.  I am getting my mind ready.  I have never been this far along in my mindset and that is a big part of quitting.

Keep us updated please.

medtrans

i tried to stop smoking about one year ago with chantix

i stoped it for two months    my weight became more and more

20 pounds more in 1 month, so i started to smoke again.

i dont know what are better  to have too much weight or to smoke

actually i have too much weight and i am smoking  lol

so i am a bad girl-----love it to be

Hey Pam,

I'm wondering how its going with Chantix and whether you are still winning your fight?

blue

Blue:
  I am happy to report I am still doing well on the medication. I am smoking so little that it hardly qualifies as smoking, yet I count it as I am not 100% smoke free.  One cig every now and again.    I know this is the end of the smoking for me, and I am having trouble giving up that one last one.  However by Christmas I believe I will be free of all smoking.
        On a side note, I came down with broncitis. This more than anything has helped me not to smoke.  Smoking became quite painful, so it was not hard to give it up during my sickest days.  I am recovering, and I am just not going back to the smoking. 

Medication or not folks, quiting smoking is serious stuff, and very tuff to do.  The medication did help, but it is still alot of self disapline needed on the persons part in order to succeed.  Perhaps thats why it has taken me this long.

                                      The battle is almost won....

                                                          PMM

Pam.. wonderful news and amazing!
You go woman!
I think i'm next..

Now I want to ask you a question HAVE YOU GAINED WEIGHT YET.  This is the part that I am having problems with now.  I have gain 15 or more pounds not sure how much but it's not fun.  Been smoke free 7 mths but thinking about starting again because of the weight gain.  Let me know how you are doing in that dept..

Thanks

Thats fantastic news Pam.  Sorry to hear you were poorly for a bit....but they say the Lord works in mysterious ways.

You should be really proud of yourself. 

Keep it up and before you know it you will be able to say "I'm a non-smoker".

blue

To answer your question Hyefivess...I have indeed wanted to eat more, but I knew to expect it, and I have been able to watch myself closely.  Something about not smoking and wanting to eat, is just a bummer.

    Again, I got sick this past week ( I'm still coughing ) and I actually lost weight. However I do not recommend the way I lost it as a good way to go on a diet. (To sick to eat, can't taste anything, and feel overall like a truck hit you. >:(  )

Congrats on being smoke free for 7 months.  My gosh, I hope to say that one day myself.  Your an inspiration to me.    If your really struggling with the weight gain, perhaps talk to your doctor. My doctor said the ill effects of a few extra poulnds  VS smoking is not much at all.  Smoking is way worse for us.  Remember that.
In just seven months you have greatly improved your overall health by quitting.
                                                                 

                                                                                    PMM

Thank you pmm2008 its been a real struggle having a hard time on a daily base.  See the thing is I enjoy smoking and just because I made a promise to my husband if he quit I would.  My husband had a heart attack in may and he quit for about a mth.  I did not fall on my promise and he did so now I give him a hard time about smoking.  I guess the reason that I am having a hard time is that I see him smoking..

Just stay away from people who do not smoke and I think you will be fine.  I know that one day I will fall off the wagon. 

Have a great day all

Pam, this sounds great. The gaining of weight can be minimalized by eating carrots and celery sticks as they are considered "Empty Calories" (It takes more energy to eat them, then they provide) so way to go and keep pushing it you will succeed.

If you have teeth, enjoy them while you can.

PMM    hang in there girlfriend, I have all faith in you.

Gang:
    Ive been smoke free for almost a month now.
I still want to smoke, but I know that will pass more and more with each day I am a non smoker.

Thank you all for your support during this tuff time for me.

I am smoke free for Christmas for the first time in years....

                                  Feeling awesome:
                                          PMM

Congrats.  What a fantastic achievement that is.

You should be proud of yourself.  Its a hard battle but you did it.  Officially a non-smoker.   

blue

  :)

WOWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!  CONGRATS PMM!!!!!!!!!!!  I'm really happy 4 u!!!! WTG!!