Chantix and depression on stopping smoking.

71 Comments:

• At Wed Feb 27, 07:45:00 PM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  I just learned of this site while searching for info on Chantix and seizures after my Dr. warned me of this newly heightened side effect. Thank you. It has been very interesting and informative. I began taking Chantix on 12/23/07 (my birthday) and continued to smoke as usual (10-15 per day). Within 10 days I found I was taking 2 or 3 drags of a cigarette, not enjoying it and putting it out. I continued to do this 3 times a day for about 2 weeks (amazing what an addiction will keep you doing, huh?!) until I came down with the flu (1/18/08). After 4 days in bed without smoking it seemed silly to go back to smoking. I have remained smoke free. I have experienced some of the posted side effects: mild to moderate nausea (water definitely helps!), headaches, fatigue and malaise. To answer your post about depression, I would definitely say that I could have easily confused my malaise with depression. When you don't feel like yourself it's easy to start a downward spiral of negative thinking. And quitting smoking for me has been both a physical and emotional withdrawal...kind of like losing a "best" friend. In the past 2 weeks my energy has returned and my mood has improved tremendously. And while I still have those habitual desires to have a cigarette I have no desire to smoke. This pill has been as close to a miracle drug as I could have expected! However,I do have a few questions I was hoping you could answer: 1. In addition to losing the pleasure derived from smoking, I have found that I do not enjoy or desire alcohol (wine, beer, etc.) Is there a link? Common receptor perhaps?
  2. Along the same lines, in the beginning weeks of taking Chantix I found myself not enjoying food as much (I have always LOVED food!) 3. I have recently had some disturbing dreams that I did not experience in the first 7 weeks of taking Chantix. Is that unusual to suddenly start getting a side effect after being on the med for a while? Does that mean it is "building up" in my system? 4. Last one, upon stopping Chantix, should I expect my desire to smoke to increase? Sorry for the long post and again, thanks for this site.

   

• At Fri Feb 29, 01:17:00 PM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  I stopped smoking 3 weeks and 1 day ago gone cold turkey been hard but coped, only thing i am struggling with is mood swings and depression i feel so low i could cry, but dont want a cigarette Danny Leeds U.K.

   

• At Tue Mar 04, 09:40:00 PM 2008,  Jonathan Foulds, MA, MAppSci, PhD said…

  Danny of Leeds,
  Great that you are succeeding in quitting smoking. Well done. If you are feeling depressed you should go back to your doctor and tell him/her how you are feeling. This sometimes happens on stopping smoking, and is sometimes temporary, but best to talk to your doctor and try to sort it out, rather than put up with it.

   

• At Tue Mar 04, 09:47:00 PM 2008,  Jonathan Foulds, MA, MAppSci, PhD said…

  Dear Anonymous,
  1. There has been one rat study that hinted at the possibility that varenicline (Chantix) may affect alcohol consumption, but it remains unproven. 2.Chantix actually appears to have less of an effect on appetite than most other medicines for smoking cessation, and so people more commonly notice increased appetite. 3. Chantix should not "build up" in your system after 7 weeks. 4. Most people do not notice an increase in desire to smoke when they stop taking Chantix. This may be partly because it has a half-life of almost one day, and so takes a while to entirely leave the system.

   

• At Thu Mar 06, 05:35:00 PM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  i have been taking chantix for almost 2 weeks exactly and the first week i felt very mellow and relaxed. As soon as i increased the dosage the next day i was extremely irrated. Two days later i felt like a black cloud was following me around for 2 days straight and hated being alone. i have never experienced anything like the way i felt for that 2 days. i've been much better the last 2 days. i don't know if it's when your brain is getting used to the higher dosage or what but i know for sure that i have never felt that way in my life. And then you have all these people and companies denying that chantix has anything to do with making people depressed and it makes you feel like you must be losing your mind. I don't see how you can take a bunch of perfectly normal people and give them medicine which makes them feel nuts and then act like they are simply getting depressed over something else. You actually can tell it's the medicine too because alot of the time you can't even think straight and you feel like you have no control over your mind. it's very scary. you really don't feel like smoking though. i'm hoping that after the first month of the medicine i can stop taking it and i won't smoke anymore because i don't want to take it for 3 whole months if it could make me feel that way at any given moment. people should definitely be taking this situation more seriously. and if the medicine is made to block the receptors in your brain that make you happy when you smoke a cigarette then it really doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that apparently it's blocking most of your happiness all together and the rest of the time you feel sedated so you don't know any better.

   

• At Fri Mar 07, 01:28:00 PM 2008,  Jonathan Foulds, MA, MAppSci, PhD said…

  Dear Anonymous of March 6th,
  Thanks for posting on your experience. One thing thats useful to know is at what point in the sequence did you quit smoking? You mentioned that your depression came on when you increaed the dose. There are normally 2 dose increases on Chantix:
  1. On day 4 people start taking two 0.5mg tablets per day (only one on days 1-3) and
  2.On day 8 (normally the target quit smoking day) people move up to two 1mg tablets per day.
  
  If your depression coincided with the move to 1mg tablets it may also have coincided with stopping smoking. And this is where it gets difficult to untabgle the effects of the drug with the effects of stopping smoking.
  
  But it sounds like you felt that it was the drug that caused these emotional changes and that it felt different from anything you'd previously experienced. I agree that this needs to be taken seriously, and congratulate you for staying off the cigarettes. Don't hesitate to contact your doctor if those feelings return. Best of luck.

   

• At Tue Mar 11, 05:49:00 AM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  Started taking Chantix Feb 12--took for 2 weeks instead of 1 before quitting as by that time the smell and taste were disgusting to me. Very irritable and short tempered the 1st week and since then the only side affects are nausea and bloated feeling. The habitual desire is still there (I'll catch myself going to reach for one)Do you have any ideas when that recedes? Also--I'm afraid at the end of the 3 months on Chantix the desire(both physical and emotional) will come back full force--any feedback?

   

• At Sat Mar 15, 09:23:00 AM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  I started the Chantix program on January 3rd and quit smoking on the 14th, so it's been over 2 months now. I'm 53 and have smoked 2-3 packs per day for the last 30 years.
  
  The first 2 weeks of not smoking left me edgy and short tempered but not nearly as bad as other times when I've attempted to quit by other means. On week 3 I was extremely nasty and also dispairing of quitting. Weeks 4 and 5 had me quite "down" with negative thoughts that were almost all associated with life and not smoking.
  
  Week 6 was a bit of a letdown, with a pack of cigs being consumed over a weeks time. A pittance for me and I didn't enjoy them so it was easy to get in the saddle again. No smoking since. However, I haven't been ornery or down since week 5.
  
  Weeks 7-8 have been normal. I get a few "jabs" during the course of the day - my mind saying I NEED a cigarette. Then it passes after 30 seconds and it's not a prob.
  
  A couple extra thoughts on things that I think are Chantix-related:
  
  1 - I found that the busier I was at work and home, the more apt I was not to even think about cigarettes. Maybe I would unconciously reach for a cigarette by habit but I wasn't thinking about smoking.
  
  2 - For me, bizarre dreams are the biggest side effect I've had with Chantix. Normally, I dream but never remember my dreams. Now I remember my dreams IN DETAIL and they are bizarre but with threads of normal life mixed in. Nothing gory or violent - just strange stuff. Sometimes I wake up feeling tired from dreaming all night.
  
  Greg

   

• At Tue Mar 18, 07:10:00 PM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  I just wanted to write my experience with taking chantix. I have been smoke free for 53 days now. I took the chantix for about a month straight then it really started to make me sick really bad nausea so I stop taking the chantix and decided to take it when I felt I needed it! I have complete stopped taking it. I didn't like the way the chantix made me feel. Another thing I have noticed with taking the chantix I have very bad depression and plan on going to the doctors to be put on a antidepression to help me out! I have had depression before years ago! I still have cravings to smoke but do not want one! Smoke now really gets to me and don't like being around it at all! I can't even go into a bar or a restaurant that is smoking it makes me sick to my stomach now! But that is my experience with CHANTIX!!

   

• At Wed Mar 19, 04:41:00 PM 2008,  Careca, Sao Paulo, Brazil said…

  I am 35, been smoking about 20 cigs a day for the last 18 years +-.
  
  I m in the 9th day of Chantix treatment. Today is my third day completely without nicotine.
  
  Strangely, since I started taking Chantix, seems that my mood have changed - in a good way! Normally I am kind of short-tempered, complaining guy. After started taking it, things that usually would make me crazy doesn't matter no longer...
  
  I have had almost no side-effects at all... Nausea one day (but could have been caused by something I ate). I never remember my dreams either and lately I had a couple in my mind after waking up.
  
  One curious fact is that I am a marijuana smoker (usually half a cig every day - more on weekends) . I've been smoking weed for about 14 years.
  
  As soon as I started the treatment, I didn't feel like smoking weed. It seems that it affects not only the addiction on nicotine and alcohol, but might be proven in future that it is effective against other addictions as well.
  
  I almost do not drink alcohol at all, and many of my non-smoker friends do smoke weed.
  
  I would like to guess if I will be able to enjoy some marijuana after stop taking Chantix.
  
  Also, I would like to interrupt the treatment before 3 months... Maybe after one month taking it.
  
  Anyone heard of cases where people stopped the treatment earlier than the usual and did not smoke after that?
  
  For real, I don't feel like having a cigarette at all. I am still smoking my weed (less than ever), but smoking tobacco no longer seduce me.
  
  Thanks.

   

• At Fri Mar 21, 11:10:00 AM 2008,  Jonathan Foulds, MA, MAppSci, PhD said…

  Thanks to those who have shared their experiences. More than one person commented on losing their enjoyment for other substances while using Chantix. I'm not aware of a direct mechanism that would explain this but it is certainly interesting. I'm sure the manufacturer will be exploring the possibility that there may be a wider effect. Note that it is not a great idea to continue smoking other substances when you are trying to quit smoking. Marijuana smoke is also carcinogenic and causes respiratory diseases. It also perpetuates the smoking habit and may increase your risk of relapsing back to cigarette smoking.

   

• At Thu Mar 27, 08:30:00 AM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  My wife and I began Chantix in late January and have not smoked since. Although I successfully stopped taking Chantix only a week or two into the program, my wife is continuing with her three-month Chantix program. I am 57 and had been smoking since I was 13 or 14, smoking about two packs a day when I quit. The only side affects we've noticed is a bit of nausea after taking the pill. I have also picked up a little weight but am trying to cover my habit with Tic Tacs. They seem to do well as a substitute whenever I have "that" feeling.

   

• At Mon Mar 31, 08:44:00 AM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  Hi there! I used chantix for about 3 months to stop smoking. I quit for about 9 months before, for no reason I started smoking again. the only negative side effects I experienced were nausea and some sleep issues, absolutely no depression! In fact, I felt great! I felt empowered and healthy, I felt alive again! I'm not sure but I would venture to guess that a persons out look on the whole situation may directly effect the outcome. I was ecstatic about quiting, so when I did I was just beside my self with feelings of accomplishment, strength and will power. Quiting smoking is a great thing, its a hurdle most never overcome so that alone made me feel wonderful. I know that physical exercise has been proven to help with depression so I guess that may have been a good reason for me never feeling a sense a depression. I can't wait to start chantix again!

   

• At Thu Apr 10, 06:38:00 PM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  I used chantix for 3 months and I have not smoked since 12/10/06!! I had smoked off and on since I was 16 and I am now 53. The only side affect I had was increased hot flashes (as I am menopausal). I also decreased the dosage the 3rd week and only took 1 1mg tab daily. This seemed to be sufficient for me and decreased my SE. I am a RN and I recommend Chantix to all of my pt's. FYI to people who are having extreme on uncomfortable SE they may try decreasing their dose if OK with their MD. I also used occassional alcohol and still had no major SE. I am so glad that I used Chantix. 16 months smoke free, and not even wanting to smoke!!

   

• At Mon Apr 21, 09:31:00 PM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  Thought I would post along as the inquiring minds may want to know. I have been taking chantix since Feb. 7, 08~ My cravings are minimal to zero, except for when I drink, I still need a smoke. After about 1/4 way through I am sick of it. I had been smoking for 15 years, around a pack sometimes more a day. I tried quitting once before and stayed smoke free for 4 years, but did that through the aid of nicorette. After addicting myself to nicorette, times hit me hard after 4 years and I began smoking again- only I already had an influx and an addiction to nicotine through the nicorette gum. For 7 months I smoked cigerretes and I chewed nicorette gum to make it through the day. Starting chantix in Feb has allowed me to completely quit the gum, 98% free from smoking, and I am 98% free from coffee (a major morning routine). I do feel that I have gained about 7 pounds (and I started off on the heavier than what I would like to be side), and most recently down on myself. Usually you will find me trying to make you laugh, ease the situation, giving you a calming demeanor, however, that is simply the exact opposite lately. I just don't feel that I am 100% even when I am giving 150%! This alone makes me down on myself as I give myself higher standards to live up to, and I come down on myself when I can't reach them. Kinda of like my own worst critic. Depressed? Not quite yet, however I may be heading there soon- even though I really have nothing to be sad or depressed about. I am hoping that the sun shines a little brighter as I don't like to be such a grump, or a miss crybaby, especially around my co-workers. I decided to checkup on Chantix online to see if the way I am feeling has anything to do with the chantix I am taking. Apparently it (might)- noone really knows but I am sure if I try to talk to my doc about it he will simply pass someother med off on me making the uncertainty of taking chantix even more unclear to its affects of depression or not. So I thought I would share my story- not sure if it will help or not, or if anyone has any helpful advice- inquiring minds wants to know...

   

• At Tue Apr 22, 10:22:00 AM 2008,  Jonathan Foulds, MA, MAppSci, PhD said…

  Unfortunately there is no clear answer. However, some of these articles and the comments by readers that follow them, may be of interest to you.
  
  Some questions I have for you are …”On the occasions when you smoked while taking Chantix”..
  (a) did smoking improve your mood?
  (b) how satisfying were those cigarettes as compared with prior to Chantix? And
  (c) did alcohol seem any more or less satisfying as compared with pre-Chantix?
  
  4. What is nicotine withdrawal syndrome? 3/6/07
  http://www.healthline.com/blogs/smoking_cessation/2007/03/what-is-nicotine-withdrawal-syndrome.html
  
  5. Ten tips for coping with nicotine withdrawal. 3/7/07
  http://www.healthline.com/blogs/smoking_cessation/2007/03/ten-tips-on-coping-with-tobacco.html
  
  6. Chantix: how does this new stop smoking medicine work? 4/15/07
  http://www.healthline.com/blogs/smoking_cessation/2007/04/chantix-how-does-this-new-quit-smoking.html
  
  Can quitting smoking trigger depression? 6/16/07
  http://www.healthline.com/blogs/smoking_cessation/2007/06/can-quitting-smoking-trigger-depression.html
  
  61. Chantix and mental illness. 08/12/07
  http://www.healthline.com/blogs/smoking_cessation/2007/08/chantix-and-mental-illness.html
  
  62. Two new studies of Chantix (varenicline). 08/19/07
  http://www.healthline.com/blogs/smoking_cessation/2007/08/two-new-studies-of-chantix-varenicline.html
  
  Does Chantix cause mental health problems? 9/20/07
  http://www.healthline.com/blogs/smoking_cessation/2007/09/does-chantix-cause-mental-health.html
  
  75. Chantix (varenicline) safety being reviewed by FDA. 11/21/07
  http://www.healthline.com/blogs/smoking_cessation/2007/11/chantix-varenicline-safety-being.html
  
  76. New study of Chantix in comparison with NRT. 11/28/07
  http://www.healthline.com/blogs/smoking_cessation/2007/11/new-study-of-chantix-in-comparison-with.html

   

• At Fri Apr 25, 01:34:00 PM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  I started taking Chantix in October 2007. By the end of week one on the drug I had stopped smoking. I continued to take the rest of the month's pills and then quit (still smoke free). Everything was great until the depression kicked in a few weeks after I stopped taking the medicine. I tried to hide the depression and the confusion in hopes that it would just go away. Of course it did not and continued to worsen until all I could think about was wanting to die.
  
  I finally broke down and told my doctor who prescribed Effexor. It has not helped at all; he has since increased the dosage but it is still not helping. I can not think straight or remember things that I know I knew a couple of months ago.
  
  I was completely fine before taking Chantix and now I am a complete mess. It boggles my mind to think that this drug could make me feel this way for so long after stopping it.
  
  I have had to quit my job because of this depression. I couldn't force myself to do the work I was given. I would go hide in the rest room and just cry for no reason. I have never been more embarrassed and scared in my life. I scare myself with the crazy thoughts that are going thru my mind.
  
  My family doesn't understand and I don't know how to explain it. I honestly feel like a crazy person.

   

• At Sat Apr 26, 02:38:00 PM 2008,  Jonathan Foulds, MA, MAppSci, PhD said…

  Dear Anonymous of April 25th,
  This is not the first time I've heard of people becoming depressed after they have quit smoking successfully and stopped using Chantix. In situations like that one wonders whether it was really the Chantix causing the problem, when it sounds like the problem really occurred after the Chantix was stopped.
  
  Either way, in a situation like this it is important to get help, immediately, and to explain to the doctor how you are feeling, and that so far there has been no improvement. It is worthwhile arranging to see a psychologist or counselor who is trained to help people fight their way out of depression, in addition to taking medication as prescribed by the doctor.

   

• At Tue May 13, 07:30:00 AM 2008,  Kristine said…

  I have known my husband going on ten years. As long as I have know him, my husband has always been a high energy, focused, dedicated individual with a kind, easy going personality. Naturally, being human and alive, he would have bad days like anyone else but never had difficulty moving forward and getting back into a happy mode again. His "bad" day consisted of him being quieter than normal and in a seeming “thinking” mood and this “down” mode was always short lived. This was the pattern for him even though we have been experiencing a significant amount of life changes i.e. job, family, and housing concerns since 2004 and he was finishing up an M.B.A., lost his job in August 2005, and went back to pursue a teaching certification. I was the one who had crying boughts and anxiety but he was able to maintain a really positive outlook. Needless to say, he and I have had our life "plate" full BUT he kept plugging forward and maintained his wonderful outlook and personality 95% of the time. He said he smoked from the time he was a teenager and wanted to quit but none of the over the counter products worked for him. He got a prescription for Chantix at the end of August 2007 and started taking the drug. He quit smoking approximately by the second week of September. By October I noticed that he seemed "edgy". He seemed to be experiencing mild anxiety but I attributed this to stopping smoking. I noticed a garlicky smell to his breath and he began experiencing heartburn. By the end of his twelve weeks, he was experiencing difficulty sleeping. By the time his twelve weeks were done, he had gained at least 25 pounds. He was off the Chantixx for 2 to 3 weeks and was once again experiencing the desire to go back to smoking so he contacted the doctor and got a prescription for another twelve weeks. During the second round, his anxiety increased, he began experiencing insomnia, mood swings, a general change in personality. Depressed, negative, lethargic, not motivated, not able to focus similar to someone with ADHD. His patience level is significantly decreased, he seems to forget things much more easily, at times he is very anxious in an illogical way. His second twelve week round was up by the middle to end of March yet he is not coming out of this. I contacted the doctor yesterday and am waiting for a reply. This IS NOT my husband's normal personality. He has even broken down and cried a couple of times in the past two weeks. I thought once he ended the Chantix, he would go back to being himself but that has not happened.

   

• At Tue May 13, 01:35:00 PM 2008,  Jonathan Foulds, MA, MAppSci, PhD said…

  Kristine,
  Thanks for sharing this detailed description. You are absolutely right that he should see his doctor. Might be useful to go with him, to give your account, though its also important that he has time alone with the doctor as well. if you can't go it may be worth printing your description for him to show to the doc. (men sometimes minimize the seriousness of their mood disturbances/problems). Your husband and the doctor will need to figure out what might be causing this, and even if thats unclear, get him some help to pull out of it. Often the cause is not very clear, but I can understand why you might suspect a role for the Chantix. This does seem like a pattern similar to what others have described. I wish you and your husband all the best.

   

• At Wed May 21, 09:24:00 AM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  This is my 11th day on Chantix and I feel horrible but still very determined. I have not smoked a cigarette for 3 1/2 days and have been walking daily and working out 3x's a week for 1 1/2hrs at my fitness center. I feel lightheaded and have the chills very often but I am fighting it. The nausea feeling was vey bad the first few days but seems to be less today and water does help. My dreams are so crazy and I am very restless.
  I have been smoking since I am 16 and I am 67 (u do the math). Gave up smoking in the past and gained alot of weight. I am determined this time to keep it under control.
  I do not have a craving for alcohol nor food but just want to start feeling better. No one appeared to have the chills so I am puzzeled. I do not feel that having a cigarette at this time will make me feel better so I am not and will tough it out.
  Thank all of you for sharing your experiences and perhaps I too can stop after a month and be a NON-SMOKER!!!!!!!!!!

   

• At Mon May 26, 08:56:00 AM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  This is an update since my May 21 comments. I took myself off of Chantix because of the strange things I was doing. I went on an appointment for 1hr, 5/22, and LEFT MY KEYS IN THE IGNITION WITH THE CAR RUNNING!!!!!!!!That was the turning point in my decision to call the hot line of Chantix, get a refund (just the principal of it not the money)& then my doctor!!! OH MY GOD--what else could I possible do & not be aware that I did it and then I read that the pilots were forbidden in taking this drug. This is a very DANGEROUS DRUG & I am glad that I sopped taking it after 12 days and no accidents. (There were other weird happenings but this was the most significant. I have not smoked for 1 week now & will continue without CHANTIX!!!!!!!!!!

   

• At Tue May 27, 06:51:00 AM 2008,  J said…

  I was not addicted to smoking, I was addicted to nicotine gum, badly.
  
  I took Chanitx as prescribed for the first week while still chewing the gum.
  
  Then at the start of the 2nd week of treatment I quit the gum completely. I was not mentally ready for the 2 weeks that came after. It was hard, very hard, and harder than when I quit with the patch many years ago.
  
  Never having been depressed before, I didn't know that I was. A previous poster described a feeling of malaise, which is what I felt as well. Not enough to make me lay in bed all day, but enough so that doing anything took some extra mental effort. It seemed like time slowed down for me.
  
  I thought it was the chantix, but it was likely the nicotine withdrawal because at the end of week 3, I broke out of it and was in a better mood overall though still kind of tamped down by the chantix.
  
  I had to stop at the end of week 5 because I was diagnosed with diabetes. What is unclear is whether the chantix either caused or contributed to the diabetes. When I stopped taking it, my glucose levels went down. I've read posts elsewhere from insulin-dependent diabetics that they could not control their glucose levels while on chantix.
  
  Adverse Events Experienced:
  Diabetes?/High glucose blood levels
  Diabetic-related Weight Loss
  Blurred Vision - related to the Diabetes?
  Short-term Depression?
  Weird Dreams - not nightmares
  Very Quick Temper
  Change in Sleep Pattern - didn't really feel rested
  Little to No Desire for Alcohol
  Decreased Libido
  
  Adverse Events Not Experienced:
  Nausea
  Constipation
  Suicidal/Homicidal Ideation
  Insomnia
  
  Note - I was 300 lbs when I started Chantix so its effects may have been less in me than in someone half my size.
  
  It worked for me but I would not use chantix again. If I relapse, I would try cold turkey first.

   

• At Wed May 28, 10:49:00 AM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  I took Chantix for a week and experienced the lack of desire to smoke. Then I stopped smoking and haven't smoked since. I stopped taking Chantix after 3 weeks because it turned up the volume on my tinnitus to almost unbearable levels, causing great depression and some panic attack symptoms. It took more than a week after stopping Chantix for my tinnitus to return to normal noise levels. K

   

• At Thu May 29, 07:55:00 AM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  I took Chantix for approximately 3 months starting in September, 2007 and as of November, 2007 had my last cigarette. It is now May 29th and I have managed to kick this bad habit. Every now and then sure I would like to have a cigarette but the good points outweigh the bad. I am now on a diet because naturally I picked up quite a few pounds. I have lost 18 pounds and still working at sheding more. I experienced some light mood swings but since I had been smoking for about 45 years of couse my body was going through withdrawals. Smoking is like any other addiction. It takes time and yes there are probably going to be some mood changes. I tried other ways to quit but Chantix was the only thing that worked for me. I have abundants of energy that I did not have before and feel great at 62. Chantix has given me hopefully a few more years of retirement to enjoy. It has been almost 7 months now and I take it one day at a time. HATS OFF TO CHANTIX. Paulette from Ohio

   

• At Mon Jun 23, 09:26:00 PM 2008,  aef said…

  I started the Australian version, Champix 8 days ago. Initially I had no symptoms but by day 5 was not getting 'a hit' from cigarettes. They gave me no pleasure at all. This caused me to feel frustrated, teary, angry and aggressive. I have been unable to give up the habit of smoking, despite getting no enjoyment from it. I dont know how to break this. I think I fear I will feel even more miserable if I lose the habit.

   

• At Sun Jul 06, 05:20:00 PM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  My mother took 2mg of Chantix for 12 weeks. She has been off of Chantix for two weeks and the last two weeks she has been EXTREMELY depressed. She cries all of the time, mid-sentence, prefers to be alone, and has feelings that everyone hates her. She also has intense hip pain that makes it so she can barely walk sometimes. She has an appointment with her doctor this coming week, but she can't do anything right now - she can't even go to work. How long is Chantix in the blood stream?How long will these symptoms last?

   

• At Wed Jul 09, 02:54:00 PM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  I started taking Chantix on March 16 2008. At first, I didn't think it was going to work, but as soon as I upped the dosage to two pills a day, I started being disgusted by the smell and the taste of cigarettes.
  
  An interesting side note - My husband wanted to know who "taught me to smoke" and I told him no one - that I just picked one up back in 1976 (do the math - YIKES what a long time!) and started puffing. He claimed I did not inhale, and I told him he was nuts! He showed me how to inhale, and by golly, he was right! I coughed for 10 minutes! So hopefully, most of the damage done by cigarettes was to my bank account over the years, and not to my lungs.
  
  My addiction to cigarettes was mostly habit. I'm sure I got some nicotine through my tongue and mouth, though. All I can say is that Chantix is a miracle drug! I went through 4... yes 4 packs a day! Quitting was nowhere near as hard as I thought it would be. The only side effects I had were mild nausea. NO DREAMS! That was a little disappointing.
  
  My mother died in January at the age of 86 with lung and brain cancer, and smoked until the end. So, I had quite a bit of motivation to quit.

   

• At Thu Jul 10, 04:36:00 PM 2008,  Jonathan Foulds, MA, MAppSci, PhD said…

  Dear Anonymous of July 06,
  It sounds like your mother only became depressed after she had completed the first 12 week course of Chantix and then stopped taking it. Of course its impossible for me to say with any confidence what could be causing the depression in your mother's case, but when someone did well while on the med, and became depressed after stopping it, it makes me think that nicotine withdrawal may be part of the problem. Remember that Chantix is a partial nicotine agonist, which means it stimulates the nicotinic receptor (and hence releases dopamine, the "reward" neurotransmitter) much like nicotine from NRT or tobacco. When the person stops taking Chantix they no longer have that dopamine release and so may develop some withdrawal symptoms. Also remember that the doctor can prescribe another 12 weeks, and in the single study that compared 12 weeks with 24 weeks, those who had Chantix for 24 weeks were less likely to relapse to smoking. But the main thing is that your mother see her doctor for an assessment. Let us know how it goes.

   

• At Thu Jul 10, 06:21:00 PM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  I am vey worried about my fiance. He took Chantix for 4 weeks and did not once feel like quiting smoking. He actually started drinking more and smoking more then he did before he started the med. He has been off the Chantix for 2 weeks now. He has always had an incrediable memory, not anymore. He forgets things frequently at work also. He asks a question then asks the same question again a couple of minutes later and people at work are noticing. He feels "blue" frequently and small things really have a big effect on his mood. He says he doesn't feel right. He has a great sence of humor and we haven't seen it for weeks now. He can't focus either. I would like to know if antidepressants would actually help and also if these symptoms will improve? Will he be himself again???

   

• At Fri Jul 11, 01:11:00 PM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  I started taking chantix 6 weeks ago. Am not smoking and have no desire to. Hopefully am done with that chapter of my life. The last couple of days I have been very depressed. Am gonna quit taking Chantix. I had smoked for about 35 years. Reading some of these messages are real scary. I feel like a lot of them. Will they stop and when.I do not feel like myself at all. So this depression will it go away or do you have to go on antidepressants? I am really scared. I hope and pray that I don't go back to smoking but if I had read this stuff before I started the chantix I wouldn't of taken it. So if there is anyone out there reading this thinking about taking it I would think twice. I just hope I go back to being myself. How long before it is out of a persons system? Can yu just quit it or should you weene yourself off of it? Thank You

   

• At Tue Jul 29, 04:08:00 PM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  I am having many of the same symptoms, even though I stopped taking Chantix a few months ago, after being on it for about tow months. Any idea how long the affects last?

   

• At Wed Jul 30, 08:37:00 PM 2008,  Jonathan Foulds, MA, MAppSci, PhD said…

  Chantix has a half life of almost one day. That means that it takes about a day for the concentration in your blood to reduce by half. So it takes about a week for it to be completely out of your body.
  
  Many people have mentioned that their depression or other symptoms worsened or started after they stopped taking Chantix. Although its hard to be sure, that doesn't sound very much like it was the drug causing the symptoms. It sounds more like nicotine withdrawal (or something else)causing the symptoms. Best to have a discussion with your doctor to try to figure out what is going on and the best way to manage it.

   

• At Mon Aug 11, 07:41:00 PM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  I read some pretty scary posts and articles before starting Chantix, but absolutely had to quit smoking (beginning a nanny job w/a 6 month old). The last time I tried to quit without any assistance I became so severely depressed, after two weeks it seemed a matter of life or death that I smoke.
  I was already moderately-severely depressed and continued to be before I started taking Chantix- Immediately after taking my first dose (within a 1/2 hour) it was like a dark cloud had been lifted. I have been happier, more energetic, engaged in life, active and so much more since starting Chantix. This will be the first good three weeks in a row I've had in a year, and especially the first three weeks where I have Not had suicidal thoughts. I was trying alternative therapies for my depression for months, refusing to give in to medication. Now, I'm afraid of what will happen when I run out of Chantix. I'm smoke free 2 weeks now and have only been taking one pill a day instead of two because I just don't feel like I need the second one. I'm hoping to extend the life of this starter pack as I don't have insurance and don't know how I'll replace it's role in my life as an
  anti-depressant.

   

• At Wed Sep 03, 09:41:00 AM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  I am so sorry for those of you who have had bad experiences on Chantix. However for me it was a life saver! I have a history of depression, and 2 attempted suicides- but I was so desperate to quit smoking nothing else had worked--I've even tried Zyban (Wellbutrin) to quit smoking and I had the horror story that people describe w/ Chatix- I was a homicidal maniac after 7 days! So I took the chance of taking Chantix. My family monitored me closely and were FLOORED by what Chantix did for me. I quit smoking easily (month 8 and haven't cheated once) and my mood was dramatically improved. It was better than I've been on any other "psych" medicine.
  
  I took Chantix for 6 months, I slowly weened off and quickly slid back in to depression. My primary care provider put me back on Paxil, I took Paxil for years- but it wasn't working. So then she added Valium, I was now depressed and stoned. I found a Psychiatrist that has been my life saver- she put me back on Chantix & said that if it keeps my depression under control she's more than happy to give it to me. She then told me that there will be a time in the future that Chantix will be used for depression.
  
  All medications have side effects, even Tylenol.

   

• At Mon Sep 22, 03:26:00 PM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  I've just read through all of the posts and wanted to also share my experience. In two weeks, I will be smoke free for 1 full year with no cheating. I started Chantix on 9-23-07 and smoked my last cigarette on 10-5-08. I didn't really enjoy it, but had a couple still in the pack, and as all smokers know, you never want to waste one :). After being on Chantix for another week or so, I noticed a drastic change in my moods and emotional state. I lost interest in everything, and barely made it from the bed to the couch each day. I withdrew from most of my friends and employees, and either cried for no reason or became very irate over nothing. I let my business be run by the employees as I just didn't care about it anymore. I didn't have a problem with craving cigarettes, but had planned on continuing the Chantix until May as some of my employees smoked and I was afraid I would be too tempted. Around the middle of December, I quit taking Chantix as I felt I wasn't going to be able to run my business at all while taking it. Note that I have quit smoking before for as long as 6 months and never felt this way after quitting. I had improvement after quitting the Chantix, but in February I described some symptoms I was still experiencing to my Doctor, and he prescribed an antidepressant as he felt I was suffering from a "mild" depression. Well, it's now September and I tried recently to get off the antidepressant but have just started it again as I was experiencing the same symptions as in February. Emotional, quick to become irate, lack of interest in everything, wanting to eat more, need for more sleep, etc. So, on the one hand I am very happy to be a non-smoker now (40+ years of smoking) and am grateful to Chantix for helping me quit so easily, but certainly hope that it has not affected my mental health permanently.

   

• At Mon Sep 22, 04:04:00 PM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  I've just read through all of the posts and wanted to also share my experience. In two weeks, I will be smoke free for 1 full year with no cheating. I started Chantix on 9-23-07 and smoked my last cigarette on 10-5-08. I didn't really enjoy it, but had a couple still in the pack, and as all smokers know, you never want to waste one :). After being on Chantix for another week or so, I noticed a drastic change in my moods and emotional state. I lost interest in everything, and barely made it from the bed to the couch each day. I withdrew from most of my friends and employees, and either cried for no reason or became very irate over nothing. I let my business be run by the employees as I just didn't care about it anymore. I didn't have a problem with craving cigarettes, but had planned on continuing the Chantix until May as some of my employees smoked and I was afraid I would be too tempted. Around the middle of December, I quit taking Chantix as I felt I wasn't going to be able to run my business at all while taking it. Note that I have quit smoking before for as long as 6 months and never felt this way after quitting. I had improvement after quitting the Chantix, but in February I described some symptoms I was still experiencing to my Doctor, and he prescribed an antidepressant as he felt I was suffering from a "mild" depression. Well, it's now September and I tried recently to get off the antidepressant but have just started it again as I was experiencing the same symptions as in February. Emotional, quick to become irate, lack of interest in everything, wanting to eat more, need for more sleep, etc. So, on the one hand I am very happy to be a non-smoker now (40+ years of smoking) and am grateful to Chantix for helping me quit so easily, but certainly hope that it has not affected my mental health permanently.

   

• At Mon Nov 10, 10:12:00 AM 2008,  Lea said…

  I had tried posting this on another blog and it never did show up so I'll post it here also.
  I've been taking Chantix for 4 wks. I was a disgusting chain smoker for 36 yrs, smoked 3 packs a day (I'm a 48 yr old female). After 10 days on Chantix cigarettes just tasted bad and I found myself going outside to smoke only out of habit. I woke up Oct 20th and figured since I was already 8 hrs into quitting (having been asleep) that that'd be a good time to stop. I haven't had a cigarette in 19 days and spend most my day thanking God, Chantix and Phizer. I WILL NEVER smoke again! I hate cigarettes and I hate that they robbed my life from the age of 12 to 48. I've had a big problem with depression for 20 yrs and was on and off antidepressants for years. I had been off them several years before starting Chantix, still depressed but had pretty much accepted that as 'normal' for me. Chantix worked extreme wonders for me as an antidepressant plus to quit smoking. I feel like I'm 20 yrs old again and have the energy level to match. I never remember feeling this good and this energetic in my entire life. I'm a small person so I do fine on .5 mg twice a day the past few wks. The dreams are nothing-exactly the same as the dreams I used to have on antidepressants (Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft, Wellbutrin to name a few). They seriously need to study Chantix as an antidepressant. For my entire adult life I didn't much care if I lived or died, depressed, no energy, hopelessness. Now I want to live so bad. Living feels this good and I never knew it for 48 yrs. Zero cravings-keep in mind I went from 3 packs a day to ZERO cigarettes overnight and never missed a beat. I don't care if I have to stay on this 1/2 dose for the rest of my life. At least I HAVE a life I can look forward to now. The only 'side effect' I've had is nausea when I tried washing the pill down with coffee, I just make sure I take the pill with some food now. I don't care for the taste of coffee or chocolate anymore. I gained maybe 5 lbs the 1st week (probably from all the 100% juice) but now am back to my normal 120 lbs. My non-stop anxiety, EXTREME fatigue and generally feeling like crap is GONE. Food tastes like something I've never tasted in my life, SOO good. I still don't overeat though. I always was a light eater and that hasn't changed. Concentration is through the roof and I feel so good I just stand in awe at how good I feel. This is supposedly what "normal" feels like. I've been depressed and addicted to nicotine for so long that "normal" to me feels like a high. I'm living in color instead of black & white now. If this is what living really feels like I don't ever want to die.

   

• At Thu Nov 13, 08:32:00 AM 2008,  Michelle said…

  I took chantix for about 3months and done great havent smoked in 8 months and have no desire for one. Although the things i use to enjoy i dont anymore like tea , coffee, cokes that sort of stuff. But i do enjoy a beer or wine cooler ever so often and i was never like that before.... I dont know what caused that, also i am very quick tempered now use to be easy going but know the smallest thing will set me in a rage. I have hurt my friends and familys feelings more than once " dont mean too " but i dont know what to do about it....

   

• At Thu Nov 20, 09:11:00 AM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  I am a registered nurse without any prior history of anxiety or depression. I took Chantix to quit a 38 yr smoking habit from June 3 to Aug 1, 2008 and quit successfully without any side effects. On August 7th I had my first ever anxiety and depression attack which lasted several hours. These symptoms escalated over several months. I am now on antidepressants which have terrible side effects and don't entirely reduce the anxiety or depression. I tried to go off the anti-deprressants recently but full blown symptoms returned. I am horrified to think Chantix changed my brain chemistry permanently.

   

• At Mon Dec 01, 06:37:00 AM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  Im almost done with my 12 weeks. Haven't smoked for at least the last 10. I like others remember my dreams more, and they are bizzare but, not all nightmares. I must report a couple of the nightmares did involve me finding myself or loved one's had passed on and that was VERY disturbing but, may be normal and I just don't remember. I have been irritable at times but, Im not sure if it's more irritable than normal or just me... lol... I can be a grouch. However, Im WAY less irritable than any other time I've attempted to quit. I had a low level headache that comes and goes the entire time taking the drug, but it wasn't so bad as to make me want to stop. Over all, Im not smoking and Im SERIOUSLY greatfull. I hope I can keep it up after the Chantix clears out of my system. I'd say that's my biggest fear... getting re-addicted post Chantix. I would seriously recomend this drug to anyone not addicted to other substances especially and who are not base line depressed. For those of us that are blessed enough to be drug free and not depressed this drug is a god send.

   

• At Mon Dec 01, 07:35:00 PM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  After trying 5 times to kick a 30 year habit, I started taking Chantix in mid-October 2007 without a quit date. Within weeks, I progressed from smoking a pack a day to wondering why I put up with such a foul taste and a sore throat. I didn't quit. I just stopped enjoying cigarettes, and I was elated! But that's when the trouble began. My best friend left my life and I haven't been right since.
  
  It's been more than a year. I took Chantix for only 6 weeks because it affected sleep. I have an overwhelming sense of un-well being and the negative thoughts are powerful. At this point, I could be clinically depressed as I'm unable to sleep for more than 3 hours before I awaken and my mind starts whirring on how much there is to do or how bad things are.
  
  My wife quit smoking a few times cold turkey several years ago and it nearly ripped my family apart both times as she became depressed. I did not understand the impact of quitting smoking until I experienced it first hand. Her experience and mine are similar. We both want a divorce when depressed. ;-) But, Chantix was not common to our methods of quitting. So, we cannot lay blame for our depression on Chantix.
  
  Best wishes to all who quit smoking. Despite the long road to recovery, it's still worthwhile!

   

• At Wed Dec 17, 09:56:00 PM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  I have been using Chantix for 8 days. I am still smoking. My desire is reduced, but definately not gone. I have been moody, easily agitated, and lethargic. I definately notice a difference in my thoughts and my mood. I'm not "myself". My dreams are bizzarre. I have many questions. For one, if your brain "grew up" addicted to the cigs and dopamine...what constitutes a "normal" state. I've been smoking over 20 years. This is a serious question, if my brain was 14...isn't it still growing and therefore...not even at a mature state?
  
  Two, what happens if you continue to smoke while taking Chantix after the 8th day (my quit date is in two more days). What and where (the journals) are the studies available?
  
  Three, will my desire decrease or should I go off of it. I'm concerned.

   

• At Sun Dec 21, 02:38:00 PM 2008,  Jonathan Foulds, MA, MAppSci, PhD said…

  Some of these recent posts by readers raise some important questions. A few mentioned that they became depressed after stopping Chantix and are concerned that it may have changed their brain chemistry permenantly. The last post pointed out that his wife had the same experience on stopping smoking and she didn't use Chantix. For most people, starting taking Chantix coincides fairly closely with stopping smoking. Most people start smoking as an adolescent and continue throughout adulthood. It seems plausible that the years of smoking itself may have had effects on brain chemistry and that stopping smoking and its associated withdrawal symptoms (and maybe other effects) can trigger depression in some people. I think this is something that needs to be studied more closely, both with and without Chantix. One cannot be sure that there aren't some effects of Chantix we don't fully understand yet. But I suspect we are also discovering that for a significant minority of smokers the psychological effects of quitting smoking are more profound than for others. We need more research to understand what causes these effects, who is at risk, and how it can be effectively treated.

   

• At Sat Dec 27, 02:08:00 AM 2008,  Lisa said…

  I came across your site while doing research on smoking cessation and links to depression. I am a 43 year old female and this is my fourth week as a non smoker. I have not used any smoking cessation aids or medications. Several days ago I have fallen into a severe depression and have been suffering mood swings, angst, laughter/crying at the same time like a madwoman. It is at the point where I would be better off with the cigarettes just not to suffer like this.
  This is the second attempt I have made to be smoke free. The first time, at 40, there were very few side affects for me besides some weight gain and increased appetite, I was also using Chiantix. I was successful for about 9 months. So successful, that I stopped the Chiantix and shortly after that started smoking again. I don't remember feeling depression last time at all while on the Chiantix or after I stopped.
  Do you have any idea when this depression will end without using drugs or aids? I am in pretty bad shape.

   

• At Fri Jan 02, 06:07:00 AM 2009,  Anonymous said…

  Upfront comment: I have always been prone to seasonal depression and light anxiety. I have managed this through awareness and occassional meds over the years. I am a highly functional, successfull person, in a career as an executive.
  
  I have been a smoker for two sustained periods. First 15-26 years old and second, 40-49 years old. I have always disliked smoking, but was addicted to the nicotine and the "hit" to the pleasure center. The first time I quit was cold turkey. I was agitated, unfocused and edgy for about a week, then fine. No depression followed quitting, but I did gain weight.
  
  The second time I used Chantix. It was prescribed by a physiciatrist who I was seeing for anxiety attacks, and was taking a low dose of clonapan to manage. (It REALLY upsets me that Pfizer and FDA approved this drug that was not tested for folks who had depressive tendencies!)
  
  I began taking the Chantix about one year ago as prescribed, and after 7 days, just stopped smoking. No urge, no edginess, Yahoo! As in the past, weight gain, but this time, way too much! I stopped taking Chantix after two weeks (severe withdrawal symptoms, don't stop the drup cold turkey) without any subsequent desire to smoke. I had no desire to smoke and hated the dreams were the motivations to stop the drug
  
  The terrible downsides:
  
  I had terrifically violent, bizare and extremely realistic dreams/dream hallucinations while on the drug. They were so real that in some ways I still believe these were true events, lingering in my subconcious.
  
  I drink more now than I did before. I think too much, which means it is too much
  
  My loved ones and friends say my personality has changed. I am "flat", distant, not engaged, not as much fun. I would have to agree with them. I am changed. What I "feel" is different from depression, in that it is not as broad as depression. I can't quite find the words, but I feel very specifically that the parts of my brian that used to light up, and release the "good happy juice" when I did things I loved, don't do it anymore. Like those centers are dead! Like they are blocked, and god help me, never to work again!
  
  What is just not as pleasurable?
  
  Sex (a very strong drive to now "who cares")
  Music (I am a hobby musician who used to LOVE to play and record. I would get a real "buzz" from playing or recording songs that I liked. No more. I also very much enjoyed, on rare times, a small bit of "weed" that would increase the post recording listening experience. I dislike it now, as it makes me paranoid)
  
  
  Holidays: This past year was "nice" but I just didn't get that "warm and fuzzy" feeling
  
  All of the above sound like classic depression, but since it tales one to know one, I am convinced it's different.
  
  This drug has CHANGED my brain, and at a minimum heightened and exaccerbated problems already there. I belive the drug has damaged my pleaure releasing receptors. (I know that is not the right terminology, close as I can get)
  
  My physiciatrist is in anti-lawsuit mode, so he's no help at all. He has never heard of side effects like mine.
  
  Does anyone know a doctor who understands this and is successfully treating it? What are the treatment elements?

   

• At Sun Jan 18, 04:35:00 PM 2009,  TheIndependent said…

  Hi Jonathan - First, I completely agree that quitting cold turkey can result in depressive moods, and I've definitely experienced that. But here I'm on day 6 of Chantix (so recent increase to .5 mg x 2 per day from 1 per day) and the mood is definitely sinking. I'm still smoking though. So, in my case, we can't say it's the lack of nicotine that's doing it. I'm still smoking. So what do you think? I really had high hopes for Chantix after countless quit attempts. I wonder...should I just keep taking em, be strong, and hope it's just a side effect that'll wear off? Or stop--before the depression spirals into something more severe?

   

• At Mon Mar 16, 01:02:00 PM 2009,  Jonathan Foulds, MA, MAppSci, PhD said…

  Hi Independent one,
  First thing is that if you think you may becoming seriously depressed (and its isn't shifting) you should talk to your doctor.
  Second thing is about the question of could it be nicotine withdrawal. Remember that one of the mechanisms of action of the drug is that it blocks the nicotinic receptors in the brain. So even though you are still smoking, the nicotine is not able to activate those receptors and hence the symptoms can be still be nicotine withdrawal.
  
  One thing your doctor may consider is keeping you on the present dose rather than increasing it (as would normally be the case on day 8). The doctor would need to prescribe 0.5s and you would collect them in a bottle from the pharmacy.
  
  So certainly go and discuss things with your doctor and follow his/her advice. Also be active in trying to fight off the depressed mood. See if you can manage to do something that would normally lift your mood...visit a friend, play a sport, watch comedy clips on youtube (I recommend Seinfelt). Your doctor may want to know whether you can still get some fun out of those things or not. Let us know what decision you made and how it went. Best of luck.

   

• At Wed Mar 18, 09:37:00 AM 2009,  Rogbo said…

  Has anyone experienced side effects when consuming alcohol? I recently went to a dinner for a friend's birthday. I had a glass of wine and 2 or 3 beers before and during dinner. My memmory stops about halfway through dinner. I became drunk on very little alcohol and was severly hung over the next day. I drink an occasional glass of wine during the week and maybe a couple beers on the weekend.

   

• At Tue Mar 24, 12:38:00 PM 2009,  Elaine said…

  I experienced the same thing as Rogbo left in his/her comment. I'm glad I read of this same thing happening to someone else because I thought I was losing my mind.
  I went out with friends to a club and did NOT even drink anything near what I would normally drink, in fact I was only there a couple of hours when my memory went, I couldn't walk without help, got sick in the bathroom numerous times and on the way home. I have never been that drunk in my entire life (but I wasn't drunk! I didn't have enough to be even a little drunk). It was on my last day of my first week of Chantix. I wasn't going to take the night time dose before I went out but did anyway thinking since it was my last night of smoking maybe I wouldn't smoke as much. I did end up smoking alot that night but not drinking alot and look what happened to me. There is no warning about mixing alcohol and Chantix together and there should be. It may not happen to all people that take Chantix but it obviously affects some, which is very dangerous. They need to post a warning on their label.
  I am now on my full strength dose week (2nd week) but am going to quit taking them starting with tonight's dose. I developed depression since I started taking the stronger dose pills and is getting worse every day. I tried cutting the pills in half for the last few doses but am still experiencing depression. I am smoke-free for 4 days now and I am willing to do it on my own the rest of the way. I'd rather have the old me back rather than continue with the help of Chantix and be like I am now, this is not me. It does work as far as helping you quit smoking (if you want to though), but it is not for everyone with the dangerous side effects it has.
  Also if anyone knows, who can you contact to suggest getting Chantix to place a warning about alcohol? I would hate for anyone else to experience what I did, thank god I had friends with me that night.

   

• At Tue Mar 24, 02:07:00 PM 2009,  David said…

  Hi Dr. Foulds:
  Thanks for your blog... very helpful.
  
  Was smoking about 10 a day, now none after just a week on Chantix and I've been cigarette free for 3 months. Very pleased.
  
  The first day I took Chantix I had a horrible nightmare, so bad I was actually afraid of going to sleep the next night. But I continued the Chantix and the next few nights I had vivid but not frightful dreams.
  
  Each night thereafter I noticed my dreams were actually interfering with my rest, since all my dreams had a high level of anxiety (feeling like I was running late, being chased, falling, or in an argument). I also felt I was sometimes dreaming while not actually asleep (which I have read is something other bloggers have experienced too). I got a prescription for Lorazepam to control the dreams and it works very well... hardly ever remember my dreams now but I am still feeling like I am not getting enough rest and I have to pry myself out of bed even after 9 or 10 hours of sleep. I stopped taking Chantix 10 days ago because of this and because I don't have any desire for cigarettes anymore (yay) but I am still worried that my dreams are still too much to deal with.
  
  The big question: is there any possibility Chantix can permanently affect my dreams and sleep, REM behavior, amount of rest, etc? Or should I just give it more time to get it out of my system (I understand your point about its halflife)? Is there any risk of dependency on lorazepam? Would a traditional sleep aid work better?
  
  Thanks for your help!
  David

   

• At Tue Mar 24, 02:57:00 PM 2009,  Jonathan Foulds, MA, MAppSci, PhD said…

  David (March 24,09)
  Congratulations on quitting smoking....its the single best thing you can do for your health (and not bad for your wallet either). On the question of long term Chantix effects, Ive not seen these documented in research studies, but I've seen others comment on longer lasting effects. Its hard to say whats causing these. Remember that one of the documented nicotine withdrawal symptoms is insomnia. You just came off a med that blocked nicotinic receptors (as well as coming off nicotine). I'd recommend giving it some time to see if the sleep improves and also practice good sleep hygiene to get back into a regular rhythm. Lorazepam can be dependence forming so only to be used as a last resort...follow your doctors advice on that one. Best of luck and please let us know how your sleep/non smoking is going in a few weeks time.

   

• At Fri Mar 27, 09:24:00 AM 2009,  Anonymous said…

  Hi All, great blog here, thanks Jonathan! I am a Chantix newbie just finishing my second week. I am 52 and have smoked forever and have quit many times usually with the patch but it never lasted more that 30 days.
  
  This time I was quitting *again* on the patch and saw my DR. about a cold and she recommended Chantix. After only 3 days on Chantix I took the patch off and have not even had a craving. Nicotine free again! So I have been thinking this is really a miracle drug until finding this blog.
  
  Now I am thinking that you can't get something for nothing. Chantix makes quitting sooooo effortless that I am afraid I will "have to pay the piper" in ten weeks when I go off Chantix.
  
  So I have come up with a compromise and will let you all know how it goes. I will cut back to .5 mg twice a day, and see how that goes and maybe even go with .5 mg/day eventually. In the past when I quit it always took a LOT of effort and will power. With Chantix it seems tooooo easy. So maybe a compromise would be better.
  
  I really feel for all of you that are going through post Chantix symptoms and want to thank you for taking the time to share your experiences!!
  
  Maybe the Chantix dose of 2 mg. is way too high and keeps too much Dopamine in the system, them WHAM you go off Chantix and the Dopamine is suddenly shut off......and depression set in?
  
  BTW there are very recent studies in the press about Chantix reducing the desire for alcohol which was mentioned here first.
  
  Thanks again to all.

   

• At Mon Mar 30, 02:08:00 PM 2009,  David said…

  Just a follow up to a recent post of mine... after about 10 days after quitting Chantix (2 months after quitting smoking) my vivid dreams, which had become a hassle and a cause for much fatigue during the day... just stopped!
  
  I am so relieved to finally be free of both the smoking AND the crazy dreams. All in all though I would say it is a price I would pay again any day. If that's the only side effect that got me, I think the drug is well worth it.
  
  As Dr. Foulds said, the drug has a half life of about a day, so even 10 days after quitting I still had some in my system I suppose; enough to cause craziness in my sleep. But at a certain point it just stopped.
  
  To respond to anonymous here about cutting down dosage, I think that's a great idea and I had already done this after one month of Chantix. 1 1mg pill a day worked fine for me.
  
  Oddly though, I don't have vivid dreams but I have had at least two dreams recently about cheating and having a puff, then feeling guilty about it... so I think the desire is still there just a little bit. Might want to get another set of pills to start up again if I think I might fall off the wagon again!

   

• At Tue Mar 31, 08:27:00 AM 2009,  Winnipeg quitter said…

  I am 58 years old and have smoked since I was 10. Last September my brother (10 years older than I) passed away from lung cancer. Because he did not like hospitals or Doctors he did not seek out treatment until it was much to late and passed within one month of being diagnosed. That was my motivation to quit (again). A couple I know told me they had been very successful on Cantix so I spoke to my Dr. to get it. I went on it and at the end of the first week bumped up to the two full strength pills per day. I experienced one evening where I saw coloured lights and sparks when I closed my eyes. That lasted for only about 15-20 minutes and I completely atribute that to the medication. I was sooooo nausiated that after a couple of days I just couldnt handle it and threw the pills out. After a couple of weeks I gave my head a shake and realized that I has been seeing benefits to the pills and perhaps a lower dosage would give me that without the nausia. It did. I went back to the doctor and got a new prescription, started over but did not take two pills per day. That was perfect. I was able to quit with little discomfort and craziness. I did replace the habit with food to a certain extent but tons of people loose weight and that will be much easier than quiting smoking after 47 years. I am sure Chantix is not for everyone and the full dosage was not for me either but it really helped and I did not end up with any of the nasty side effects that I have heard of.
  I do not crave but do have the occasional thought of enjoying a smoke now and then. That passes. I did not have any noticable mood swings while I was quiting which was wonderful. I do notice now (almost 7 months later) that I am feeling a bit depressed but that probably stems more from difficulty loosing the weight.

   

• At Sun Apr 05, 09:54:00 PM 2009,  Anonymous said…

  Hi, I am a smoker who is trying to quit and I can tell you that the psych symptoms are happening to me and it is from quitting. I am not taking Chantix but I can tell you that I have quit before when I found out I was pregnant, I ended up being diagnosed with postpartum depression except now I am exhibiting those same symptoms and I am not pregnant. I truly believe smoking messed with my head and I wish I never started!!

   

• At Thu Apr 09, 08:34:00 AM 2009,  Anonymous said…

  My hubby started taking this to help him quit dipping (red seal/copenhagen sp?) He is starting his 8th day.. 4th day of no dip at all. I can only speak from my view but. He seems to be doing great.. He has not been irritable, grouchy, no nausea..He is the type that hates to take med. so if he can find any excuse not to take it he will ..but so far so good.. I am so proud of him.. quitting was his idea so he has not had to hear any nagging from me..I am only hoping he doesnt get the side affects I have a been reading about. He didn't read the info. so he isn't aware of the side affects listed.

   

• At Sat Apr 25, 04:58:00 AM 2009,  Anonymous said…

  I have been taking Chantix for about a month and a half. Mood has been a whole lot worse. Terrible in fact-depression at its worst. I am going to stop the Chantix for now. I also have been having very very vivid dreams.

   

• At Mon May 11, 03:24:00 PM 2009,  Richard said…

  I am 47, male, and have been a smoker for 30 years. It’s been 26 days since my last cigarette. I am taking Chantix. I’ve tried to quit smoking three times in the last ten years and all I’ve gotten out of it is an extra 10 pounds each time. I’m fairly active. I don’t exercise for the sake of exercise but I built my own house and I’ve a list of projects a mile long waiting for me to get to them. I did not smoke in the house so I tended to get dressed and moving in the morning so I could go outside and have that first cigarette of the day. It is 2:00 in the afternoon and I’m sitting here drinking coffee and writing this still in my bathrobe
  
  Yes! Chantix DOES have side effects! Sleeplessness/vivid dreams, aren’t these really the same thing? We probably always have vivid dreams but usually sleep deeply enough to not remember them. I used zyban one time to quit. Now that stuff will really mess with your sleep. Body aches? My shoulder has been killing me since I started taking Chantix. Leg pain, joint pain.. lots of pains. Truthfully though, I probably had some of them before I started taking Chantix. Nausea? Sure thing. But if you take the pills with food and a full glass of water like the label says, it’s not that severe.
  
  Depression? Now there is the question. Some cause and effect is easy to see. I mean you take the pill and your stomach gets upset. Once this has happened a few times it’s pretty obvious that the pill causes nausea. But does the pill cause depression? Yeah I think it does. And the reason is that I did not feel like this the other times I quit smoking. I am lethargic, lack ambition. I feel dull and mostly I am non-content. My overall feeling of wellbeing and worthfullness is missing. I am by no means suicidal, just malcontent.
  
  But, as with all the other side effects of Chantix, is it worth it? Is it worth it to take a deep breath and not cough? Is it worth it to not be sneaking off to have a cigarette? Is it worth it to not be constantly clearing your throat during your child school play? Is it worth it for an extra 10 or 20 years of life? Yeah, it’s worth it! But, how long do we need to deal with the side effects? The typical course of treatment is three months, why? I have taken to cutting the tablets in half and taking .5mg twice a day. It seems to work to block the cravings and reduce the side effects.
  
  I’d like to quit taking it completely but I’m scared. Like I said at the start it’s been 26 days since my last cigarette. I say that like an alcoholic would say I’ve been sober for 26 days. I’ve know alcoholics that said quitting smoking was harder then quitting drinking. I believe it. Quitting isn’t that hard really, I’ve done it three times. Staying quit is hard and there is no miracle drug for that. Just determination.

   

• At Fri May 15, 09:48:00 AM 2009,  J said…

  I just read Richard's comment and thought maybe it was appropriate for me to leave an update of my own situation.
  
  I quit Chantix about halfway through. I had depression and some other side effects which I did not have when quitting in other ways.
  
  I was hooked on nicotine gum, after getting off chewing tobacco.
  
  I am not almost 13 months free of nicotine.
  
  I don't have any Chantix side-effects anymore. My brain misses nicotine sometimes but I'm glad I quit.
  
  Richard - keep going - 26 days is great! Keep counting those days. It's awesome getting beyond 30, then 90, then 365....

   

• At Fri Jun 12, 09:29:00 AM 2009,  Anonymous said…

  I was on the chantix for 30 days, quit smoking after 7. I am very depressed even 2wks after stopping the chantix. I had all the sme side effects as the rest of you,but I am truly concerned about the anger and depression I feel. everything I once loved seems like is all wrong now and I put on 6lbs. My husband is being really great about it all,very patient and i still feel like he's just trying to "pacify" me so I just shut up. I smoked for 22yrs I hope it doesn't take that long to get over this feeling because I'd rather take my chances with lung cancer etc. than to not enjoy life.

   

• At Mon Jul 06, 01:52:00 PM 2009,  Anonymous said…

  I've been on Chantix for 1 month now, which means I quit smoking 3 weeks ago. I have not had crazy dreams or anything. The primary unpleasant side effect I have noticed is gas/bloating. But, no nausea because I always take the pill with a meal. I am eating more, especially junk food. I have definitely noticed mood changes, not depression, but more of a general malaise -- but these I think are entirely about quitting smoking, not caused by the Chantix. For the past 15 years I have been suppressing my desire for a candy bar by smoking a cigarette instead. Now that I've quit smoking, I am eating the candy bar. I feel very ambivalent about smoking now. I still want to, but I also don't; they taste and smell awful, and don't do anything for me now because the Chantix blocks the nicotine. That nice calm "high" I used to get from a cigarette is completely nonexistent now. That, I think, is the best thing about this drug: it prevents me from falling off the wagon, because smoking that one cigarette will not get me re-addicted to nicotine. Now I just have the more difficult and longer-term psychological issues to work through. I am 31 and have been smoking a pack a day since I was 17, so for my entire adult life. I have found that I am more irritable lately, but I think that has a lot to do with the fact that I used smoking, in part, to suppress all kinds of feelings. Now I am getting angry because I'm not suppressing it anymore. I think when we quit we have to find new ways of dealing with stress and anger and sadness, and that's hard. Also I have lost something that used to be enjoyable, and isn't anymore, and so I'm sad about that. I miss the way it used to make me feel even though I know it's a terrible and I'm better off without it. It's sort of like the process of getting over an ex-boyfriend or girlfriend who was absolutely horrible and treated you like crap, and all your friends tell you that you are better off without him/her, and you know you are, but in spite of yourself you are still kind of in love with him/her. So it's still sad when you break up, and it takes time to get over that.

   

• At Mon Jul 20, 08:19:00 AM 2009,  Anonymous said…

  Hi All, not a very active board here compared to other chantix sites, maybe the moderator should step back a bit?
  
  Anyway, my earlier post as Anonymous was on March 27th. Since then things have gone VERY well. I am 125 days smoke free!!!!
  
  I did what I said in my earlier post and kept it to .5mg twice a day. (total of 1 mg./day) Someone posted about pill cutters and they do work great. Thanks.
  
  After about 90 days I started tapering VERY slowly. Went to 3/4 mg per day for 1 week, then 1/2 mg for 2 weeks, now am still at 1/4 mg/day.
  
  In the last 35 days while tapering I did try going cold turkey and noticed that I was having side effects such as dark moods and obsessive thoughts....like you think about just one thing over and over.....yuk.
  
  Call me wierd but I think my brain has had it's dopamine fix for 30 years and a little tapering is a good thing. I will probably stay at 1/4 mg. for a few more weeks then go 1/4 mg every other day for a while. What is the rush to get of chantix when the results are soooooooo great, and I am at a very low dose?
  
  Anyway good luck to all. That is my update and I should say I am tapering this way without consulting my doctor since I think it is no big deal. HOWEVER, I strongly suggest anyone reading this post check with their doctor. I am just an average joe and please do not do anything based on this post without checking with a qualified medical professional.

   

• At Wed Jul 22, 06:13:00 PM 2009,  Anonymous said…

  I'm male and have smoked 1-1.5 packs a day for 15 years. I started when I was 20, now 35. I've quit several times, but never for more than 6 months. The longest period I used the patch three months and exercised regularly. But I always went back to smoking after 1-3 months. I now believe I went back every time because of undiagnosed depression.
  
  I starting taking Chantix in early February of this year and took it for about 35 days. I quit smoking completely in just one week. I stayed off cigarettes until early July when I started having one now and then. I was afflicted with a minor but worrysome cyst which put me in a major depressed state. My family, unbeknownst to me noticed the depression months earlier (but not major).
  
  I started smoking again and did not get the relief I used to get from depression with it. I think Chantix may permanently change the way Nicotine interacts with the brain.
  
  I am now working on treating the depression clinically so I can quit for good next time (maybe with Chantix, maybe not).
  
  I think it is important for smokers to realize that they may be treating their depression with cigarettes.

   

• At Tue Aug 25, 11:36:00 AM 2009,  Anonymous said…

  I started taking Chantix and smoked for the 1st week. Stopped smoking completely when I started my 2nd week. I will say Chantix was a wonder drug how it helped me stop smoking after 22 years of smoking a pack of cigarettes a day. I did have side effects from the Chantix though. My sleep was terrible. The weird dreams and restlessness were getting to me. I was taking Tylenol PM to help me with the sleeping. I was actually worrying that I was going to become addicted to sleeping pills. I also had bad gas pains. But no signs of depression while on the Chantix for a few weeks. I decided to just stop the Chantix after about 3 weeks, because I felt I was strong enough not to go back to smoking. I have not smoked, but since stopping the Chantix, I am very irritable, tired and depressed. I can't help but wonder if my body is going through withdrawal symptoms from stopping the Chantix? I really hope this depressing feeling I have goes away soon. It's been only 5 days off the Chantix, but I really have felt emotionally drained.
  Has anyone else felt this way after stopping the Chantix?
  -Tammy
  P.S. For those using the Chantix a full 8 oz. glass of water with the Chantix pill on a full stomach will prevent any nausea.

   

• At Wed Oct 07, 12:47:00 PM 2009,  Anonymous said…

  i smoke weed and i am taking chantix i was wondering if anyone has quite smoking weed using chantix. if so how did it go i know it's for tobacco but i've heard though the grape vine that it works on bud too. post your experience i'd like to know if im wasting my time.

   

• At Thu Oct 08, 03:06:00 PM 2009,  Keith said…

  Ha I used weed+chantix to quit the cigarettes..
  
  Im thinkin the pot helped me quit more than the chantix did just because I had something to smoke on to take the edge off.
  
  But anyways, you really don't need ANYTHING to quit weed. Just don't smoke it for about 3 days you'll be fine. Your appetite may not be right for a few days, and you might be a lil "withdrawn" for A FEW DAYS. If you even wanna call it withdraws. Its really just being irritable. You know what helps those symptoms? A fattie. Pass it.
  
  on a scale of 1-10 on the difficulty of quitting i'd give weed a 3, cigarettes 10,000,000. I never, ever wanna go thru with quitting cigs again. I quit weed all the time! But its stress and a matter of getting my mind right that I keep coming back to mary jane, not a crazy insane addiction like nicotine.

   

• At Thu Oct 08, 03:17:00 PM 2009,  Keith said…

  I'd also like to update, i quit May 7th using the chantix. I reported being depressed and this n that. Yeah that sucked. Quit for just over 6 months now, not really craving them anymore.
  
  The side effects only lasted as long as I was taking the medicine. I stopped taking it after only 1 month. Just didn't feel I needed it anymore, I mean I quit i'm done smoking right? I gave the other month supply I had to a friend, who is now quit as well :) he tells me he feels just fine.
  
  The cool thing is, about last week I was going through my junk drawer and found my last half full pack of squares I had when I quit. I was like wow I forgot all about these! I lit one up just to see what it was like to smoke as a non-smoker and it was like oh dear god this is horrible why did i ever do this in the first place??

   

• At Tue Oct 20, 08:38:00 AM 2009,  Anonymous said…

  I am so depressed...I have stopped taking it (this is my 3rd day with none... prior days only had 1mg divided into 2 doses for a few days) and hope I can hold on til this horrible med is out of my system. I have thoughts of it being easier to just not be here. There is no purpose anymore.
  Quit smoking so one can live longer and improve their health only to take one's life in the attempt! Stupid. I hope to heaven this awful darkness goes away... I can't do this much longer. FWIW and who cares.. I'm still not smoking.. going on a month now.. but not sure it was worth feelnig this horrible.

   

• At Tue Oct 20, 09:53:00 AM 2009,  Anonymous said…

  Began taking Chantix 8/2/09. Stopped smoking 8/9/09. That was one of the worse days of my life. I cried and yearned for a cigarette like there was no tomorrow. I felt so dumb the way I uncontrollably cried over missing cigarettes. It seemed so stupid. Anyway as each day passed things got better. After 3 weeks of no smoking, I felt I didn't need the Chantix anymore. The side effects of insomnia and gas pains gave me a huge desire to want to stop the Chantix. Plus I had broke the habit of "going" for a cigarette. And I no longer had any desires to smoke one. When trying to stop the Chantix though, I became so moody, and was unable to function, sometimes even speak normally. There was something about the Chantix drug that was helping me funtion normal. I couldn't concentrate at work. I went back on the Chantix just taking 1-1mg. pill per day. That seemed to help the mood swings and I was functioning better. But I was still having problems sleeping and always feeling tired.
  I made the mistake of going to Vegas on vacation, which is Smoker's Heaven. I ended up breaking down having a few cigarettes while there. I stopped the Chantix all together, and I guess the little nicotine I was putting in my body, made a smooth transition so that I wouldn't have withdrawals from the Chantix. I came back from Vegas with the thought I won't smoke anymore. But every once in a while I find myself sneaking one. I know it's going to get worse and worse. But I don't want to go back on the Chantix and deal with the side effects.
  Why the hell do cigarettes have a way of messing with your head, and end up back in your life?????

   

• At Tue Oct 20, 07:50:00 PM 2009,  Jonathan Foulds, MA, MAppSci, PhD said…

  For those of you who are staying off cigarettes despite pretty severe mood swings...thats a fantastic achievement in difficult circumstances. If you are still within the first 4 weeks we would expect the mood swings to gradually stabilize as your body gets used to being without nicotine. But if at any time your depression feels so bad and so persistent you have a thought about whether life is worth living, please tell a close friend or family member and tell your doctor immediately.

   

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