anyone use chantix to quit smoking?

[wholapola]

Just wondering if anyone has had any positive/negative experience with this anti-cigarette smoking pill. Any success stories? Thanks.

[psychocat]

My girlfriend quit using Xyban, I have read some positive feedback for Chantix.
According to the website I've linked Chantix is more effective than Zyban/Xyban.

CHANTIX (varenicline) is a Prescription Medicine to Help Adults Quit Smoking (http://www.chantix.com/content/About_Chantix.jsp?setShowOn=../content/About_Chantix.jsp&setShowHighlightOn=../content/About_Chantix.jsp)

[Weedhound]

My husband and I both quit smoking with Chantix. I cannot say enough about it....the medicine is a miracle in my book.

If you just sort of maybe thought that perhaps you'd like to quit smoking at some point (this was my husband's view when he started the med) you CAN quit smoking with this stuff and you'll barely notice because you won't miss it all. I've tried EVERYTHING out there ......this stuff WORKS. And I myself have the motivation of a snail so it's definitely if I can do it.....;)

Try it....you'll be amazed....AND you'll quit too. I'll be seriously surprised if you don't stop smoking using this stuff. :)

[aardvark]

Chantix works! Very little withdrawal symptoms.

[birdgirl73]

Chantixx certainly is a wonderful concept--a drug that blocks the action of the nicotine receptors. But the FDA is receiving more and more complaints about strange and even potentially dangerous behavior happening with people who are taking it, particularly those who have combined it with alcohol. They did another piece on our local news about it tonight. The FDA is investigating these reports, and it wouldn't surprise me if that drug were pulled of the market fairly soon. If you're going to take it to quit smoking, get some now and get started while the getting's still good. Glad to read about successful outcomes here from you and others, Weedhound. I'm sure the stories of bad reactions only represent a tiny fraction of users' experiences, but it's causing enough concern that it's drawing attention now.

The bad news about Chantixx, from what I was reading in some pharmacology info the other day, is that it can not only block those nicotine receptors, it also dulls and/or blocks other chemical receptors in the brain, too. Like cannabinoid receptors. So smoking weed might not be as fun while on Chantixx as it is otherwise.

[Weedhound]

VERY interesting BG. I will look at this and see what kind of reactions people have had....honestly neither my hubby or I had a single issue with it (except to quit smoking). I did (and of course...still do) a fair amount of toking weed while on it and didn't notice anything odd but of course everyone is different so I could certainly see people reacting differently to that.....and the alcohol as well since neither one of us drink anymore and so we never combined the two.

What a shame it would be if this medication turned out to have too many problems to be able to use.....it really is quite an amazing drug in my book. And if they do pull it....I will still always be very glad that both my husband and I were given the chance to use and it and that it worked wonderfully for both of us. You might even call it a "life-saving" drug in our situation. :thumbsup:

Thanks for the update BG.....I will read up. ;)

[birdgirl73]

I totally agree that if it helps folks quit smoking cigarettes, it's a life-saver! The concept is brilliant, really, and I have no idea why it wasn't developed sooner. I almost wonder if Big Tobacco didn't work real hard to suppress pharmaceutical research in that area.

The drug was "fast-tracked," which means it didn't have the same amount or same length of testing that most drugs do. So the FDA and Pfizer are just now learning about some of the reactions they might have learned about earlier. My guess is that the benefits probably still outweigh the risks, and that's why it was fast-tracked. But it's been interesting to read about the reports of nightmares and hallucinations some patients have had. Anything that affects the neurochemicals in one way can affect them in others, clearly.

That's just awesome that it worked for you and your husband, Weedhound!

[Fencewalker]

My wife and I used it, she has been smoke free now for over 2 months. I had to quit using it though.

While it did a wonderful job of stopping the physical cravings for nicotine, it also had a side effect for me where waves of irrational rage would wash over me from time to time. Not good. Lol

The vivid dreaming and joint pain I could handle but had to draw the line at the anger. Knew it wasn't nicotine withdrawal because it happened before the cutoff to quit smoking and I don't drink so it wasn't that combo either.

Seems the majority of folks don't have the real bad side effects, but keep in mind some do so you aren't blindsided if you do take it. ;)

[Weedhound]

Yes....I was reading up on it.....and some of the effects.....EXACTLY the ones you have mentioned are definitely something to be concerned about. It's one thing to have stomach upset....but definitely another to have bizarre flashes of rage etc....

It's so INTERESTING how different people are affected by things.....how unique we all are.. :)