Chantix Feedback

If you’ve used Chantix, please help others by sharing your experience with side effects. What would you tell your best friend about this product? Please remember that we do not give medical advice. That is for your local health care provider, who is familiar with your medical history.

Subj: Skunky stench and trouble urinating
Date: 5/26/2010
I started taking Chantix to quit smoking 4days ago and I have been having a skunky stench emitting off my body along with a film of sweat. I am also having trouble urinating and when I do go I only pee a drop or two but feel like I always have to go now. I dont have kidney problems and these issues started the 2nd day I started taking chantix. any advice?

Erica

AskDocWeb: No, we deal with questions about side effects but if you want medical advice then ask an Online Doctor. The excessive passage of urine (polyuria) is listed as a possible side effect of Chantix but not difficulty urinating. Since sensory disturbance is also listed as a possible side effect you may want to find out (discretely) if others smell the same thing.

Subj: Left over Chantix?
Date: 9/1/2010
I have some left over chantix from 2 years ago are they safe to take?

Connie
AskDocWeb: There is an expiration date on the container but typically drugs do not last that long and retain their effectiveness.

Subj: Not happy
Date: 12/3/2010
Although there were benefits to Chantix- I am not happy with how my husband reacted. I really think that if a patient is going to use this medication they should be monitored more closely. Also there should be more information on how to cleanse this medication from your system.

Anonoymous

Subj: Irritable, loud, paranoid, angry, sexually aggressive
Date: 1/13/2011
I just read all the reviews on this hellacious product, and I can assure you that they are probably all true! I took Chantix 3 1/2 years ago to quit smoking- for a month. Yes it did work, but I found that I wasn’t sleeping at night, and had vivid, disturbing dreams. So I self-medicated with a “shot” or two every night to fall asleep. Then I became very irritable, loud, paranoid, angry, sexually aggressive. I kept telling my husband of 25 years that there was “something wrong” with me.

In Jan. 2008 I had a major breakdown at work- went on a leave of absense- started cutting myself, and spoke of suicide. My Dr. and husband decided to hospitalize me after I attempted to slit my wrists. Three years later, I am on 7 different drugs to combat what has happened to me, and have noticeable memory loss- to the point of having to be on another leave from work. I have had the neuro/psych exam, and am having the MRI in a few days- at this rate I can’t work, don’t know what I can’t remember, and live on medication.

My husband has stood strong with me through all this, but I almost ruined our marriage, all our friends, and still struggle to deal with life every day. Pfizer WILL be reconed with for what they have done to thousands of victims- I’m one of the lucky ones, I’m still alive!

Annie

Subj: Side effects start after quitting Chantix
Date: 1/27/2011
I took Chantix and it worked wonders to help me quit smoking in just over one month. HOWEVER–I quit the Chantix cold turkey as soon as I was done smokeing and didn’t really think it would be a problem. Turns out most of Chantix’s side effects (for me, at least) kicked in AFTER I quit taking it. I feel like a crazy person. I’ve alienated almost every person in my life that I love, and this is just not like me at all. I’m usually calm, kind, patient, logical…. but lately I have an explosive temper, I’m quick to anger and quick to break into sobbing fits. I’ve been off Chantix for almost 4 weeks now, but had a melt down just a couple of days ago. I don’t know what to do… I’m just praying these symptoms go away soon.

Christie

Subj: I’ll take the nose bleeds, muscle aches and nightmares
Date: 1/27/2011
Well I guess I’m the one in a thousand! My experience with chantex has been superb! I feel euphoric like I’m on cocaine and valium at the same time. I am more focused and productive than I have ever been in the last ten years. My dreams are wonderful and I sleep like a baby. I’m off my anti depression and anti anxiety meds and have never felt better. Yes I have experience some body pain but exercise seems to do the trick. I have had a couple of nose bleeds for a minute or two but nothing severe.. Considering the fact as a cross country trucker I was poisoning myself with 420 cigarettes per week conservatively.. And considering that the side of that lifestyle the side effects were lung cancer. Heart attack… Stroke.. Emphysema… Etc.. I think I’ll take the nose bleeds .. Muscle aches and nightmares.

William

Subj: Heart palpitations
Date: 2/6/2011
Please help me!!! I took Chantix for 2 months. on 12/25 had terrible heart palipations. Stopped taking Chantix at once. My heart continues to beat out of my chest (almost 2 months now!!) and, extreme anxiety first time in my life, shortness of breath. Only slept a couple of hours and work the next day. I have been to doctors, hospital all deny anything to do with Chantix. Now on IC Metoprolol Succ ER 100MG twice daily- still doesn’t help at all. What can i do????? Please help me!

Alli

AskDocWeb: The FDA has received hundreds of reports about Chantix that are classified as potential cardiac rhythm disturbances. Serious side effects can be reported to the Food and Drug Administration’s MedWatch program online at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch or by phone at 1-800-332-1088.

Subj: Insomnia and back pain
Date: 2/10/2011
I have been taking Chantix for six weeks now. I was struggling terribly with insomnia as well as aggitation and lower back pain. I have gotten releif from mineral supplimentation, specifically magnesium. I am sleeping again and the aggitation has passed. I found I was craving chocolate ALOT and since I was aware that this CAN indicate a need for magnesium I went ahead and started the supplimentation. Two days in and it already seems to be working. Hopefuly the backpain goes too. It started a few weeks after everything else so I expect it to be the last to go.

Linda

Subj: After Chantix
Date: 2/15/2011
My boyfriend did everything by the book. Started taking Chantix, quit the cigs on day 8. He has suffered insomnia, crazy dreams, headaches and gas, but nothing so awful it wasn’t worth it to him. He’s 3.5 weeks smoke-free. Unknown to me, he ran out of Chantix and hasn’t had any for 4 days now. He’s not smoking, but he is extremely agitated and negative, spewing nasty comments about everything! I have a call into the doctor to find out if he should go back on it or just keep on going with the withdrawal from this drug. Any advice?

Lynn

AskDocWeb: Some people have had changes in behavior, hostility, aggression, anger, mania, anxiety, panic, agitation, confusion, depressed mood, paranoia, suicidal thoughts or actions after stopping Chantix. These symptoms should be reported to your doctor right away.

Subj: No side effects yet
Date: 3/5/2011
I took chantix for 3 months, having quit after 2. after a week of not taking, the urge started to come back, so I requested and extention of my prescription of 1 month from my doctor. So far so good. I have not suffered any side effects as of yet.

Al

Subj: Scary stuff
Date: 3/21/2011
One week into using chantix I started having loud ringing in my ears, side effects progressed to extreme lower back pain, quads, calfs, upper back, shoulders, extreme abdominal pain and now in my chest like a heart attack. I’m stopping today. Scary stuff, your heart is a muscle also, what does it do to that?

Ed

Subj: Breaking the tablets in half?
Date: 3/31/2011
I just stopped taking the drug because I couldn’t stand feeling irritable and short tempered all the time. Can I try breaking the 1 mg tablet in half to try to reduce these symptoms??

L

AskDocWeb: We have read several reports from people who obtained symptom relief by cutting the pills in half. Some were taking half in the AM and half in the PM. Others used this method successfully to help wean themselves off of the drug. As always, check with your doctor before making any changes to your dosage when using prescription drugs.

Subj: I’m about to lose my mind.
Date: 5/25/2011
I wish I had never met Chantix. I had no problems while taking the drug other than a little sick to my stomach. Now that I’ve been off of Chantix a few weeks, I’m about to lose my mind. I am NOT the same person I was pre Chantix. Moody, bitchy, irritable, tired, cry easily. I truly wish I had NEVER taken this horrific drug. Yes, I am smoke free….that’s the positive. But I’m so cranky, I could care less most days.

Lori

Subj: Stop or reverse the effects of Chantix?
Date: 6/6/2011
Is there anything to stop or reverse the effects of Chantix. My brother took it for about 3 months nearly 2 years ago and still suffers from severe depression, multiple suicide attempts and chronic alcoholism. He was fine prior to taking Chantix. He’s very nearly dead now and cannot shake his depression enough to even care to live anymore. Doctor has worked with anti depressants but nothing seems to work. I feel he may have a few weeks to a few months left to live under the current circumstances. He’s been in 5 emergency rooms, detox, in-patient programs, ICU, the works in 3 months. Thank you,

Doug

AskDocWeb: Other than treating the individual symptoms we have yet to see an effective treatment that addresses the side effects of Chantix that persist after discontinuing it. It would be helpful to see some research into the results of Chantix binding to the 5HT3 receptor and if that binding is permanent or reversible. If the drug permanently or persistantly binds to this receptor that could reduce an individual’s ability to experience pleasure, which would explain a lot of the depression reported by those who have used Chantix.

Subj: Short term memory loss after quitting Chantix
Date: 6/8/2011
I took Chantix not only once but twice in 2007 and in 2008, I had the normal reported side effects such as the dreams, mood swings and stomach discomfort these were “known” side effects. I noticed shortly after taking the drug the second go round, I was having memory loss mostly short term. I believe at some point while at work I had a complete memory lasp where I could remember performing normal daily work duties. I stopped taking the drug because it totally scared me to death. This is 2011 and I’m still experiencing mood swings, now increased heart rate, and worst of all my memory stinks, I can’t remember sometimes what I did 5 minutes ago. I use to have a very sharp memory. I have also noticed that I am less focused on the task at hand, my mind races a mile a minute. ANY suggestions?

Angie

AskDocWeb: This forum is limited to discussing side effects. The advice we leave to online Doctors or your local healthcare provider.

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