Welcome to Medications.com

My husband took Chantix before I tried it. He was a two pack a d...

Posted at 7:58 PM on Feb 18, 2008 by warriormom, #27275
My husband took Chantix before I tried it. He was a two pack a day smoker and honestly, I thought he would never give it up. He had all the normal side effects at first. The nausea was the worst but he learned that eating first helped. Then of course there was the dreams but he could also live with that. All in all, he didn't really notice any change in himself at all. But there was a change and it hasn't changed back yet, and he has been off Chantix for over six months now. At first, we thought it was just nicotine withdrawal that was making him so mean. But as the days turned to weeks, then weeks to months, it is obvious to his entire family that this medicine has caused a complete personality change in him. He is always so angry. We have been married for over twenty years, and it has just been in the past few months that he has actually been really mean to me. Not physically, just verbally. It seems that we argue about everything. I can never do anything to please him anymore. Everything that goes wrong is my fault. He is just basically an unhappy person now. The worst part is how it effects our teen age children. They hate to go places that includes him. He is so quick to fly off the handle with them. He has embarrassed me by talking down to me in public and he has done the same to the kids. He would have never done that before. He used to really care if he hurt my feelings, but now, it is as if he doesn't care anymore. He agrees that he seems more agitated than normal, but says he just doesn't know what to do about it. It just has effected his whole personality and it seems that it is a permanent change, since he has been off Chanitx for more than six months now. He says he hurts a lot now, his muscles and joints ache all the time. That is another side effect that I have found occurs with Chantix users. His memory and concentration is terrible now. He will swear he told us something or asked us to do something for him, when in truth, he has said nothing. He will begin to say something and stop in mid sentence, leaving us waiting to hear what he is saying. When we tell him that he did not finish his statement, he gets angry at us. We feel like we are in a no win situation when dealing with him, so we just walk on egg shells around him now. I want my husband back and my children want their father back. Yes he is smoke free, but at what cost to him and his family? This drug should have never been allowed to be put on the market without further testing. Luckily I only took it for three days. But during those three days, my vision got so blurry that I could not even see the TV, and could barely drive a car safely. I called Pfizer to ask about this and at first, thought they were really concerned about me. But then I realized they only wanted to document my side effect. After stopping the medicine, my vision cleared up. I then wrote to Pfizer and complained. I demanded they refund my money and they did, without any questions. So to everyone who is taking this or considering taking this, please don't! Please stop now if you are taking it. It is a dangerous drug. Smoking is bad for us, we know that. But at least it is something we know. We don't know all the dangers of this drug yet. It is just not worth the risk.
REPLY TO THIS POSTING | Private Message me | Add as friend | Flag as inappropriate
 
Reply about 1 year ago on Jun 11, 2008 by marcalpena, #9131

So familiar but scary. This drug has so many side effects that are so different from one person to the next. I have many of these problems except the joint aches I read about. I want this weird feeling to go away but it stays for a few days then comes back. I have been off chantix for three weeks I think. Hard to be sure with the memory problems, no acid in high school ever did this. I am 46 and smoked for 27 years. I am so glad to be smoke free but these side effects have be a bit worried.

Marc
Presque Isle, MI

Private Message me | Add as friend | Flag as inappropriate
 
Reply 11 months ago on Dec 01, 2008 by happihr, #14939

It seems that your husband is angry at YOU because HE can't smoke.
Better to be angry with a loved one then himself. Cigarettes are a very addicting drug.. He needs to WANT to not smoke for himself. Doing this for someone else causes the results that you have mentioned.
Have him stop the medication and you will see the same behavior. Its sad that big tobacco can legally addict people. My husband is the same as yours.. He isn't on medication to stop smoking he hides and smokes thinking I do not notice. Childish! My husband behaves the same way as yours. My husband does not believe that his personality changes when he is wanting to smoke and is unable to..
Whatever.. They also forget that , you can only be ugly to a loved one for so long before that loved one jumps ship and no longer cares.. I have been with my husband since I was 16, I am now soon to be 56. Husbands need to grow up! Get your own room at least you can get some decent sleep. Let him choose, life or death. I refuse to give any more of my life to a person doesn't care enough about themselves, let alone me. Death due to cigarette cancer is ugly.. My Father in law, mother inlaw, grandparents have all died from it. Choices Consequinces! Adults do know better. What a terrible influence your children have to endure. Your husband as mine sounds selfish!!! Don't deal with his abuse. Make him seek medical attention and stop giving him the reason to be angry. The the doctor be the one he is mad at.. He is angry! He wants to smoke! HE really should be nice. One never knows when you might lose a loved one.. I lost my 28 year old son. I would love to have him back. Support your teenagers and do not allow this ugly behavior to continue.. You deserve better for all that you give and do .

Private Message me | Add as friend | Flag as inappropriate

Make a reply to this posting:

Type your reply to this side effect post:


Medical advice disclaimer
© 2002-2007, Skylabs Inc.  |  About Us  |  Disclaimer/Terms of Use  |  Advertise  |  Contact Us  |  Site Map  |  Developed by: W3matter.com | Sleep Apnea