Chantix side effects

on aug. 11, 2007 i quit smoking after 35 years. i had a massive heart attack. was on patch in hospital. dr. put me on chantix on aug. 14. for some reason i needed only half a dose. at 3 weeks i asked cardiologist if i could stop taking since i felt i didn't need it. said no 2 more weeks cause he was concerned about the stress on my heart. so i stopped using 2 weeks later which made me on the drug 5 weeks. was great! the strangest thing i got from it is ever since taking it, smoke smells horrible. i mean worse than anything i have ever smelled! it continues to this day. great side effect! no way i would start smoking again. i can't stand being around anyone that has been smoking. lost some friends over it. drug was great for me. only problem-- i have very good insurance and chantix for 1 month was $100. a little pricey but worth it. others have told me if you stay on it 2 months full dosage is when you develop dreams and etc.

06/18/07 was the date I quit smoking after 19 years. I took chantix for two months and was smoke free. Sure I had crazy dreams and felt nauseated sometimes but that to me is the reason it works. Will power along with the chantix is the reason I quit. I did however put on twenty pounds in that year and have stayed at that weight since but still not smoking. I honestly believe that with a history of depression this drug actually made me happy and out going. Now, as for the dreams they were intense but normal to me. I would recommend this to anyone with the desire to stop smoking.

I was really enjoying the medication and it made cigarettes taste horrible. I was smoke (still am) free for 3 days as of this writing. On the 11th day of Chantix, I broke out in hives. Not serious, just itchy patches in certain places, the back of my head, neck, stomach and groin area. Now my doc has told me to stop taking it. Hoping I can stay smoke free.

No energy,aches,pain confusion,deep deep sleep,can't wake up forgetful,bad memory,voices,headaches,night mares,metabolism meaning none,weight gain,

Weird, weird dreams --- I would really like to know how that happens---but the medication works great! I only took it once a day for 2 and 1/2 weeks and I quit smoking very easily. I had smoked a pack a day for 40 years. Thank you Chantix!

Two years after taking Chantix a tumor was found on my brain. I also have the pain all over every muscle, bone and joint every day. Do not take risks like I did. I trusted the FDA, and Pfizer and now I regret being so trusting.

This is my second time taking Chantix and I had a horrible experience with it the first time, but thought after a 20 year plus habbit at 33, I needed to do something. I am on day 15 of taking Chantix this time and quit last week, so 7 days ago. I am doing better this time, the nausea is manageable and I am using Dum Dum suckers for the hand to mouth urges.

I have been a smoker for 15 years. I am the type of person who loves to smoke however I get real annoyed by the smell of smoke on my own body so I carry body spray and hand sanitizer with me to wash out the odor. I also always have gum so my breath doesn't smell like an ashtray. Although I did not like smelling like it, I still smoked. I associated everything with smoking. Any chance I got, I smoked. With today's economy, smoking just got too expensive for me. I also turned 30 this year and I noticed how much my skin has changed. I'd figured smoking is not going to make me look any younger so I had my OBGYN write me a script for Chantix and followed the enclosed directions. I took Chantix for a total of 2 1/2 weeks. The first 7 days I continued to smoke. On the 8th day, I STILL continued to smoke. I was hoping I would wake up and the craving to smoke had disappeared as if I never was a smoker. Well it was not... I had my usual morning smoke and I spent the rest of the day violently vomiting to the point where I did not even want to smoke. The smell of a cigarette made me sick again and again. I felt this way for at least the remainder 1 1/2 i continued to take chantix. Honestly, it felt like I was knocked up with morning sickness or a very bad hang over. I don't remember reading those side effects... :P Anyhow, so I had to make a decision, to either waste the $127 bucks it costs me to buy this ( no my insurance did not cover it) or to continue to smoke and smell all the time. I did the logically thing and quit smoking. The thing that helped my cravings was the nausea. If it was not for that then I would definitely say I would have started smoking again. I feel so great that I do not smoke and I still get cravings every now then. They pass and once they do I am so proud I did not give in. My skin looks 100 times better and I get compliments on how good I smell now! It could have either been mind over matter that made me quit or Chantix. Either way I am smoke free!!! :)

Well, unfortunately I am not a quitter. I am still smoking and quit taking Chantix 2 weeks ago. Since I discontinued it, my period has not come. While on Chantix my period was much shorter but now nothing. My husband had a vasectomy 12 years ago so I know I am not pregnant. I'm just wondering if anyone else experienced this??

I'm experiencing positive effects. I have been more alert, confident, attentive, and worry less. I seem to be living life instead of just going through the motions. I'm having fun happy dreams and wake up in a good mood. This has never happened. I'm taking on more projects at work and enjoy more playtime with my sons. I'm 33 years old and have been on Chantix for over a month. I still smoke less than 5 cigarettes a day but feel I could go with out those.

I took chantix for one month......just enough time to quit smoking. I quit the chantix earlier than expected due to shortness of breath that was severe enough to scare me. Now its been many months since i took it but I started noticing that i was urinating every 3 hours at night and it began when i took chantix and hasn't ended......and now i can add flank pain to that.....pain above the waist and to the right side of the spine. I can now add fatigue to that as lately ive noticed i go to the gym , eat, come home and nap. Energy decline.

I took Chantix 2 separate times. The first time I took it and had to stop because my insurance wouldn't cover it and I couldn't afford it. I cut down a huge amount and OMG the dreams I had were amazing. Nothing like the dreams my aunt had of animals ripping her apart and her family walking away. Mine were pastel and spiritual, totally real. Looked forward to going to sleep. The second time I had horrible stomach problems accompanied by lots of gas...not the smelly kind just air. Loose stools. Now I have been off the drug for almost a year. Unfortunately the dreams ceased.. I still have loose stools and the gas just finally stopped. thank god. started to think that there was a real problem. I have no health insurance so really couldn't go get it checked. I eat well so it wasn't stuff like that. But....chantix the first time worked well...no side effects. For me the second time wrecked me. I would take it again just for the dreams! Curious to know if the dream factor plays a part of the current state of mind of the person before it is taken. Meaning if you are stressed and unhappy does it enhance it in the dreams...would love to hear the type of dreams people are having...mine were very spiritual and enlightening. But I am a new age type person anyway....just curious...email me would love to know.

The nausea is tolerable, generally short-lived as long as I eat prior to taking the Chantix and drink plenty of water.

I have a sense of...fogginess....detachment, while at the same time, seem to sense clear hidden messages in the way people look at me, in what they're saying to each other, and to me. Yep, it's probably paranoia.

The nightmares are horrible. I dream specifics about deaths of loved ones, in horrible detail. I also awaken at least once a night gasping in terror, unable to get a breath.

The thoughts of suicide are strangely comforting and don't seem wrong at all. I'm depressed, but comforted knowing that I can end it if I really want to. Bizarre and I know it on some level at least.

I'm bruising easily this time. I mean REALLY easily. A small bump results in a hard, raised, dark bruise.

I developed a rash on my stomach that's been there for 3 days but seems to be clearing today.

This is my 2nd time taking Chantix and I'm 3 weeks in. I had the same symptoms last time and expected them this time. I'm smoke free but plan to continue with the Chantix as long as possible. The urge to give in and have one cigarette is too strong post Chantix. I tell myself everyday that the thoughts are NOT me, and that I can let them come and not act on them because it's the drug, not me.

Last year i was impressed with the result reported on the use of chantix i started on it during my back surgery recovery about 6 week later i suffered a stroke i first had severe headache for about 2 weeks on and off and one morning my right hand and leg felt funny on admission to the hospital i was told i had a stroke.After stopping this medication i regained full use of my arms and legs.
I would like research done to see if the use of chantix is a coursing factor to what i experienced.

I took the medicine chantix to quit smoking before I got married July 2007 so I wouldnt' have to worry about smoking on plane. But it made me mean while taking it and after I quit taking it 2 mos later it caused depression, extreme mood swings usually very vicious swings where I'd lash out at other people including my kids and husband. I'd hear these rants and wonder why I was saying such vicious things. It was like I was possessed. Then it cost me my marriage b/c I had a severe breakdown Dec 2007 and ended up in a mental hospital then diagnosed w/ Borderline Personality Disorder and Bipolar which I never had before. Then while in hospital my employers of 14 yrs discharged me from my job and 7 mos later I still haven't found work, unemployment exhausted and have no income at all now so I'll be losing my house that I worked so hard for, and possibly everything I own. Can't pay my bills, credit cards, electric bill ,etc.. And after I was released from hospital my husband left me b/c there were still mood swings that medicines that the hospital put me on can't cure. So I lost the love of my life and this 'so called' miracle drug destroyed my life and family. If you can quit any other way but taking this medicine do so b/c this medicine will destroy your life.

I have had memory problems and more memory problems, Anger issues, Insomnia, Hallucinations, Depression, Mood swings, Insane dreams, Homicidal thoughts, Sleep issues and a list of things I forgot. I have been off it for three or four weeks now with now sign of returning to normal. I don't smoke anymore after 27 years and thats great but this is getting me down.

been taking chantix for about 6 weeks now. finally stopped smoking a week ago although was down to a pack a week instead of a pack a day. I really only smoked those because I had them and I think I was smoking them just to get rid of them. Went to a wedding yesterday outside - people were smoking at my table and I didn't want one. I honestly feel like I've never smoked before except for one craving a day which lasts for a few minutes - before I know it - it's gone. I have been experiencing heart palpitations but it's HOURS after I have taken the pill - I had a pill at 8 am and it's now 2:30 and its like I'm having an anxiety attack. The dreams are vivid - bizarre - none scary though. nausea sometimes when taking the pill - I find that a LARGE glass of water helps.

I stopped smoking the third day into the first week. I'm in week two now, and have had half a cig a couple of times...but it doesn't taste good or do a thing for me. My cravings are minimum, no mood swings...don't even want to drink! (I haven't even finished a beer since I started.)

My side effects have been slight nausea even when I eat before taking; severe joint pain; insomnia; exhaustion, intestinal distress. I'm willing to put up with this for a few more weeks, but I may do as others have suggested and cut back to one pill a day by week three.

I quit 23 years ago and then, like a fool, started smoking again. The first time I quit I used hypnotism. I paid for five sessions and only used four. Worked like a charm...but soon after, I plunged into a severe clinical depression. It wasn't until years later that I connected nicotine withdrawal to depression. So, I'll be very careful this time around...it's taking a lot of guts for me to risk going through another bout of depression.

I took the recommended dose for the first month. I felt really good (except the dreams) Then I suddenly got very depressed, lost feeling in my tongue,could not sleep. I felt horrible and would just go to bed but never really slept like I was in La La land. I cut the dosage in half which helped alittle and eventually cut it to 1/2 pill a day.The headache started then. I quit smoking for 2 months. I felt so depressed I started having 2 cigs a day. I felt less depressed as it was at least something I could look forward to. It has been a month since I stopped taking the Chantix but I still have the nasty taste in my mouth and numb tongue. The stuff works but I don't know that it is worth the side effects. Pizer blames all the side effects on withdraw from the nicotine but I have heard too many horror stories!

I took Chantix for about a month. It lessened my cravings to smoke, but I started getting heart palpitations really bad. I ended up in the ER one day and the Dr. told me that he had never seen that side effect. He looked up the side effects in his palm pilot, and found that it was the very last side effect in the list. I decided to get off Chantix to see if that would help. Well now I'm going to be on Toprol for the rest of my life. They won't say for certain whether it was the Chanitix that caused it or not. Coincidence? I'm not sure. All I know, is that my heart was completely fine before it, and now if I am an hour late taking the Toprol my heart goes insane. My cardiologist has no clue what happened (I've been to two). I'm only 33 years old, and taking this medication for the rest of my life.
Has anyone experienced heart palpitations after starting Chantix?

my husband took Chantix and though it didn't help the smoking now he has what seems like early Alzheimer. Since it works on brain receptors I wonder what has happened to him. It came on in a short time. Are there others who have had memory problems?

I started taking Chantix in August right after I had my teeth cleaned by a periodontal office which I was doing every three months. Three months later my periodontal disease which had been controlled for four years came back full force. I had just had an implant placed in July and now am in fear of losing it along with some other teeth. I have had to have new bone graphs and gigival flap cleanings trying to stop the problem. I have now been off the drug four months and things seem to be going better. PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR PERIODONTIST IF YOU HAVE EVER HAD PERIODONTAL DISEASE BEFORE TAKING THIS DRUG.

anger, extreme mood swings; sad, happy, tired, awake, optimistic, pessimistic.....all these moods over short period but anger was the worst.....but have quit smoking:)

Took Chantix for only three weeks. Quit smoking as directed. Chantix saved my life but helping me quit smoking. Only side effects were really vivid dreams and intense nausea about twenty minutes after taking full dose. Nausea lasted about 10 minutes then went away. I know about 12 other people who quit successfully using this. I wouldn't agree with others who say "Don't use this, it's poison." Every persons body reacts differently to different medications. I have a couple I have taken that are on my "never again" list. But know people who it benefited. To each his / her own. I hope this medication works for you.

Chantix immediately eliminated the effects of nicotine on my brain. I smoked like crazy for the first couple of days, trying to get SOMETHING out of a cigarette, quit completely on day 8 and once I got past the crankiness and depression, the only side effects I'm having are gas and constipation. So I take milk of magnesia on a regular basis now (LOL), but I haven't had a cigarette in two weeks.

I never had any weird dreams, but the week of depression was tough. I really want to quit, so I'm willing to put up with the withdrawals. I just needed something that made me not want another cigarette. Chantix is it for me.

As an aside, I tried Zyban about two years ago and ended up with hives from the top of my head to my knees, coming in waves (Zyban is time released) and lasting an entire week. Different medications affect people in different ways.

I believe that all of the side effects I have had are the same as the side effects I would have if I had quit cold turkey after 32 years of smoking. Chantix just took away the desire to smoke and made cigarettes taste really awful!

Spotting between periods

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.

took Chantix for 18 days. smoked occasionally just out of habit (the car won't start without a cigarette LOL) a little nausea, the dreams about howard stern i could handle LOL but when i had a nightmare about one of my children i quit taking the Chantix. i also noticed my tongue is numb, i have no taste. doctor said this is a side effect of the gas but i have no gas! took some Prilosec but still have no taste after being off Chantix for over 2 weeks. i also had severe mood swings. for me, the side effects weren't worth taking the Chantix

So far so good. VERY impressive dreams. Can't wait to sleep!! But of course smoke more in dreams then real life!!
Question though, does anyone have a sensation in their hands like putting a liniment between their fingers and the back of their hand, causing a burning tingling feeling?
Just curious, otherwise I am day 5 without a cigarette and my family is still alive!!

Well, for me, I'm a hard-core smoker. I will be 40 in April, 2008 and I started smoking when I was 13 1/2 yrs. old. Anyway, yes I've had the nausea, but as long as you eat a meal and take right away, I haven't had that problem again.

Well, I'm in my third week and still smoking. Is anyone else slow like me? I was up to 2 packs a day so it's a really major struggle for me. I am finding it longer periods for me to crave a cigarette, but then I have to have one. Yesterday I had 26 cigarettes. Which, yes I know, it sounds like a lot! But on the other hand that is a half a pack I have cut down so far. I'm going to stick with it but...

I have to say, I also am suffering a lot of mood swings. I didn't think I was acting paranoid, but my daughter said I was and then I read that a few other people were having the same problem. At least I know I'm not alone anymore and talk about anger and sadness, I got them. The headaches are a real bitch for me too, but maybe I'm more susceptible since I do suffer migraines. I'd love to know if people are having that problem. Some of the reviews I read mentioned headaches, but I'd like to know if they were terrible or mild headaches. Otherwise I'll worry there is something else going on with me. With all the problems, I want to continue taking, I've tried the gum, the lozenges, the patches (allergic to the adhesive-terrible rashes, itching, and heart palpitations), cinnamon sticks, regular gum, smoking cessation classes, and etc. I need something to help me. I just want to live a normal and healthy life.

high liver enzymes have been a severe problem, had a blood test before starting Chantix and another 5 weeks into taking the drug and my liver enzymes rose to the 300's in addition to all the other side effects.

paranoia, depression, anger, missed period, headaches, loss of appetite, nausea, low blood sugar.

If it was not for the fact I had my tubes tied, I would swear I was pregnant.

I seem to be agreeing with everyone...lots of nausea, weird (actually, awesome) dreams...strange moodiness ranging from really happy to flashes of anger or urges to cry...I also think it might be reacting badly to my BCP. It works, though. I was smoking a pack a day, and it was soo weird, not thinking about smoking...or even when I do, it passes really quick. I actually quit two days before the blue pack. not all I have to do is keep snacks in the car, and gum for after eating, and I'm fine.

I am currently in my second, nearly third, week of taking Chantix. Although I am smoking considerably less (from a pack a day+ to one to 1.5 cigs a day for 10 years), I can't ignore the changes in my behavior. I'm very, very irritable and almost angry-- I'm typically easy-going and happy. It's even started to effect family as my husband is finding it hard to deal with my mood. I'm really happy with the fact that I'm smoking less, but the mood swings are difficult to deal with and is what prompted me to search for symptoms online.

Aside from the anger, my symptoms are normal-- nausea, weird dreams, and I always feel like I need more sleep.

I am 30-years-old and have been smoking close to a pack a day (usually less, sometimes more) since I was 19. This is my 10th day on Chantix. Well, everyone is right... you cannot take it on an empty stomach. I had to pull over on my way to work and throw up. Anyway, I will definately eat in the morning from now on. I have gotten some muscle pain, but nothing major. The key is to take vitamins - - a good multi and extra potassium and fiber.
As far as the smoking part.. well, today was suppose to be my quit date, but I wound up having 7. I don't feel sick when I smoke on it but I definately don't enjoy it as much. Now, it's breaking the habit, not the addiction.

I was a 17 year smoker. I took Chatix and have been quit now since April! You are supposed to stay on the pill for like 6 months, but it only took 2 weeks for me. My only problems with it were nausea and weird dreams. For the nausea I just split my doses up, that seemed to help and the dreams I just had to deal with. All in all, I had tried to stop smoking many times before, this is the longest I have been without a smoke since I was 14 years old!

Felt a great responsibility to share my daughter's hellish experience while on this drug. My daughter is 33 years old. While taking Chantix she would at first laugh to herself frequently, went to anger and resentment to bizarre behavior and paranoia. She felt threatened that cameras where watching her in our home, phones were "bugged", heard demonic voices, lost her appetite, felt her life was threatened by an ex-boyfriend or the government. She became depressed and wanted to just die. She began to work part- days and went to missing days of work for she lived in complete fear. She also had panic attacks. After going off the drug for five days she virtually came back to us and is back to her pleasant and yes- smoking unconstipated self.

IT WORKS IS ALL I CAN SAY FROM A 20+ YEAR SMOKER.IT ISN'T THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO SMOKE YOU CAN'T SMOKE.IT KEPT ME SICK AS A DOG.I COULD NOT STAND THE SMELL OF IT OR IF I TRIED TO SMOKE I WOULD ACTUALLY VOMIT.I THOUGHT TRYING TO QUIT AROUND MY HUSBAND WHO SMOKES AND REFUSED TO QUIT WOULD BE HARD BUT IT HAS REALLY HELPED ME.I NOW CAN SEE HOW BAD IT SMELLS AND HOW BAD IT IS FOR YOU.ALSO MAKE SURE YOU TAKE AFTER YOU EAT.I LEARNED NOT TO TAKE IT ON AN EMPTY STOMACH.IT SETS IT ON FIRE.

I picked a quit date of Tuesday, because I wanted to smoke the weekend out and I hate Monday mornings going to work so I thought Tuesday would be better, I was right, I quit last Tuesday the day I was supposed to, it was hard but not as hard as I thought, it's been 8 days and I can honestly say I can go without them, sometimes I smell cigarettes and want one but then other times it smells really bad to me. Drinking does not help, you want to smoke more, I also used the patch at the same time I quit, it helped but I only had to use those for about 4 days and didn't need those any more. I get a tiny bit nauseaus (sp) right after I take the pill but it goes away within a 1/2 hour.
I am having trouble sleeping, I wake up during the night and can't go back to sleep, no weird dreams though, I was almost looking forward to those because my friend had them with Chantix. Any how it worked for me, 20 + years of smoking done and in the past.

Chantix causes nausea, constipation, sleep disturbances, strange dreams. The first two can be treated with diet, i.e., taking only on a full stomache with lots of water, and the second by increasing fiber. Sleep and dream issues seem to get a little better with time. OTOH, I was a 30-year smoker, and I haven't smoked since Mother's Day!