Chantix Forum

I started chantix Dec 25 2010, however after 30 days of pills i was sneaking a smoke 1 everyday i know now if i would have put 30 consecutive days into the pills instead of the smokes i could be congratulate myself for over a month smoke free... but i started over doing it right since Jan.17 2011, think that's 3 weeks,my side affects are dreams.. which are fun,good not bad like i hear,I'm hyper after i take pill,but its short lived,don\'t want to spring clean =) my big problem with chantix is I am super emotional... I feel i can quit this pill @the end of this month I hope..! Don't feel like my peeps really want to be around my moody ass... they are supportive but I've been a different creature on this pill, no dark days though so thank you chantix my peeps thank you too =)

I smoked cigarettes for 24 years and had been trying to quit smoking for most of those 24 years. I began taking Chantix on March 1, 2010 and have been smoke free since March 10, 2010. Chantix helped me come face to face with my nicotine addiction and regain control of my life. I never realized what a hold cigarettes had on me until I finally broke free. On September 12, 2010 I will be participating in what will be my first of many road races. Six months ago I would get winded from walking up one flight of stairs; now I am running 5k in under 30 mins! Thank you!

I am currently taking chantix and I have been smoke free for 10 days. This is totally amazing to me and I never thought in a million years I would be able to quit smoking.
I have been attempting it several times a year for the last 10 years. Finally I am smoke free.
I did a lot of reasearch before starting Chantix and although the side effects are a concern they did not stop me from trying it out.
So far I have been having funky dreams, and I have been a bit hyper during the day. I want less coffee too and this is a good thing.
Chantix is awesome!

I wanted to share my story about using Chantix to help me to quit smoking after thirty seven years of a pack a day habit. In the past I have tried nicotene gum and patches. I even quit once for 18 months only to fall off of the wagon.
Stopping smoking with Chantix worked! Period! I started Chantix on July 4th, Independence Day! Smoked as usual during the first week, then stopped the second week. I did light up on three different occasions during my second week, smoked a cig or two and then threw the pack away. Maybe it's maturity, or will power, but I did put my mind into quitting for at least a month before I actually picked a quit date. I even picked up some stop smoking tapes and listened to them in the car on the way to and from work (while smoking). I smoked the most in the car. You have to want to quit, and every little bit helps.
The thing I found to be amazing about Chantix is that while I was on it I had no desire to smoke whatsoever after my initial shortcomings. I stayed away from the bar scene, and restuarants, etc. where I would be susceptible to cigs. I am sure this helped.
The one side effect I did have is that I would have some strange dreams, and almost all of them ended with me waking up with my heart pounding! The scenarios were absolutely bizarre. I was in places I have never been to in my life??? These dreams occured mainly in my 4th - 6th week. I could actually remeember the dreams as if they really happened. After the 6th week I would wake up, but could not remember the dream.

I did not "withdraw" from Chantix, I just quit taking it when my prescription expired. I did have some cravings especially when I was going into a restaurant where there were smokers piled up outside.
I am proud of my accomplishment, and I am positive that I would not have been able to do it without Chantix.
Whatever you have read to the contrary about Chantix I would give it a try if you have had trouble quitting in the past. This stuff works!

Started taking Chantix 9 days ago. Still can't kick the cigarettes completely yet, but have cut down to 4 a day as opposed to 2 packs a day. I have made a commitment to stop but Good Lord this is hard!! Now I know what a herion addict feels like trying to kick the drug habit.

I have given up smoking with the help of Chantix for 6 days now. I did slip up and smoke one today but it was not as enjoyable as it once was. I am one of the lucky ones. I have not had any side effects to the medicine and it really seems to help the cravings. No more slip ups for me. I smoked for 11 years(1 pack a day) and this is it. Wish me luck.

I started to smoking cigarettes when I was 11 years old; have been smoking for over 30 years. I had NO DESIRE to quit smoking, however I was dared by friends that I can't quit smoking. I tried chantix.. and I have been smoke free for going on 3 years!! and after only using starter kit!!! I never thought it was possible! The reason I didn't bother trying to quit was because I was so addicted to cigarettes for me it was pointless.
I quit during most stressful time of the year.. during x'mas! And while visiting family!
I love my "smoke free" me... everything taste good and I smell good!

Thanks!

Chantix saved my life. I smoked for 23 years and felt so addicted I lost hope of ever quitting. I had tryed the gum, the patch, and hypnosis all to zero success. When my doctor prescribed this I was willing but skeptical. 3 months ago, Fathers' Day was my first day without a cigerette since Nov 13, 1986. Two weeks ago I purchased a 24 speed racing bicycle with the money I had saved over the last three months (not smoking a pack and a half a day) and started to train for a annual 50 mile race my 16 year old son wanted to ride in next summer. No matter the side effects or the cost of the medication this was a miracle drug I needed.(now if they had a magic pill to lose the 50 lbs I need for the race I would be all set). I still can't believe it worked for me.

Has anyone else had their spouse or significant other wake up with nightmares, while YOU are the one taking Chantix and not them? My husband seldom has nightmares, yet he has had them every time I tried the nicotine patch. Now he\'s blaming this last one on my taking Chantix. Seems impossible that a medicine that I'm taking can somehow transfer to him while we're sleeping. Anyone having similar experiences?

I smoked for 54 years, I started at the age of eleven. I took chantix for three months Sept 11 2009 I will be smoke free for one year. I had tried several times to quit and to be really honest I didn't think I could do it but I did. I tried every thing in the past even the patches nothing worked. It is so good to be a non smoker. I do agree you have to want to quit to be able to do it.

i love this stuff

My Last time i smoked ws 7 days ago today.in less then a month i went from to 2 packs aday to 0 thanxs chantix

I started Chantix on Sunday - this being the week you can still "smoke". So far, I'm having 0 side effects except today I was really tired, but that could be due to the fact that I was up till 3:30am working. I've got a few friends who have quit completely with this drug, and suffered some side effects, but nothing too dramatic. I've been smoking since I was 13 and MY MOTHER gave me my first cigarette - a Tarrytown. Thanks, Ma! Really appreciate that now, 35 years later! I'm a pack-a-day smoker, and am desperate to quit. Can't stand the ciggs anymore - the price, the stench, the ashes, all of it makes me sick. But I can't quit on my own, I've tried and failed so many times it's crazy. So in comes Chantix. Wish me luck!

My name is Luca, 50 years old male, and have been a smoker since I was a teen. Quit a couple of times, for up to one year, but always kept missing my smokes and I suffered through the year, eventually going back to smoke.

Started Chantix and found it very easy to quit this time, even though I had to deal with extremely vivid dreams, so convoluted and often times boring stuff that kept popping up every night. No nausea whatsoever, just dead tired at times for the lack of quality sleep.

The point I wanted to make though is that for a smoker cigarettes are not only a source of bad health, but a strong emotional I dare say affectionate support. A cigarette represents a moment of peace, relaxation, a quiet time dedicated to yourself. I thought a lot about my previous experiences, and decided the only way to make it this time was to address this emotional side. I picked up a new friend, an hour of cardio every day and stuck with it. Last night I finished my first thriatlon, arrived next to last and had tears of joy in my eyes.

I don't miss smoking at all, I can ask a friend to puff it in my face as I like the smell, but in my heart cigs have been replaced by the love of biking, running and swimming (in order of love/pain).

I am very grateful for the help Chantix provided me in dealing with the addiction, and for the joy I am finding again in life. I am now a good example to my kids, and that for me matters a lot.

Deal with your emotions as well, this is my experience, trust the medicine for the addiction and you won't feel deprived but actually enriched by this experience.
Good luck to you all.

I have been on Chantix for 3 weeks and smoke free for 2 weeks. Chantix is great! I usually don't post to these types of forums and wonder how many other successfull Chantix users don't either. It's human nature to be more likely to complain than to praise. I've quit smoking using other methods before and had many of the side effects that I've read about here. In fact, I've had fewer strange dreams on Chantix than I had when I quit with other methods. Bottom line is... if you have bad side effects, stop taking the drug -- but the success stories from so many others should not be ignored.

this is the second time i am using chantix, stayed off of them for almost 2 years the first time and am having an easier time with side effects this time around. but... got so sick when i increased to 1 mg. that i had to go back to .5 mg. and for the last few days i\'ve only been taking .5 in the morn and none at all today!

this is a total of around 20 days on chantix and i would advise all to get on and off as soon as possible.

my dreams, once enjoyably vivid have become very tense and disturbing and i am generally really nervous about all of the bad stuff people have to say about it. it sure does take the fun out of a cigarette though.

my question is how long will the chantix stay in my system? am waiting for the day when i am nicotine AND chantix free.

I'm on day 17 and I\'ve totally quit smoking for 3 days. I was giving in to habit rather than that familiar urge to smoke. Still have some nausea but that's subsiding. The pills seem to make me quite sleepy but I'm getting used to that. I have never, ever gone without a smoke when I wanted one. This feels good and I'd like to be smoke free before the flu season hits! Strange goal, but that's my goal! Good luck everyone!!!

Hmmm. Well today is my 5th day on Chantix. The urge to smoke has already diminished greaty for me. The only issue I had was with last night being the first time I had taken a Chantix evening dosage. I felt I was starting to dream even before I was sleeping. Once I did fall asleep, I had some seriously strange dreams. I slept from 2:45 to around 11.00 but woke up many times due to these dreams.

Just started today, mentally prepared and already have cut down, almost half the amount. I plan on going smoke free the 3rd of august which is exactly one week on chantix, perhaps sooner, I hope. 1-2 pack smoker for over 40 years, quit 5 times in the past, so I know the triggers, the game plan and that is stick to it, dont give up, if you reallyu want to quit you can. Good luck to everyone, check back in when I make more progress..

Started taking Chantix on 7/15/09 and getting worried about side effects but I am still going to give it a shot. Let you know on how it works out.

I hear and read more about side effects than the success of Chantix actually helping people quit and STAY quit. For me, 13 days in, it's been nothing but severe nausea and sleep disruption due to bizarre dreams, and fatigue (due to the sleep pattern disruption, no doubt). I had ZERO counselling from my doctor on what to expect from this drug, just a starter pack prescription and a "your blood pressure is too high, quit smoking" admonishment. Gee, great healthcare in this country. Within the first couple of days, I noticed my cravings were less and when I did light up, it was unsatisfying. But I still lit up. As the doseage increased, the side effects kicked in, I had more half-smoked cigs, and everything, EVERYTHING tasted like crap AND I felt like I was going to puke at any moment, especially 10 or so mins after taking a dose. I don't feel like myself and I hate this drug. I'll persist for 2 months max with it, but so far I am not impressed. I cut the pills in half now and try to force myself to eat something so I can get the four halves into me throughout the day. I don't eat breakfast, so I can't even think about taking one half of a pill till lunchtime. Drinking water doesn't help with the nausea. I am trying to quit with a friend and we are both having the same symptoms, including feeling very anti-social and sleepy on top of the other physical and psychological symptoms. This drug is no panacea. I applaud those who can quit cold-turkey with no drugs, because this Chantix is no walk in the freakin' park. I keep thinking back to that fateful day I first smoked a cigarette at the age of 17 and I want to kick my a** from here to kingdom come. STUPID! Well, good luck everyone. We're all in this together.

Hey, as I promise I am giving you an update today is my 5th day without smoking? How does it feel? TERRIBLE, I still have the desperate desired of smoking every minute, and butoon line, I feel Chantix is sicological, I stopped smoking because I know I am at high risk for Lung cancer because of my emphysema, and because of my four kids including my 5 years old, but the chantix help? I don't think so, if it does why I am still urging for the cigarette, why do I miss it so much?
I want to stop desiring the cigarretes. Again good luck to me and all.

Hi, I just checked on my get-quit page, and this is my 83rd day smoke free. Long time smoker, quit before but never this long. I have had no nausea, and overall I have felt a lot better during these almost 3 months. The only side effect which has affected me is the lack of quality sleep. I don't have a problem falling asleep, but dreams are not very intense and vivid. Not scary or anything. Let's try to draw an analogy here: you know when advertising breaks start and the wife suddenly screams 'turn the volume down'! Ok, my dreams didn't change (I think) but went from normal volume to advertising volume in vividity terms. I can't wait to have a wonderful night sleep again. I bought myself a bike with the cigarette savings, have a lot more energy which more than makes up for the decrease in sex drive. Am really happy, if you want to quit don't despair, use all the help they give, the emails, daily calls, everything. Talk to yourself, create a support group, enjoy life more not less after a while. Dam you do put a bit of weight on, I intend to tackle that now.

I've a been a smoker for over 35 years (pack and a half a day) For me there was no way to quit, I was diagnose with Emphysema 4 years ago and that didn\'t make me quit, I went into the hospital coughing blood a month ago with neumonia and that didn't stopped me. I been on Chantrix since Jun 29, my quit day was July 6, today is my 3rd day without smoking and I want to die with the urge, I cry everytime I need a cig but I don\'t smoke, I know I need to quit and that is why I don't smoke a cigarrete, I don't know if chantix is helping me, I don\'t get side effects at all, but my God do I want a cigarette. I will keep posting my progress. Good luck to me and to all!

I started on Chantix the last week of March after smoking for over 40 years my quit date is March 1st, I have not had a cigarette since. I have found this to be almost too easy, the dreams were interesting but I had no other side effects. About 6 weeks into the program I started wondering how I would do without the drug and I decided to start to wean myself off by taking half doses. By the time for my last re fill I was taking a quarter tab in the morning and usually forgetting to take the night dose so I quit. I did not renew the script and have been happily smoke free. My spouse is now smoke free for over a month and I recommended it to another friend who also has quit smoking.

I have been smoke free for 2 months after 30 years. I am doing great. I only had one night mare and I have those anyway. People say that I am "plesant" for someone who has quit. I have had some bad things happen like missed flights and car break downs and didn\'t even think to light up. Yeah for me. The fight is not over until I get of the medicine but so far so good. This time I see ALL the advantages of not smoking and I am over the anger of not smoking. I win!

Do not take Chantix. It will make your hair fall out. When I asked my Dr. about it, he said it was "controversial" which leads me to believe that it has happened to many others, but is not yet listed as a side effect. I lost over 50% of my hair while taking this drug. I was not taking anything else. I reported this to Pfizer and got a letter back telling me to talk to my doctor. I will be reporting this to the FDA first thing in the morning.

I am On my 8th day with chantix, and I feel great!, I was shopping today and had a slight panic attack, like Oh I forgot my cigs, then the strangest thing happened. I walked to my car and drove away. I am able to fight the cravings with chantix. I fought today and won.

My side effects are pretty neat actually, the dreams are funny and stupid, I\'m a dreamer anyway so I love em.
Tthe headaches I could do without, no nausea, but I do eat with each dose.

Hi. I've been taking Chantix for 20 days, and have been smoke-free for 12. I had the common side-effects at first, such as nausea, wind, etc, which have now passed. Then I started to have dreams that were so lifelike and vivid, some were quite beautiful, the colours, sounds, smells and tastes were so memorable I can remember them even a few weeks later. Unfortunately around a week ago, the dreams started to become unpleasant , disturbing or violent. 2 nights ago I had a nightmare that I can only describe as SICK. I never imagined that my mind could come up with such a thing. It stayed with me all the next day and made me cry whenever I thought about it. I decided not to take the night time tablet to see if that would help. I still had an unpleasant dream that night, but not as bad. I am not going to take again tonight. I\'m not going through anything stressful at the moment, so can only put this down to the tablets. Chantix has pretty much eradicated my desire to smoke, so if these dreams continue, I will stop taking them altogether. I just hope the nightmares stop as well.

I have heard so many good things from different people about chantix so, while at a normal doctors visit, I was informed that I had to be prescribed medication for high cholesterol so, I know that one of the factors in high cholesterol, is smoking. I later called my doctors office back and asked to be prescribed chantix. They did prescribe me chantix and my start date is Sunday. I hope to be smoke free after 21+ years shortly after. Wish me luck!

I started Chantix 10 days ago, and I am starting on my 5th day without having a cigarrette! I think about having one from time to time, but nothing that I cant handle by telling myself that it is disgusting and I do not need it. My fiance has been smoke free for a year and half after taking Chantix and my good friend has been smoke free for almost a month after taking it as well. I have experenced slight nausea after taking the pill in the morning. As long as I eat breakfast and drink loads of water, the nausea is tolerable, and only last for about 10-20 minutes. I have also experience mild leg cramps. I asked my doctor about this and she said that it is one of the side effects. I have also had a few panic attacks on this medication as well. I do have a history of panic disorder and hypochondria...I dont know if Chantix is making it come out more? Has anyone else experienced leg cramps, or aches any where on their body, while taking Chantix? What about Panic attacks?

I\'ve been on Chantix for less than a week; I\'m on my second day of double dosage. I\'m doing OK, probably cut my smoking in half already. My dreams are interesting so far- amusing and vivid, but not scary. There has been some minor nausea, but that seems to pass. My SO also started taking it at the same time, and it seemed to really kick in fast for her; she\'s probably cut her smoking by 75%, and her only side effect is minor nausea. We\'ve committed to remaining on this drug, monitoring each other for the other side effects, for as long as it takes to quit smoking. So far, so good.

Took Chantix for 3.5 weeks. Did successfully quit smoking. I had to stop because my face swelled up like a beach ball and I had weird very itchy rash patches all over my torso and neck. Also had moderate/severe pain in both knees. The scary part is I have been off the drug for over 3 weeks now, and my face is still puffing up off and on and I still have come and go severe knee pain. Does anyone know how long this will carry on?

I've been taking Chantix for a week and had to stop today because of the side effects: Weird dreams, waking up every 30 minutes, severe depression and constant fatique. Even now 24 hrs after stopping I can still feel it in my system. I haven't felt like myself since I started it. The last two days have been particularly bad in term of depression and constantly being tired. I have been drinking tons of water hoping that will flush the rest of it out of my system. For those of you who have had success I am happy for you, but it has changed my brain chemistry so much that I could barely function.

Update:
I am ready to wrap up day 29 without a cig. This by far the easiest week, since I cut back my dose to half. I will fulfill the full 3 months, but not with 2 pills a day, rather, just 1 in the evening. Still no big side effects, other than a minor naseating feeling for about 10 min after my pill.
Wow, I guess since I started this, I have read everyone else's experience, and I really have to feel extremely lucky that I haven't experinced anything NEAR what some of you have on here! I feel almost guilty to the fact that some of you are having such a difficult time with this medication. I too, have talked with some people in circles who have, or have known people that have tried this medicine, but have had some issues with it. Nancy, im sorry your husband has had these issues. Has he been on antidepressants before chantix? I have been on zoloft for about 3 or 4 years, so maybe that has helped me stay emotionally connected. I will update in another week or so, good luck to all and have a safe 4th of July!

My husband took Chantix for 2 weeks and has now been off of it for 2 weeks. He is depressed as well. Not as bad as last week where he would cry out of nowhere but is still in a bad funk. He is very withdrawn and can not focus on a thought. I am also wondering how long it takes for this medication to get out of his system. Wondering if this gets resolved over time or does he need a therapist to get through this???

Per my persuasion my husband went to a psychiatrist - turns out he is going through manic depression. He never had a history of any sort of depression before. Doctor is not sure how long this will last or if it will occur again later in life. He has been prescribed seroquil and a low dosage of alprazolam. My husband has been very honest with me regarding his feelings and thoughts which is putting me through major anxiety. I have done some research about manic depression and it is a pretty nasty and scary thing. I put my full faith and trust in God and pray that this will pass. I want my husband back!! It kills me that this drug is being prescribed and putting so many people in harm!!

I am on Day 13 and have been smoke free for 5 days. I was a "pack a day" smoker. I didn't want to quit and dreaded it and truly believed I would fail this time. I still can't believe how on the 8th day is was so easy for me not to smoke compared to quitting other times and how much easier it still is. There just is not a bad craving like I expected.
I drove in my car yesterday for 5 hours and normally go through almost a pack of cigarettes on this typically boring drive. I was surprised how I was able to not smoke the whole trip.
However, over the last couple of days I am feeling very tired and today I am very sleepy. I am hoping this won't continue but so far not smoking is worth it. I am worried about not being able to stop the Chantix but I can say on some nights I have nearly forgotten to take it. So it's not like I am watching the clock for the next time I take the pill. I still think about the cigarettes constantly but don't want to smoke one. I miss it very much but hopefully can continue to get through this without any more side effects from the drug. I do have some shoulder and back aches today but will wait and see if they get worse. Again, I am still so surprised at how easy it was for me to just stop so I hope I can manage any side effects that may come and don\'t have major withdrawal from the Chantix.
At this point I would recommend anyone considering not smoking at least try this to see how you do. Smoking is so bad for us, to me temporary side effects are better than pushing around an oxygen tank!

I have had some side effects. Some I\'ve been able to remedy or tolerable; others I\'m hoping will go away after the three months on the pill. I was one that had severe nausea. It didn\'t matter what I did or how much I ate/drank. After I\'d take that 1-milligram pill, I was down for the count for at least a couple hours. I was able to eliminate the nausea by splitting the pills in half and taking a half with breakfast, with lunch, with dinner and at bedtime.

I\'ve also had trouble with joint pain, particularly my knee, since the very first pill, which increased substantially when I began taking two 1-milligram pills per day (split in halves or not). I\'ve found that a half milligram at break, lunch and dinner (so 1 1/2 milligrams per day) has decreased the pain to tolerable levels.

The only alcohol I seem to enjoy anymore is wine, preferably with dinner. I used to enjoy imported beer and vodka, and both of those now taste really different and not very good. Wine is wonderful, tho.

I\'ve had days where I\'m very hungry, but I\'m really not eating as much as I thought I would or have on previous attempts. I feel so bloated, tho! I look like a balloon. Honestly, I think it\'s gas. I\'d hoped it would go away after a week or two being quit, but I might need to invest in some Beano or Gas-X.

I agree with all the other posters who said it\'s great being a nonsmoker!