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Q. My husband and I decided to take Chantix to help us stop smoking. Initially, we had side effects: daily headaches at the base of the skull, very vivid dreams, talking in our sleep, severe exhaustion right after taking the pill, sleeping for a few hours and then waking up at 3 or 4 in the morning wide awake. I had severe abdominal pain and vomiting when I took the pill with just a little food.
After the first month, we both decided to go off of the medication. At that point I had only been taking one pill in the evening, as I was too tired during the day if I took it in the morning.
The past six weeks have been awful. I no longer have side effects, but my husband is all over the place. He gets very angry, out of nowhere, and if he has consumed alcohol, look out. He had what I believe to be a psychotic episode.
Each time we would have drinks, he would flip his lid over very small things, in fact nothing at all. I was ready for legal separation after this last episode.
I can only hope that with time these reactions will disappear. Happy hour is gone, as alcohol intensifies the side effects.
We are now at 60 days without smoking. That is terrific, but the strain and anxiety have been difficult. I want my husband back and I do not want him to feel this way. All I can say is these things did not happen before Chantix.
A. We have heard from over 300 people who have posted comments about Chantix on our Web site (www.peoplespharmacy.com). Although some are very pleased that they were able to stop smoking, many have complained of unpleasant side effects like yours. Others have noted rage or violent behavior associated with drinking alcohol while taking Chantix. Most of these reactions occur while taking the drug, but the FDA has noted that some people experience symptoms after stopping Chantix.
I took chantix when it first came out. I thought it was great as I walked away from a 30 yr smoking habit. Then one day I was driving over a bridge and whammp had a panic attack. I never had one previously. Drs. couldn't say if it was the drug so I stopped taking it myself. In the following days I was petrified to drive anywhere let alone a bridge. Unfortunately I went back to smoking but the drug left me with a fear of driving long trips and bridges on occasion. That was a few yrs ago and I still experience problems. I have been prescribed xanax and Zoloft to help but the fear is not gone. I hope and pray they take that drug off the market. It ruined my happy driving self!
I took Chantix 1 1/2 years ago with great results & the only side effect was the gas. I stopped smoking for 6 months then started back due to stress in my life. On Thursday 5/7 I started Chantix again by Saturday 5/9 the side effects began to really effect me....The nausea is almost unbearable...the depression is really bad....can't be around anyone at this point....has made me feel my life is worthless.....I quit taking this poisonous pill Sunday 5/10 & still having side effects but feel the depression is getting better. Praying for a much better day tomorrow. I have not smoked since Saturday & hope I never do again....but one thing is for sure I will never take Chantix again..
I know I sent an email to peoplespharmacy with all my symptoms. I have been damaged by this drug now for 2 years. Sometimes I wonder if I haven't died and went to hell...
My husband and took this pill over 1 1/2 months ago. I had such severe abdominal pains and vomiting after two weeks of taking the pill that I had to stop, I continue to have such severe diarrhea that I am now taking 2 immodiums/ day and 4 IBS pills every day with no relief. My husband had the same issues with the rage. Of course his doctors just put him on medication too but we didn't have these problems before taking Chantix. We are still not smoking, however we still feel the urge to, and we are now both changed people. My opinion is that the pill is not worth the side effects.
I first took Chantix about 3 years ago. The drug itself was great for the purpose taken, I was able to stop smoking. However, the side effects that I experienced that I attributed to taking the medication was unbearable. I had horrible nightmares, felt very agitated and a had constant uneasy feeling. It also caused me to have horrible stomach issues. Every time I would eat a meal, I would have sudden and painful diarrhea.
At first I didn't put two and two together, I was perplexed as to what could have caused me to have all of these new experiences. It wasn't until I was talking with a good friend about my issues that I learned that she and her husband had also began taking Chantix and were experiencing some/all of the same issues. That is when I realized that it was Chantix that was causing my problems.
Therefore, I decided to stop taking the medication and took on the challenge of continuing to not be a smoker without the medication. Shortly, if not immediately, after I stopped taking Chantix the nightmares went away. Several months after I stopped taking the Chantix I had a weak moment and began smoking again. Some time later I decided that I would try Chantix again, since it worked so well the first time (minus the side effects) and I was able to stop smoking while taking the drug.
The before-mentioned side effects immediately returned upon beginning the drug for the second time. Again, I stopped taking the drug and was not able to maintain my "ex-smoker" status. Now I'm a year plus post Chantix user and I am smoking again and have a continued problem with IBS, which I had never had a problem with before using Chantix. I would tell someone that if they are a smoker and have decided to quit smoking, to do it without taking Chantix. The residual problems that I still suffer from are not worth it.
I have recently been on the drug Chantix, and would NOT recommend it to anyone.
I started the drug 3 months ago, and during that time, i have been terminated from my job due to hostility and aggression, and before using the medication, i prided myself in being very anti-aggressive, i would do anything to try to turn a hostile situation into a peaceful one.
Secondly, i have had a constant headache that nothing will alleviate right in the front of my left side. added to this, i have seriously violent dreams, and what scares me most, is that i enjoyed them, then wake up 3-4 times a night. As well i believe i spend more time in the bathroom than anywhere else now.
i stopped using this medication after my second prescription ended, over 1 month ago, and all the symptoms still remain. I should also add that the entire time i was on this, i still had the urge to smoke, not nearly as much as before, but non the less i still had a constant urge. I an mow smoking about a pack a week, and hoping all these side effects will soon dissipate.