Chantix works

[halfevildruid]

As I understand it, Chantix works by blocking dopamine receptors to interfere with the "pleasure" you get from smoking. But those receptors are used for a lot more than pleasure.

The chantix bind themselves to the receptor, blocking the affects of the nicotine having any affect on the cells, and also cause you to produce about 60% of the dopamine that you get when you smoke. It takes around 12 weeks for your body to grow new cells that no longer have nicotine binding to them. This is why (i think) when you smoke while on the chantix it has no effect and taste like crap. When I was on it I would light a cigarette because of some cravings and have to chick it because it did absolutely nothing for my cravings anyway...

That's my understanding of it anyway...

 

[BigJimW]

You are all lucky. All the same symptoms I read in this thread over and over are striking to this one case. And this guy died because of it. And not from his own hand:

Chantix Lawsuit Blames Drug for 2007 Death of Dallas Musician

 

[TropicalBob]

That's a riot. I'm no fan of Chantix -- it ought to be banned -- but this guy was blind drunk at three times the legal limit! Alcohol, too, does strange things to the brain. Maybe we need a new warning: Don't drink and Chantix.

 

[BigJimW]

That's a riot. I'm no fan of Chantix -- it ought to be banned -- but this guy was blind drunk at three times the legal limit! Alcohol, too, does strange things to the brain. Maybe we need a new warning: Don't drink and Chantix.

Yeah but Bob, remember, we don't know the full history. Why was he drunk? Was it due to the Chantix? Was he trying to alleviate the side effects of Chantix with alcohol? And if so, was this a side effect? If he never drank in his life, why suddenly after taking Chantix?

A lot of unknowns here. His girlfriend states he never acted out like that before.

Albrecht had lashed out violently towards his girlfriend on the night he died – something she said had never occurred before.

She described some of the symptoms of what others have experienced

Albrecht’s girlfriend told the Morning News that he seemed confused and terrified, and looked at her as though he did not recognize her.

Others said he was experiancing vivid dreams.

Now, as I said, there are some unknowns, but what IS known is that the lawyers for big pharma will play the "victim was all liquored up" card, and that Chantix had nothing to do with it. Plaintiff will present the basis on Chantix being the catalyst of his turning to alcohol in the days proceeding his death from the shooting.

The open questions, WAS Albrecht a raging alcoholic even before taking Chantix? If so, why were there not other outburts in the past like his girlfriend stated never happened?

Sorry, but I agree with Albrechts family that Chantix had a roll in this event.

 

[Dertermined]

Yep I am feeling it all with Chantix the depression the dreams the nausea but Im not smoking. Stopped 3 days into taking the pills. Stuff works but I think you need to go in with a mindset that this is not magic, you will suffer a withdrawl and yeh the some othe stuff too. Im not the strongest guy but Im not the weakest. I can honestly I am working hard to Shrink myself during this time. The goal is to quit smoking and uh yeh not fall into the ibis in between. I can see how people can suffer from all the effects but I think you need to know beforehand IT WILL HAPPEN TO YOU TOO. Preparing yourself for this is not impossible but it beats being blindsided. Trading one demon for another is a choice you need to think hard about. I have always been durg sensitive and vulnerable to depressive periods so it's a big risk. No matter how you do it (ie quitting) it will suck but this stuff does work for a price. Good luck whatever path you choose!

 

[sherid]

I really really really do not understand why anyone would ever take a chance with Chantix. Despite the risks of smoking, you usually still have your mind left, and losing one's sanity or taking a chance on suicide is beyond my comprehension. One Man's Experience With the Stop-Smoking Drug Chantix -- New York Magazine

 

[Moonbean]

I tried Chantix and quit smoking for 2 months. I spent those 2 months angry, paranoid, anti-social, and generally miserable. I didn't want to kill myself, but everything made me fly into a rage. I found myself screaming at my kids for leaving their shoes in the living room, I mean, SCREAMING at them like they had done something truly evil. Ten minutes later I was crying my eyes out because I had made them cry, over some shoes. I quit taking Chantix and was back to smoking within days, because as I like to say, I would rather kill myself slowly than be the monster that Chantix made me. I am a very laid back person, and a good mom. I adore my kids, and they were actually scared of what was happening to me. Anytime I hear someone rave about Chantix I cringe. It may work well for some, but for me, it was a huge mistake. Perhaps the FDA should do some more research on Chantix. Seems to me like Chantix is causing more harm then e-cigs.

 

[tlc]

The last time I saw my doctor was for a check up, and we were going over the usual stuff, any new problems, yada yada yada. Then the smoking was brought up. "Yes, I'm still smoking" I said. Then she mentioned that maybe I should try Chantix, that many people have had success with it. At that time I didn't know much about it, but I am not one to take new drugs without doing a little reasearch, so I told her I would look into it. She then stated that if I chose to try it, she would have to keep a "close eye" on me"......red flag!!!! "What does THAT mean" I questioned. "Well, you are already taking Paxil for panic disorder, (I have been taking Paxil for about 6 years) and the Chantix could cause some problems." She then proceeded to tell me about these so-called problems, and all I had left to say was a big NO THANKS! The problems were enough to make me want to just take my chances with smoking! Keeping this on the market is just plain irresponsible, but when big money is involved, I guess there is no need for responsibility.

 

[cliff5550]

My wife and I were both prescribed Chantix in the spring of 2008. She always had a sick stomach after taking the pill. I didn't, but we both had very strange and vivid dreams. We stopped smoking throughout the three months of taking the pills but returned to smoke, quickly, as soon as we stopped. I tried it again this spring but quit when within two-three weeks because of incredible nausea after I took it each time.

Thank God it was approved by the FDA. I wouldn't want to take anything that would harm me or my wife. I think we'll stay with the safe stuff. Oh, hon, pass me the nic juice. I need to top off this cart. AAHHHH!

 

[JamieJ]

My wife and I were both prescribed Chantix ...
Thank God it was approved by the FDA. I wouldn't want to take anything that would harm me or my wife. I think we'll stay with the safe stuff. Oh, hon, pass me the nic juice. I need to top off this cart. AAHHHH!

Thank you for making me laugh today!

 

[vapomike]

Yeah I've known 2 people to take chantix too stop. One was an elderly lady that was my neighbor, she quit smoking for 12 weeks but when they took the chantix away, she went right back too smoking. She didn't complain of any of the side effects and the dreams couldn't have effected she only sleeps like 2 hours a day. Then there was my bro-in-law, he quit while on the chantix but went back to cigs as soon as the prescription ran out. Though he complained that he would space out for no reason, and also had very vivid sometimes frightening dreams. One time he dreamed that him and my sister was sitting on their roof, and they both stood up and he just pushed her off.

Interestingly enough I actually seen an ad for this poison on tv tonight, which I havent seen in awhile.

 

[Nestran]

I guess it works if you are able to keep taking it. Like we do with vaping nic.

I know 6 people who took it and went back once it ran out so the 1 year plus success rate is low I imagine.

Vaping is still too new to know what the success rate is I guess.

Nestran

 

[justinw1]

In my opinion Chantix is the worst thing to ever hit a pharmacy counter. I took this stuff when I was 18, (parents orders, if they knew what I went through they'd have regretted it). Pretty much the same as all the other stories, nausea, depression, sleeplesness (sp?), horrible/really weird dreams, etc... The main thing that threw me was the suicidal thoughts though, and this was before I heard anything about that being a side-effect. The weird thing was I had no reason to be depressed and having thoughts like that, I mean things were going pretty good for me at the time and I would just be laying there thinking things like "what's the point in being alive, this is stupid, I wonder what happens when you die" and it went on and on like that. I did quit smoking after a couple months (I wasn't a heavy smoker at all, so it really was pretty pointless in the first place) and stopped taking it and the suicidal thoughts stopped almost immediately. It's pretty scary looking back at that period in my life, I mean I could've done something crazy and ended it at 18 years old, when everything was going good for me, only because I was completely mind-f**ked by a drug that was supposed to save my life. How insanely pathetic is it that the FDA would allow such a thing to be made available to the public? It honestly makes me sick.

And yes I did start smoking a little while after I stopped taking it, which seems to almost always be the case, which made this whole experience completely pointless.

 

[grimmer255]

jeesh hearing these stories is exactly the reason why I didnt do that bs in the first place. I hate drugs and for a good reason with some of my personal experience with big pharma drugs. Anyway since april 4 of this year I have not had one cigarette.... still vaping because I love my nicotine and that will never change. Id rather vape than put a nasty tar infested thing in my mouth......

 

[LuckySevens4U]

But it's FDA approved! 8-o

 

[Defiac]

Awkwardly enough my mother, my cousin, and myself took chantix. Not too certain of any side effects my cousin had but my mother and myself only had strange(not scary), weird, and above all pointless dreams as side effects. The medication actually worked for a period of time for all of us all between 2 months(I tend to stop taking medicine once I notice the desired effect) and 5 months. Of course it wasn't permanent but I don't blame that on the medication.... But on that note still <3 my e-cig more then any pill.

 

[angjen0816]

i took it for about a week and stopped as soon as the symptoms started. when i told my doctor she told me to KEEP TAKING THEM!! So i got some more cigs and a new doctor. thats was 3 years ago. wasted 100 bucks. now i spent roughly twice that in the last month or so and no nasty side effects AND I'm still not smoking

 

[Einstein]

I am using chantix and also a 0 nic e-cig. the e-cig is helping me fight that craving in the car as well as when i am at parties. Chantis has only giving me the vivid dreams otherwise no major side affects.

 

[steamgeek]

My changes due to taking chantix almost cost me a relationship and almost my job but i trashed the stuff just in time

 

[a2dcovert]

I have 6 friends that tried Chantix. All were able to quit as long as they were taking the drug. Everyone returned to smoking shortly after stopping the chantix. Luckily none of them had any adverse effects to the drug. I can't believe that drug is still on the market and being peddled by doctors.