The joys of using Chantix to quit cigs

[sawlight]

This is a topic I am very well versed in! I've battled depression my entire life, I've seen more shrinks than I have family members, starting in the third grade.
I started with Paxil, did good on that for two weeks, felt better than I ever have in my life. Going into the fourth week I was looking for trees that would be the most effective to kill me if I ran into them.
After much complaining and fighting, I was finally taken off of them.
Efexxor was next, it worked, to a point. Then came the migraines, felt like an axe in side of my head as well as a severe sensitivity to florescent lighting, that still bothers me to this day. I can literally count the cycles in the light and it hurts my eyes and head.
I was then assigned to experimental drug therapy, I've no idea what I took, I wasn't told and finally got onto Welbutrin which I platued on.
Chantix fits into this category as it is sold as an antidepressant as well as a smoking cessation aid.
Trust me, they are playing with things they have no idea what they can and can't do! Nor do they have any idea how bad it can mess someone up!
I've learned it's easier to cope waking up and wanting to blow my brains out, and fighting the urge, than it is dealing with the drugs that are supposed to prevent/help with that urge and their side effects!
This is really bad stuff guys, I can't believe the rules are so lax on the treatment of people with depression, it's really revolting if you know about it!

 

[waylonjessi4ever]

@sawlight ,thanks for sharing this ..strength be with us all ...I am on celexa 40 mg after years of 20mg ...( started about age 39-40 ..47 now ....i am LUCKY that it works for me ,i know that .Mine is relatively mild compared to others including you .
And Krazie ,thanks for sharing .....there is alot research that suggests the nic acts as an antidepressant to some of us ...i know for me i cant do without ecigs ( hubby does not understand that yet ) and i also found mild pain relief with analogs as well as the "focus " they talk about with smokes .Ecigs are the closest i can come to analogs .Love you

 

[SAG]

Saw and others, I'm so sorry for your struggles. Big pharma is basically druggin everybody for everything. I agree that they don't have a clue what some of these chemicals can do. Why would the warnings be all over antidepressant commercials to watch for suicidal thoughts? Is that ironic or what?

 

[jeffree]

What SAG said. I'm sorry as well. And I appreciate you all sharing these personal struggles with us. I really had no idea how common they are and didn't expect such powerful responses when I started the thread. Holy crap! ...... off, too.

And what also pisses me off is how the media and medical 'experts' should be shouting from the frickin' rooftops about this wonderful new quit-cig approach called vaping. Saddens me, too, when I think of all the people it could help. Well, change takes time, so maybe more's on the horizon.

Anyhow, thanks to all who responded.

 

[waylonjessi4ever]

Saw and others, I'm so sorry for your struggles. Big pharma is basically druggin everybody for everything. I agree that they don't have a clue what some of these chemicals can do. Why would the warnings be all over antidepressant commercials to watch for suicidal thoughts? Is that ironic or what?

yes it is ...but one drug works for some and not for others ....
my change came about or was triggered ,i believe ,by many family tragedies in one year ...but unfrotunatly for me ..it stayed .Some ,are just born that way .....thank you for your understanding....its hard to talk about .

 

[waylonjessi4ever]

What SAG said. I'm sorry as well. And I appreciate you all sharing these personal struggles with us. I really had no idea how common they are and didn't expect such powerful responses when I started the thread. Holy crap! ...... off, too.

And what also pisses me off is how the media and medical 'experts' should be shouting from the frickin' rooftops about this wonderful new quit-cig approach called vaping. Saddens me, too, when I think of all the people it could help. Well, change takes time, so maybe more's on the horizon.

Anyhow, thanks to all who responded.

its common alright but the stigma remains and therefore most dont disclose their struggles ,sawlight ,you are wonderful !

 

[krashnash]

What SAG said. I'm sorry as well. And I appreciate you all sharing these personal struggles with us. I really had no idea how common they are and didn't expect such powerful responses when I started the thread. Holy crap! ...... off, too.

And what also pisses me off is how the media and medical 'experts' should be shouting from the frickin' rooftops about this wonderful new quit-cig approach called vaping. Saddens me, too, when I think of all the people it could help. Well, change takes time, so maybe more's on the horizon.

Anyhow, thanks to all who responded.

Saddens me too, jeffree (in addition to pissing me off). But I am hopeful when I see that even without tons of money funding slick advertisements and even slicker politicians, the e-cig community continues to grow. In my own little world, I made the switch and then brought my husband and both of his parents over to the e-side. I'm also hopeful when I see real-world medical experts (my Dr and his staff, for instance) that are willing to see the benefits, and that may share the message to even more people.

~krash

 

[waylonjessi4ever]

ye p..thats what i said to my gp about the cardio recommending chantix!!!! Im like "are you kidding me ???? im going to be a dead non smoker i.e. quit on chantix and ???? !!!! they must all get free hawaii trips for pushing this junk !

 

[EleanorR]

I am hopeful when I see that [ . . . ] the e-cig community continues to grow. . . . I'm also hopeful when I see real-world medical experts (my Dr and his staff, for instance) that are willing to see the benefits, and that may share the message to even more people.

~krash

So agree. One of the most encouraging (albeit anecdotal) signs I see is the very positive and enthusistic response e-cigs usually get from regular GPs, family practice docs and other patient-contact intensive physicians.

 

[sawlight]

Please, I'm not asking for sympathy, just trying to educate a little, I've learned so much doing research on the internet I was going to counseling suggesting things to my shrink!
I've been VERY fortunate, I've met two shrinks that were increadable beyond belief! One saved my marriage, a miracle in itself. Another gave me so good life skills to help me cope better with life. Really, with some skills, you can deal a lot better without the drugs, the drugs just help ease you into coping with things, the skills get you through day to day life.
As this thread isn't about depression, I'll limit my response, but yes, the SRI type drugs are renowned for increased rates of suicide! The basis is you take in the happy endorphines more slowly and increase the "happy" time of the day. My general uneducated result has been you don't know how or when you are going to get the stimulus and it's about as fun as being bi-polar!

 

[Penner]

Test post (could not re-edit this post with the proper quote).

 

[Penner]

ye p..thats what i said to my gp about the cardio recommending chantix!!!! Im like "are you kidding me ???? im going to be a dead non smoker i.e. quit on chantix and ???? !!!! they must all get free hawaii trips for pushing this junk !

No, no one gets free trips or even a Post It notepad for prescribing a medicine, for the last 5 years. Know the law.

 

[Twilight]

Yep, bad ...........stay away from it.

 

[waylonjessi4ever]

No, no one gets free trips or even a Post It notepad for prescribing a medicine, for the last 5 years. Know the law.

sorry Penner ..i dont know the law cause im not a lawyer

 

[cmdryker]

Just surprised there aren't a boat load of class action lawsuits against the makers of this crap. would think the lawyers would be on this like white on rice

 

[MissP]

Just surprised there aren't a boat load of class action lawsuits against the makers of this crap. would think the lawyers would be on this like white on rice

Actually I received a letter last week that has the start of a class action suit. They are canvassing to see if there is enough people that suffered depression and or suicide attempts.

So, there will most likely be one in the future....

 

[biidaaban]

jeffree...that's horrifying...absolutely and totally and terribly horrifying <sigh> Thank you so much for posting this! I was considering Chantix and vaping as a way to drop nicotine level from 11 back to 0 but think I'll do it gradually instead <shudder>

We did it without any help other than our PVs we have been at 0mg for over a week... You can do it too, just jump in when you're ready!

we've heard too many things about Chantix and when our doctors offered it to us, we laughed at them... "Sure, Doc... let's exchange our nicotine habit for a bunch of REALLY bad side effects! You Betcha!!!" Sometimes the Minnesota Nice just has to fall by the wayside for a minute. Then of course we feel bad and fall all over ourselves apologizing

 

[chimchim]

sorry Penner ..i dont know the law cause im not a lawyer

I would not apologize for that statement. We all know that Big Pharma, drug reps and docs are all working together. Certain meds are prescribed more than others...docs are partial to some drugs based on relationship with reps. Whether or not there are "free trips to Tim Buck Two" involved or free lunches for the docs and their staff every day is beside the point. And maybe it is against the law but it seems at least in the practice I am very close to (my mom worked there for over 15 yrs. before she became disabled) its still happening.

 

[Mirage Hart]

Way to go, GPR!!! Its gonna work for you buddy... just be patient and we'll help ya whenever you need!

 

[Mmc]

I was on chantix a few years ago........thought I was going crazy......in fact went from a pad habit to a 2 1/2 pad habit.....went off chantix.... Found ecigs this winter, finally able to give up the cigs after 38 years, went to doctor and she tried to prescribe chantix to me again...... This is after I hadn't had a cig for over a month! I asked her if she ever reviewed my chart, if not, she might want to review her notes from the last time she put me on chantix