CHANTIX Review

Overall 4.12 of 5 view all 120 reviews

mistergeminib
Farmington, NM

3 months smoke-free with depression side effects

married, I believe in honesty, trying to quit smoking

Cons

disrupts sleep patterns, terrible dreams, Weight Gain, depression

APR

2008

CHANTIX —

My wife and I were both smokers for over 30 years. Our Dr. recommended that we try the Chantix program and work as a team to support eachother. We did the first week, taking the pills and still smoking, then the second week was pills with no smoking. We both thought we were on the right road and that we had finally found a cure for both saving our health plus money spent on cigarettes. We remained smoke-free for an entire 3 months, but it wasn't easy, especially for my wife. One of the side effects of Chantix is depression and that was what she suffered from. She said there was no reason to drink her morning coffee, answer the phone or enjoy anything pleasant because those things just weren't worth it anymore now that she did not have her old habit of smoking. That worried me. Also on the program she experienced vivid dreams that were not pleasant. After the 3 months and time to renew the prescription, she refused and began intermittently smoking again. Gradually she is back to smoking and I gave in and am back to smoking again also. Chantix has a program via email that is supposed to give you support, but she said it just reminded her that she had lost something she really enjoyed each day when she read her emails. Yes, we could have opted out of the email support, but at the time we thought it would be good since it was all part of the program to help us quit. Good luck to all of you that succeed in the Chantix program or whatever method you choose, but it didn't work for us.

CHANTIX is not recommended by mistergeminib

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Comments about mistergeminib’s Review

In response to Jacy5's comment from Feb 16, 2009 at 4:44PM:

I totally agree with Jacy5. You have to want to quit. I have also been smoking for 37 years. Two to three packs a day, for the last 10 years. It has become way too much, a part of my life. Haven't taken Chantix yet, but I am ready to quit. My dr is making me wait until I have some emotional things in my life, dealt with first. I thank her for that, after reading about the depression some of you are going through. I will be READY, when my time comes. And good luck to all who have quit this nasty, stinky, expensive habit. I am definately going to try the Chantix.

The experience you describe is very sad, but not hopeless. Actually, you both were successful for quite awhile and learned a lot. It can feel like an endless funeral and the loss IS something to grieve! Perhaps starting an effective antidepressant (if can find one) long before Chantix could help your wife and you could both try again. I absolutely disagree with the previous comments about your wife not really wanting to quit and being a self-pitying whatever!! (Clueless people are not helpful unless you're using anger to quit, as I did.) I'm now going thru a time similar to your wife's experience and I KNOW I went into this fully ready, committed and optimistic. I've not smoked for a month and am simply "gutting it out" for as long as I can. Forever would be nice, but that's way too horrible a thought. Today is all I'm aiming for. Tomorrow I'll aim for that day. From past experience, I tailored my own program to me. Also, if I'm not glowing, happy and proud about quitting, well, who says I have to be? I'm glad because I think it's a "good" thing, but I'm not nearly as bubbly about it as perhaps I "should" be. So what? I found a no-fee smoking cessation counselor (trained by Mayo Clinic) to be much more helpful than the Chantix GetQuit website. There are also addiction counselors around if you can find them. Researchers are learning more and more about how addiction affects the brain and sometimes just understanding it helps to fight it. For those of us whose brains matured on nicotine and all the other chemicals, being "ready" and "really wanting" to quit doesn't make it easier. Neither do "bootstraps" or "willpower." Commitment? Maybe that. As in a commitment to accept being as miserable as it takes for as long as it takes until you're not miserable anymore. Each person has his/her own journey. It's obvious how mine's going...(hey, that made me laugh). I wish you both the best on yours!!

Sounds like your wife was really not ready to quit. Nothing will work if you don't really want it to.

I am 40 days smoke free. I know how your wife felt. I had those same feelings. I think it was because I could not remember life without smoking. I have stuck it out, hasn't been 100% easy but I have done it. I had to rethink my whole life. Being a nonsmoker is a whole different lifestyle. And let me tell you, my smell and taste has come back!! And if you think...ohhh, I don't smell that bad, think again. I would use every excuse to smoke. Chantix was my lifevest! I think if you follow the directions to a "T", you will have less side effects. I also think if you already have some of the side effects, Chantix will enhance them. I would recommend Chantix, for sure.

Yes you have to WANT to quit. Problem with this side-effect is it affects how you THINK.

no, the pill didnt work for your wife. it worked for you but you gave in to peer pressure like a 5 year old kid!! sounds like she has mental issues that she needs to focus on before she is ready to quit. You have to WANT to quit or nothing will work! She didnt want to quit.

Hi. I just wanted to say hello and to say that I hope you and your wife will try again and be successful. I'm not saying on Chantix but maybe something else. It says right on the site that depression and vivid, bad dreams are side effects, and those can be serious side effects. I'm sorry the comments here are so harsh. I would say to regroup and try again and send good vibes that you can stop smoking.

See ....thats was really messed up. You 2 should of thought of doing something together that took the place of a cig break. You could starting reading books, started a hobby or take online courses. Something to occupy your mind and time. She wasn't depressed, she just didn't want to stop smoking. I really can't believe people started drinking coffee because they smoked cigs give me a break. She could have read the newspaper while she drank coffee.

Your wife sounds like a self-pitying oaf

You have to WANT to quit smoking, Obviously your wife did not and if you did it was hard on you when she started again. I am sorry it didn't work out for you.