Anything new on the Chantix front?
September 30, 2010 7:03 AM Subscribe
Chantix: Please provide me some updated feedback on how it worked for you, particularly in the side-effects area.
I've done my due diligence here on AskMe and found the posts/comments very helpful. However, I'm looking for some updated info on Chantix, as most posts here are from 2007. Here's my details:
Smoker for 25 years. Only "successful" quit was when I was pregnant with my son. Went back to smoking within 3 months of his birth.
Tried Wellbutrin, nic-replacement, hypnosis and cold turkey. The last cold turkey quit (2 months ago) resulted in severe depression at day 5. Days 1-4 were very easy. Normally not a depressed person, so the dive was surprising and quite disturbing. Went back to smoking.
Currently take Vyvanse (40mg) and Lexapro (20mg). Blood pressure goes up on Vyvanse.
I'm familiar with the dreams side effect and am concerned about it. My sleep time is precious and limited and I need to get the most out of it.
None of you are my doctor, I know that. My MD just gave me a script for Chantix starter pack. I have not filled it yet. This MD is also the prescriber for the Vyvanse and Lexapro, so I assume he is not concerned about the mix.
Many thanks, everyone!
I've done my due diligence here on AskMe and found the posts/comments very helpful. However, I'm looking for some updated info on Chantix, as most posts here are from 2007. Here's my details:
Smoker for 25 years. Only "successful" quit was when I was pregnant with my son. Went back to smoking within 3 months of his birth.
Tried Wellbutrin, nic-replacement, hypnosis and cold turkey. The last cold turkey quit (2 months ago) resulted in severe depression at day 5. Days 1-4 were very easy. Normally not a depressed person, so the dive was surprising and quite disturbing. Went back to smoking.
Currently take Vyvanse (40mg) and Lexapro (20mg). Blood pressure goes up on Vyvanse.
I'm familiar with the dreams side effect and am concerned about it. My sleep time is precious and limited and I need to get the most out of it.
None of you are my doctor, I know that. My MD just gave me a script for Chantix starter pack. I have not filled it yet. This MD is also the prescriber for the Vyvanse and Lexapro, so I assume he is not concerned about the mix.
Many thanks, everyone!
I haven't tried it, but my co-worker quit with it. Took him about a month. He always suggests it to me and the one other person who smokes at work.
posted by KogeLiz at 7:13 AM on September 30, 2010
posted by KogeLiz at 7:13 AM on September 30, 2010
I got the vivid dreams but I love it :). Other than having to take it with food (or face nausea), I liked it and it helped me quit.
posted by murrey at 7:17 AM on September 30, 2010
posted by murrey at 7:17 AM on September 30, 2010
I too liked the vivid dreams. Didn't experience other side effects. Ultimately, after a couple lapses it helped me quit. But as you know, once you quit it comes down to you and holding onto the simple fact that you can never have even one cig again. You will feel healthier and eventually happier. Good luck.
posted by mbx at 7:25 AM on September 30, 2010
posted by mbx at 7:25 AM on September 30, 2010
Chantix is a really great tool if you want to quit smoking. I'm currently on it and took it before and was smoke free for 2 months + (damn finals had me start back up). The only side effect that can suck is the nausea if you don't eat before/after taking it. I always have vivid dreams even prior to taking it so that's not really a concern for me. The only side effect I'd be concerned about is the increased risk of depression.
Have you researched how chantix works? Its an absolutely fascinating chemical!
posted by handbanana at 7:26 AM on September 30, 2010
Have you researched how chantix works? Its an absolutely fascinating chemical!
posted by handbanana at 7:26 AM on September 30, 2010
My husband was one of the small percentage who developed serious rage issues while on Chantix. Thankfully, he decided himself to stop taking it before something scary happened, but I'd rather have him smoke than act the way he did the month he was on it. Be aware of your thoughts, and be open to your partner pointing out if your behavior changes dramatically.
posted by Sweetie Darling at 7:30 AM on September 30, 2010
posted by Sweetie Darling at 7:30 AM on September 30, 2010
I was successful with Chantix (smoke free since 2/09!) after two attempts, and experienced some of the side effects listed above. The dreams were particularly vivid, but not troublesome for me. I also had some nausea issues if I took it on an empty stomach. At one point I kept smoking while taking the drug, and cigarettes tasted absolutely awful, gave me headaches and were all-around disgusting (this was on the tail end of attempt #1). Chantix worked wonders for me, but as some above pointed out, you really must want to quit in the first place to be successful. Chantix helps a lot, but it doesn't make quitting easy. Good luck and keep trying!
posted by slogger at 7:55 AM on September 30, 2010
posted by slogger at 7:55 AM on September 30, 2010
I don't have personal experience, but I have taken care of quite of few patients (I am in grad school--nurse practitioner student) who have used or are using Chantix for smoking cessation.
Within that anecdota, then, patients who complete Chantix tend to report obvious but tolerable side effects along with a much better quitting profile than other methods they have tried. The best evidence suggests that the most effective method for quitting smoking, especially for tenacious addiction, is a combination therapy that includes nicotine replacement. In other words, something like Chantix (or an SSR/NI of some kind), nicotine replacement, and therapy (or consistent use of 24-hour as needed support, like quitline).
Monotherapies are not demonstrated to be as effective as combination therapies (link to the current clinical guidelines for smoking cessation). There is some evidence that combining Chanix with nicotine replacement may increase the side effects of Chantix, but a 2009 study challenges that a bit and maintains the safety (I don't have the link to that study but the reference is Ebbert JO, Burke MV, Hays JT, Hurt RD. Combination treatment with varenicline and nicotine replacement therapy. Nicotine Tob Res. 2009;1:572-576).
I would have one more conversation with your doctor or pharmacist about drug interactions. Lexapro, Vyvanase, and Chantix all target the central nervous system (albeit with different mechanisms). The safety profile is likely just fine, but you want to get a handle on the potential for increased side effects (which increases with polypharmacy in any event).
You are doing the right thing! Keep in mind, too, that combination therapy (or monotherapy if its right for you) and its potential side effects is an extremely short-term aspect of your total lifetime health. While you may experience some of the reported side effects and discomforts for a few, days, weeks or months (and very likely no longer than 6 months), this is a finite period. On the other side of that short term discomfort, is such a greatly improved lifetime health profile that once you are successful, the peak of your discomfort with quitting will not signify. Smoking cessation therapists talk about this period similarly to getting through a difficult pregnancy or labor or surgery recovery period--we survive these things because we know the pain has an endpoint. It's hard to believe when withdrawing from tenacious withdrawal, but that pain has an endpoint, too.
Congratulations!
posted by rumposinc at 8:02 AM on September 30, 2010
Within that anecdota, then, patients who complete Chantix tend to report obvious but tolerable side effects along with a much better quitting profile than other methods they have tried. The best evidence suggests that the most effective method for quitting smoking, especially for tenacious addiction, is a combination therapy that includes nicotine replacement. In other words, something like Chantix (or an SSR/NI of some kind), nicotine replacement, and therapy (or consistent use of 24-hour as needed support, like quitline).
Monotherapies are not demonstrated to be as effective as combination therapies (link to the current clinical guidelines for smoking cessation). There is some evidence that combining Chanix with nicotine replacement may increase the side effects of Chantix, but a 2009 study challenges that a bit and maintains the safety (I don't have the link to that study but the reference is Ebbert JO, Burke MV, Hays JT, Hurt RD. Combination treatment with varenicline and nicotine replacement therapy. Nicotine Tob Res. 2009;1:572-576).
I would have one more conversation with your doctor or pharmacist about drug interactions. Lexapro, Vyvanase, and Chantix all target the central nervous system (albeit with different mechanisms). The safety profile is likely just fine, but you want to get a handle on the potential for increased side effects (which increases with polypharmacy in any event).
You are doing the right thing! Keep in mind, too, that combination therapy (or monotherapy if its right for you) and its potential side effects is an extremely short-term aspect of your total lifetime health. While you may experience some of the reported side effects and discomforts for a few, days, weeks or months (and very likely no longer than 6 months), this is a finite period. On the other side of that short term discomfort, is such a greatly improved lifetime health profile that once you are successful, the peak of your discomfort with quitting will not signify. Smoking cessation therapists talk about this period similarly to getting through a difficult pregnancy or labor or surgery recovery period--we survive these things because we know the pain has an endpoint. It's hard to believe when withdrawing from tenacious withdrawal, but that pain has an endpoint, too.
Congratulations!
posted by rumposinc at 8:02 AM on September 30, 2010
From a MeFite who would prefer to remain anonymous:
Ah, Chantix. I went on it at the beginning of 2009 when I saw my uncle have success with it and continued with the program until late spring. My MD was deeply concerned about the psych effects but we pressed on anyway. I did eventually quit my 22 year smoking habit as a result of the treatment, but having gone through it I would hesitate to recommend it to anyone else.posted by jessamyn at 8:14 AM on September 30, 2010 [1 favorite]
While on the drug I didn't enjoy smoking, and that made it pretty simple not to do so. However, I had a list of side effects as long as my arm, some of which are still with me over a year after ending the drug.
First and foremost, I turned into a NASTY, RAGING ASSHOLE for the 5 months I took the drug. I yelled at my wife. I yelled at my children. I yelled at the cat. Everything pissed me off at all times. I expected to be a bit testy during the first few weeks of quitting, but this was totally disproportionate and far too long-term. I still had another month of the drug to take but I couldn't stand this behavior from myself and I was somewhat concerned that it could escalate beyond verbal and emotional reponses so I discontinued it. A year later I'm still more prone to anger and rage than I ever was before, to the point where I sought psychiatric treatment.
I did not experience vivid dreaming at all. I was looking forward to it because I rarely have that kind of experience, but it didn't change my dreaming in any way.
I slept less soundly and comfortably. My arms and elbows hurt all the time because I was involuntarily curling them while I slept. In fact I noticed a tendency to curl my arms against my chest even during the daytime. This is a known but super rare and obscure side effect of the drug.
Pfizer's bundled supplementary service that provides phone and web-based support for your cessation was really flaky. Their phone system would forget to call me for a few days at a time, then send me scolding emails that they were going to drop me from the program for not checking in with them. Their email system would periodically stop sending the daily or weekly messages to me for weeks at a shot, although the updates were appearing on the site. Their support team was totally unresponsive when I tried to get these technical problems sorted out. I never used their "if you have an urge to smoke" hotline and can't comment on its quality.
The uncle whose success inspired me to try to drug started smoking again two months after I discontinued the drug. I'd probably start smoking again today but the idea of going through that experience again horrifies me too much.
The TLDR: Quitting smoking using Chantix worked but damaged my mental health in the short and long term. I'm not convinced it was worth it, even knowing the importance of quitting.
If you take it, KEEP taking it. I've used it to quit four times now, but I couldn't afford to take it for more than a month (it's not covered under my insurance). So I'd quit for a month or two, and then start again.
I didn't have any depression, but I did have some rage issues. Occasional vivid dreams (sometimes of the sexy variety).
The nausea thing was interesting. Before I had gastric bypass surgery I'd take the pill and be nauseated for at LEAST an hour. Didn't matter if I took it with food or not. After surgery, I'd get a minute or less of intense abdominal pain (I'd start counting as soon as it started and never got above 60). But only sometimes.
I'm trying the e-cig thing now after repeated Chantix failures and repeated Allen Carr failures. If Chantix was suddenly covered by my insurance I'd probably try it again, and I'd keep taking it for as long as it took.
posted by elsietheeel at 8:42 AM on September 30, 2010
I didn't have any depression, but I did have some rage issues. Occasional vivid dreams (sometimes of the sexy variety).
The nausea thing was interesting. Before I had gastric bypass surgery I'd take the pill and be nauseated for at LEAST an hour. Didn't matter if I took it with food or not. After surgery, I'd get a minute or less of intense abdominal pain (I'd start counting as soon as it started and never got above 60). But only sometimes.
I'm trying the e-cig thing now after repeated Chantix failures and repeated Allen Carr failures. If Chantix was suddenly covered by my insurance I'd probably try it again, and I'd keep taking it for as long as it took.
posted by elsietheeel at 8:42 AM on September 30, 2010
Why would the experience with Chantix be any different today as opposed to 2007? Was it reformulated at some point?
Updated update to my previous updates:
3.5 years later and still a non-smoker. I regularly hang out with smokers and get -0- urge to smoke. My only real issue is that the smell of cigarette smoke makes me nauseated.
On the other hand, my sister tried it and couldn't handle the dreams (my favorite part) and stopped (Chantix, not smoking, unfortunately.)
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 8:49 AM on September 30, 2010
Updated update to my previous updates:
3.5 years later and still a non-smoker. I regularly hang out with smokers and get -0- urge to smoke. My only real issue is that the smell of cigarette smoke makes me nauseated.
On the other hand, my sister tried it and couldn't handle the dreams (my favorite part) and stopped (Chantix, not smoking, unfortunately.)
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 8:49 AM on September 30, 2010
I quit smoking using chantix 2.5 years ago and am STILL not smoking.
That said, it spun me into a severe depression, bad enough that I was not certain if it was worth it. (It kind of was, as it worked, but at the time being suicidally depressed was not fun. That is the understatement of the year).
If you take it, make CERTAIN you have a Dr. that will take complaints seriously (mine didn't). It works, but the short term cost can be very heavy.
I'll never ever smoke again simply so I never have to go through that again.
posted by bibliogrrl at 10:01 AM on September 30, 2010
That said, it spun me into a severe depression, bad enough that I was not certain if it was worth it. (It kind of was, as it worked, but at the time being suicidally depressed was not fun. That is the understatement of the year).
If you take it, make CERTAIN you have a Dr. that will take complaints seriously (mine didn't). It works, but the short term cost can be very heavy.
I'll never ever smoke again simply so I never have to go through that again.
posted by bibliogrrl at 10:01 AM on September 30, 2010
Oh yeah, and the nausea. SO BAD. I tend to forget about that with everything else that happened. I would take it with food, and still feel awful for 30-60 minutes every morning.
posted by bibliogrrl at 10:02 AM on September 30, 2010
posted by bibliogrrl at 10:02 AM on September 30, 2010
I took it for 3 weeks this past June and was able to quit smoking after about 2 weeks. I experienced the vivid dreams which were fine. I was concerned about the dreams, too, because I have nightmares, but I don't remember having any problems.
I also felt very lethargic, unmotivated and depressed. I needed to sleep about 12 hours/day. I had panic attacks each time I increased the dose level. (I'd recommend timing the increases for days off from work if possible.)
I found that I would feel sick or throw up when I took my first dose each day, especially if I didn't take it after having a full meal. I experienced digestive problems just about every day. I had that skin crawling sensation and just felt really gross overall.
After taking Chantix for 2 weeks, I still wanted to smoke cigarettes, just not as often and I didn't really enjoy them nearly as much. So, after 2 weeks, I picked a day to quit and just forced myself to do it. The first few days of quitting were still pretty unpleasant, but the withdrawal was not nearly as horrible as cold turkey nicotine withdrawal.
Even though my doctor recommended taking it for 3 months, I carefully weaned myself off it by reducing the dose amount over 4 or 5 days after my quit date. The side effects were bad enough that I wanted to stop taking it as soon as possible and risk a more likely relapse.
Despite all the side effects, it did help me quit by making those first 3 days without cigarettes easier (even though it made the 3 weeks on Chantix much more difficult than a normal 3 weeks.)
(On preview) like bibliogirl, the thought of taking Chantix again is helping me stay off cigarettes.
posted by sophie at 10:44 AM on September 30, 2010
I also felt very lethargic, unmotivated and depressed. I needed to sleep about 12 hours/day. I had panic attacks each time I increased the dose level. (I'd recommend timing the increases for days off from work if possible.)
I found that I would feel sick or throw up when I took my first dose each day, especially if I didn't take it after having a full meal. I experienced digestive problems just about every day. I had that skin crawling sensation and just felt really gross overall.
After taking Chantix for 2 weeks, I still wanted to smoke cigarettes, just not as often and I didn't really enjoy them nearly as much. So, after 2 weeks, I picked a day to quit and just forced myself to do it. The first few days of quitting were still pretty unpleasant, but the withdrawal was not nearly as horrible as cold turkey nicotine withdrawal.
Even though my doctor recommended taking it for 3 months, I carefully weaned myself off it by reducing the dose amount over 4 or 5 days after my quit date. The side effects were bad enough that I wanted to stop taking it as soon as possible and risk a more likely relapse.
Despite all the side effects, it did help me quit by making those first 3 days without cigarettes easier (even though it made the 3 weeks on Chantix much more difficult than a normal 3 weeks.)
(On preview) like bibliogirl, the thought of taking Chantix again is helping me stay off cigarettes.
posted by sophie at 10:44 AM on September 30, 2010
Response by poster: Why would the experience with Chantix be any different today as opposed to 2007? Was it reformulated at some point?
I don't know if the drug is any different than in 07. I think it's still the same, but just in case, I wanted to see if there were any significant differences in the effects over the past 3 years. That's all. Part of it is that I don't really trust drug companies, and feel that they do not really have the patient's best interests at heart. But that's JMO.
Thanks to all for the responses. I will go through them in more detail tonight.
posted by sundrop at 11:40 AM on September 30, 2010
I don't know if the drug is any different than in 07. I think it's still the same, but just in case, I wanted to see if there were any significant differences in the effects over the past 3 years. That's all. Part of it is that I don't really trust drug companies, and feel that they do not really have the patient's best interests at heart. But that's JMO.
Thanks to all for the responses. I will go through them in more detail tonight.
posted by sundrop at 11:40 AM on September 30, 2010
You might find this helpful.
http://nymag.com/news/features/43892/
I tried Chantix once - it was remarkably effective in eliminating cravings and making slip ups damn unpleasant.
Like other folks, I absolutely loved the vivid, disturbing, elaborate dreams. You'll get the same thing if you sleep with a nicotine patch on. Both drugs a affect acetylcholine - a critical neurotransmitter for REM sleep. As much as I enjoyed the dreams, I never felt fully rested in the morning
About 5-7 days in I started to feel twinges of depression. I figured it was normal. Nicotine also affects dopamine and serotonin - so it figured I would feel shitty for awhile. That's pretty common.
Then one day I literally woke up crying and could not stop. I'd go to work, sit at my desk for 15 minutes and then go to my car for an hour to cry, go for walks and cry, go out to dinner with my friend and cry. I was convinced that no one loved me and never would. I was certain that the people in my life who said they cared for me really just kept me around because they felt sorry for me. I felt like my internal world was a desert - a place where nothing could grow, nothing could live. Who could love that? Who could tolerate that for any reason other than pity?
This went on for about four days - the two days it took me to figure out the cause and two days for the harshest phase to dissipate. Overall, it took me about ten days to fully recover once I stopped taking the medication.
posted by space_cookie at 3:04 PM on September 30, 2010
http://nymag.com/news/features/43892/
I tried Chantix once - it was remarkably effective in eliminating cravings and making slip ups damn unpleasant.
Like other folks, I absolutely loved the vivid, disturbing, elaborate dreams. You'll get the same thing if you sleep with a nicotine patch on. Both drugs a affect acetylcholine - a critical neurotransmitter for REM sleep. As much as I enjoyed the dreams, I never felt fully rested in the morning
About 5-7 days in I started to feel twinges of depression. I figured it was normal. Nicotine also affects dopamine and serotonin - so it figured I would feel shitty for awhile. That's pretty common.
Then one day I literally woke up crying and could not stop. I'd go to work, sit at my desk for 15 minutes and then go to my car for an hour to cry, go for walks and cry, go out to dinner with my friend and cry. I was convinced that no one loved me and never would. I was certain that the people in my life who said they cared for me really just kept me around because they felt sorry for me. I felt like my internal world was a desert - a place where nothing could grow, nothing could live. Who could love that? Who could tolerate that for any reason other than pity?
This went on for about four days - the two days it took me to figure out the cause and two days for the harshest phase to dissipate. Overall, it took me about ten days to fully recover once I stopped taking the medication.
posted by space_cookie at 3:04 PM on September 30, 2010
Response by poster: I appreciate all of these very honest and detailed responses. As much as I need to quit, I'm going to hold off on filling this for now. I'm having some issues with my current pharma combination, which is causing inexplicable heightened anxiety and fractiousness. Am also going through some very difficult issues with my 12-year old son, which I know is adding to all of this.
posted by sundrop at 9:34 AM on October 1, 2010
posted by sundrop at 9:34 AM on October 1, 2010
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Have you looked into e-cigarettes?
posted by k8t at 7:10 AM on September 30, 2010