Portland, Tennessee Blog

My husband and I both smoked for 30 years and started on Chantix 3 months ago. We continued to smoke at least half and sometimes less than what we did before taking this pill. Finally after 3 months we realized that smoking and taking that pill made us feel worse and didn't enjoy the cigarettes anyway. We said enough was enough and both of us quit at the same time 3 weeks ago. We want to continue to take the Chantix while we are not smoking so that we do not have any withdrawals. Feeling the withdrawals will just make it worse. We plan on doing this at least one more month until we feel we are totally free. Yes, my BP went up slightly but it does that anyway when you smoke and yes, we both got nauseated when we took the pill but so what. That is what the pill is suppose to do. Thanks to Chantix!

I used the starter pack of Chantix, set my date, used the get quit online support check in, and I quit for a month after having smoked for over 30 years. I was so proud of me. However, married to a smoker, I found I still craved the smell even though all my senses told me not to like it. I changed my habits, drank plenty of water, had the mild nausea at first but it cleared up, BUT, I too felt a little off like I was foggy and in a cloud and could not concentrate nor did I have many emotions to speak of - numb-like. I was happy that it didnt make me feel like I wanted to eat to substitute the urge to smoke. If I had a craving, I would get up and move and distract myself by doing something else. I found that after a month however, the medicine's potency started to wear off and there I was the weakest. Unfortunately, I started smoking again but plan to quit again with a new session of the Chantix and make more of a commitment to "stay quit" for good. When you think of how much you pay for cigarettes and how much money you will save in the long run, do something nice for yourself and stay with the program - then keep rewarding yourself with something positive and good for yourself and others around you! Good luck to all who plan to give Chantix a try and "stay quit", and, god bless all us fools for ever smoking in the first place!

I just wanted to say congrats to all of you who have quit!!! Also, I will pray for those of you struggling to quit.
I am proud to say that I am now 7 days smoke free. I spent all of last year trying to quit, and tried every method possible. I was miserable, gained 40 lbs, and thought I would never have the guts to try again. When I heard about Chantix, I saved up some money, went to the doctor, and made the investment in the prescription, and have been relying on God to take it from there.
So many people have been able to quit after taking Chantix for only a week. That's great! I, on the other hand, fall into the category that says, "It may take several weeks for Chantix to work best." I have taken Chantix for 4 and a half weeks, and am now 100% confident that this is IT... the end of smoking for me.
After quitting following the 1st seven days, I relapsed several times, never making it past 2-3 days without cigarrettes. However, the amount of cigarrettes I smoked significantly decreased over that time and became more and more disgusting with every puff! My quit date kind of set itself when I came to the conclusion that I was never even finishing my cigarrettes, and I was almost vomiting everytime I smoked (there were even several occasions when I DID vomit). I looked at my addiction and asked myself, "If you don't quit NOW, when will you?" If you are fortunate enough to be blessed with the option of taking this medication, I just urge you to stick it out - even if you are struggling. I have only made it 7 days, but I KNOW that I never want to experience quitting again...
The Chantix medicine is great. It was my own psychological battle ("bargaining" by saying that I would only smoke one more... and so on...)that kept me from quitting sooner (even though I wanted nothing more than to quit, each time I did it, it felt like I just couldn't permanantly 'let go'... even though we GAIN so much by quitting!), but the medicine even helped me through all of that!
I feel GREAT!!!!!
I hope that my story helped encourage someone who was taking a little longer to quit, like I did. Best wishes to you all!!!

I am on day 6 chantix....have smoked for 37 yrs.
I have been smoking the same amount of cigarettes as normal so far (one pack a day).

I also have breast cancer, and am on tamoxifen,
after receiving radiation. I am hoping the 2 are not clashing.

I feel really weird....like I am on some bad downer. I don't understand. Is this normal?
I am a pretty mellow person anyway, and this is making me feel like I am sinking into the earth.

I can't drive, concentrate on projects that need
full attention, and wonder if it is just me.
Will this feeling go away?

I have tried anti-depressants before and couldn't take those either. The feeling sort of reminds me of that feeling.

I also take clonzepam for sleep at night. . . plus other dr. medications and herbs and vitamins.

Is it ok to mix all these things?

The radiation during breast cancer treatment scarred my lungs in the apex. So, I know how important it is to stop. I will keep taking these pills and see what happens.

I am not trying to disuade anyone from their goals - I am just conveying what I am experincing so far.

I wish someone would tell me if they feel this way, too. . . and if so, does it go away after awhile?

I guess tomorrow is my 7th day full dose, and stop smoking . . . hope this works. I am a bit worried.

Comments from someone with a similar experience please?

Thank You!

I just finished my first month on Chantix. I kept smoking up to the last week, but fewer and fewer each day, and I'm now 48 hours with no cigs. It definitely helps cut the craving, but more surprising, it makes smoking "no fun." So I can't count on getting 20+ little happy moments per day. I find I'm going to bed around 8 pm! Am starting to have more upset stomach symptoms -- not quite nausea, just an unsettled feeling. I'll try more water with each dose. Chantix definitely works, and luckily, my insurance covers it. A good way to start the new year!

I have been on chantix for 2 weeks, 1 week and 1 day as a non smoker now. The pill works great, I have had the weird dreams, no sickness but I am not sleeping at all really, the only downside for me. It's weird, I guess chantix affects us all differantly....I will keep on it as it is making this so much easier....no grumpiness, I just miss the habit, feel a little lost....
Dont think I can go the treatment course as I need my sleep...I will be brave !!!
Anyone thinking of trying the drug definately should...GOOD LUCK !!!!!

I quit 3 years ago, cold turkey. I had tried other methods, but all they did was make me mad. The key for me was to get mad, fed up and want it bad enough. I walked away and havent looked back. Yes, the first few days/weeks were weird to adjust to. I had to keep reminding myself that I dont smoke anymore. I just kept saying in my head that I'm not a smoker and finally it all went away. I did have restless leg syndrome for about a week. When I would try to go to sleep my legs would keep jumping, that part of it was hard b/c it was affecting my sleep.

All you need to quit is to want it bad enough. Good luck to all of you.

Bad part of it is, you gotta have the money all up front. difficult to get.

My sister *Shelly Broadrick* just died of cancer in July, even after she was diagnosed, she would still crave cigarettes, shed say "might as well smoke I already have cancer", she was the sweetest funny most caring person, it hurts so much how much I miss her, nicotine its such a powerful draw, God bless those of you who smoke and I hope with my whole broken heart you have the strength of the Lords hand to help you quit, because even the threat of death couldnt break it for my sweet sadly missed sister..."Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal"

I also tried welbutrin and couldn't take it.
Chantix is not a Nicotine replacement, it stimulates the brain cells that nicotine effect, in some way making your body think it has nicotine when it doesn't and is why you don't go thru the irritability & Nicotine withdrawls.

Near the end of treatment the dosage is cut back over several weeks to wean you off the pills.

Some people have said they have experienced excellent results after only taking the pills for 8 weeks or less, I find that they are usually those who smoked less than 7 years.

I am also a blogger on a cancer/chantix, quite smoking site where I have had the experience of talking with others who have been on Chantix.

Is this new pill anything like Wellbrutin? I tried that several years ago and it made me feel "weird" and I couldn't maintain or stay focused. Had to stop after 3 weeks.

First let me thank CH for her compliment and let me as well compliment both you and Debra for your posts. Much like I was when I had enough, I was ready to let anyone and everyone know I DIDN'T LIKE BEING A SMOKER!

Nicotine Addiction is a horrible, horrible addiction to break. One must really want to quit to make it work.

Chantix is a pill prescribed by your physician in a 4 week dose pack, you start taking small doses the first 3 days, it then increases a little more for the next 4 days, this is the building up of the medication into your system and slowly getting your body used to the medication. Day 7 this is the target day to throw away the cigarettes, I found that by the time I was into day 5 I was only smoking 3-5 cigarettes per day and not entirely smoked. On Day 8 the dosage increases to full strength and this is where you stay thru the treatment. 1 pill taken 2x daily for 12 weeks, you can stay on it for up to 24 weeks for a greater chance to succeed at staying smoke free.

Withrdawl Symptoms: Next to NONE
Irritability: Next to NONE (hubby was thrilled :))
Urges to smoke: Next to NONE

Habbit Urges: YES, I found myself in days 8-14 reaching for my pack of cigarettes while sitting at the table drinking coffee, talking on the phone and after my evening meals. These are habbits for comfort of when I always smoked. I had to get thru these urges but within 5-10 min they were gone!

I have always said "My Car won't start without a cigarette" Guess what... It does and I never missed it!

SIDE EFFECTS:
The biggest side effect I found was lite nausea within 15 minutes after taking the pill, this would last for maybe 20-30 min tops and would leave as quickly as it came. The key to minimizing this was making sure you drink A LOT of water when you take the pill. Another side effect I encountered was wild dreams, not crazy/bad/extreme just comical and off the wall, but boy did I sleep, which might I add sleeplessness was listed as a possible side effect, but I found just the opposite.

The cost of this drug is where most have a problem with it, as most prescription plans don't cover it, the cost is $100-112. for a 4 week supply and I get mine at FRED's. BUT if you look at it this way, how much is a smoker paying weekly for cigarettes? After week 1 your cigarette money is going into your pills and it just about equals out in the long run.

I'm sorry for an exausting post, I will stop here, I'll be back again I'm sure & happy to do so!

Thank you Jessica for your encouragement, that is an important part of the transition and something you can't get enough of while trying to get thru these times.

Cograts to you Judy! Smoking is such a hard addiction to give up,my husband has struggled "on again off again" smoking for years and it is truly a shame that he can't give it up for good...he doesn't WANT to smoke...he feels so ashamed about starting up again after he "quits" that he tries to hide it and that is really sad that someone can be so addicted to something so dangerous that they can't walk away forever. I hope this promotes more people to give it up :) You can do it!

First I want to praise Judy for posting some great topics on this blog. Keep it up!!

As I sit here and light up again let me tell you, I AM A SMOKER AND I HATE IT!! I hate that I smell like an ashtray all the time. I hate what it is doing to my children and husband. He is an ex-smoker. I hate that I probably will not live to see my grandchildren be born and grow up.
This addiction has a very strong hold on me and will not let go no matter what I do. It is hard for someone that has never smoked to understand what smokers go through to try and stop. I have read that the addiction to cigarettes is worse than being addicted to cocaine. Which is probably true. GOD has blessed you Judy in helping you kick this habit now I pray that he will help me also.

I am a 53 year old female and I started smoking when I was 16. My boyfriend was a smoker so I started because I thought it looked cool. I have tried the gum, patches, cold turkey, the American Lung Association group at the hospital and I have even been hypnotized. Nothing worked and I am sure it's because my willpower is next to nothing when it comes to this awful addiction. I hate that I smoke. I'm willing to try just about anything at this point. Please Judy, tell me more about CHANTIX. What are the side effects, if any, and how does it work. Thanks!!!