Julie's Journal

I haven’t tried Chantix yet but have friends who have. They said they had nightmares so bad while taking it, they would wake up screaming in the middle of the night thinking someone was trying to kill them. Other friends have said nightmares, depression, suicidal thoughts, no energy, loss of appetite, lack of motivation etc.

I need to quit smoking too, but my nightmares are already scary, I don’t need or want to make them worse.

Kat – I have had the lucid dreams side effect also, but mine so far have been very pleasurable dreams.

That definitely sounds scary, Jules. Didn’t Marcus use it to quit? I don’t know, being prone to depression, myself, I definitely wouldn’t want to be taking it. If you don’t have problems, though, maybe it’s ok. I don’t know – sounds scary to me.

But then – there is scary stuff online probably about Kleenex bath tissue – you know?

I guess it would be good if you weren’t both on it – then the one could monitor the other closely.

I hope you figure it out!

Lisa Marie Mary’s last blog post..11 boys trying out for 10 spots on the tennis team

Lisa – Marcus did use it and quit. I will email him, thanks for the reminder

I told my close coworkers, and my blogging friends here, so if you notice me going crazy, call for help! HA!

I don’t get it. Why don’t you just quit? Just quit without any artificial aid. Just don’t ever smoke again. Period. Have some inner strength.

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Idenity [sic] Theft – If it were only that easy. I take it you don’t smoke. Can you just stop spamming people’s blogs cold turkey?

As long as you are aware that these things CAN happen, you won’t freak out if they do. You can then overcome them. Being aware is the key. I hope you have success with this.

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Karen – very true! Thanks for the comment.

Hey. I did use it and quit. Actually I quit on about the 13th or 14th day. Never had the crazy dreams or nausea. I took it for 11 out of the 12 weeks and will hit my 7 month quit anniversary in a few days.

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Marcus – Congratulations!!! Did you stop taking the Chantix after the 11 weeks abruptly, or did you slowly wean off the dosage?

Just wanted to say congrats on deciding to quit smoking. That is awesome and I imagine very difficult.

I haven’t even heard of Chantix before, so I can’t say. When I went off Celexa (antidepressants) though, the withdrawal symptoms were very scary and very real and my doctor never warned me about them before putting me on the med. I didn’t consult my doctor before going off – perhaps she would have told me then, but it would have been nice to know before I even got involved with the drug.

Anyway, you’ve got a good support system with your husband having gone through it. I wish you good luck.

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Tee – How scary, I’m glad you are okay now Thanks for the support!

Congrats to you and Michael for making a start. That’s the hardest part – making up your mind to quit and then doing it. Congrats to Marcus, too. You’re an inspiration to all of us who need to believe that it’s possible to quit.

I don’t have any peresonal experience with Chantix. I have a lot of experience with anti-despressants. Any drug will cause side effects in a certain percentage of users. That wouldn’t be so bad if you knew exactly what the risks are and could make your decision based on that. There are too many variable from one user to the next for you to be able to do that, though. Drugs designed to alter the way we think and behave are especially sneaky that way. Your best course now is to watch yourself and have others watch you (you’re doing those things!) and get back in touch with your doctor immediately if things don’t feel right.

I hope this works for you and that you and Michael are both successful quitters. Good luck!

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I have no experience with this, but I did help a few people quit smoking on my mission. However, we didn’t use any drugs.

However, more to the point. You ask “I am going to turn into a raging homicidal and suicidal crazy person in a few weeks, or after I stop taking the Chantix.” I’m not sure why you think you becoming a crazy person would be a change. Are you trying to say you’re not crazy now? I don’t think you can blame the drugs on your craziness.

Hahahaha!! I’m so funny.

Exercise really has helped many people I know get through the hard times.

Skeet – Thanks for your words of encouragement!

Techie – Oh HAHAHA! You are teasing a woman who may go crazy, and knows where you live, and can drive there in 5 minutes.

Hmmm…..

Who’s the crazy one here?

You should blog about your lucid dreams. It might be great for search engine traffic.

Don’t give up on quitting

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Good for you for taking the steps to quit. My mom smoked for over 25 years, tried to quit multiple times by weening herself and trying different programs, and the only way she finally kicked the habit was by quitting cold turkey.

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I’ve never heard of Chantrix before but I have had a very similar bad experience with Zybam – suicidal, angry, depressed and god knows what else. it cost me a few friends and if I’d kept on taking it I don’t think I’d be writing this now. I’m afraid I don’t ever think I will worry about giving up smoking again. If the government’s/NHS’s way to get me to give up smoking is to kill me off quickly, then I’m quite happy to blow smoke in their faces from here on in.

i have heard lot about chantix , idont think it works well , mentally u get upset

I’m going to sound like such a woman right now… LOL

So, I was watching Oprah the other day and Dr. Oz was on and the entire program was about quitting smoking. I felt so inspired. The number one “drug” he recommended was Chantix. He was all about it. I made a doctor’s appt. for early next week to get on it. And this may sound naive but this is exactly why I don’t research meds online. Everything effects people differently. Pay close attention to how you’re feeling and if anything is “different” go back to the doctor. You also have the support of Michael who will give you that “outside looking in” prospective to make sure you’re doing OK.

At any rate, there’s all kinds of information on Oprah about quitting smoking if you want to take a look. After visiting her site I only feel more inspired and it may help ease some of your concerns as well. > Oprah’s Site.

Good luck and let us know how it works out for you!

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Martin! I would if I had an X-rated blog! They have been really erotic! HA!

Corrin – Your mother is a strong woman!

Chris – that sounds scary! I’m glad you are here to comment on my post {{HUGS}}

Katy! I wish you all the luck in the world! Did they mention any of these side effects?

Thanks! No mention of side effects other than “minimal.”

Katy’s last blog post..Google Might Offer Sponsored Reviews

You keep telling me you’re going to stop by my house, but never do. Plus, I’ve moved. Do you even have my new address?

techie’s last blog post..Business Intelligence Textbooks for My Class

Yes I do. Be afraid.

I’m shaking in my boots.

techie’s last blog post..WidgetBox to Create a Facebook App

Apparently you were right: http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01788.html

Don’t know if you’ve seen that yet.

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very enlightening.

I am still looking for a aversion drug for smokers/nicotice.

Antabuse is a drug to prevent drinking anything alcohol.makes you nasuea

ed’s last blog post..I chose not to use Chantix

[...] Julie while quiting smoking found that some of medications can cause depression: I had spoken to my doctor about the side effects of [...]

I have a number of friends who have successfully quit using Chantix, and a few others who have failed but are about to try again (and they are going to use Chantix to try again).

I myself managed to quit 2 and half years ago without using Chantix, but I’m excited for others who are using it to quit.

I haven’t heard of anyone personally who had ill effects from the drug.

I do know that the parent company recommends that you do not combine Chantix with the Nicotine patch, and a lot of people wonder about that.

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Hi, I am just wandering if you and michael are still not smoking. I just started chantix a week ago but still smoking. I feel a little confused and just not wanting to do anything..but somedays are just normally like this. Please let me know how you are doing with this…did you become crazy

i don’t think anyone should take chantix, seriousley. it’s so scary. it changed my father in the way that he became very lazy and even thought of suicide. pleaseee don’t take chantix, i cried for a long time after hearing my father was thinking suicidaly.

The superb working mechanism of _Pfizer’s anti-smoking medicine chantix makes it a highly sought after drug in the market and further Chantix information available in the website http://www.chantixmagic.com/ make it apparent that the drug acts as a better quit smoking medication that Zyban and other smoking cessation treatments. So, get hold of Chantix right now and trigger off smoking cessation!

I had spoken to my doctor about the side effects of course, and he did mention a couple cases of depression that went along with the Chantix, but he assured me that their symptoms were more from the nicotine withdraw, than the Chantix. I believed him completely until I started acting like Dr. Julie and Webmd’d my mind into full blown fear yesterday! http://www.levitraportal.com

I ask my doctor for the Chantix so it could help me quit smoking. I also take an antidepressant. After the 5th day on the chantix I felt like I was having a full blown meltdown with severe sadness. I even questioned life which is NOTHING like me. It was horrible along with the all night dark dreams which I never had before. So, please be aware that chantix stops pleasure receptors in the brain and it stopped ALL pleasures for me. I am going to stop smoking without the chantix. I have heard some great success stories but “Buyer Beware”. Its not for everyone.

I have just about quit smoking using chantix. I have been taking it about 3 months now. I am not able to smoke more than one puff, so I believe I am ready. As for chantix, it worked great, until recently. I am just now feeling drepressed for no reason. So I am going to stop taking them and pray I don’t pick up a smoke.