Comments on: Risk Suicide and Depression, But Quit Smoking

By: Jack Cook

Jack Cook — Tue, 13 May 2008 22:51:58 +0000

My brother-in-law used Chantix and committed suicide a couple of weeks later. This happened last September and is one of the FDA’s reported Chantix suicide incidents. I personally believe that he’d still be with us if not for Chantix.

By: carrie

carrie — Sun, 11 May 2008 05:13:30 +0000

I am on my second go-around with chantix and it worked the first time, I just stopped taking it too soon along with going on a couples vacation for several weeks with smokers. I caved in….
But now I am doing the series again with more focus and positive thinking because I know that this can work for me. Side-effect…. I am finding myself much more sensitive to situations, and from a rather non-cryer. things have had that effect. But the bright side is that this will be the last series for me and I AM EXCITED!

By: Cathy Twilley

Cathy Twilley — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:47:39 +0000

This month has been 1 yr ago that I started taking Chantix. I “was” a smoker for over 30 yrs.
I would call it a mirical drug. To this day I have no desire to smoke and had tried, like many others, for years to quit.

Don’t rob the people who’s lives this could save. I’m not trying to sound unconcerned but the depression & thoughts of suicide… never a part of my side effects. A few crazy dreams and had to take it with food so not to get sick.

Greatest thing ever to help with the ADDICTION of smoking.

Thank you,
Cathy

By: Dona McCormack

Dona McCormack — Thu, 08 May 2008 18:34:46 +0000

Chantix was awesome for me!! SLight depression for about 3 weeks, but smoke free for 8 months now!! Maybe you would need a predisposition to depression/rage to experience these side-effects? I experienced none of this and would recommend it to any smoker who wants to quit.

By: ralph

ralph — Thu, 08 May 2008 17:18:55 +0000

Yes - CT works about 2-3% of the time. NRT’s only work about 7 % of the time. For people that take Chantix/Champix for 6 months, the success rate is over 50%.
I smoked over 40 years, much of that 2 packs a day, and tried everything except acupuncture and nothing seemed to work. Trying CT, I never made it through one day. Chantix eases the withdrawal symptoms and the craving/urges to smoke. It enables the user to get through those critical first few days.
I would and have recommended this medicine to anyone. I am in an online support group with over 1800 members that are quitting using Chantix.
Talk to your doc if you have a history of psychological problems. Be aware that smoking cessation alone can cause depression, which can lead to suicidal ideation.

By: Dan from California

Dan from California — Thu, 08 May 2008 17:17:44 +0000

During the time I took Chantix, my dreams were great, very vivid…

By: Eric

Eric — Thu, 08 May 2008 17:14:56 +0000

I used Chantix and it was wonderful! Neverl had any issues relative to depression, etc. In fact, I was in better spirits than before and that may have been in part due to the fact that the medication worked so well I couldn’t ‘feel’ any effects at all but only that the urge to smoke just was not there. This may not be so with everyone who chooses to try Chantix but with me it was nothing short of miracullous!

Same for me Alice. Miracullous. Thank you to my doctor who suggested I try it.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Thu, 08 May 2008 16:43:14 +0000

I have been using Chantix for 7 weeks now, stopped smoking Apr 1, and have been very satified with the results so far. Not a single craving for a cigarette for the past 6 weeks. I was not a heavy smoker (1 to 1-1/2 packs per day) but I would try to cram 2 to 3 cigarettes in during a 15 minute break at work. I have not experienced any periods of rage nor have I felt out of control during this period, however, I may be a little more irratable than in the past but this may just be my own perception as my family has not raised any concerns and only has encouragement for me to continue on the path to a smoke free life.

The best advise I received before beginning the program was from my doctor who told me that if I started to have behavioral changes or nightmares that all I simply needed to do was to stop taking the medication, the body leaches this out in as little as 48 hours, and we’ll try something else. That is advise that I think everyone taking or thinking about taking Chantix should have.

By: Carl Smith

Carl Smith — Thu, 08 May 2008 16:35:27 +0000

I have to comment on this story. I started taking Chantix on the recommendation of my doctor.
I had smoked cigarettes for 52 years, in amounts varying from 1 pack to as much as 2+ packs a day. After taking Chantix according to the directions for SIX weeks, I quit smoking anything, no cigarettes , no cigars, no pipe.. nothing. That was 13 months ago and today I have no desire to smoke. Do I still want a cigarette sometimes? Honestly, yes I do, but would I dare light one? Not a chance. I can barely stand the smell of cigarette smoke.

I had absolutely NO adverse effects from taking Chantix and have recommended it to several people I know who wanted to quit. I have not heard of any of them having any adverse effects. One has to be serious about quitting and be dedicated to making it work. If someone has the adverse effects effects of rage, etc., I would guess they probably had these “problems” before they began taking Chantix and it only enhanced their “problem” not the cause of it.

By: Dan from California

Dan from California — Thu, 08 May 2008 16:31:48 +0000

I am sorry that you had a bad experience with Chantix, but for me, it was a miracle drug. I started taking it in the middle of Dec 07, and stopped smoking on Dec 31st, and have been smoke free to date. I had been smoking since I was 15 years old, and never thought I could stop this nasty habit, but with this drug, I have had great sucess. If you have a history of depression, perhaps this is not the drug for you, but for the masses that want to quit, go for it !!!!!!!