Chantix Recall: Driven to quit, driven to despair
76The on-line posts and the stories just keep coming...
The on-line posts and the stories just keep coming—disgruntled users of Chantix who report depression, aggression or even suicidal thoughts themselves, or similar behavior from friends and loved ones taking Chantix in an effort to quit smoking.
Others appear fine on Chantix. The anti-smoking drug from Pfizer, which is not a patch but is an oral medication that targets the brain, burst onto the market not quite two years ago with a flourish and a fanfare that suggested the Holy Grail of Smoking Cessation has arrived. However, at the end of the day it seems that you just don't know what's going to happen, when something plays with your brain. Unlike other anti-smoking drugs, which are based on the principle of gradual withdrawal from nicotine dependence, Chantix goes for the jugular by taking the pleasure away. It accomplishes this feat by targeting the neuro receptors in the brain that respond to nicotine, thereby preventing them from releasing dopamine, which is the chemical responsible for the smoker's high. While nicotine builds up in your system, it's the shot of nicotine which Pfizer believes goes straight to the brain, resulting in a quick hit of pleasure. It doesn't last long, but it's there. And it leaves you wanting more of the same. And so if you quit cold turkey, or even gradually with a patch or other smoking cessation aid, there is always one common thread—and that is if you give up on quitting, if you can't take it anymore, your little white smoldering friend will always be good for a puff of pleasure. Oh, you try to deny yourself. You try to hold firm, stay the course, and muster the discipline to remain strong and kick the habit. But if you can't—if you JUST CAN'T—you know that the pleasure is as close again as the nearest lighter. That's where Chantix is different, apparently. In blocking the release of dopamine, it takes away the pleasure entirely. Or so it seems. Pfizer is a bit cloudy as to how it works, but they know that it does. Of course it works. But the fallout varies with the individual, and reaction to a Chantix cycle is as individual, as every individual on the face of the earth. Some people breeze right through it. Sure it's hard—quitting smoking is a tough road—but they hunker down and get it done. They go through the pain of losing the pleasure, the sheer effort of making such a wholesale lifestyle change, and are thankful in the end that Chantix helped them to let go of the addiction once and for all. Others, it appears, aren't so lucky. In post after online post, dozens of Chantix users report depression and anxiety. Some people report a history of depression prior to taking Chantix, while others present no history at all before going on the Pfizer drug. Some felt depressed while on Chantix. Others had trouble coming off Chantix. The majority, finding that Chantix was making them irritable and testy, and turning them into a non-functioning member of society, pulled themselves off Chantix and went back to smoking. Grown men with strong, emotional constitutions prior to Chantix, report breaking down and crying several times a day. One woman identified as Angela told of her boyfriend, who had suffered a bout with depression two years ago, but recovered and had been happy and healthy for 18 months. Then he began taking Chantix in an effort to stop smoking. Angela reports that her boyfriend's darkness came back, allegedly triggered by Chantix. Two weeks before her post in October of last year, Angela reports that her boyfriend tried to commit suicide by way of an overdose of Paxil and Wellbutrin. He survived, but the experience has left them both fearful of Chantix. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received a flood of reports from Chantix users that have experienced depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts, amidst a host of other adverse affects. The agency is currently studying the issue. In the meantime, while Chantix appears to have many fans, it seems to have many, many more foes. In their view Chantix is a wild card, with inconsistent results given that it is targeted towards the brain. Quitting smoking is tough enough, without involving a medication that exacerbates, and often intensifies the difficulty, turning determination into despair. Why does Chantix work for some, and not for others? Sometimes the dosages have to be customized for the individual. Others have proven fine while on the medication, but withdrawing from it is hell. For some, both are true. In the end, it suggests that you will never get a clear answer with something messing with your head, which is what Chantix does. It targets the brain, and individuals react differently when you start playing with the gray matter above the neckline. The FDA has advised doctors to closely monitor patients for signs of depression and other difficulties linked to a Chantix program—especially if there had been a history of depression, or mental illness prior to taking Chantix. Does Chantix work? Yes, it can. But beware. And have someone looking out for you, because you may turn into someone you are not. To be fair, some people turn into monsters, or melt away emotionally simply by quitting smoking, without any help from Chantix. However, put Chantix into the mix, and suddenly it can be a whole new ball game.Chantix Legal Help
If you or a loved one has suffered suicidal thoughts, or committed suicide from using Chantix, please contact a lawyer involved in a possible Chantix Lawsuit to review your case at no cost or obligation.
PrintShare it! — Rate it: up down flag this hub
Comments
Chantix works great for me. I have been on it for 90 days and have not touched a cigarette. Not only has it aided in my quiting it has lifted a depression I did not even know that I had and has provided an overall wonderful feeling regarding life. As with any medication it should be monitered by a professional until you know how you will react. I had horrible reactions with Ambien complete with driving while asleep, etc. so you always have to aware and careful.
Stop Smoking Today,
Glad to hear you found a drug-free way to quit. Thanks for sharing
Billly,
Pleased to learn Chantix worked for you. I wish others were so fortunate. Thanks for sharing!
Chantix made it possible for me to now declare myself a non-smoker for the past 10 monthes and counting!!
I've been on chantix for about a week now and other than making my stomach feel a little sick and my dreams being wild, I think it's working. the desire to smoke is less and less each day.
I took Chantix around June 07 and it got me off cigs for about a year but I have been suffering from depression and thoughts of suicide since coming off the drug. Ive lost all interest in my social life and work is suffering severly
I took Chantix for 3 weeks in May/June 2008. I had visions in my head of killing myself and went into a severe depression. I now am on medicine for depression and anxiety because of Chantix. I have never been on medicine in my life. I cannot get off of the medicine and worry I will be on it for life. I do not recommend anyone to take this drug.
My doctor subscribed Chantix to me on Friday Nov. 21 -08. I started it on Saturday morning at 9:00 am. Around 11:30am I was talking to my husband on the phone with a work order and I suddenly could not speak words I was trying to say. They came out in some different language (so it sounded like) I then got off the phone and went and looked in the mirror and looking straingt in the mirror could only see the left side of my face. I didn't have a right side. I sat for a while while wondering if I was experiencing a small stroke. Finally I was able to recite the alphabet with no problem. WHAT A SCARE!!! I am a very healthy person. I have not yet contacted my doctor but am doing so first thing on Monday. I spent $123.00 on this horrible drug to save money now I am only throwing it away because I can't get my money back. Cold turkey must be the only answer for me. I wish I had done research on this killer before hand and cant understand WHY it is still on the market!!!
I started taking Chantix in late March 2008 and stopped smoking altogther on April 2, 2008. I have been smoke free for 8 months.
September 2007 I decided I wanted to quit smoking. I had gone to the doctor and he prescribed Chantix. It took me a long time to make this decision so I was pretty excited. I took my first week while smoking and it was great I was happy all the time, after the first week I had quit and had no desire to smoke. I had continued with the next three weeks of the Chantix and by the end I was ill from the smell of the cigaretts and vowed never to touch another. I can't stand the smell now. I really do not beleive I would have quit without it. It is not for everyone but all the stuff they are saying really depends on the individual.
I used Chantix to quit smoking 1 1/2 years ago and I also had a little bit of an upset tummy for about a week and I had 2 or 3 very enhanced dreams (would have liked a few more of those!) I only needed to use it for 4 weeks and I was one addicted smoker. I started smoking at 15 thanks to free Camels and Marlboros being passed out by the Reps at the bowling ally as if they were candy! Any way I quit at age 44. Chantix was the one and only thing that helped me and I will be forever grateful.
In Sept 2008 I took Chantix for 2 1/2 weeks and it did help me stop smoking. I've been smoke-free ever since. I'm glad about that. But my life is awful because of Chantix. I cry all the time. I am depressed. I loathe myself and feel terrible that anyone has to be around me. I wish I had never heard of Chantix. The warning about depression and anxiety sounds so clinical and far-removed on the label, but the realities of it are horrible. I'm grateful for those helped by Chantix. But to those thinking about using Chantix, please think hard about that decision. Try the nicotine patch first. Please.
I too at first thought Chantix was great it was really helping me stop smoking, however, after a couple of weeks my head felt wierd. I was exstremely aggitated, and had very strange insecrue thoughts. I was like in a rage it was very scary. I quit taking the pills and my head still felt wierd, like altered for a couple of weeks.
Get used to this and expect it from Corporations, who hide behind the facade of actually providing products because they care and want to help. Remember what I am saying here. They don't care. It's not in their interest to care.
Phizer is only in it for the money. It is the nature of Corporations. They are owned by stockholders who only demand one thing. Profit. Stockholders don't feel to blame for all of us suffering because they are just trading stocks for a profit. Why would it be their fault? Stockholders don't go to jail when you die and neither does the corporation. Nobody gets the death penalty when a drug kills hundreds of people. Hell, the FDA doesn't even pull it off the market when a drug is much more prolific than any modern day serial killer. It's for the "greater good". Some people actually quit. (even though they don't tell you that 95% of them start smoking again. They are selling, not trying to help you REALLY quit)
The FDA is responsible for keeping medications off the market until they are fully tested. The FDA is also supposed to take food off the market after it has proven unsafe. AFTER. Now look what happened with Peanuts. They took them all off the market, from all companies and how many people died? They ran a lot of smaller business out of business over something that was very very unlikely to be in their product and that usually only makes people mildly sick anyway. Now compare this with every drug, which should have been tested for 100% safety BEFORE being released.
Now you might understand where I am coming from. Corporations LEGALLY have every right and responsibility that you or I do but aren't held accountable and even when they are you know that the price covers the inevitable lawsuit they know is coming and is still worth it. Why else do they hide the side effects until thousands or tens of thousands make claims all over the net?
The question by now isn't whether or not Chantix is safe. The real question is who is responsible for investigating the FDA being bought out by all of these corporations? And how much are these investigators being paid for not doing it?
I started taking chantix in Dec.06 wanting to quit smoking as of Jan.1,I had experienced minor symptoms of depression before I took chantix.I was able to quit smoking but was more depressed and very testy.There were times I would lie in bed and just cry.I have been on several anti-depressents since and they have not helped.I am having some problems with my memory,at times it seems cloudy and I just can't remember things.I'm wondering if this is also because of chantix,has anyone else experienced this.
Chantix worked for me. I have been smoke free for over a year.
i am currently on the chantix program and i am deathly ill, nausea, vomiting and a severe headache, i can barely hold my head up. has anyone else experienced this reaction, if so how long did it last? i am seriously thinking of stopping the program.
Worked for me! I did have wierd dreams and the "funny feeling" in my head. That all went away several weeks after when I finished taking the pills/
I did quit smoking!
This is the second time I have taken Chantix. The first time was a few years ago and I had no problems.
This time was another story:
Its late but I really felt the need to post so I hope I can make some sense at this late hour.
I ended my first packet on March 5, 2009
March 9, 2009 I was in the Drs. office and this dr. that i have known for the last 10 years thought I was depressed and needed counseling due to all the things I told him I was feeling. Yes, I did have normal stuff as we all do going on , but I wasn't or at least I didn't think I was depressed.
I told him that after only 2 weeks on the Chantix, I felt myself becoming a sad, antisocial, aggitated, angy, forgetfull,emotional person that I couldn't stand to be around. My poor family, I didn't want to see anyone or do anything. I didn't want to talk to anyone on the phone either. I was just plain nasty. It is now July 2, 2009 and I am still having side a good portion of these effects. The symptoms are not quite as bad as they were but I wake up aggitated for no reason and I have to force myself to get out of bed in the morning because the pain through the night doesn't let me sleep much. I still most of the time can't stand myself I can't belive a adult my age 45 can't control how mean and agressive I am towards those around me. I feel so bad. I can see how this could really cause relationship problems. There is only so much people can take. Thankfully I have a great husband who knows this is not me. My chlidren still don't understand as to why I am so emotional as I try to be as collected around them as I can be. I am constantly having to say I am sorry for acting like I do.
The weekend before I went to the dr. I spent laying in bed the whole weekend in the worst pain I had ever been in. I emailed a chiropractor friend of mine I hadn't seen for years telling him about the pain on Saturday the 7th and asked for a appointment as I hurt from my shoulders all the way to my feet. I have gained so much weight I went from a size 14 to almost a 18 I just can't stand it and retain a lot of water. My feet feel like they are going to break when i walk and my bones feel like they are going to break when I bend.The pain I fell is like I am a porcelin doll that would shatter if moved from side to side in bed or if anyone would touch me. The pain gets better and then comes back days or even weeks later when ever it feels like it. On the weekend that I was the worst, I used heating pads and Ice packs to help with the pain. Nothing I did seemed to matter. I really thought I was going to die or at best be rushed to the emergency room, but I got through. The evening of Sunday the 8th I had my daughter bring me her lap top and I stayed up for hours in pain in my bed looking up on the computer anything I could about what was going on with me, then I finally googled "Chantix and Pain, I couldn't believe that this misery I was going through was actually the side effects from the Chantix. I was really glad that I wasn't dying but sure felt like I wanted to. I was so scared and felt all alone and my poor husband and daughter, they were just beside them selves, they didn't know what to do for me. When I finally found this information, I found that there are thousands of us who experience this pain, I printed out other stories gave them to my dr. for him to keep and begged him not to perscribe this to anyone else. He told me he was sorry and that he wishes he had a crystal ball and knew when my side effects were going to go away. He perscribed me some pills for pain and ambian, Ambien really has been my only comfort. That along with Ice packs. My Dr. said He was only familiar with the side effects from the actual RX he had no Idea about the information I gave to him at the appointment.
I have never had thoughts about suicide but I have to tell you I did have 2 crazy bizarre things happen while I was driving a few weeks on chantix and it just scared the crap out of me. I had a thougt go through my mind like someone was actually telling me "hey go hit that cement pillar head on" or " crash into that car next to you" I have never had thoughts like that. I thought "WHERE IN THE HELL DID THAT COME FROM?" I can see that if SOMEONE wasn't of right mind where These thoughts could really lead to problems like unintentional suicide. I could have followed these thoughts too as I was actually on the freeway both times, And like I said, I have never had thoughts of killing myself. So Based on this experience, I do belive that the people who comitted suicide didn't really want to die, I belive that they were only following a thought like the ones that I just described. I feel so bad for those families. We really do have to get this off the market!!!! and find a cure for all of the side effects and find out how long they actually do go on. Please feel free to email me at mbandjsmom@aol.com its late and I hope I made some type of sense and I would love to help you if I can.
I am shocked. I was on chantix 3 different times and no it never made me completely quit my desire for cigarettes, but I want to add I think there is a lot we didn't know about this drug. Especially the suicidal tendencies the swelling and long term memory affects. I can tell you i have about 2+ pitting edema in my shins now that I have never had prior to this drug. I have also had feelings of how I would feel dead especially while driving. I am going to call my doctor today as I think she needs to get to the root of this. Wishing that drugs would not be able to be given to us without fully knowing what all they can cause and teh severity of the symptoms they can cause. I have always battled with depression that usually eleviates in the spring and even today it is a battle. Going to go call my doc now. Thank you to all who has posted here.
Goldie,
Your story sounds like mine, except I (thankfully) was spared the physical pain. The emotional pain, however, was terrible. I had thoughts of suicide and at one point found myself standing the kitchen with a handful of narcotic pain pills and a glass of water in my hand, ready to take them. Why my husband tolerated me through the worst of the post-Chantix days and months, I will never know. But I'll be forever grateful.
Please know that the symptoms do lessen with time. I'm now 9 1/2 months off of Chantix, and I am finally beginning to feel like myself again, although the agitation and overwhelming sadness, do reappear from time to time.
Hang in there. It will get better. My heart goes out to you and I'll keep you in my thoughts.
I meant to address that last post to Laurie.
I started taking Chantix June 6,2009. I took the first week as prescribed.I was a happy entergetic 29yr old female who never felt this happy before. I got to tell you Chantix does work.I read all the nasty side affects and was thinking to myself I guess I'm lucky that I havent had anyside affect.Well week 4 hit and major depression and I would cry for no reason at all.I would get pissed for no reason at all and would just lock myself in my room all day and not come out.I wouldn't talk to my roomates. I finaly for sick of feeling this way and stopped taking the chantix a week ago and feel a whole lot better, I have only had 1 cig since June 14,2009 and I am feeling good right now.What really upsets me is that Chantix says that your doctor is supose to keep seeing you while you are on this medication and my doctor did not. I think this drug is a miracle worker,but I would not recomened this to annyone not even my worst ennemy.Im still smoke free and feeling great now.
I took Chantix 2 years ago with no adverse problems at the time...but after finishing the drug and yes was smoke free I went into a deep deep deep depresion that I just was able to stop taking medication for. I do not recomend anyone with any depression in their past to take this drug. I am back smoking again because of my depression.
Seven months ago, I took a half dose of Chantix for three weeks and it changed my life. I never thought I'd ever be free of the daily cravings I had when I quit for three years with no help (and started again.) Now, I have tiny cravings here and there that are totally manageable.
DEFINITELY had a terrible time emotionally, but those feelings began to subside about six weeks after stopping the medicine. I love the way it helped, but I'm not sure it was worth the side effects.
Hmm... thinking that pot is better for you then this drug, how come this Chantix drug is legal.
like a little kid, should I try should I not.
and no I dont smoke pot! Just wanna get off the Reds.
It is not the drug causing all these feelings..... it is the lack of nicotine.
Starting my third week of Chantix. Dreams are crazy and this week I've pulled over twice while driving to work to cry. Thinking about Frinds, Family and my pets that I have lost in the last ten years made me sink quite a bit. Having trouble sleeping and when I awake from the sleep that I do get, I become very parinoid of the upcoming day. My emotions are like a rollercoaster and some times I just dont give a shiz about anything. The good news is that Ive only had three cigs in the last 5 days, not bad for a 1 1/2 pk a day x 32yr smoker. I do hope something can be done about these side affects most of us seem to have. This is weird and I scare myself sometimes. Would like to get back to being T.Terrific and not Terrible T. Good luck to us all
I used Chantix to quit smoking, I am now 57 days smoke free. The only side effects I had were the lucid dreams and I actually kind of liked those. Other than that I had no other side effects.
On September 15, 2008, I found my only child, age 32, dead in her bed. Danielle was totally disabled by mental illnesses for about 12 years. She had been diagnosed with but not limited to, Bi-Polar, Post Traumatic Stress, Severe Depression, Self-Mutilation and Board Line Personality Disorder. Every day she took a regiment of medications, on time and as prescribed -
Risperdal 1 mg twice a day
Zolpidem 10 mg per day
Doxepin 150 mg per day
Clonazepam 1 mg - twice a day
Depakote Er 500 mg tablets x 3 at bedtime
Danielle was really doing, she had been clean and sober for more than six months. She wanted to be more healthy and to quit smoking. A prescription with refills of CHANTIX were written for her, with full knowledge of her medical history and current medications. NOBODY told us of any side effects. A day or two before she took her life, she told me that she made a massive headache and had nausea. Because neither of us were told any of the side effects - my only child is dead. I took her to every appointment, pharmacy, etc. as she also had a fear of driving. It was the Sunday after Dani’s death that I saw the commercial “The Tortoise and The Hare.” I called our local Coroner and raised my concerns. He called me back the next day after calling four (4) different labs of which none of them checked for Varenicline. All branches of our US military and the FAA have banned the use by any and all personnel.
I have read about the group which Pfizer used as the test study. What a joke - the drug was run though the FDA with no problems. (Could that be because Pfizer is the largest drug company in the WORLD?)
Due to Atrocious Medical Personnel and Pfizer Pharmaceutical, I am a Childless Mother.
I started on chantix 8 weeks ago. I am have been a non-smoker for 7 weeks. I am so glad. I don't know how I could have done it w/o chantix. If you do decide to take it the warnings are real! Make sure you have someone keeping a close eye on you. I stopped taking it early. I couldn't sleep and when I did my dream were so vivid that I didn't feel like I was sleeping. When I stopped taking it I was very depressed for about a week. The side effects were terrible but (for me) worth it.
I am about to start my 2nd week. The changes in mood etc. are rather obvious. You have to be strong enough to overcome the obstacles. If you dont have the drive to succeed, it wont matter what form of quitting you try, you wont make it. Its easy for a person to convince themselves that they are not in the wrong, but if you seriously ask yourself "am I stable enough to conquer this" most should truthfully answer "no". Its also very easy to play the "blame" game, because "it cant be my fault that this didnt work out for me, someone has got to be responsible for what I did, and it sure aint gonna be me". Best of luck to all in everything you do, just remember, its just as easy to convince yourself about the good things in life as it is the bad, unfortunately, the pity party preys on the bad side. MOSH \m/
I took chantix almost three years ago, and stop smoking. I smoked pall malls for 40 years. I had felt some effects, which I believe were brought on be the need to smoke. I believe that people who continue to smoke are committing suicide, and will die a terrible death. Lastly, Chantix is the best stop smoking drug on the market.
stopsmokingtoday says:
2 years ago
Ouch, the pharmaceuticals do it again. I remeber trying so many different things in an attempt to quit smoking. I was so happy when I found a drug free way to quit and stay quit. Strories like this make me so glad I didn't use drugs (other than the patch). Great info.