Any Way To Reverse Long-term Chantix Side Effects? (Page 10) (Top voted first)

My mother took Chantix several years ago in an effort to quit smoking. Well, she quit for a year. During that time, however, she became unbearably depressed. She has no history of depression. She consulted a doctor several times and tried 3 different prescriptions, 1 of them being Zoloft. She stopped because she said they made her feel like she was just in a constant haze. She hasn't been to a doctor or a psychologist since then. In the mean time, she started smoking again because she thought that it would make the depression go away. It didn't. Because of her experience with the 3 prescriptions, she is unwilling to go back to a doctor, and dismisses any notion of going to a psychologist. Our family has pleaded with her to keep trying, even if she has to tell whoever she sees that she won't try any drug for fear of the side effects; even if her only option is therapy, we want her to at least see someone. She is reluctant. This side effect of major depression has persisted for years now, long after she stopped taking Chantix. Does anybody have any advice, or experience with the reversal of such severe side effects? My mother, and the rest of my family, is terrified that this is permanent, and she is terrified of the possibility that another prescription will result in even worse side effects.

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I need help, can you help me? {edited for privacy}. I have been in horrible mental pain for 8 years from Chantix.

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Read back thru the blog Pam... there is hope

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Are you now back to normal? it has been 8 years for me and I am still depressed and do not care about anything. i have tried anti depressants and nothing worked. I would love to get my life back again

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I wouldn't say I'm 100% back to my normal state of mind, but I'm at least 95%... still have down days, but who doesn't.
I still take the supplement which contains Rhodiola Rosea once per day, and I believe its doing exactly what I was told it would do.
There is a post from a scientist back down there somewhere around post 80ish.
She tells us exactly what it does to help.
Please read thru the posts... you will see that others have also had some benefit...
I feel great

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I know you posted this a while ago, but I have been wondering as well. I took Chantix for a few months in 2009, I do have white matter changes.

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Hi again Judy... the post i was talking about is number 43... from Laura... i wish i could contact her.... My mother put me on the Rhodiola Rosea and prescribed me the doses of homeopathy, if you follow what I have put in here a few posts before 43... you will be okay... you will find peace and freedom from the black dog syndrome... you just gotta have faith.... And keep taking the supplements with the Rhodiola Rosea.

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Chantix contains metoclopramide sparks .....Pfizer don`t tell the truth!

Precautions:

"Metoclopramide can cause sleepiness and lack of concentration. Patients should avoid tasks that require mental alertness such as driving or operating machinery. Patients should also be aware that metoclopramide may enhance their response to alcohol and drugs that depress the central nervous system. Because metoclopramide can cause depression, patients with a history of serious clinical depression should take this drug only if absolutely necessary.

Metoclopramide can make the symptoms of Parkinson's disease worse, and patients with a history of seizures should not take metoclopramide, because the frequency and severity of the seizures may increase. The drug should also not be used in patients with GI problems such as bleeding, tears, or blockages. The safety of metoclopramide for pregnant women or children is unknown. The drug is found in the breast milk of lactating mothers."

Source: McTavish, Alison. "Metoclopramide", Encyclopedia.com. Web. 14 Nov. 2015

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Can you tell me what you mean regarding the "white matter changes " please

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Changes in the white matter of the brain, as much as I've been able to learn from online research these changes would be responsible for neurological symptoms as well as fatigue and memory issues. I dont get to see a neurologist until January so I have very little information about me specifically.

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Hi, I'm unsure if seeing a neurologist will help, because im quite certain they'll try you on anti depression tabs, and that may add to the effects of the champix/chantix.
Please source a supplement that contains the Rhodiola Rosea at least 900mg a day.
Also seek out a homoeopath and ask for a single dose of Thuja high potency....

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I do plan on purchasing those supplements the next time I am at a gnc or such place. Thank you for those recommendations. However, due to the white matter changes actually being a change in the physiology of my brain not seeing a neurologist is not an option. Basically, the changes are lesions that could be associated with many things from ms, migraine, lyme etc. I just cant help but wonder if they weren't caused by chantix since that's when my symptoms started.

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Wish I could gift you with a super special hug

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Can you please give what happened with your husband after chintax and if anything helped

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I am just interested in a dialogue with you. I took Chantix back in2007. I suffer from anger issues and depression. I used to be a very happy-go-lucky person & didn't have any issues. I am just dealing with my changing moods without any help. I am glad to no longer be a smoker but would like to be free of the negative emotional repercussions.

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Holy Cow!! Someone finally added 2 + 2 in a way that makes 4 VERY clear! I don't think most people put this information together! Thank You for posting that glaringly obvious explanation that is completely overlooked! I have taken Chantix 3 times now. The first 2 times I didn't say on it very long after quitting, which was fairly easy, so in a weak moment I began smoking again. I have encountered most of the interesting side effects, I feel it acts as somewhat of an anti depressant itself and find I am able to control cravings for other things much easier while on it, and generally feel more happy go lucky in general, so perhaps I did have some depression to start with. Sure it has side effects, some that aren't fun like weird dreaming, but cigarettes have a LOT more side effects!

My mother swears Chantix ruined her sense of taste permanently. But she wasn't even on it long enough to titrate up to a full dose. There were some complex health issues going on at the time she was prescribed it. After a few years she is right back to smoking and now moreso than ever. I have tried convincing her than it was the health issue that caused her change of taste then smoking again maintains the taste issue, but she's unconvinced. She is also someone who swears she's 'been depressed most of her life' and your explanation makes total rational sense to me, hopefully it will to her as well.

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{edited for privacy}. I have been reading through all the comments on this thread and I am very interested to know what you have found to be helpful as well. I will happily submit to a case study if that's what you guys might be cooking up, get it touch.

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Be very cafefull when you stop taking it. Very very slowly ween yourself. stopping is 10x worse on your system once you've adjusted to it. Beware!

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My bad Chell, please excuse my thread. I wasn't aware you were replying to anyone in particular as there was not a "reply to" before your message. I thought you were replying to the one above... I'm so sorry... please don't leave. I will if I can get the message deleted.

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So here's my very short story. I was at the doctor for strep in December, and I read a quit smoking pamphlet. I've used Zyban before and heard of Chantix. Never in my life did I think it might have long term side effects. I took the starter package for 13 days. I quit in eight days. I felt hazy and stopped the chantix cold turkey with no wean. Now Ten days later, still in a fog I'm obsessed with getting back to normal. I've read all the posts and a lot of forums, and this is the first time I've read a possible solution. I was considering starting Chantix again just to wean off of it. I can't believe a company can still advertise this product. I thank everyone for theor suggestions, and will try the homeopathic solutions mentioned. I'm a computer programmer and I need my mental acuity. I also want to offer my sympathies to everyone out there. It has been two weeks for me, I cannot imagine years.

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I have taken Chantix on several occasions, have quit successfully, but those same old life triggers cause me to start again, I have never noticed any significant long term effects after stoping, but during this time, I am also recovering from a series of strokes, as well as peri-menopausal, so between the brain damage and shifting hormones, who could tell depression or eve psychosis from normal? I have no normal anymore. after reading a lot of forums, and re-assessing, I have come to the conclusion that the med is causing some of the effects I blame on other things. I love the effect that it has on my 'jonesing' for a smoke, or sugar, or some other craving, I'm able to go many hours if need be without going nutso, but it's not worth my mental health. I need to stop smoking yes, but not sure now this is the way. I sang the praises of this medicine for a long time, now I'm not so sure it's as great as I thought. I have weaned down to half a dose, 1 mg daily, and still haven't escaped the daily headache I wake up with, or the crazy dreams (which most likely cause the headache being it is generally in my eye muscles). i'm not sure if the med causes these things or heightens what is already there, (I tend to have some obsessive thinking habits) but now I"m scared of taking it and scared of getting off of it again. I do still get some of the reduced urge benefit on only 1 mg a day, so it's still helpful. I did notice I had different side effects each time I took the med, that tells me my system had changed to a degree. i want to get off of it before I"m crazy, everyone here says wean very slowly, I always just stopped taking it before. do you suggest a reversal of the dosage recommended to titrate as in when starting? titrating up is said to reduce side effects, so I image the reverse is also true. Those of you who say 'wean very slowly' could you please elaborate on that?

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