Any Way To Reverse Long-term Chantix Side Effects? (Page 12) (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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Yes! I took chantix for nine days and had to stop because it made me have fits of rage. That was 10 months ago. Since then I've been suicidally depressed, unmotivated, and have had a lot of anxiety. I went from being an active, hard working, go getter with a zest for life to a bitter, lazy, sad person who has to give myself pep talks for days just to get enough energy to load The dishwasher. My poor kids. They lost the mom they always had. I regret ever taking that awful chemical.

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It didn't make me quit, it just gave me severe depression, with bad mood swings.
I'm still smoking..
REGARDLESS of that, we are here to support each other through our experiences from taking chantix / champix as it is known as here in NZ.
There are just too many horror stories about this drug.
SO.. my update on my experience would entail feeling at least 87% betterer than any year previous. I think keeping up with the Rhodiola Rosea supplements have benefited me immensely, and choosing "not" to react when the little cracker goes off in my head. I really feel that to be conscious of any kind of action or reaction can benefit everyone. Plus I have found an outlet for the darkness that came with taking Champix/Chantix..
keep up the good work...

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Hi Adeline. Would you please reply stating what the Royal Jelly does for you?

Blessings

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Little Hope
It is now been 4 years since your original post. My wife took Chantix in 2010 and I believe suffers from depression caused by the Chantix. I am wondering how your treatment has helped you.

Frank

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Was on champix almost 4 years ago now. Yes I ended up quiting. But since then have experienced high blood pressure which I never had before quiting. I also went through major ups and downs in my moods while on it. Many suicidal thoughts. Experienced the vivid dreams/nightmares which have never gone away again. There is also a possible link to my mother having a tia while on the drug

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Frank, since I posted my first post, I have not heard a reply from John either, but some of us are still here to help

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Arthur,
I am saddened to say, that we havent heard from Laura since the last time she posted to my comments, and I have tried to track her down, but to no avail. which is a shame, because she spoke to us with much knowledge, and had so much information to share with us I am sure.

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Well. I stopped Chantix and am back to. A pack a day. I am going to start Chantix again. One or the other is going to kill me.

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Mitch, I took chantix for 11 days before being ordered off them by the pharmacy head and my doctor. I continued to smoke up until just last year, when i found out that i now have COPD... I think I'd rather not have smoked at all lol..

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Mitch, you're in exactly the same boat as me. I also have COPD.. it sucks big time huh...

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I have taken Champix quite a few times over the last 6 years, as it's the only thing that can help me stop for a while. Now I only need to take it for a week and I will stop smoking and stop taking the pills. I stop taking them asap because they completely mess up my digestive system. It causes me to go from super happy and normal to "I don't care about anything" "everything and everyone is stupid" complete mental derangement in just a few days. They say your stomach is your second brain, perhaps the drug kills off all your good gut bacteria or causes inflammation that destroys their habitat. I'm not a scientist or a doctor but I think it's worth looking into more. It has been well documented now that there is a huge connection between mood and mental issues and the gut. I'm self medicating with good Probiotics and trying to eat healthy, easy to digest food that's not processed. Trying to take an Ayurvedic approach to healing the gut.

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Professor David Healy has told the truth.... Pfizer kills people around the world.

Source: "Smoke & pfizer get in your eyes", Rxisk.org. Web. 12 September 2012

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My wife started chantix last July and is suffering from some very angry outbursts and severe paranoid behavior. I would very much like to discuss the possible issue. thx

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Just wondering if you ever came to recover from this. I know a friend going through the exact same thing since December and it only seems to be getting worse. Any advice would be appreciated!!

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Hi Michelle! Was wondering how your husband is doing now. I have a friend who is going through this and its only getting worse. Please share your update with me to give me hopes that she will come back.

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Hi Laura, I know your post is quite old now and hope you can still see this. I am a psychotherapist helping someone who is struggling with severe anxiety, which coincidentally started just after finishing Champix. The traditional methods I have used are only having a limited effect, which is unusual and I was flummoxed until I saw the effects of Champix, which tie in. Your post was very informative. {edited for privacy}. You mentioned taking Buprenorphine - would this still be useful for my client, as it is 4 - 5 years ago now that he finished taking Champix?

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My husband is currently going through this, he quit chantix a few months ago.

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I took Cham pix to stop smoking . And I've now got an under active thyroid fuming is not the word . As I'm very active and have a good diet .

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I have experienced the same long-lasting side effect. I also took Chantix years ago and feel that it re-wired my brain. I can't shake the constant feeling of depression. (Never suffered from depression before). I see a therapist and a psychiatrist, it helps but the feeling never completely goes away. I am not taking any medicine either for the same reason as your mom. Chantix is poison for some of us. And I'm still smoking!!

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Re: CJ (# 240)

Hey CJ.. I'm sorry you are going through this. Champix most certainly has created adverse reactions for many ppl, myself included... I have gone thru homoeopathy and natural remedies to sort myself. A good exercise for getting rid of Anxiety is to take a sip of water and just hold it in your mouth, don't swallow it. And concentrate on breathing thru your nose for as long as you can. This simple technique helps to regulate the breath, as anxiety causes over breathing, this can create lots more problems which can lead to bigger attacks, possibly causing asthmatic / stress / panic attacks.

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