Any Way To Reverse Long-term Chantix Side Effects? (Page 4) (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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Michelle,
have you got him a dose of the Thuja? From a homeopath, some will make you a dose without a consultation.
the supplement I took, was 2 tablets a day for 3 days, then 1 tablet a day for 6 months, I still take them maybe once or twice a week,
the supplement I take is called Stress and Stamina Formula, from Micro Genics and contains 965mg of Rhodiola Rosea.
if you read back to blog #43, there is a post there that confirms what the Rhodiola Rosea does, written by Laura... a scientist in brain histology.
I also urge you to read all blogs from there, as some have recorded how they have felt using the technique. Please try, we all know how your husband feels, its not a nice place to be, you must read back and try it.
Please.
Riegan or Rioghann
p.s I sign that way because i have both names in here.

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Chantix may cause the following symptoms that are related to damage to nerve/brain cells (neurotoxicity):
Acute kidney failure.
Lethargy (common)
Coma
Decreased alertness/consciousness
Fainting/loss of consciousness
Stroke
Transient ischemic attack or "TIA"

Many post-marketing cases reported resolution of symptoms after discontinuation of varenicline, although in some cases the symptoms persisted, therefore, ongoing monitoring and supportive care should be provided to these patients until symptoms resolve......but who will resolve ? Chantix is neurotoxicity ....and Pfizer keep it as a secret.

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Neurotoxicity is the poisonous effects of harmful substances on nervous system function, and a cause of brain damage. Common symptoms can include problems with memory, concentration, learning, mental processing speed, sleep, thinking, language, as well as anxiety, depression, confusion, personality changes, fatigue, and numbness of the hands and feet. Many types of nervous system disorders can be caused by neurotoxicity, including numerous neurologic and psychiatric disorders, as well as chemical sensitivity.

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Various users of Chantix are complaining about the side effects linked to Chantix, which is made with metoclopramide (generic Reglan). While some users have committed suicide after taking Chantix, others have suffered from neurological conditions. This is no surprise to Reglan users, many of whom have developed various different neurological conditions after taking Reglan. The most common of those disorders is tardive dyskinesia, which is characterized with patients experiencing symptoms that mimic Parkinson’s disease. Some of those symptoms include involuntary movements of the extremities, excessive blinking, lip smacking, grimacing and tongue protrusion.

While Pfizer has tried to prevent in-person testimony, the court has decided to force three top executives at Pfizer to testify, and CEO Ian Read is among them. Last month, Pfizer was able to reach a settlement in a case that was originally supposed to go to trial in October. That case involved a Chantix user that had committed suicide after taking the drug.

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Mona... please read my posts from Post 44ish...
5yrs on from taking champix , or chanting as it's called in th U.S, I still have dark days but no where as many... go for walks where ever you feel best and get and give lots of hugs

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Dreams are my issue. I finished a full course of chantix in 2011 and successfully quit smoking. I had lots of vivid dreams while on it, but they weren't nightmares and they were bearable. In the last two or so years, times caused me to pick back up smoking, and having had success and no bad experiences the first time, I tried chantix again. I stopped a month again because it wasn't as effective for me (and the number of dreams and their nature deprive me of restful sleep). Well, since the last time, over a year ago, the dreams have not stopped. I dream nearly every night, very busy vivid dreams, and wake up like exhausted like I've been up and at it all night. This week I've woken up to two insanely vivid nightmares, and there is nothing new going on in my life to bring them on. I, too, am in recovery, sober ten years this month. The reason I suspect the chantix is because the onset of this unrelenting streak coincides with the last time I used chantix. The style is just like that of the dreams I had during that first course and each subsequent use of chantix. (I remember with clarity that very first chantix dream five and a half years ago.) It's as if some switch has been flipped and I can't turn it off. So far, I haven't read of anyone with this same long term effect. I just want to sleep peacefully at night and maybe have normal dreams that I sometimes remember and sometimes don't.

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OF Chantix now for 7 weeks and having anxiety attacks anybody else

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My moods have definitely changed since chantix .it's been years for me now too..it's a nasty drug for some..I believe it's permanently effected me

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I agree with you, it is nasty.
However it did get me to quit.
Would I recommend it to anyone? NO

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Laura, I have taken Chantix about 4 years ago and I have gone through a very long misserable time for the last 3 and a half years... I might be feeling a little better lately, but my main concern now are my hormones... My Testosterone levels did drop down to levels so low when I was 30 years old that it wouldn't be normal not even for a 90 years ol man, there are several factors that could contribute for this abnormality, but not this much and I recently fund out the fact that Chantix could be the main cause... I just need to find out if this side effect will ever go away... please let me know if I still have the possibility of becoming normal again and how long do you think it could take?... Thank you.

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I smoked for 33 years. Took Chantix close to four months. Ramped up from 0.5mg to 1.0mg to 2.0mg over approximately seven weeks. Stayed at 2.0mg for two months and quit during that time. My mood changed to agitation and anger. I raised my voice to my wife for the first time in 13 years and began losing interest in activities. I decided to immediately wean down to 1.0mg for a week then stopped. Then, the severe depression set in. I lost my job and eventually my wife filed for divorce. I was treated for depression but I do not tolerate drugs very well so the talk therapy had to do. To this day, I am struggling with depression and all the symptoms. There is definitely a connection here related to Chantix that major pharma does not understand or is unwilling to admit. The standard line is something about the benefits of quitting smoking outweighs any side effect.

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MM,

You sound like myself, and my own experiences with this drug, I am also ADR, I suffer with adverse reactions to most drugs. I think my original post is number 44, look for it and try what I have used, it alleviated the whole depression buzz, the severe darkness, the dreams, and the like. I feel for you mate, but there is hope. There are countless reports of Chantix or Champix causing marriage break ups, and severe depression, you are not alone. To save you the trouble of looking back, but I hope that you do, the herb I took is called Rhodiola Rosea... look it up mate. I am here if you need help.

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A recent article on the newswire services summarizes new information that a drug used to treat nicotine addiction (Chantix) and an anti-obesity drug (Acomplia) may produce depression as an unwanted side effect because they disrupt the nerve circuits in the brain’s reward pathways. Chantix is a drug that attaches to but does not activate the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in the reward pathway. Therefore, the receptor is blocked and can not respond to stimulation by the nicotine in cigarette smoke. The individual taking Chantix as part of a nicotine cessation program, no longer experiences the rewarding effects of nicotine and this makes it easier to quit smoking. The problem is that Chantix also blocks signals that come from other types of rewards and this might lead to depression.

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Re: Riegan (# 39)

How did you make out after taking these things? I just received the 900 MG caps of Rhodiola Rosea and the Thuja 200C today. I've only taken two of the Rosea so far. Does this combo really work? How should they be taken exactly? Only 3 doses of the Thuja and then stop taking it all together?

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Re: Stephanie (# 232)

I took chantix in 2009 and I'm still feeling it now. Wish I could take back what I did.

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Re: Ben (# 288)

It's a bit late now Ben... I think most of us have problems, thanks to Chantix in the US, or Champix as it is known as here at the bottom of the globe.. thanks to a find and the awesome help from my Mother, of whom studied Homoeopathy, found that taking Rhodiola Rosea actually helps the receptors in the brain, it also helps control the darkness and depression...
Interesting information, thanks Ben...
It's just a shame that the FDA has to use us as lab rats .
I'd love to meet one of them

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I took it for 2 weeks and fell into the darkest black hole I ner imagined existed. I finally understood why some people commit suicide because if I had a gun, I'd be dead now! If my wife wasn't with me I would've walked 1 flight up to the roof and jumped? I tell everyone I know to stay away from this medicine even though a small percentage of people have committed suicide, one is too much. Not being able to quit smoking is far better than taking this poison in my opinion.

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Thanks Rico!

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That almost sounds like where my husband is headed only we are the only two in the house. He is up and down. Just the other day he grossed me out then called and apologized and has been happy since. But he snaps for no reason at any moment. It is frustrated because he never was depressed, he too cries alot. He loved life now he hates it and thinks god is punishing him. He thinks its Karma I think it is Chantix. We have to stop this from happening to other families. It is better if they smoke...hate to say that..I might just contact the guy that is a neurobioligist. I can't believe they gave him zanax and ambien. What are they thinking. That is just compounding his symptoms.. look at the side effects of that medicine. it causes depresssion too. Doctors are just out to get a kick back on prescription drugs they are not out to find out what is wrong with you. This is ridiculous!

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I'm posting this today after being verbally assaulted by my mother. This is a common occurrence in our lives since she successfully quit smoking after being prescribed chantix. My mom has always battled some depression & anxiety, but has always kept it in check. Since taking chantix, she is a nightmare. My mom has become very angry, aggressive, depressed (after her episodes) and extremely paranoid. She has blacked out during her angry rants and doesn't remember the horrible things that she says to me, me siblings, her young grandchildren, other family members, coworkers & complete strangers. I don't know how she has remained employed (as a teacher!).
I don't know what to do. She acknowledges she has a problem & is on antidepressants & anti anxiety meds but it doesn't help.
Even as I am typing this, after just calling me every bad word she can think of, she just texted me that she loves me.
I'm ready to get off this emotional roller coaster.

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