Chantix And Very High Blood Sugar

My husband started taking Chantix 3 weeks ago and is doing well with not smoking, however, he is a type 2 diabetic but he has also controlled it with diet and Metformin twice daily. Now since he has been on Chantix, his blood sugar level has been over 600. We went to the doctor yesterday and he told him that it was the Chantix and stop taking it. He is watching everything that he eats and drinks and this morning his blood sugar is still 440. The doctor is sending him to a Diabetic Control Center but it is going to be a week or so. Has everyone else had this problem?

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REPORT

Chantix contains the active ingredient Varenicline and yes, there have been reports of it causing diabetes in some people, as well as it causing extremely high sugar levels in existing diabetics and there is a current investigation underway to get further information on the matter.

When you stop taking a medication it does take several days for it to process out of the body, which is probably why his sugar levels were still so high.

https:/­/­rxchat.com/­wiki/­Varenicline/­

How is he doing, now?

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Interesting. My partner is a type 2 and since taking Chantix, his A1C level has risen to boarderline needing to go on insulin. Still doing research, but you're not alone with this issue.

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Thank you for your reply! We are glad to know that I am not the only one with this problem!!

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Thank you for your reply! His blood sugar level is down in the 200's a lot better than 600's but it is still staying too high now that the Chantix should be open of his system. He goes to the Diabetes Center this week so we will see.

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My late husband took Chantix for less than one month when suddenly his blood sugar skyrocketed--over 600 & off the charts--couldn't even get a correct reading at the doctor's office when he arrived & was immediately started on an IV to try & bring down his numbers--it was only after the THIRD IV that they were able to get him down to under 600. The doctor agreed that it was the Chantix & just simply said, 'Stop taking it'! I truly believe that this incident weakened & impacted my husband's heart so badly that he never fully recovered. Chantix is like taking poison & why it's still on the market is a mystery to me...anyone considering it needs to think twice or else start making funeral plans because you're gonna need 'em....

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I too have been on chantix and had my blood sugars go crazy. I was boderline and now on Metformin 4 pills per day and still not normal. I am supposed to be on Chantix for 2 more weeks. Glad I fiqured out the problem. Do you think the blood sugars will decrease when I stop Chantix?

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Yes, it should be down after stop taking Chantix. It takes a while before Jerry's came down. He had to take insulin for a short time to get it down. Thanks for your response and good luck!!

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I'm glad to see others. I am on an insulim pump and check my blood sugar frequently. My readings have been 300+ for over a week, since I started on Chantix. Spoke with insulin ppump company and was able to find relation between Chantix and the high blood sugars. Pump working fine, I hadn't thought of timing with starting of Chantix. Calling Endocrinologist in AM.

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My 49 yr old son is type I diabetic since age 2. He had a stroke 9 yrs ago and smoking has been his only pleasure. He is tube fed and can't speak, eat or walk. It looks like the Chantix will kill him faster than smoking. Blood sugars are out of control.

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Hi everyone, thanks for posting now I know I'm not the only one. I'm a type 1 on pump therapy and just started taking Chantrix 2 days ago. My sugars haven't been super the last few weeks anyway. One of those phases I have from time to time.
So I started the chantrix and the same night had a 574. That is far from normal, even in one of those "phases" unless my catheter is the problem. Felt bad had to tell my teen son we had to leave the movie we were watching. Great kid he took it in stride because Dad's sugars were messed up.
Went home used my insulin pen instead of the pump. Refilled the pump and used a brand new catheter. This morning still 440. Have been over 300 most of the day. Ok not sure if chantrix works this fast on blood sugar but it seems so for me. I've always been pretty sensitive as far as blood sugar goes. I'm just glad to read other diabetics have had problems too. So for the next few days I've boosted the Basal rate to 130% to see if it works or not. Any suggestions? I don't get in to see my new Diabetes Doc until 12 Sept. Of course I can give my primary doc a call.
I just have to quit smoking somehow. Not at the expense of going into a coma however. Single Dad's don't have the time to get sick.

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Any diabetic taking chantix should be overseen closely by an endocrinologist or physician who understaVnds this issue. If on an insulin pump, temporary basals can be set to counteract the high blood glucose. Diabetes and olongapo just don't mix, smoking constricts vessels and so does uncontrolled blood sugar.

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I know your post was awhile ago, so I hope you quit smoking by now. If you are still smoking here are some hints. I am a type 1 diabetic and quit smoking taking chantix. I don't use a pump I'm old fashioned that way I like to use the pen needles. I take Lantis as my Basil and humalog with meals. I raised my Lantis from 26 units daily to 30 while on chantix and my glucose levels stayed normal. Unfortunately lots of newer medications have the side effect of raising ones glucose levels. You need to be careful but don't be afraid to raise your basil insulin level just don't raise it by too much. It took me about 3 days to figure out how much more insulin I needed, I am sure you can do the same. I took chantix for 12 weeks then over the next week or so I slowly lowered my basil insulin. It takes about a week or 2 before one can return to their normal basil level. Good luck.

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im 56 years old and I started taking chantix to stop smoking also took it for two weeks never had diabetes. Then after my second week in one day boom I couldnt see everything was so blured. I freaked out talked to my mom she check your sugar, and wow its like over 500. Went to the dr. now Im a diabetic taking metformin 1000 twice a day and my blood sugar still over 300 every day and its been almost four weeks.

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Im type 1 diabetic and on chantix. Three weeks in and haven't noticed a single abnormality in my glucose readings. I think drugs affect everyone differently. Good luck to all of you out there trying to quit smoking, especially you diabetics!

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I am borderline type 2 diabetic. I have controlled with diet and exercise and no medication. I started taking Chantix for smoking about five weeks ago and began losing weight for no apparent reason. I also began drinking water like a camel...I started testing my blood and the lowest reading so far has been 318. The high reading was 582. I just had my blood work done and now have A1C of 10.7. Thank you Pfizer!!! This side effect is not listed on the website or packaging! If it were listed I never would have taken it. F-ING CRIMINALS!!!!!

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THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU !!! I have been searching for this answer for weeks. Apparently my doctor has no clue. I am just finishing up my 1st month of Chantix and my sugar is going off the charts. It was well managed up until then,but my family doctor has been blaming it on my pain meds. I go to a pain management group of doctors for chronic pain. I am so glad I came across this article. No more Chantix for me and maybe I can actually quit on my own. Good luck to you and husband!

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Oh my word. I'm also a type2 diabetic and since taking Chantix my sugar has been through the roof.

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Thank you so much for posting this! I have well-controlled type 2 diabetes -- well-controlled until now. I'm into my 6th week on Chantix and last week I noticed I was losing weight for no reason and I felt awful. I don't want to get out of my chair. I'd been exercising almost every day before last week, but suddenly I didn't want to move. I don't usually have to check my sugars -- just periodic A1Cs. This morning I checked my sugar and it was 285 -- I never had a blood sugar that high. I NEVER saw this as a warning on the Chantix literature. I'll quit the Chantix and call my doctor. I'm glad to know I'm not going crazy!

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I have been on it for 2 and half weeks and my blood sugars has been up to 300 when normal it is 130...

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I too am Type 1. I have been smoking since I was 16 and am now 51. I think I will give this a go!

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I'm going through the same thing I started taking chantix over a month ago and last week my blood sugar was over 500 and now they are telling me that I'm a full-fledged diabetic. And now my doctor wants me to start taking all kinds of different meds and I said no let's just see if it goes down on its own before you have me jumping through hoops. I'm like sorry doc I'm not going to be your guinea pig.

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Re: Maggie (# 19)

Well it’s been 5 years since a post and they have finally recalled chantix….

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After only 3 days on Chantix my once-controlled blood sugar levels have taken an extreme spike for no apparent reason! I have successfully treated my Type 2 Diabetes with healthy eating & Metformin & my bg has been below 120, until now!!! I’m so glad I found this site!! I am going to stop the Chantix immediately & pray it’s soon enough!!

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Yes. I’ve had type 1 diabetes for 35 years. I smoked for 25 years. Six weeks ago I started Chantix and have been dealing with high blood glucose issues. I’m on an Insulin pump and test my blood glucose levels 8-10 times a day and at night. My normal readings were always 100-150. Now they’re up into the high 300’s to low 400’s. I’ve always had excellent control of my diabetes and bg levels, but since about two weeks after starting the Chantix I can’t seem to get any control at all. My eyesight has gotten so bad, I have a constant headache. I’m worried about my diabetes and I can’t sleep, which is making it worse. I’m so glad I found this site. I’m going to stop taking Chantix before it kills me. No wonder people get depressed while taking Chantix. It makes you feel so terrible. Nausea, constipation, confusion and memory loss have also happened to me since taking the drug. I don’t think most doctors know about this problem. And even if they did, they’d still prescribe it because they get spiffs from the drug company.

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I have type 2 diabetes that was well managed on 2.5 mg of Glipizide. I began Chantix 4 weeks ago and my recent blood work came back with an A1C of 7.1 and cholesterol much elevated. My daily readings are between 150 and 300. I have never had such high BG levels before with one exception - when I had to take steroids because of pneumonia. This doctor wanted to put me on Victoza.

At this point, I have no intention of taking an injectible medication! My question: will my BG levels (and cholesterol) go back to their previous levels once the Chantix is out of my system?

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Yes since taking Chantix my levels have been so much higher

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I have had a problem with high blood sugar taking it. I didn't know it was a Chantix so I just read this. Very high sugars. The 500 and 600.

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I was not aware of the link the first time I was put on it, and I had questioned doctors and specialilsts that also did not know tthe links and the timr either. AFTER THAT ORDEAL I NOW GET KETONES AND HAVE TO LIVE ON INSLULIN

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I am currently on champix, this is the 4th time on this drug. The first time I Was on it, I could not even keep any food down, and because lefargic and lost 30 kilos with two week. In the end my doctor ordered an ambulance. I had kertonis and very high blood sugar levels, and dangeriously low potassium levels, that the hospital has worried that I could of got brain damage as well, lucky I didnot I had been surving on metforim and othee r combo theraphy drugs for over 6 years, but when i went on to champix I had to in the end go onto insulin. THE OTHER TIMES WERE NOT THAT BAD, BUT THIS TIME I AM WORRIED AS EVEN MY INSLUIN WILL NOT PUSH DOWN MY INSLUIN LEVELS. CHAMPIX IS KNOWN TO UPSET INSULIN BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS, EVEN MY GP SAID THAT LAT TIME THAT I HAD SPOKEN TO HER

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Have you had any success with a lawyer about your situation? My mom recently took Chantix and now she is in diabetic ketoacidosis. My mom didn't have diabetes at all. I'm interested In filing a legal suit so more people are aware of the Chantix and diabetes link.

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