Chantix - Drug Information And Side Effects (Top voted first)

How long does chantix stay in your system? Could it still be affecting me after 9 months?

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I took Chantix for 3 weeks, within those 3 weeks I developed swelling of my lips and severe panic attacks. I was told to stop Chantix immediately, that was 3 weeks ago. The swelling has gone away, but the panic and anxiety is still present. I am on Prozac and Xanax, which I have NEVER had to take before. I have never had anxiety or this uneasy feeling in my spirit.
How much longer before I can be ME again???????

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You say that no medication can stay in your system that long. Hmmn, interesting concept. So no medicine/drug can stay in your system that long. So people who took a medicine/drug that affected their brain lets say back in the 60's or even possibly now of any said drug/ medicine could not have a flash back a day a week, month, year,5-10- or even 30 years later. Interestingly spinal taps and many doctors to include psychiatrist will disagree with your answer. Chantix also attaches itself in the brain to certain sensory mechanisms that seem to more than just affect the euphoric high that nicotine produces.

The studies were rushed and the true side effects are just now being reported, studied, and warned about. Let me introduce you to another drug/ medicine that has interestingly had some if not many of the same symptoms described by chantix users that has had a lasting effect on its users for decades. LSD also known as Dextro lysergic acid diethylamide tartarate. It affects the central nervous system primaly. It works, therefore, in the BRAIN. It creates, in its action, changes in the user's mood and behavior, perception and sensation. An LSD user cannot stop the LSD action. He may fear he is losing his mind, especially if the LSD effect is a bad trip. When this happens, he may panic, cause injury or death to himself. Paranoia. The LSD user may feel someone wants to control his mind, harm or kill him. He becomes increasingly suspicious. He may hurt or kill the object of his LSD-made fear. This feeling lasts 72 hours after the LSD has worn off. Mental Unbalance. As a result of panic and paranoia, the LSD user may get mentally unbalanced. This lasts weeks, months, even years. It requires psychiatric care to cure. Flashback. When a flashback occurs, the LSD victim may become insane or driven to suicide. (See What Is a Flash- back? above).

Heart Failure. LSD has led to fatal convulsions. His heart couldn't take it, as a doctor diagnosed an LSD death. It was: heart failure. Cause: LSD. Accidental Death or Injury. When the LSD user is on a trip, he may feel he can fly or float, leap out of a high window or tree, fall to his death. Or he may think that he/she is invincible, walk in front of a car and suffer injuries or even get killed. So how many of the symptoms above has been reported by Chantix users. To name a few nausea, vomiting, and vivid dreams oh thats right, that's what pfizer wants us to believe are the common side effects. It seems more common by the reports on line are the following reports of uncontrollable anger, flash anger, aggressiveness, moody,violent,suicidal, suicidal ideation,hallucinations, blackouts,memory loss, behavioral changes, vivid to extremely scary dreams, disaccociation, uncontrollable suicidal behavior, severe depression to name a few. Many of these symptoms occured during use, immediately following treatment, or even months to a year afterwards. The years of information on LSD proves that it can last years after the last dose. Where are the years of studies on Chantix? thats right there are none!!!!!! WE ARE THE GUINEA PIGS. Mind you I have never taken acid but many of the above symptoms I suffered while on, and after treatment.

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I smoked for years. I took Chantix for 4 months and quit smoking after 3 months of treatment. I now cannot even stand the smell or thought of smoking. I have always had vivid dreams and Chantix did not make them any different. I am not do pressed or anxious. Most Chantix users have results like mine. My heart goes out to those of you having panic and anxiety attacks. I lived with that condition for 30 years until a doctor friend of mine suggested Paxil. I haven't had a panic attack in 27 years since beginning Paxil treatment. It did have the side effect of prolonging sexual endurance because it took longer for male orgasm. My wife loved that side effect. However now in my 60's sometes I lost the ability to orgasm due to the side effect. But it's still better than feeling like I couldn't breathe or like I had impending doom sweaty tingling hands and pounding fluttering heart, thinking I was about to die. Paxil gave me back my life. Chantix helped me quit smoking. I recommend both.

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I took Chantix for 10 weeks last year, quit smoking for 10 months. Relapsed over the summer, and then went back on Chantix for 8 weeks. I have quit again and remain smoke free after 4 months. I experienced the side effects too...nausea in the morning, the dreams, the strange thoughts during the day. I smoked for 25 years and NOTHING else had ever worked for me. It took away the desire to smoke and helped me get to a point where I could work on killing that desire to smoke with the meds. Whatever it does, for me the side-effects were 100% worth it. I would wake up in the morning and remind myself I had nothing to feel s***ty about...

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I took two scrips of Chantix between Oct. '06 - Oct. '07. Endured two, long, hospital stays in '08. Feared drugs as a teen...can describe first hand, in VIVID detail an hallucination at 55.

This pill is POWERFUL...SNEAKY...and THOROUGH. Once in your system, only God knows how/where you'll land. You have know that people don't go to the trouble and expense of getting this prescription filled...w/hopes of having horrendous side effects. This drug is for real. A recall is OVERDUE.

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MY HUSBAND TOOK CHANTIX TO QUIT SMOKING AND THE NIGHTMARES WERE SO BAD HE STOPED TAKING IT, AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS HE WAS TOLD TO TRY IT AGAIN AND DID. JAN 2012 WAS HIS THREE YEAR SMOKE FREE, NOW HERE ARE MY CONCERNS, HE IS A CHANGED PERSON, VERY MOODY, YELLS AND SCREEMS, SAYS VERY HURTFULL THINGS, HAS NO ENERGY, THIS IS NOT WHO MY HUSBAND WAS BEFORE THE CHANTIX.

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I know how you feel. I am depressed half the time; feel like crying part of the time; and I don't even like myself much anymore. I have anxiety attacks; never did before chantix; I lose my temper easy and it has been 2 1/2 years since I took chantix. Horrible stuff. But still not smoking; sometimes I wonder if I went back to smoking I would fee better!!!!!

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My husband took Chantix over 6 years ago. Since taking Chantix he is a different person; he is miserable, depressed and angry. Life has been very difficult post-Chantix. This drug has the ability to turn a person into a little ball of hate and I do not understand how it remains on the market. I cringe every time I see one of their ads on tv. I warn anyone I know who is thinking about trying it. I hope you find something that works and helps restore you to your formal selves.

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Previous commenter,

I appreciate your knowledge of the lasting effects of LSD on people, and you are completely right. It has been proven that many years later there can be side effects and it is possible for LSD to permanently effect mental well being.

However, all drugs affect the brain. It is not the LSD itself that is causing the long lasting side effects. During the usage the brain chemistry was changed. There is a huge difference between the way LSD effects your brain and the way that chantix does.

Chantix will not stay in your system for 9 months. It's half life is nowhere near long enough to allow the chemicals to remain that long in your brain.

Are the symptoms for withdraw really so overlooked when people are drawing their conclusions about chantix? Of course it is true that a small percentage of people may experience serious problems, but this is true of all medications.

I would credit any side effects after stopping for 9 months to other causes, unless you believe that taking chantix has permanently altered your brain chemistry.

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I quit smoking December 6th, 2010 only taking half the dose of Chantix for 6 weeks instead of the recommended 3 months. I was successful in my attempt to quit smoking for 6 months.

During the time I was taking Chantix, I did experience most of the side affects. Extreme agitation, anger, constant anxiety, bad dreams etc. so I decided quit taking the medication.

It has been 5 months since I've last taken Chantix and yet my side affects have not gone away. Although I no longer have bad dreams probably because I only sleep ~2 hours pre night for the past 5 months. I'm in a constant state of panic and I am extremely worried about this. My heart is fluttering all the time and I'm always very agitated. I thought that if I stopped taking the meds, the side affects would go away. Instead I'm in a panic and don't sleep anymore.

Yikes!! This is a very scary feeling to have day in and day out. I can't breathe and my heart is fluttering.

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I took chantix for the 3 month cycle and did quit toward the end of the 3rd month. I did have some intensity in my dreams, but nothing nightmarish. I have been smoke free for a month now and feel worse than i did when i smoked. In the last two weeks i have been developing severe headaches and am nauseous for the majority of the day. I am also dizzy from about 2 hours after i wake up till i go to bed. I feel scared and wonder if others are experiencing the same headache/dizzy/nauseous feelings after stopping chantix. I also quit my job because the normal stress i used to be able to handle became unbarable. I am now jobless and my health insurance is done at the end of the month. I am glad i am smoke free, but miserable from the quality of life i have now. i also have a difficult time focusing on conversation or even typing this statement!!

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Thank you chantix...I guess. Yesterday was my 2 month anniversary for not smoking. Yup. No slips. No cheats. No smokes. I posted on this site in the beginning of my downward spiral into what has become a private hell. At first I cried for no reason..then I became angry and on edge. Pretty normal stuff for withdrawl right? Right...
A lot people had all kinds of atta girl-go for a walk-think positive advice on here.
Little did I know what was actually happening to me was very bad drug reaction to a little pill called chantix. I quit taking chantix after 4 weeks. Depression, memory loss similair to brain injury or alzhiemers,fear and hopelessness are just a few of side effects. It has been compared to bad lsd. People commit suicide on this. They quit their jobs or just can't remember where they are driving to. They go from not being able to make a simple decision to the extreme opposite and go to work one day and feel compelled to quit their job because they feel hopeless.
If you don't believe me just look at blogs or google "this is my brain on chantix". It is crap shoot. Some will not be affected in bad way. Others will lose their mind. Some will lose their lives over chantix. All I wanted to do was quit smoking.I'm blessed to be alive because others went crazy and ended up in psyche wards and tripled their meds after taking the chantix magix bus. I strongly urge anyone who is considering chantix please please please try other avenues.
If I knew that smoking would bring me back from this terrifying hell and give me peace of mind I would smoke 2 packs a day. But there is no guarantee it will bring me back back to my old self. I reallly regret quitting with chantix. I think they should ban this dangerous drug. I would taken my chances with cigarettes over this anyday. 2 months. Yay me. I guess. No funny or amusing smiley to insert here...what a person goes through on chantix goes beyond words. It goes beyond what you think a side effect can do ..but hey I'm smoke free. I used chantix years ago and never had any trouble like this time. I feel compelled to share my experience with others. I'm not so cavalier about chantix anymore. Like I said I'm blessed to be alive. Being smokefree is just the side afffect. I was not a big drug user and have nothing to compare to for Acid or LSD but the long lasting side effects are VERY similiar. I have compared the long lasting effects of LSD (bad trip) to long lasting effects of bad trip on Chantix. Strikingly similiar. Some people have a good experience on LSD- also some have good experiences on Chantix. I just wanted to quit smoking. I did not want to take a drug that would effect me like taking Bad LSD!

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If you haven't tried a parsley supplement while taking chantix, give it a try! I almost gave up on chantix because the nausea was soo bad. Now I take 860mg parsley capsules along with chantix and No more nausea. I originally bought the parsley to aid with water weight gain and just happen to take both the capsules and the chantix at the same time one morning. This is a miracle to me and I'm so happy I found this. Good Luck!

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I started taken Chantix 06/28/2011 and I stop on 07/15/11.
When I started to take the medicine on the 3rd night I started to talking in my sleep about hurting my daughter, sister and her boyfriend. So far it has not change since I stopped taking it and last night I was kicking and punching my wife in my sleep. I have never had anything like this before. I am not a violent person I do take many medications I don't know if it is just from Chantix or a combination of Chantix and another medication. I just want these problems to stop before I really hurt someone. When I am awake I so far have no issues but I don't want these nighttime problem to move to days. I scare enough to move my two handguns to my mom house. Do any one knows how long these issues last.

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...I would credit any side effects after stopping for 9 months to other causes, unless you believe that taking chantix has permanently altered your brain chemistry.....

I'm responding to the above commentator statement - - ....IS THAT SUCH A STRETCH ??

I took two scrips of Chantix in '07...endured two, long, hospital stays PLUS psyche unit in '08. The first hospital stay was for possible heart attack and the second for sincere suicide attempt followed up w/psych unit. MY EXPERIENCE W/CHANTIX SHOOK ME TO THE VERY CORE!!!! I never even KNEW a little, blue pill could have such POWER to totally turn my life upside down!!!

It's a sneaky, yet THOROUGH process...and could be deadly. IF I hadn't taken this pill myself...I'm SURE I would've had my doubts as to the validity of some of the horror stories...but, I DID...and can ASSURE you...most are true!! I'll be the first to admit that YES, it DID touch on my smoking receptors...and DID take away the pleasure...and had it STOPPED there, I, TOO, would be singing Chantix' praises....but, it DIDN'T and I CAN'T.

Once in your system it grows feet....and travels on throughout your brain affecting/DISTORTING/twisting... your dreams, thoughts and reflexes!! It literally CHANGES your way of THINKING!!! This is a very, VERY scary drug and needs to be removed IMMEDIATELY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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I tried Chantix twice. The first time I got off it fast - like within a week - because of the psychological side effects. Silly me.. I tried it again a year later because it did, indeed, decrease my desire to smoke. But the next time I took it I decided I was really going to give it time and just 'fight' the side effects. It was disastrous. I stayed on Chantix for nearly 3 weeks, and that was in May of 2012. My personality completely changed. First, I was hostile, aggressive, and I noticed that at times I had nearly uncontrollable 'road rage.' One day I followed a young man who had cut someone else off in a lane and nearly caused an accident. I followed him until he stopped and I jumped out of my Jeep and gave him a verbal thrashing that I could not believe I was capable of. Fortunately for me he did nothing more than stare at me as if I were a crazy woman, which, in retrospect, I was. Here I was, a 5'3" woman of about 120 pounds screaming at a dude who was 20 years younger and well over 6 foot and probably 220 pounds. I got control of myself somehow, and apologized for my over-reaction. I stupidly (keep in mind I hold a PhD in research) continued this awful drug for another week. I stopped when I hit a depressive/suicidal/anxiety level that I knew was beyond my control. I withdrew from everything I enjoyed. My family, children... life. I wanted nothing more than to lie down and not wake up. I planned ways to kill myself because somehow the world just looked 'ugly' to me. I did finally get some anti-depressants (lexapro) and anti-anxiety (klonopin) after a few episodes where my heart rate soared to 175 during the panic attacks. Now it is late August, and I am no longer often suicidal, but the world is not the same. Certainly my world is not the same. I struggle to get out of bed, I do my work minimally (I am fortunate to have a remote job), I have had to beg off the travel for my work that I formerly loved to do (not sure how long my employer will tolerate that), I have been to many doctors and specialists, I see a psychiatrist, I go to bed fearful of the upcoming day, I wake up fearful of the day, I rarely drive any longer. I was an avid exerciser, but stopped that. I smoke again. I was an outgoing person who really loved life, and just a few weeks on Chantix changed me. If anyone believes this drug leaves your system in a matter of hours or days, beware. I understand now that Chantix is to blame, but intellectual knowledge does not replace the primacy of emotional response or, in the worst case, a permanent alteration of my brain chemistry. I occasionally now have a rare good day; but that good day is followed by many bad ones. I think I have reached the point where I have to accept my 'new normal' and my limitations and try to live with them as best as I possibly can. It's sad to have loved life and then to become so deeply in despair that what once looked beautiful now has no beauty at all. Shame on you, Pfizer, manufacturer of Chantix.

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I also took chantix 4 years ago. I've been smoke free since but I now suffer with severe depression and anxiety. At times I will get bouts of crying for no reason and get a horrible feeling of hopelessness with suicidal ideation. My doctor has tried me on different anti depressants to try and help but nothing seems to work. It's almost as if the chantix has ruined the pleasure/reward center of my brain. I just don't find pleasure in anything anymore. My husband is a changed man since taking chantix also. He now suffers with muscle and joint pains and is depressed when he never suffered with depression before taking chantix. We have been married for 20 years and I must say that the last 4 years have really put a strain on our previously happy marriage. Doctors don't seem to want to believe that chantix is to blame for all of these things we are all experiencing...they need to drop the "almighty" attitude and LISTEN to what their patients are telling them. This drug should be banned and it's after effects needs to be looked into.

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My daughter took Chantix in the early spring of 2011 ( she was 23). She is my only child and we were incredibly close....all thru her childhood, teens and when she lived on her own...we emailed, called every day, shopped, lunched weekly etc. My husband and I paid fer her 4 year degree 100%, a new car upon college graduation- she was treated very well. A couple weeks after she stopped Chantix, while attending a family 50th Anniversary party, she went off on me verbally ( including the F word in front of the church ladies!) and said she never wanted to see me again. This was a week after Mother's Day, where she told me at brunch that I was the best mom ever... I tried every single approach possible over the last 3 years to "get her back". I have not seen, hugged, nor had a verbal conversation with her since. In THREE years. She initially accused me via email back when it happened, of punching her in the head 10 times when she was 16. ( what???) In reality, ONE time when she was 16, she smart mouthed me and I slapped her. ONE time. I felt terrible- we made up and never spoke about it again. She was never even spanked- a really well-behaved girl. She was smart and witty ( started college at 16) and we loved each other to pieces. She eloped with her long time boyfriend/ fiance in 2012. She moved out of state without telling me where. Somehow she is keeping a very high paying, high level security clearance job with DHS in DC. I left her father when she was an infant because he was abusive. The men in his family are all a bit nuts. I think she had a latent emotional condition genetically from him and the Chantix set that off. Anyway, my heart is absolutely broken. Chantix has ruined my life. I am 100% certain it re-wired her brain. She will not respond to her Aunts emails ( my sisters) and has not seen anyone in our entire family since. My older sister, her favorite Aunt, was killed by a teen driver in DC last year. Her funeral was about a 20 min. drive from my daughters apt. in DC. Her cousin emailed her and so did I. She didnt make it. On top of all this, no one but my hsband and myself seem to believe it was Chantix. I am sure. I knew my daughter very well. She is not the same person and it looks like she may never be again.

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I was on chantix for five months and successfully quit smoking after 39 years of 3 packs a day. Its been five months since I stooped using Chatix, but the dreams are still happening every night. I'm lucky to get 3 solid sleep hours, but still get woken up from the dream.

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Taking wellbutran now. Within 1 week I could be around people without panic attacks. I could think more clearly and my memory improved. Most of all the dark depression and hopelessness disappeared. I still have a little trouble finding words or memory problems but not like before. Getting the dopamine back up helped a lot. I prayed a lot too. I thank God the wellbuutran worked. I plan to be on it for at least 6 months. I pray for you all to be saved from chantix.

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