Memory Loss And Prolonged Personality Changes While On, And After Use Of Chantix

I began taking Chantix in May of 2011, and quit smoking in June. My brother started saying that I was acting strange. I did not believe him at first, and even felt he was trying to put me down...I remember that.... But I finally did notice that I was not sleeping, and getting really wound up! I started forgetting things, and even forgot to eat, and take medicine. I quit taking the Chantix, and do not smoke, But I lost Two months of memory, and still have some time gaps, at night, to this day. I was removed from the County Fair in September, but have no idea why, and little memory of that evening, and became more isolated and depressed, to the point where I could not think clearly, and. ....well it was a nightmare. I am Now, in the middle of January beginning to retain more evening memory, and have returned to myself, MOSTLY. The scariest thing for me, is that I may NEVER be myself again, totally!...waiting to see. Has anyone else had such dramatic, and LONG LASTING negative effects after stopping Chantix?

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Have you consulted your doctor?

I haven't seen any other users, that I know of, that have posted anything similar to your experience with the memory loss.

The depression, however, can happen with these types of medications. The reason is really unknown, but they can sometimes have the opposite of their intended effect.

You should consult your doctor to determine if the problems definitely stem from the medication, or to see if they have been caused by something else.

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I just returned from the doctor. My Vitamin D level was checked...low is 30...Mine was 13....I will now research to find out if Chantix is known to have the effect of vtamin depletion, especially Vitamin D.

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I have spoken with another individual, who had adverse reactions on Chantix, and her Doctor has also put her on Massive doses of Vitamin D. Different doctors. I never knew this person before. I am willing to bet I WILL find a causal relationship between Chantix, and Vitamin D depletion. I was taking a muti vitamin, when this occured. I would encourage others with adverse reactions to have their Vit D checked.

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I have also had a problem with nightime memory loss. I stopped taking Chantix in 2005 and have not been the same self. I have had a complete pesonality change and am much angrier and depressed than I ever was.

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I have taken chantix before and did not have any problem. This time is much different. Found myself feeling much more energetic after quiting smoking, then having a little too much energy, then no sleep and found myself getting very arritated at the smallest things. Realized could be chantix so quit taking. After 3 weeks symptoms have increased. Trying to get in touch with my doctor now. Is there anything I can do to deal with the symptoms? thought it would be out of my system by now and feel normal

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Its nice to hear someone say memory loss is happening to them too..beyond the "oh gee where did i misplace my keys" i have a BIG problem with this since i started taking Chantix 9 mos ago..sometimes people will tell me something and i can't recall it 10 min later..this happens on a reg basis and i'm way too young at 43 ..i'm starting to feel like i'm 93..!

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I discovered a severe vitamin D deficiency. Ask doctor to test. In 3rd month of vitamin replacement therapy, and doing WAY better!

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You have now
I hear there is a class action involving Chantix. I need to find out about it. I have lost a year, now.

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I took Chantix about 3-4 years ago and did quit smokingh, although experienced an extremely stressful event and somehow started again. I experienced major memory problems but had no idea why until I went to the Dr. to get Chantix again, and told him about it. He implied that it may have been an effect of the Chantix. I don't have any energy problems, but the memory problem is HORRIBLE. I see that some have 'receovered' from it, but I have been off Chantix for years and still have the short term memory loss.

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VJ I too am now on a vitamin D rx for 50,000 units a week because my vitamin D was 13. I also used Chantix to quit smoking. Before the rx the doctor told me to drink lots of milk and get out in the sun. I told him I had just moved to VA from Orlando,FL, I was pretty tan, and I drink milk like its water. After seeing other stories I am convinced that Chantix is the cause.

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I haven't stopped taking Chantix yet, but I know how it flips your life upside down temporarily. But this medication absolutely works! I've been on Chantix for about 5 weeks and have had psychotic dreams and my depression had deepened considerably. Currently, I smoke a half cigarette a day which seems insane because it's almost zero so why even bother lighting up? And after I smoke that half cigarette, my stomach churns. So I'm glad that Chantix helped you to kick this nasty and destructive habit and I hope that each day you will gain more memory back and be absolutely back to normal. I'm no expert, but I would assume that this drug is in your system for some time even after you stop the treatment so when all the varenicline is purged from your body that should help you also. Chantix was the only smoking cessation treatment that ever worked for me; tried Wellbutrin, the patch, and Nicorette and these were ineffective. My mother told me that I should stop taking Chantix because of my worsening depression, sluggishness, sleep disturbances, etc., but I am stubborn and really want to be smoke-free permanently. So as long as I am no danger to others or myself I will continue this treatment, but I swear I'm not taking Chantix anymore after the second month. I think a third month of taking Chantix will blow out my brain lol. So if you or anyone reading this would like to talk more about Chantix and the pluses and minuses, please contact me. I'm looking for support and would like to help others too.

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I as well have loss of memory. Have been off of it and stopped smoking now for almost 5 years. It seams that my memory is getting worse, I am only 47 and noticed a big difference in the last year as well as my family. Will try the vit d. Getting more frustrated by the week.

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I have experienced memory loss I took Chantix for a month and do not recall the entire month almost like I'm on the outside looking in. I am increasingly depressed, gaining more and more weight. I am angry for no reason. No motivation. I have no energy at all. I am making mistakes at work and fear I will loose my job. My memory is ridiculous it picks and chooses what I can remember. Whole days, parts of days, min, last night. I feel crazy, I don't have any insurance and dont know what to do. or If I will ever be the same again.

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My husband had been on Chantix for 6 weeks. He also experienced memory loss and a manor personality change. He is ordinarily a wonderful, compassionate, loving man. Nothing in our lives have changed, but he became quite, irritable, restless and say hurtful things. His memory was also doing the pick and choose. We had a long discussion and be decided to quit using Chantix. He is still not the same a week later, but improving. Time will tell.

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My husbands personality has drastically changed. He is actually getting worse. He bas bern of of ig for 3 years now.

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As someone who has quit cold turkey in the past and started back up again a year later, it's not necessarily the Chantix that changes your personality or memory.

Quitting smoking causes changes in your personality and temporarily causes depression. You are giving up something that used to make you feel good 20 times a day. Many people use their smoke break to reflect on what has been going on, whether they realized that or not. Now, you stop the smoke breaks and you aren't used to dedicating time to reflect or remember anything. You have to learn how to do some of this stuff in a new way.

Best of luck to all of you.

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I am in this boat that you are trying to get out of. I stopped taking Chantex just 3 days ago and I am hoping I start to come back to myself soon. I am not very impressed.

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I took Chantix from the end of June to August since then I have had people tell me thing that I have completely for gotten Ti the point I have tried to hide it at work and Now It I find out that I may never be the same again and I may end up losing the Job I love It has only effected short term memory I still remember everything else But I have found out from the p[people I work with It is still happening I don't remember this being a side effect of Chantix When I was trying to quit smoking

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I still smoke. I never quit. The only thing that did to me was ruin my life.

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I took Chantix 7 years ago when it first came on the market and have had memory loss ever since. I never had a problem with memory issues before that. I only took Chantix for 3 weeks

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Re: Karen (# 45)

I used chantix,turned into a violent maniac while my family slept,shooting my wife of 20 years,she's fine,then fought with police for days,broken hands. I would not give this garbage to my dog if he was dead already...chantix is a huge gamble,one that could cost many lives ...beware.look up keithsluder chantix murder.maryland

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Yes much worse, turned me into an attempted murderer.

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I took it and almost killed my whole family. I went to prison. I went to a maximum security Institution. It opened a part of my brain where I became superhuman. It may have killed me but God brought me back. In February 2014 I was released, no thanks to Pfizer, because they try to prosecute me. It cost me thousands. They stole from my family and my children. I feel sorry for these people involved one day or called upon to explain what they have done to the one judge that matters. Some are gone already, very young, heart attacks, car wrecks... How do people sleep at night knowing what they sell has a huge possibility to take lives, children's lives, pregnant women's lives, family's lives. Shame on Pfizer. They did nothing, sweep it under the rug. They came to my court and tried to put me in prison forever, and they knew exactly what happened. Make their products look good. They wanted to take my life, take me away from my family. Shame on them. Disgusting evil greedy.

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Re: Shelley (# 44)

I took chantix almost 8 yrs ago and I quit smoking almost 2 weeks after starting it the only side affect I got was having bad night mares once I stopped smoking I stop taking the Chantix If you are still taking it after 8 months of being on it something is wrong talk to your doctor you should of quit along time ago

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Re: Verwon (# 1)

I used Chantix to quit smoking about 7 or 8 years ago. After about nine or ten days I realized I hadn’t smoked in over a week. I was happy that I had quit smoking but there was something wrong because I didn’t even remember that I hadn’t smoked. It was later when I found a half pack of cigarettes in my purse that I realized that the Chantix must be working. I didn’t crave a cigarette or have to fight the urge to smoke, I just didn’t even think about it ever again. This was a miracle as I had tried to quit so many times and I know how hard it had been. Chantix was a miracle drug as far as I was concerned. But then my husband would mention things we did or places we had been to and I had absolutely no memory of what he was talking about. Things like that started happening all the time, we had gone out to dinner with one of our friends and I have no memory of going or being there. I talked to people on the phone and have no recall of conversations I had had. To this day my short term memory is totally damaged. I have never been a drinker nor used drugs so I never mixed the Chantix in that way. I did however also take antidepressants and don’t know if that also played a factor with my short term memory loss. It might not seem like a big problem to some but it has destroyed my life. I miss more appointments than I show up for. I have to let my husband control my schedule and drive me to almost all my appointments as I have been driving and forgot where I was going. I feel like a child and my husband is my parent. It’s horrible to live like this. I’m glad I quit smoking I wish I had done it without ever using Chantix. I would never recommend Chantix to anyone.

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VJ Cannistraci (# 8) --

Really ? I am very interested if this is true . I’ve been on chantix now for 8 months and have quit a 2 pack a day ,45 years habit but still crave intensely !! Please keep us posted on this issue . I am in Tennessee; does that matter ?

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I drove my car into a pillar in my underground parking. Day one of Champix and no alcohol. It was seriously weird will never touch that stuff again.

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Re: VJ (# 2)

Hello. People take much higher doses of the active medication in "chatix" for depression. Your symptoms do not sound like any I know from that medication and I have a lot of knowledge about it. Are you on any hair loss medication treatments or hormone blockade medicines such as Finesteride? The severity of your symptoms seem much more related to this class of medications. I think pursuing Chantix as the cause of your symptoms will be the wrong path. There are many reasons for your symptoms including depression itself. Especially in the early times it is forming. It can be subtle. I'd look into any other substances, toxins in your environment to be sure to cover everything. Of course see an MD and neurologist if necessary. good luck.

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I started taking Chantix. My fiance and even my son said that my personality was changing. I didn't believe them either. I also have memory loss from the evenings. The worst part is that I really went into some rages where I said nasty things that I don't even remember. I don't remember making love to my fiance. That is really scary.

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My son took Chantix for months and did quit smoking pretty quickly and has not started back, thank God. Without going into too many details, he had a great job and has a beautiful wife and 2 children (teenagers). While taking Chantix he started experiencing explosive anger. Threatening to kill himself and punching holes in doors. He was having vivid nightmares of his wife in bed with a friend of his. He was away during one of the times he had the nightmare and called his wife at 3 in the morning to confront her, sure that his friend was with her. She was sound asleep and both kids were in the house sleeping. My daughter in law has been totally in love and devoted to my son and their family for almost 20 years. She is standing by him even through the worst of the nightmare...About 6 months into taking Chantix, he started getting the idea if his wife could have an affair (she was not), so why not him. Unfortunately he started perusing a website/app where there were young girls looking for men to have sex...I have flashbacks to a Dateline news show...

He was on his way to hook up with a minor...I can’t even say more, except that he was arrested and fired from his job, two years after his arrest he is in prison serving one year of a 10 year sentence. His family is about to be evicted from their home, his wife is working after always being a stay at home mom. She doesn’t make enough money to pay rent and utilities. He has little memory of the awful things he has done. He had thoughts of driving his car into a power pole on the interstate because it was the most likely way to end his life. He said thoughts of his family was the only saving grace. He knows his troubles have only just begun. Where will he be able to get a job to support his family? He has been told by counselors in prison that everyone believes sex offenders should die...writing this down has been therapeutic for me.

I’m wondering if Chantix could actually be to blame for all this. I wonder if he has any recourse at this point and if there is still an ongoing class action lawsuit.

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