Memory Loss And Prolonged Personality Changes While On, And After Use Of Chantix (Top voted first)

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

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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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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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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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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 used chantix 18 months ago.I quit smoking, but to this day have severe short term memory loss. I forget what someone said to almost as soon as they've said it. I have 3 calendars to remember appointments etc. I never had blackouts, but I usually can't even tell you what I had for dinner the night before.

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My Husband is so OCD since he took Chantix in 2008. He smokes cigars now but just socially and does not inhale. His personality has changed and is very grumpy and wound up most of the time. Has anyone else had OCD changes?

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Hi I have had a similar reaction to Chantix. I have been taking Chantix for about 5 weeks. I have quit smoking. The first few weeks I was doing ok on Chantix other than the typical nausea . Then I began to forget things like where I was going or what I was doing. Many times one of my children would need to tell me what I was doing or where I was driving. Then I began having a feeling of surrealism it felt like things were not real or like I was watching my life but not there. I don't know how to describe it. This weekend was the worst I all the sudden like a switch turned on in my head just wanted to die. I wanted to just end it. I out of no where asked where the car keys were at when my husband asked why I started screaming at him I was going to drive it into a telephone poll. Then I just went into a rage about everything that had been bothering me over the past decade. He of course took the keys then I snuck into the kitchen and grabbed a knife he must have heard me and I ran half way down stairs from our apartment on the second floor. He wrestled the knife from me. At one point I had it to my neck and was pushing it in. My husband ended up cutting his hand. He then told my son to call 911because I was trying to hurt myself. My son did not do because he was just totally beside himself. My husband then somehow got me in the car and started driving after about 3 hours I had calmed down. I have never had any mental health issues or felt like this before I am 43 years old.

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I took Chantix for a week and stopped when I stared getting paranoid. I stopped taking the Chantix and eventually quit cold turkey. I didn't give it any further thought. I recently got fired for outbursts at work. I was aware my personality had changed, but had no idea why. I went through all of the medications I take and didn't find a cause. I saw a Neurologist and nothing showed in my MRI. My wife mentioned the Chantix and a Google search brought me here. I have a sleep study coming up soon and I think I'll have my vitamin D checked.

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I took chantix in 2010 I did quit smoking. However I suffered memory issues right away and still do. I have vague memory of things I should remember from my youth and early adulthood. I've really struggled with this.

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I have been using Chantix for 2 months now. I'm 52. I told my girl today that I feel like I am getting Alzheimer's. I am so glad I'm not alone in thinking Chantix has something to do with it.

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Oddly, I am about 8-10 years past Chantix and suffer terrible short term memory loss. It started gradually after Chantix and I was searching to see if others have had it as well. That led me here. I also have the "cranky old man" issue but it leaves me wondering if all this is related to Chantix. No doubt, quitting smoking was worth it but is the cost more than I know?

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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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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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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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