Started Chantix A Few Days Ago.

I have breast cancer and was asked by my doctor to be in a study currently going on in the US for cancer patients who smoke and want to quit. It's a 1 year double blind study that involves counseling and either 12 weeks of Chantix or 24 depending on which group you are randomized to. I am being followed by a doctor and psychiatrist and have to check in every 2 weeks for counseling. I am very concerned about all the negative feedback regarding this drug. I don't think doctors are interviewing their patients properly before prescribing this drug. I was told if I had a history of depression or mental illness I could not take this medicine. I was also told if I had elevated blood pressure I could not take this medicine. Please make sure your health history is reviewed before taking this medication. I'm concerned about the side effects, but also know some people reviewing this drug probably should not be taking it, also many side effects people are reporting are directly related to quitting smoking...agitation, irritability, anger, not the drug. Good luck to all of you. I am on day 3 and suffering from nausea and insomnia. So far very tolerable

REPLY

REPORT

1 Reply

I am very sorry about your cancer and I hope for a very long, happy and healthy life for you.

As to the issue about whether or not some people should be taking it, that is something that only their doctors can decide.

For instance, if someone has high blood pressure, but it is under control with medications and not dangerously high, then their doctor might feel that the benefits outweigh the possible risks, because the temporary effect of taking the medication for awhile can be mitigated with medication adjustments, but the effects of continuing to smoke are much more dangerous to the cardiovascular system. The same goes for the depression and mental health issues.

It's really applicable to any medication, your doctor always has to consider certain possible risks and decide whether or not you the benefits to you would outweigh them.



How are things going for you, now? Have you quit smoking?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I have had severe chronic nerve pain in my lower back from a botch-up surgery for 7 yrs. I was taking roxicodone 30mg wi...

7 REPLIES

Today is day 3. Haven't had any reactions or any listed side effects but I know over time drugs build up and can the...

1 REPLY

I feel swimmy and very out of body, sort of. I don't have any sense of time and seem pretty confused. i have taken t...

1 REPLY

Woke up this morning with severe cramping in legs.Am presently taking Accrete d3 tablets and been on these for a while.S...

2 REPLIES

I bought the first doses about ten months ago, but didn't start treatment at that time. I finally started the treatm...

one mo. of generic Topamax and the numbness in feet, arms and legs with sensations of short "zaps" accompanied t...

1 REPLY

I started LoLo 2 days before my cycle started. (still on a Sunday) I started on a Tuesday. Do you guys think it will sho...

1 REPLY

So i took a break from taking sprintec birth control pills for a month. I stopped in November and started taking them ag...

3 REPLIES

am worried that chantix wont work on me ## That is a possibility, no drug works for everyone. It generally takes about 2...

1 REPLY

Hi. Im a any day starter, instead of taking the white pill on first day I took dark blue and then began the white pills....

1 REPLY