Chantix and depression . . . even suicide?!?!?!

Discussion created by jarett on Jun 5, 2008
Latest reply on Jun 6, 2008 by becky8

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I have decided to use Chantix to help me quit smoking. Everyone that I have talked to (2-3 people) have had nothing but good comments about the use of the drug. I have read many of the reviews here regarding the side effects and have seen that the most common is nausea, along with vommiting. While doing some research I came across this website, http://whyquit.com/pr/082506.html which has a video. It disucsses how Chantix users experiences cases of depression, suicide ideation and even users who had commited suicide! Has anyone using the drug ever had these experiences? I am getting ready to start my prescription for the first time and am concerned. I would really like to get some feedback on this before I start taking the drug. Please help.

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12 Replies

rob17 Jun 5, 2008 7:17 AM
whyquit.com is of the opinion that there is not way but the true way, which is cold turkey. They are veryveryvery opposed to any method other than CT. That includes nicotine replacent therapy (NRT) like patches, lozenges, gum, etc and any drug which can help you quit. That includes Zyban and Chantix.

I am not against whyquit.com, it's just that I don't consider them an unbiased site when it comes to quitting.

If you're concerned about Chantix, talk to your doctor. I know of many, many people who have successfully quit using Chantix. I am currently taking it and have had no side effects other than tiredness and some soreness in my hand and wrist joints. Neither of these are enough to make me stop taking the drug.

The other unpleasant side effect I've seen reported (mainly here and on other web sites) is nausea. You need to make sure you eat before you take the drug. I've also heard that if you eat 15 minutes or so before taking it, the nausea is less likely to occur.

Good luck!
Rob
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miriam3 Jun 5, 2008 7:32 AM
I know quite a few people that have quit on Chantix and they each had different side effects to the medication.
I am on my 12th week of Chantix and although have had many of side effects like nausea and some depression (the first week only) I have not experienced any of the other more serious side effects. I think joining the "get quit" program that Chantix provides is very resourceful and supportive.
Good luck to you Jarret. We are here to help one another, keep coming back.
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rob17 Jun 5, 2008 7:57 AM
Just a side note to Miriam's post, depression is a very common side effect during the first week of not smoking. Nicotine is a strong antidepressant and it's not unusual to experience some depression after stopping.
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donna22 Jun 5, 2008 10:23 AM
I'm certainly no authority on Chantix, I am on my 3rd day of not smoking, I took Chantix 7days then quit on the 8th. The 1st few days I had nasea and just did not feel well, then I just started feeling good and normal, If I had continued the way the 1st days were I don't know if I would have continued. My Dr. did mention the possibility of depression etc and said if I experienced anything to call him right away....you know if I could quit cold turkey I would have a long time ago, I personally felt that this was my best choice and so far it is.
The best of luck to you
Donna
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miriam3 Jun 5, 2008 11:35 AM
Thanks Rob. After much research now I know it was part of "quitting".
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melinda2 Jun 5, 2008 1:42 PM
It has worked wonderfully for me!! Once early on I didn't eat and I experienced nausea. Now if I eat only a little I'm fine. I haven't had a cigarette in 20 days and have had some cravings but not nearly bad enough to make me smoke. I was a heavy smoker for 25 years. Also I agree with Rob. There are many side effects of quitting smoking. I think some people are uninformed and blame it on Chantix. The pharmacy tech told me of someone having vivid dreams of trying to smoke but for various reasons he was unable. That is a very common for any addict or alcoholic. My point is it wasn't the Chantix.
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becky8 Jun 6, 2008 12:42 PM
I took chantix last year and quit smoking for over 3 months. I had no depression what so ever. I am back on the chantix and smokefree 4 days and no depression. But both times i have had the wildest dreams you can think of. They are not nightmares, just crazy dreams...i kinda enjoy them. Well worth taking the chantix and not smoking
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maddie2 Jun 6, 2008 3:48 PM
I took Chantix for 8 weeks and quit after 54 years of smoking. I had very little nausea, and no other side effects. My smoker's cough stopped as soon as I quit. I have been smoke free for almost 6 months now.

Hang in there!
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vicky-l-murray Jun 7, 2008 3:50 PM
Jarett.
Please do not worry about the chantix. I did loose my mind for 30 days but i felt great! :-)
Please go to: www.Theeasywaytoquitsmoking.com you will not regret sending 149.00 and 6 hours of the rest of your life!
Vicky
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janie5 Jun 9, 2008 2:23 AM
Hi Melzee.....14 days smoke free but who is counting right! I've not hurt myself or killed anyone else during the time.
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janie5 Jun 9, 2008 2:25 AM
Hi Jarett....have you picked that quit date yet?
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misplaced-texan Jun 9, 2008 5:41 AM
whyquit.com/org is run by a guy who gets paid to give quit smoking seminars. Interesting that a guy who makes a living teaching quiting smoking seminars, oh and doesn't have any medical training, (I called the SC Department of Health to ask), choses to endorse the one way to quit that has the lowest precentage rates of people acctually being able to quit. I have read through and reviewd his site as well as contacting the SC department of Health and the SC Department of Corrections medical division (They will not pay for any smoking cessation materials). So a guy who has no medical training and is paid to give smoking cessation classes by organizations that do not provide any medications for quiting smoking endorses the one method of quiting with the lowest success rate. Not a real good endorsement for his website. Another bit of information for you. If any person takes a medication and then does something it is reportable to the FDA. So an example would be that you now have to have a prescription to get a car, well people wreck cars, people commit suicide in cars, people make out in cars. If the same rules were followed, then cars cause suicide, premature death due to trauma, and pregnancy. I included a post that was posted to another discussion group in Chantix-ERS, so some of the discussion wont seem to fit. but the general idea is what I wanted you to read. The information about Chantix varies. You can get all the information and read the reports from this website by Pfizer www.chantix.com or go to www.fda.gov, and search Chantix. As far as the information goes, it is still very mixed. The latest trend is to report that people become suicidal on Chantix. Well the truth of the matter is that three people who take Chantix described suicidal ideation. Since a rather large stink has been made about other anti-depressant medications leading to an increase in thoughts of suicide the reporting requirement for certain issues is one incident. In the initial study ALL side effects reported by participants had to be disclosed. If you want there are several books about how to interpret medical research which will generally bore you to death. Or speak with your doctor. The truth of the matter is that do to other medications taken, absorption times, possible underlying medical disorders, amount of stress, amount of food in stomach, amount of hydration can all effect how a medication works. In the particular case of Chantix ONE opinion is that it takes 6 months to clear dopaminergic receptors in the brain, any neurology text will tell you this is not true, but that enough about the brain is not known for all situations. Anyone who tells you it takes six months to clear a neurologic receptor should really look at Narcan on the web and attempt to explain that one, since Chantix and Narcan work in the same receptor area.
So, how do you get information? Well you would hope that people would provide true life experience information here, but from experience you should know that every blog you ever read regardless of the reason for the blog is 100% accurate and truthful. And if you believe that I have some great ocean view property for sale really cheap in Phoenix. What you should do is take all the information into account, review the medications website, and review the FDA's website. Both Pfizer and the FDA have 1-800 numbers you can call if you have further questions. If you have Kaiser Insurance you are able to e-mail any further questions you have to your doctor. When in doubt use this site for mental and psychological support and other peoples related (true or not) experiences with medications. But when it comes to your specific medical conditions, medications taken, and any effects you are having you should speak with your doctor. I will tell you that the information reported on the Chantix website has to be accurate according to FDA regulations, and that all reported side effects during the study, and any new FDA warnings have to be posted on the website. Also the FDA reports are fairly easy to read, if not boring. I, being a Registered Nurse working on a Masters in research can tell you that the only information I would take away from this blog is relation to other peopleâ€™s experience. I will say that my doctor has recommended I take Chantix for a full year. Six months minimum, but he would prefer a full year. His reasoning behind it is that smoking is more of a psychological addiction than a physical addiction. The addiction to nicotine only lasts for a week at the outside most and that would be due to liver and kidney clearance issues. The mental part of smoking, the reason why you smoke and drink coffee, or smoke and drive, or smoke instead of get in an argument is much harder to break than the nicotine addiction. Having the Chantix for a longer period of time only allows you not to get pleasure from smoking if you do slip up, and gives you more time to have experiences in various situations that would normally make you want to light up. Remember this is according to my doctor. Yours may agree, think it's a reasonable idea, or think it's total BS. Once again everybody is different, and has the potential to respond differently to medications. When in doubt, or if you have any questions contact your doctor.
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Chantix and depression . . . even suicide?!?!?!

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