It worked as it was meant to: I haven't smoked since August 12. Six weeks, give or take.
I had just about every one of the side effects:
...suicidal thoughts or actions; new or worsening depression, anxiety, or panic attacks; agitation; restlessness; angry or violent behavior; acting dangerously; mania (frenzied, abnormally excited mood or talking); abnormal thoughts or sensations; hallucinations (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist); feeling that people are against you; feeling confused; or any other sudden or unusual changes in behavior, thinking, or mood.One of my friends knew I'd stopped taking it when I [mostly] stopped being mean.
Feelings of confusion are a common feature of my personality so I'm not sure I can blame Chantix for those.
The auditory hallucinations were barely noticeable and only lasted for a few days: they were, as my doctor predicted, like hearing the conversation of many voices from an adjacent room. That was interesting. I kept trying to hear what the nonexistent people were talking about, but never could make it out.
I stopped taking it when the occasional nausea became more regular. By then I was forgetting to take it anyway.
The loss of interest in food did not last, and the inability to resist the famously unhealthy White Food has dropped into place. Now I scurry away from the sight of blue and white Entenmann's boxes the way, six years ago, I began to avoid the red and white of Budweiser.
Just as Roseanne Roseannadanna used to say, "It's always something--if it ain't one thing, it's another."
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16 comments:
It's been over 2-years since I've smoked... didn't use the Rx, it was a heart attack and quality time with Jesus in a helicopter. HOWEVER, there are still times I'd rip someone's spleen out for a smoke. It was my friend for a long time. Remembering the first two weeks of withdrawal is what keeps me going. I just don't think I could do that again.
HEY! The verification word is a message: dressfun! HA! I think I will.
It sounds like a case of the cure being worse than the "disease".
I quit smoking 20 years ago, but every now and then one drag sounds good. I wait 45 seconds or so and it passes. Fact is, I don't think I have another quit in me. So thanks for the description of your recent quit. Works for me!
to quit smoking is hard; to keep smoking is harder ... ask any smoker with cancer
I just want to cheer for you- good for you! You're doing such a good thing for your body and now have a chance to live long and healthily. What kid of exercise do you like? Find something that's fun and you'll never look back.
I have to say , Chantix just sounds too scarey to try and I'm glad it wasn't on offer when I wanted to stop smoking . Though I must admit it took me five tries before I succeeded .
Still , cheer up . I haven't smoked for thirty years ... and never think about it .
It'll work eventually !
Wishing you great will power and continued success, June.
oooooooo errrrrrrr I salute you and do a little jig to your courage!
Those side effects are the reasons that my doctor advised me against trying it..........i agreed, do you think if you had not had your husband around you may have reacted differently to those feelings.
Now you have finished with them, are you having cravings?
Thank you for sharing this experience with us, it is hard to find anyone who smokes these days who wants to give up let alone also tries with Chantix.
hmmmm. I hear auditory sounds like that but I'm not on medication. And it only happens when a fan is running. In my old apartment it only happened in one room and I heard big band music. I figured it was some residual paranormal stuff left from the family that lived there from 1916 to about 1990. In my home now it only happens in the bedroom and I can only hear it if I am in the bathroom. It sounds like a news program on tv or radio but I can never make out exactly what is said. But this mobile home is only 15 years old so I'm not sure if it might be paranormal or just me being abnormal.
logging in by name because I am at my parent's home this week.
That sounds like a pretty scary med. Those pharmaceutical companies are coming up with some real doozies nowadays. But, at least you're not smoking. Hang in there!
Beating an addiction is an accomplishment! The reward includes better health and the right to smile smugly when you pass that cluster of smokers huddled around an ashcan as you enter a building.
I've heard some pretty nasty stories about Chantix. I'm glad you're off that and the smokes too. You must be very proud of your accomplishments, June.
The word verification is "ungunc" and it seems to me that you're well on your way to unguncing your lungs. ;)
Good for you -- in lots of ways!
Chantix worked extremely well for me... I fortunately didn't experience any of the horrible sounding side effects.
Trying to quit without Chantix was much worse for me. I vividly remember my feelings of complete and total despair and rage... to the point where Don said a couple of times, "I'm just going to go buy you a pack of cigs because I can't bear seeing you this way."
Hope you're doing okay, June. I'm sure there are still many moments when you'd like to just rip someone's head straight off their shoulders. That too shall pass. :D
Congratulations on quitting. I just know now that I feel and smell so much better without them.
Totally the truth. You get one thing going, like exercise, and then you eat more.
Thank you for your comment on my post. I appreciated your kind words.
Your honesty always takes me by surprise and usually gives me an excuse for introspection. Life is what we make of it - good or bad - our choices. Congratulations on your will power to date.
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