How Chantix Ruined My Life – Real Life Customer Reviews

You must have come across Chantix medicine in your journey to quit smoking. It is a medicine that helps to quit smoking. But the other side of the coin will surprise you how Chantix has ruined my life.

At first, I felt dizzy after taking medicine. But gradually, my anger got out of control; I became extremely moody, had terrible nightmares, and constant headaches made my life hell. All these started disrupting my social, family and professional life. No one told me, not my psychiatrist or even the pharmacist that the medicine was the cause of my strange behaviour. When I found out, it was time-consuming to hope to get myself back to the previous place.

I’m just posting this for anyone suffering the same way I have been on Chantix for the past few days. Continue reading if you are considering quitting smoking with it. This will help you avoid side effects that could have ruined your life like mine.

What Is Chantix?

Chantix is a prescription medication designed to assist in quitting smoking. It helps by reducing nicotine cravings and withdrawal symptoms. It makes the process of quitting easier. It’s often recommended as part of a smoking cessation plan. It can be an effective aid for those striving to quit smoking.

How Does Chantix Work And Its Intended Purpose?

It’s a common thing to ask: how does Chantix work? Sure. The medicine binds to nicotine receptors in the brain, activating some. This emulates nicotine’s effects to lessen cigarette cravings. Also, it prevents nicotine from creating bonds to these receptors at the same time. This means that if you smoked while taking it, the pleasurable effects of nicotine would not be as strong. As a result, it will lessen the urge to smoke.

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What Are The Side Effects of Taking Chantix?

Chantix is an effective medication for smoking cessation. But like any medication, it has side effects and risks. Some side effects and risks caused by Chantix include: 

Common Side Effects:

•    Nausea
•    Insomnia (difficulty sleeping)
•    Abnormal dreams
•    Headache

The FDA has issued warnings about the risk of neuropsychiatric events as follows, 

• Changes in mood, depression, anxiety, agitation, and aggression.   
• Suicidal thoughts or behaviour, although this is rare.
• Skin rash, itching, and swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat. 

These issues are also considered as the long term side effects of Chantix. 

Seizures

While the risk of seizures is low, the med increases the risk of seizures. If you have a history of seizures, discuss this with your doctor. 

Other Risks

Chantix may cause dizziness or impair your ability to drive or operate heavy machinery.   

Some people have reported experiencing changes in behaviour, hostility, agitation, or hallucinations while taking the medicine. These instances are relatively rare.

How Did Chantix Ruin My Life?

I have smoked for about 15 years. For some medical issues, I decided not to take it anymore. According to my friend’s suggestions, I consult a doctor. Following the prescription provided by my physician, I started taking it. I was so excited that I was going to kick out this bad habit finally. Though I have not smoked since taking it, my personality is forever changed. Also, the relationship with people has been ruined. It has a negative impact on my mental and physical condition. However, the most common side effect of Chantix is nausea. 

Mental side effects:

First, to avoid the friends who smoked, I isolated myself. Distanced myself from other people, too. But the medicine affected me so much that Mentally, I was disturbed, becoming an overthinker about silly matters, anxious.

Gradually, all these matters led me to depression, and finally, the suicidal thoughts grabbed me badly. Luckily, I have got such a supportive family. They noticed the changes in me and told me to consult a psychiatrist for counselling. And I finally healed a little but am still struggling with some issues like irritations lack of concentration, and now I am facing a new problem: having terrible dreams. 

I don’t know when and how I will get spare of these. Thank god, at least I have supportive friends and family. This is the reason I survived and now can keep my mind away from suicidal thoughts. 

Physical side effects

The physical issues I was suffering from the whole day I felt dizzy. Moreover, I missed my classes due to the pain from cramps. The medicine affects my taste buds. Not only cigarettes but also other food tasted horrible. At some point, I felt like taking a cigarette rather than continuing this evil medicine. I always had a headache taking the meds, just like when I started smoking cigarettes. Due to depression, I started to eat a lot, gained weight and became more stressed and depressed with the extra weight. This is how I was totally lost mentally and physically. When I quit taking it, everything was in control. However, I am still struggling, working on shredding weight and counselling to fight against mental illness. 

Also Read: How Invega Ruined My Life?

Share The Decision to Stop Taking Chantix and The Process of Recovery

When you and your doctor decide that it’s time to discontinue the med, try the below steps as follows,

Gradual Reduction: It’s not recommended to abruptly stop taking it. So what happens if you stop Chantix abruptly? You should maintain a gradual reduction of the medication. Otherwise, there is a possibility that the habit of smoking will return.

Continuing Behavioral Support: Behavioral therapy and counselling may have been part of your smoking cessation plan. You should continue even after discontinuing Chantix. These sessions help you quit smoking and provide strategies for long-term success.

Stay Mindful of Triggers: Continue to be aware of situations, places, or people who are smoking cravings. Use the coping strategies you’ve learned to manage these triggers without resorting to cigarettes.

Relapse Prevention: Work with your healthcare provider on a relapse prevention plan. This plan may include identifying early warning signs of relapse and strategies to avoid falling back into smoking.

Lifestyle Changes: Embrace a healthier lifestyle by maintaining regular physical activity. Also eating a balanced diet, and managing stress through relaxation techniques or mindfulness practices can help.

Support Network: Lean on your support network of friends and family, as well as support groups or online communities. These will help you to stay motivated and accountable in your smoke free journey.

Regular Check Ins:  Continue to have regular follow up appointments with your healthcare provider to monitor your progress, address any challenges, and make necessary adjustments to your smoking cessation plan.

Who Should Not Use Chantix?

Chantix (varenicline) may not be suitable for everyone. There are certain groups of people who should use it with caution. Here are some groups who should be cautious or avoid using it:

• Pregnant and Nursing Women should not use the medicine as it can affect the toddler. 
• Individuals with a History of Seizures should not go for medicine.
• If someone has any kind of mental disorder like depression suicidal thoughts must avoid the med. 
• People with heart problems must avoid it as it has a record of blocking the blood clot. 
• Those who have kidney problems should avoid it as it is metabolized by the kidneys. So, those with severe kidney problems require dose adjustments or alternative treatments.
• If you have an allergic reaction to varenicline or any of the components in the med, you should not use it.
• Chintax is not formulated Under the age of 18. So, only people above 18 years old can take Chantix. 

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How Long Is It Safe to Take Chantix?

After learning the pros and cons of the medicine, you should know how long you can take Chantix without experiencing side effects. 

The duration for taking varenicline varies based on your individual needs and the recommendations of your healthcare provider. Typically, the treatment duration is as follows:

Week 1 to 3: 

Start with 0.5 mg once daily. Most people begin with a lower dose and then gradually increase it.

Week 4 to 12:

0.5 mg twice daily. After the initial weeks, the standard dosage is 0.5 mg twice a day.

The recommended treatment duration is usually 12 weeks. However, if you successfully quit smoking during this time and your doctor believes it’s necessary mein extend the treatment for another 12 weeks for a total of 24 weeks.

How Chantix Ruined Others Life : Real Life Customer Reviews

The authentic Chantix reviews make you rethink whether you will take it or not. Here, we have collected some reviews from the real life struggler who suffered a lot while on it.

Chantix causes personality change. A 76 year old man, St. Nick, shared his personal experience, stating, “I have smoked since the age of 16, and about 50 years of that was non filtered cigarettes. I took it for 48 days as prescribed and did not smoke at all after the 7th day. I had no issues for several weeks but after about 40 days on the med, I had terrible nightmares, a constant headache, and was turning into a very angry person. I stopped it on the 48th day, and thankfully, the side effects went away after about four days.” 

Chantix is linked to suicidal thoughts. Yes! You read it right. Knowing another suffering story of Lucas Brown from Detroit, you will be shocked. He shares his story, saying, “3 years ago, I started smoking and have attempted to quit smoking with Chantix. Now, the depression and suicidal thoughts come to mind after about day 3. I have done this trial about five times. I thought maybe the depression came because I was already depressed, and it just intensified it. But after 5 times, I was 100% convinced it was the medicine.” He told everyone to be careful when taking this medication.

Chantix causes heart problems, according to Micheal, who took the medicine for six months. He tells a harsh truth about the medicine that causes blood clot that leads to strokes and heart attack. Due to this risk of blood clots, heart attacks, and strokes, he regrets using it. He also mentioned his friend died from a pulmonary embolism caused by it.

Can Chantix cause depression? Here, you will get the answer knowing the experience of Hana, a 23 years old girl. She shares her horrible experience in taking it. She says, “The first day I felt frustrated, and unleashed my frustration on others. I yelled at everyone like mad. The story does not end here. 

At night, I was getting pain in my chest; I experienced difficulty breathing. After some time, I started to take a breath properly, but right after that, my body shook uncontrollably. Finding no way, I called 911 and survived somehow. My experience was so terrible that I didn’t want anyone to experience it. 

Depression caused by Chantix. Hence, Augusta warns everyone, saying, “This is the worst med I have ever taken. It gave me horrible nightmares. In addition, it made me feel depressed and weird. After one month, I wound up in seizures. It never worked! So then I got an E cigarette and never smoked again. DO NOT TAKE THIS HORRIBLE Medicine! People may have deep, dark depression because of it. STAY AWAY from Chantix; it’s Garbage. 

Even side effects after stopping Chantix are also common in some cases. John William, a 35 year old man, shares that after quitting Chantix, he experienced increased cigarette cravings as the medication’smedication’s effect on nicotine receptors diminished. He was upset, saying, “I always faced many mental and physical issues while on the medication. That’s why, with the guidance of my healthcare advisor, I quit it. But it’s not going to help me in any way except increase the craving for cigarettes.” 

This particular medicine had a negative impact on many lives due to its side effects, including nausea, headaches, and changes in taste. These physical discomforts made my experience with the medication challenging.

However, being cautious and informed when considering it as a smoking cessation aid helps you eliminate such bad experiences that many people face. 

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How Long Does Chantix Side Effect Last?

Certainly, here’s a tabular form summarizing how long common Chantix side effects typically last:

How to Use Chantix to Quit Smoking?

To use Chantix (varenicline) effectively to quit smoking, follow these general steps:

Consult a Specialist: Before starting it, consult with doctor. They will assess your smoking habits, medical history, and suitability for the medication.

Set a Quit Date: Choose a specific quit date within the first two weeks of starting the med. This provides a target to work toward.

Follow the Dosage Instructions:

Chantix is usually taken in two phases:

• Days 1 to 3: Start with a low dose of 0.5 mg once daily.
• Day 4 to 7: Increase the dose to 0.5 mg twice daily.

Continued Use: Continue taking 0.5 mg twice daily for weeks 2 to 12.

Counselling and Support: Chantix is more effective when combined with counselling and behavioural support. Join a smoking cessation program or seek counselling to address the psychological aspects of quitting.

Monitor Side Effects: Be aware of mood changes or gastrointestinal issues, and report any concerns to your healthcare provider.

Stay Committed: Stay motivated and committed to quitting. Use your quit date as a goal and remind yourself why you want to quit smoking.

Track Progress: Keep track of your smoking triggers, cravings, and achievements. This can help you identify patterns and develop strategies to cope with cravings.

Stay Hydrated: Drinking plenty of water can help reduce smoking cravings.

Avoid Triggers: Identify and avoid situations or activities that trigger your smoking habit.

Celebrate Milestones: Reward yourself for reaching milestones in your smoke free journey.

Seek Support: Ask friends and family for support, and consider joining a support group for additional encouragement.

Also Read: How Topamax Ruined My Life?

Alternatives of Chantix

Certainly, here’s a tabular form listing some alternative or complementary approaches to quitting smoking as an alternative to Chantix:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What happens if you continue to smoke while on Chantix

Nicotine receptors in the brain can help reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings when you quit smoking. Chantix’s Chantix’s effectiveness is diminished because it competes with nicotine for receptor binding. This can make quitting more challenging. Making it harder to quit smoking. Smoking while on it still causes harmful effects of tobacco.

Are Chantix side effects permanent?

Most side effects of Chantix (varenicline) are not permanent and are typically temporary. They often occur while taking the medication and may subside after discontinuation. Nausea, vivid dreams, insomnia, or gastrointestinal issues tend to go away within days or weeks of stopping it.

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Conclusion

After knowing how Chantix ruined my life, it’s essential to have open and honest communication with your healthcare provider before starting it. They can assess your individual risk factors and monitor your progress while taking the medication. I am just hoping for a future where medication side effects are better understood and managed. If you experience any concerning side effects, reach out to your healthcare provider promptly.