Champix Quit Smoking Pills Work Differently
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Smoking is an addiction and for those people who want to give up this addiction but find it impossible, do not despair as help is on the way in the form of a new drug.
It is well known that many people have been able to kick the habit with the help of their GP with the various treatments available while others have failed miserably.
A new pill has now been developed. Trials of the drug Champix in Britain show that it is effective after a 12-week course, with 44 percent of smokers stopping, If necessary smokers can take it for longer the overall rate of smokers quitting then rises.
Champix is nicotine-free and works in an entirely different way to other treatments. It binds the nicotine receptors in the brain and reduces the severity of cravings and other withdrawal symptoms by interfering with the release of the “pleasure” chemical dopamine. Champix also reduces the satisfaction gained from smoking.
yup… seems to have reduced my wife’s sex drive to zero, too.
I have a prescription for Champix given to me buy my family doctor Matthew R Estill from the Guthrie Medical 1780 Hanshaw Road Ithaca,NY 14850 - Lic 202366. Well it turns out that I do not have any medical insurance, for the last 3 years I thought I had Medicade and what I have is only Medacare. I am on a fix income and there is no way i can afford this med as well as the many other ones he has written for me. I was hoping that you had someway of selling this med at a cheaper rate or if you knew of some program that mite help me. I am in discussion with Medicade now but it looks like i my not get it because they say i make to much money, This i cant believe because i only get alittle over 1000.00 amonth. If there is anything you could do to help me with this I would be very greatful.
Thank You Dennis R Heath
Hi Dennis,
As I and my website is UK I can’t help you with that but you could try selling on Ebay if they allow it, or on one of the free ad sites like Adlandpro, I am sure many people would like to give it a go and give up smoking.
Loving the champix pills, no loss of sex drive. No cravings. Oh my god, I sound like an ad for champix.
Hi Noel,
You are an ad for Champix just the sort they want, keep up the good work its not only your health that will benefit think of all that lovely money you will save.
It does work, but yes it does lower your sex drive, and you still have cravings although they’re not as bad as cold turkey.
Basically if you smoke a cigarette you won’t feel anything, and that’s how it makes you quit. I smoked for about 5 days, but it severely reduced the amount and then I stopped. This is not a magic pill, but because you don’t get anything out of the nicotine while you keep taking the tablets, there is no point in smoking, so that kind of forces you. I think a temporarily lowered libido is worth it to stop smoking.
Well no negative reports up to now so it sounds like its worth the cost because the savings will be huge when you do stop.
I’m having major back surgery 6 Aug and told I MUST stop smoking. My Primary Care Trust does not yet prescribe champix, but I have excellent GP who made a good case for me and I started it 2 weeks ago.
Today is the first day of no cigs, but have reduced last 10 days ( from 20 to about 6). I haven’t noticed any difference with sex drive, as with my back, the chance would be great!, - but I have noticed that i am also totally off alcohol. Sad as its the best thing for the pain, but good for my health I guess.
Anyone else had same experience?
I am a 45 yr. old female in Canada, and I was a chronic, yet no too heavy smoker. I am into my 5th week, and I still pull out a cigarette about once every 2 or 3 days, usually brought on by the mosdest amount of stress. But I never finish it, and it does not satisify me, so the pill works, however, I am slightly depressed, dream when I never used to, reduced sex drive, and I find my arthritis aggravated minimally.
I am grateful to be off the cigarettes, and want to stay a non smoker, but I am afraid I am dependent on the pill too much. I have gone a day here and there, to try it, and the cravings do return but not so strong. I am afraid the side afects will become intensified, but for now, I will continue and hopefully my smallest urges and mind games will reduce to zero as I stop the treatment over time.
A client of ours called John Karatzas has been taking Champix for two months. The drug had taken away the physical cravings but not the mental conditioning. And just like the nicotine patches and Zyban before it was another abysmal failure. He had just about exhausted every method he knew to kick the habit but without success. When he came to see us two weeks ago he said if you could get him to quit smoking then he will give us £1,000 in cash and another £1,000 to a charity of our choice. He quit smoking in the very first session using Advanced Hypnosis, Laser and Bioresonance. He is now bringing his wife and daughter for weight-loss and smoking cessation respectively. Everything has gone really well for John but we can’t see any sign of the extra windfall yet?
Dear Barbara. I am afraid if you want to be rid of the mental urges to go down to zero then you will have a very long wait. I have been helping people kick the habit since 2002 but wanted to find out what it was like stopping smoking using hypnotherapy as apposed to giving up by other means. Most of my clients tell me that people smoking around them does not bother them at all after stopping using hypnotherapy. However, I asked my brother six years after he quit smoking (using patches) how he feels when people are smoking around him. He said ‘sometimes I could murder a cigarette’. Perhaps I can now understand why people revert back to smoking so quickly after using the miracle stop smoking aids that come out of a bottle!
I am in the UK, after a little battle with my doctors and the intervention of the local healthcare trust quit smoking team…….I was prescribed champix..After smoking between 20 and 40 a day for 25 years I had the motivation to stop but feared the unknown, life without cigarettes.
I followed the plan as directed and by day 9, I really didn’t want to smoke any more, I gave up on day 11. That was a week ago and I haven’t wanted one since I am coping very well without cigarettes. I get few cravings and soon overcome them with nothing more than a little will power…….As for side effects, I did feel a little nauseous at first, particularly when I smoked and I have lost my libido a little - but in just 7 days my breathing is better, I haven’t wheezed all week and I have saved about £50…….I would recommend any heaver smoker should try it……Thanks
I’ve tried hypnosis and it did not work. I was craving a cigarette before the session had ended. I hope these pills will help.
it only took me 9 days of taking champix to stop me from smoking… i have absolutly no craving at all
I have been taking Chantix for 3 weeks and have not smoked a cigarette since I started taking the pill. The first two weeks were a little rough but the physical craving is totally gone now. I’m just working on the psychological part but I keep reminding myself about how I can breath now and I have so much more energy. The pill has not effected my libido at all. Since the nicotine is out of my system now, once I finish the pill I will just have to deal with some cravings at times due to the psychological factor but that will pass. Thanks to Chantix I will never smoke again!
I’m at my second week off of cigarettes and this was the Best pill I’ve ever tried….I get naucious sometimes after taking the pill, but I would rather be that for a small while than have that crazy urge to smoke….people are now telling me they’ve heard that Chantix is hard on your heart and you have to go off of it slowly ???? AND Never drink any alcohol while on it! It could kill you! Is this true? Also, my back and legs have ached ever since I started them….could that be a side effect? Even so, thanks for getting me off of smokes!! What a savings! Phyllis
If you think that Champix is a good thing then think back to the safest sleeping pill in the world called thalidomide. Thalidomide (tha-lid-o-mide) was first marketed in Europe in the late 1950’s. It was used as a sleeping pill and to treat morning sickness during pregnancy. At that time no one knew thalidomide caused birth defects. Thalidomide has been responsible for so much misery for so many people ove the last 50 years.
There is just is not enough evidence on the safety of this new ‘wonder’ drug that causes chemical changes to the brain to stop the cravings. I suppose for some people taking one poison to get rid of another poison makes a lot of sense.
Dottie, the reason hypnosis did not work for you is because either you are someone who just can’t relax in a therapeutic environment or the hypnotherapist was useless. I do not know why people will go out of their way and find the best garage to service their car but when it comes to the most important thing which is their mind they will shop around for the cheapest hypnotherapist. Either that or they will try and get freebees on the NHS. People who are difficult to hypnotise already know this as they have problems trying to sleep or relax. If you fall into this category then you need to go to the best hypnotherapist money can buy.
There are a lot of very safe systems that are not as effective as hypnotherapy but far better then poisonous drugs like Champix. Bioresonance and Low Power Lasers have now taken their rightful place along side hypnotherapy as the best stop smoking methods in the world. Hypnosis if undertaken properly can stop the carvings instantly in just one session. Moreover, because it works at the unconscious level where our habits are kept then you will not compensate by overeating and you will be a able to cope a lot better with the stresses and strains of life. Most people who quit smoking using any other method will revert back to smoking as soon as they experience an emotional problem in the future. Bioresonance can take one to two sessions to quit smoking and help remove the physical cravings for the cigarettes. Laser usually takes about three sessions (day one, day three and one week later). All of these methods are without drugs or dangerous side effects and a lot cheaper then Champix. The bioresonance system we have is the only one we know of that deals with methadone the most addictive and difficult substance we have to deal with. Our combined system works just as well for cannabis, katamin (horse tranquiliser), cocaine, crack-cocaine and alcohol.
We use advanced hypnotherapy, bioresonance and laser in a unique way to help people quit smoking. This year alone, we have seen hundreds of people and each and every one of them have quit smoking apart from two ladies who did not hypnotise well in the first session and ‘chickened’ out far too quickly. Because we offer a money back guarantee that opted for the money instead of staying committed to the programme. Every person who has stayed on the programme has quit smoking with us. We not only get people to quit smoking but we stay with them for a year so if they revert back to smoking at any time we get them back for a free backup session. About 95% of all of our clients quit smoking in just one 2h session.
Some people who smoke cigarettes are doing so to cover up some underlying emotional problems. When they quit smoking they go through huge physiological upheaval. Some compensate and put on weight, some end up on anti-depressants or both. We had one such case recently who quit smoking with us. She had a very troubled life and had terrible problems after she quit smoking so we got her back in for another session. This time we dealt with her troubled past and in one session we took away all of the emotional pain. In the next session we helped her to programme a compelling future. In the last session she went so deep that we made the suggestions for smoking and she has never touched a cigarette again. Her husband is a local doctor who has acknowledged that if it was not for us his wife would have never been able to kick the smoking habit.
Here are some more facts to consider about the new wonder drug Champix:
Champix is another unless drug that boasts a 1 in 5 success rate.
On September 29, 2006, Pfizer issued a press release announcing European Commission approval of Champix, its new quit smoking pill. It boasts that “after one year, approximately one-in-five patients who received the 12-week course of varenicline [Champix] remained smoke-free.”
What we do not know is whether Champix’s modest 1 in 5 success rate is attributable to the effects of Champix, to the 16 clinical counseling sessions participants received, to the use of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) following 12 weeks of Champix use, or to the fact that more than 1,000 hard to treat smokers who would likely have generated substantially higher failure rates were denied participation. What we do know is that Pfizer’s clinical Champix studies were not blind as claimed.
Understandably, Pfizer wants to assign full credit for the results from its five varenicline studies to Champix. Understandably, it wants smokers to believe that, as in its clinical studies, 1 in 5 who purchase Champix will succeed. But if cessation pharmacology history teaches any lesson it is that clinical studies are engineered for victory, and unless real-world users can find a way to duplicate study engineering they should expect to experience dramatically lower success rates.
Shokat Ali
http://www.lifeprinciples.com
Shokat Ali
You really should read some of the powerful endorsements from individuals who have used and succeeded with Champix within this forum instead of trying to promote pathetic hypnotic treatment…presumably you practice this and notably place your website address on your post…..try hypnotising yourself not to post such self absorbed, self promoting trash!
I have been reading many of your comments on Champix and with many of you it looks quite promising. It seems that Shokat Ali is knocking this product down in order to gain free advertising for his own website. I wonder how the costs compare between champix and hypnotic treatment! As far as thalidomide is concerned it was a bad drug but if we worry about that we would be frightened to take anything new that comes on to the market.
Champix may work for one and not another but the same goes for hypnosis, nothing is absolutely guaranteed.
So Shokat Ali when you can prove without a doubt that hypnosis works for everyone we may welcome your comments, but untill then use paid advertising.
Have started champix…but it was giving me persistent headaches. So I stoped
How can I be reembursed…..
Thank you
I have been using Champix now for 9 weeks, I was a serious 40 a day smoker that had tried hypnotism
5 times to no avail, patches that made me feel dizzy and sick, chewing gum that makes me cough,
throat sprays, tongue pills, you name it except Zyban, I was too worried about the side effects.
Like every other smoker I never felt that there was a right time to give up, I knew that I had just
reached a point when life was getting shorter and I was fed up with life interfering with my
smoking, I read the Allan Carr book and went to the day course neither of them worked, I was just
praying for a magic pill, and here it is.
For the first two weeks it made me naucious and it stated on the packet that you should set a
giving up date 14 days later, I have not followed those directions as I didn’t want to
feel deprived so I cut down gradually, as I feel it to be more realistic. I am now going for days
without a cigarette although I keep them around so that i have the choice.
Champix deals with the craving brilliantly but I don’t think it is going to deal with the 30 years
of mental conditioning that I have given myself so i am also reading a book called ‘How to stop smoking and stay stopped for good’ by Gillian Riley, a friend of mine swears by the book as he gave up on the book
method alone but I am not that brave so I am using champix for the craving and the book for the
conditioning.
I too am worried about becoming addicted to Champix, not because it is an addictive pill but its the worry that the craving will return when the tablets run out!
without a cigarette and somedays I light one only to realise it tastes revolting but I don’t feel
deprived. I found that although Champix is working brilliantly, there will come a day when I can no
longer rely on it as I will have to stop taking it
Hi there,
I am on day three of champix, i smoke between 30-40 a day. At the moment i have only experienced slight nausea but i start on two tablets from tomorrow so i’m hoping that the nausea dosn’t get too bad. I have M.E & Fibromyalgia so most of the time i am housebound. I am worried that the smoking has become so much a part of my life because i sit with my laptop and reach for a ciggie, its so easy to do. Unfortunately smoking has become a huge part of my life. I actually hate smoking which sounds crazy, and used to be a non-smoker until the age of 28 when i lived in the attic room of some friends house, they smoke 40 a day each and i found myself having cravings which prooves that passive smoking is bad for you as i was such an anti smoker. When my friend and i used to go nightclubbing if we saw a handsome guy and then saw him light up we would be so put off by it. Shows how things change. I have just become a grandmother for the first time and i don’t want him to grow up seeing me with a ciggie in my hand all of the time. Also being disabled i can’t afford to smoke the money could be better spent. Another worry of mine is that my husband smokes, not as many as me and rollies not cigarettes but he dosn’t want to give up and i wouldn’t presuure him into either as it has to be his decision. I am scared that my seeing him smoking will hinder my giving up, has anyone else given up on champix and their other half hasn’t?
Good luck to everyone on here…
I have been using Champix for 12 days now and my quit day was yesterday. I had no problem not picking up a cigarette but what happened next scared me half to death. I am a very mild mannered person. The world could come crashing down around me and I would stay pretty calm. Last night my fiance heard me raise my voice for the first time in 11 years since we met. I go so angry at nothing. I am sure I could have stabbed someone if they had of said something out of the way. Then I got almost numb. I just starred into space with no emotions at all. I went to be at 8 pm and just wanted to die. I actually laid there thinking of what would be the best way to do myself in. The next morning I was so angry at the world I had to call off work. I work with the elderly and was scared I would say something I shouldn’t or fly off the handle at nothing. I had such a bad headache and my heart felt like it was skipping beats. It was all very scary. I have been smoking off and on today just because I am scared of those emotions coming back. I am however still taking the pills. I am fine as long as I only have a few cigarettes. I really don’t know what to do. I will see my doctor tomorrow as today is a holiday. I hope this doesn’t happen to anyone else.
NORMA CANADA
Message for Channelle
Please try to read ‘How to stop smoking and stay stopped for good’ by Gillian Riley, you will find it helpfull when dealing with watching other people smoke, I do feel for you as i know what its like to stay at home and use smoking as something to do as I have been like that for years as i am self employed and only work 1 day per 2 weeks, I worry that when I come off the tablets I wont find it so easy, but at least were trying!!!
Comment for Robert Latour
It does give a list of side effects on websites or the instructions, I think it is just a case of pot luck, mind you, I had headaches and nausea when I first started for about 2 weeks, i persisted and it all stopped, depending on how bad they are maybe you should persevere and take headache tablets to counteract them, its better than smoking.
Hi Norma. I sympathise with you and this in kind of way also answers the posting by Grant Taylor who just fails to look at the obvious truth and endorses chemically based interventions.
Sure you can pack up with a chemically based system but what about the years of programming. Some people have had a pretty raw deal in life and the only constant thing in their life has been a packet of cigarettes. When you take that away without dealing with the mental conditioning you are sometimes heading for trouble. I saw a person called John who had exhausted ever method of quitting smoking, yes including the wonder drug Champix. This is his statement:
‘I own the Bizarre Café on Newton Road. All of you, who know me, knew me to be a chain smoker averaging 80-100 cigs a day. Though the desire to stop smoking was there, sadly the willpower was lacking. Even developing metastatic throat cancer did not deter me from continuing the habit of a lifetime. I spent years searching for someone or something which would stop me from smoking without suffering withdrawal symptoms.
Patches, Gum, Zyban, Champix, Hypnotherapy all failed. When I visited Mr Ali’s practice, I was convinced that this would merely constitute yet another failed attempt. Despite my cynicism, after just 2 sessions I stopped smoking. That was 2 months ago. I haven’t touched a cigarette since, nor craved one. I still can’t believe how easy it was. This multi-disciplined system using Advanced Hypnosis, Bioresonance and Laser really works!’
John Karatzas [manager], Great Barr, Birmingham.
About two months later his wife Georgina came in for help with weight loss. She has a gastric balloon fitted in her stomach but even with that she was unable to lose weight. Since coming to see us she has completely gone off chocolates. Finally about six weeks ago her daughter Angeliki quit smoking and overcame her panic attacks with our help. Yes, grant you can even see their testimonial on our website both in English and in Greek.
During Angela’s last visit before she went back to Greece we met her sister Jane who shared her own story with her struggle to quit smoking. She had stopped smoking for six months with the patches and it was the most traumatic experience of her life. She fought the urge to smoke every day of that six month period. Not only did she revert back to smoking but has been put on anti-depressants by her doctor. Now our job will be not only to get her off the cigarettes but also to get her off the anti-depressants. She thinks the NHS stop smoking system is nothing but a pure and utter disaster which helps the drug companies make a lot of money through people’s misery.
By the way, the reason why Georgina has a weight problem is because when she quit smoking with the Patches she substituted food instead of the cigarettes and now she is paying the price with her health. When will people learn that cures do not come out of a bottle?
I rest my case.
Shokat Ali
Firstly thankyou Brite for the Title and Author of the book you have recommended i will take a look at it. Well its Day six and i am still smoking, a few have started to taste horrid so has my tea.
Have also been feeling a bit emotional today, cried three times. Mind you i’ve had a bad M.E week so i think it has all caught up on me can’t put it all on Champix.
Alot of people have talked about the mental side of giving up and the downsides that they have experienced, its all a bit worrying as i don’t know what to do about that side of the habit. I have no escape from my house, the four walls when i’m ill smoking has been my crutch. OOh just caught a whiff of the ashtray thats disgusting…. Never noticed that so bad before.. Anyway trying to keep positive its now nearly 2am having trouble sleeping which is a downside and dosn’t help the M.E hopefully it will get better…
Talk soon..
Channelle
Dear Shokat,
How do we know you haven’t made all this up just to promote your no doubt costly scheme?,
Have you read all the comments on this site?, can’t you see that we are all just desperate to find our own way to quit?, why cant you just wish us all good luck and congratulate us for even trying instead of poo pooing all the great things that people are saying here.
I just hope nobody listens to you…………….you pratt
Oh Mr Shokat Ali how one sided your views are. I have had the displeasure of encountering the apparently wonderful world of Paul McKenna in an attempt to stop a 35-year habit. This was after trying 6 other so called hypnotist specialists over the years. Your mantra and methods are no more likely to succeed for any one individual than any other product out there that assists with giving up cigarettes. Your greedy little attempt to self promote your business is a sad indictment of your lacking principals. Your need to slam a drug from the 50’s and other support methods since clearly makes you feel better and momentarily powerful? This web site clearly allows like-minded people to encourage each other and promote a positive environment whilst you come across as something quite low and different. I had acupuncture years ago, which had no impact on my smoking but unexpectedly removed all pain from my knee joints and allows me to jog at 78! The bottom line is, a method that an individual can believe in supplies 50% of the solution and Champix is providing me with the other 50% support. After 7 weeks I am down from 40 a day & have not smoked for the last 6 days. If you have a pipe Mr Ali? I will provide something to put in it.
I am sure that I am not the only one here that has noticed that Shotcat keeps repeating himself, and if you check back every now and then I am sure you will see that he keeps doing so to make sure his advert is constant in case anyone missed it the first time.
I have just started my 5th day on Champix, I can feel the desire leaving, however, I am afraid of the 8th day when I know I must stop completely….does anyone have any suggestions? I am so afraid I won’t be able to do it!
Thanks
I can relate to Norma, I too have been having extreme emotional ups and downs. My nauseau (I’ve been on the pills for almost 1 month) is terrible, my headaches seem worse everyday and my temper, whoo boy. And still I smoke, albiet I smoke 80% less and its not enjoyable. It’s the habit cigarettes that I now have to work on, the after the meal, first thing in the morning, you know. But I don’t know if I can continue taking champix if my head is going to explode at any moment or I’m going to throw up or have temper tantrums. Who will I celebrate with if everybody hates me?
Robbie,
Dont worry, I didn’t stop until i felt like it which was about 9 weeks into the tablets, I haven’t smoked for over 3 weeks now and I found that the easiest way
Hi All,
long life smoker here, 47yr male. Tried Champix in Canada, like the results of how it cuts the craving but was sick for a month! Reduced to one pill a day to see if I can avoid feeling sick, light headed, insomniac and depressed but after two days all the above started again. After another week I cut Champix totally. Still not smoking but keep having very bad dreams and sleep rhythms. Definitely also cuts the sex drive! Overall, I think that people that have a depressive nature should avoid Champix but I am surprised but it’s effectiveness.
Its me again, Its been 5 weeks since i had a cigarette and I am finding it relatively easy, I still have the occasional day of feeling there is something missing but even those are getting less and less.
I am still on Champix and plan to ween myself off in about 1 months time.
I really feel like this is forever now, I cant imagine going back to the slavery of smoking.
Are there any more positive stories out there?
I took Chantix for 6 weeks even though the protocal is 12 weeks. I have been smoke free 4.5 months and while I had some side effects, I think some of them could ber attribued to withdrawal from smoking, not the pill like depression and feeling depressed could cause lack of sex drive. I worked so hard to stop that going back to smoking is not an option. I never want to go through withdrawal again. I have never felt or looked so good since I stopped smoking. Hang in there everyone. You can do it!
hi,
have been on Champix for about 12 weeks its a fantastic pill!!!!!!!!!!!! I was a dedicated smoker on about 20 a day and had been smoking more than 20 years, i’d tried NRT but hit the third week and started smoking again.Side effects on Champix are few heartburn, my face became very dry flakey and sore whilst taking 2 tablets so i cut it down to 1 no problems, feel tired alot of the time but its soon sorted out with a power nap and as for the sex drive mines on the UP!!!!! Im not sure how many weeks i havn’t smoked for but at a guess i would say 8ish. Yes i have bad days when i want a cigarette but the craving soon goes if not i just stand next to someone with a cigarette and have a sniff thats usually good enough , just like channelle i also think tea tastes foul but thats a small price to pay for finally being free of cigarettes.
Hello.
I have been on Champix for about 9 weeks, quit smoking on the 13th day of being on Champix.
I am concerned on a few things I heard and read….The nasuea is still there but only for 10 minutes. Heartburn, but a Tumms usually takes care of that. Weird and strange dreams are deffinately there, but my concern is the sore neck and somoene else on another site said they had a sore neck too….now that is not from a withdrawl, that must be from the pills. Some other people I have spoken too have also mentioned depression, I guess that is normal wheather you are on the pill or not. What I intend to do though is start now, splitting my second pill in the evening and just take half and take the full pill in the morning. I intend to do that for a week as I have 3 more weeks to go, therefore, I intend to ween my self off of them slowly and hoping not to have any major withdrawl. My doctor said that I should stay on them for longer than 12 weeks, I read on the packages “no more than 12 weeks, I read other emails saying the same thing, “no more than 12 weeks” and read others saying that were on it for more than 12!!!!
Who is right??? I tried to get phone #s to call some specialist from Champix, but no #!
Does anyone have any contacts? Does anyone know how long one should stay on it for?
I am a female 42 smoked for 20 years about 25 cigarrettes a day.
Quit date was Dec.3rd and have not one cigarette and do not want to have one ever again.
Don’t get me wrong, Champis is FANTATSTIC, like everyone else, I tried everything and nothing worked, Champix works and sorry to say Mr. Ali BABA, but I do have to agree with Tracey, negativity is not needed here, only encouragement and advice…………
Please anyone if you could let me know on phone #s or on how long should one stay on it for, it would be greatly appreciated, as I am questioning my doctor and not sure who else to call.
Thanks and good luck to you all !!!
I have been on Champix for 14 days and I am finding it very helpful. I have felt a little nauseous on and off but nothing I can’t cope with. I am leaning toward chewing gum to replace smoking. I am not usually a chewer of gum but am finding it helpful. I have cut down from 20 smokes per day to 2 per day although I am not finding them pleasurable and butt out, I have tried many different ways to quit and have found none of them were as encouraging as this one. I hope this time I succeed! Good Luck to anyone else who give it a go too!!
Does anyone know the dangers of possibly being pregnant (unplanned) while using Champix? Since this is a new drug on the market I am sure there is not sufficient evidence to long term side effects. Pregnant or not. I have been on this pill for almost 3 weeks now and have definitely lost ALL cravings for cigarettes and coffee does not seem as enjoyable in the morning as well. The thought of a cigarette can enter my mind, but it is fleeting.
Harriet….it sounds to me that you may not even go more than 12 weeks. Do not put all of your trust into your doctor. There is a reason the company does say to not go over 12 weeks. I am sure you can stop after 12 and probably start again after your body has had time to readjust. Trust your own intuition. Start visualizing yourself as a NON-SMOKER! I am worried a little about cravings coming back, but hey…they are only cravings and they last for a matter of minutes.
ps. I am asthmatic so I have to quit!
I`m in the Uk.I`m going to get my 1st presription for Champix tomorrow and start the course the next day.My quit day is my birthday 14th Feb when I will be 52.I smoke up to 40 cigs a day.I`ve smoked for 34 years.I have recently been getting pains in my chest and can`t even walk the dog 100 yards without being breathless.
I`ve tried hypnosis and didn`t have a cig for a whole 3 days!What good was that?I`ve done the patches and pufter things and the longest I`ve stopped was for a month.
I looked on this site for positive remarks about Champix,you don`t need negative stuff.I started to read about the negative comments from the hypnosis chap.I stopped reading it as he just seemed to be trying to promote the one thing against the other and I`d have been `hypnotised` into believing Champix wouldn`t work,but thats all,his comments wouldn`t send me running (again) to the nearest hypnotherapist.
I want this to work.I want to stop smoking.I know I still need willpower as well.After reading the positive comments I also feel this is going to be the time I will become a non smoker for good.
My husband smoked 60 a day and quit a year ago.Trouble is he is now addicted to Nicorette lozengers.He has on average between 10 to 15 a day.
This is why I don`t want to stop smoking and replace it with another product containing nicotine.I will get back to this site and let you know how i get on.
The sites great!! Thankyou.Christina.UK.
message for Harriett
I started Champix 30th August last year but didn’t stop smoking until 12th November, I have had all of the side effects including the rage!!!, I am still on the tablets but have cut down to 1/2 tab in the morning and 1/2 tab at night, still seems to work so i intend to cut down to 1/2 tab per day soon.
Just for reference, my skin is dry and flaky and rashy looking but the nausea stopped after the first week, the biggest problem are the rages.
Anyway Harriet, I have read that it is safe to take 2 courses of 12 weeks, surely its better than risking going back to smoking.
Also just for refence, I still have days when I want a ciggy but it doesn’t last long and those days are getting fewer and far between.
I got my script and decided to start the course that day.I was told to always take them with food which I have.Today will be my 4th day when I go onto 0.5 in the morning and same in evening.
On my first day I was nausious on and off,my stomach was going around like a washing machine.I ate breakfast but couldn`t face anything the rest of the day.As I need to lose a couple of pound that didn`t bother me.I had a weird feeling in my mouth that water was leaking from my teeth!! Nothing to worry about though.
Day 2. No stomach upset.Didn`t feel like smoking as much.No noticable side effect.
Day 3. I smoked less then 20 cigs!! That is brilliant for me.
My appetite has reduced not increased.I`m probably eating what I should be and not what I did eat so hope that `side effect` hangs in there.That will be a bonus.
I look at the pack of cigs and normally I would just light up one after the other even if I didn`t really want one.I look at them now and think I really don`t feel like one,and don`t light up.
All in all I`m hoping that things continue on the positive.People may think its too soon to be saying anything,but to me to cut my cigs by half in 3 days is brilliant.
Good luck to everyone out there giving it a go.
Been on Champix for 4 weeks, this past week as been terrible.
The mood swings, no energy, can cry looking at the happiest thing, no sex drive.
Could this all be do to the pill?
All i want is a cigarette.
Should I cut down to one pill a day?
I really want to quit!!!!!
I just started the Champix today and noticed an upset stomach almost right away but disappeared quickly. I have read all the warnings about the suicide ideation and mood swings. So thats why I’m reading your comments to see whether I’ll stick this out or not. I’m not the most stable person at the best of times and I certainly don’t need bad dreams but would really love to quit smoking its time.
Could be all a scare from the tobacco companies too could’nt it. A conspiracy.
Hi there finished reading all ofyour wonderful comments (including “ali whatshispickle”) And all i have to say is i went to my doc, asked which “pill” would be better for me, “zyban , champix or Wellbutrin” Zyban everyone knows, Champix Brand new, and Wellbutrin is an anti depressant that helps with smoking aswell (girlfriend is on it and didn’t know it helps with stopping smoking and she quit after about two weeks) i was pretty bent on getting wellbutrin, cheaper, i know a friend that it worked on, and it’s an anti depressant, (have been asking doc for help for a while, ) he sent me home to look it up on the internet…well i gave up right there, no way ami going to do his work for him, went back and he asked what i figured i told him up to him whatever he think…champix is more expensive but 12 week course, and costs less than what i smoke per two weeks…..ok…
Here is the behind the story….
I have no cravings what soever….no nausea, no sleep problems, no dizzy, no low sex drive (already have that so is no lower than it normally is) i have no side affects whatsoever the only problem i have is the habit part, you know when your not doing anything and you usually have that smoke in your hand….that is the part i am having a hard time with…but am figuring out other things to do (but not eat in place of) so i am guessing that is the Mental Conditioning all of you talk about.
Have tried : 1. patches (what a waste)
2. Nicotine Gum (what a sore throat)
3. Nic Out (fany little filter takes toxins out of smokes while your smoking… (wow…still smoking though what is the point)
4. HYPNOTISM (even bought the dang disks…) lasted 24 hours…and it was the famous ROMAINE even….spent almost 500 dollars and me and hubby to go….he last 6 minutes…we got out to the car he lit one…i lasted till the next evening…..i couldn’t take it no more…
5. a program here that helps you quit, they figure out the best (non invasive) non pill format to quit….that lasted a day i never went back….patch or gum, or both….tried those
6. Champix….(am on day 11) (quit on day
Honestly Champix is the best thus far…i know i am only on day 11 and i have only quit three days…but that is three days towards a more healthy life, run with the kids….i have smoked since i was 13 full time….im 25 now…that is twelve years…and about 1.5 packs till last year, last year i cut down to less than a pack…and then decided the money i could save…(well not save but put somewhere else like a trip) in just one year, we could go visit the family again (haven’t done for a couple years)
Don’t have to worry Did i forget my smokes, can’t find a lighter…all of that gone…its amazing…
I am not a representative of champix, not making money for writing this, just a married mom of three children who has found many benefits to champix and happy that they made it….it is a bit expensive but after you quit initially is less than half the cost (at a pack a day) and after the twelve weeks is over….all that money is yours to put to whatever….
Keep GOING DON”T GIVE UP
PUT THAT CIGARETTE DOWN AND DONT PICK IT UP AGAIN
If you fail, no biggie, try again….who was it mark twain i think, “should you fail try, try again.” or something like that…..
GOOD LUCK AND CONGRATS
any questions feel free to email me
young00@telus.net
I`m so dissapointed with myself and the Champix.I`m still in the smoking part of the Champix,my quit days 14th feb.Fisrt 3/4 days did great,cut down by half.By day five though I`m smoking as much as before,not sleeping,can`t concentrate (that`ll be lack of sleep).I`m now dreading the 14th coming around that I was so confident about.I`m getting mood swings as well.I know that cos I`m one of the most placid people I know and I can feel my fuse getting shorter by the day.
I think you should be proud of yourself (comment by Heather)if you`ve gone 4 weeks.Maybe the Champix doesn`t suit you but you`ve proved you can do it.One of those fake plastic cigs you can buy from most chemists may help you when you feel most desperate.
Hi all, still not had a fag,i can’t believe i’ve been a non-smoker for approx 4 months. I think the cravings will always be there but you just gotta be strong at that time. To give myself a reason to keep off the fags im putting the money away and im going to get a new car. im also going to start running (now i can breath) with the aim running for a cancer charity. Keep your chin up Heather there is light at the end of the tunnel and if you feel like a fag try it i did, its foul and made me cough didn’t try after that. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK PEOPLE ITS WORTH IT.
I`m complaining in my last post about being dissapointed in myself and the Champix because after a good start I`d cut down my ciggies but then in the middle of last week I seemed to go crazy and was smoking more then ever,even lighting one cig off another.
I did continue with the Champix (and the cigs) as I didn`t want to stop taking them without weaning off them,but on Monday 11th Feb (2 days after I wrote my last post and 4 days before my quit date) I was having a smoke and when I put it out I just felt different.Don`t ask me how or why but since I put that cig out at 10.25am Monday 11th Feb I haven`t touched another cig!!!
Its so weird.I hope I carry on like this.I`m chuffed to bits.Today is only my 6th day of the full strengh Champix 1mg morning and 1mg night.
I`m not expecting plain sailing but I`ve got some confidence back,and I`m sure I can do it now.
Been on Champix for 5 weeks stopped after 14 days although could of kept smoking. Having the usual side effects, of nausea if you dont eat when taking the tablets, weird dreams. I am wandering though if anyone else is noticing they are putting of weight. I have stuck to my normal eating habits but the weight seems to be creeping up slowly.
Kym
I am on my 8th day of champix, and i feel like crap… my chest hurts ,my stomach is sick, my head is killing me!!! havent had any weird dreams so far but the amount of side effects i am having is enough… a good sign is im down to half a pack a day from a pack a day…. when are these effects going to end??? im pretty sure im going to stop taking these pills if this doesnt stop!!! im affraid of the day i quit… i want it so bad, but im affraid i might get depressed or angry for no reason… if i dont quit off this drug i can tell you this one thing… i will never take it again and i will never tell anyone to take it… NO one deserves to feel this bad!!!
Well, seems more positive than negative. I have been on Champix for 9 days. I quit smoking on the 4th day. I was never a heavy smoker, on a terrible day maybe 15 smokes. I think ive only smoked a whole pack in one day, one time in my life. Ive only smoked for 8 years, and lead a very active lifestyle, and cant stand smoking, i hate that i ever even started, it took awhile to admit i was hoked,i was the biggest closet smoker you would ever meet, no one knew i smoked cause i would only smoke at home and never in public. And it came to a point where i had to stop even having only 5 a day had to stop.
Anyway this drug scares the crap outta me after reading everyones stuff. I for sure have nausea and weird dreams and last night could not sleep a wink. I worry about the long term effects, so today on the 9th day I stopped taking Champix completely, im just too afraid becuase it is a farily new drug. So anyway I thought about just cutting the 1 mg pill in half and take it once in the morn and once at night, do you think this is a good idea? i just dont want to ever smoke again, i dont feel the urge to smoke but hope that after the drug wears off i wont start again. anyone have an opinion on cutting the pill? thanks!
Best of luck to everyone, it really will be a longer, happier, healthier life if we can stay non smokers! I say almost everyday ” I am a non smoker hahaha thats sweet”
Oh yeah one more thing, hahah the mood swings are really terrible, i am normally happy go lucky and my husband and I never argue, i mean never. Low and behold on VALENTINES evening I was freakin out about nothing, literally nothin, just being irritable and snappy, i think becuase of the drug. Good thing he undertsood what was happening hahah what a shock, to all of a sudden snap! Anyway seems like thats the norm!
Good Luck!!
Is been nearly 4 months since I touched a ciggy and I am still on 1/2 tablet per day, I am not sure if its me that has taken over or that the tabs are still working but I am doing really well, I get good days and bad days regarding cravings but even the bad days aren’t really bad, just the feeling that something is missing.
The rages have stopped, I guess that is because of the dosage, I do still occasionally have to remind myself why I stopped in the first place.
My breathing has improved 100%, I am a singer and my vocal range has come back.
I have put on around 4llbs which I am desperately trying to keep an eye on but I have become obsessed by my next meal and what it is going to be, I did notice that I had an increased apetite in when I was on full dose but now I have cut the dose to 1/2 tab per day the hunger has gone thank goodness, I just have to stop obsessing about food and ‘treats’.
I have joined a gym and am thrilled that I dont get breathless on the running machine.
I think I will truly believe it when I have been off the tablets for a month, then i will know i have really stopped smoking.
My husband says that It has been like living with a different person since I have been on the tablets and that the old me is beginning to return.
A lot of people have said that they look better since they stopped, I haven’t noticed anything like that, I am still pasty faced.
Its nice to know that I am not the only person going through all this, It has been helpfull to read all the other comments and write a few of my own.
62 years old tried everything to stop smoking did champix, now off cigs for 6 weeks, it realy does work, and the amount of willpower needed is very small. its mainly the reaching for them out of habit, and a slight dissapointment that they are not there. can smell now, can taste, i have emphasema, but my breathing has improved dramatically already, couldnt climb stairs, now i run up them, it is unreal. champix thank you.
Hi,
I am on day 12 of taking Champix and really feel sick at the thought of a cigarette. Apart from the nausea the only other change is that my sex drive as rocketed!! My husband is shattered and keeps trying to get an early night!!!
I have been taking Champix for 2 weeks already and stopped 3 days ago. I experience some side effects, like burning sensation in my stomach (last 30 mins or so), really lowered sex drive and very strange dreams (I dream about people I almost forgot they existed; it looks like the drug makes me revive almost forgotten experiences)…
I am glad that I have virtually no cravings, when I lit a cig it tasted so disgusting that I had to throw it away after one puff.
I haven’t drunk any alcohol yet (I am a bit scared, to tell the truth), but I guess after a couple of beers, in a smoke -filled pub, I might light one so I try not to be in such situations. I realised that smokers around me do not make me want a cig, either.
I am 42, smoked for 7 years about 15 - 20 a day.
I meant
….and stopped SMOKING 3 days ago”
sorry for the omission
Day 23 of no smoking using champix
Feel Not too bad, i don’t have any of the side effects that the above complain about, but at the same time i am a reasonable person and i had gall bladder surgery day 4 of quitting….sooooo…i might be going easy on the champix side of things…..because after all you only have one gallbladder, so i have never had a gall bladder removed before….so i have no idea how it is supposed to feel….
I do however take a puff now and then from my still smoking husband…not because i am craving but to prove i don’t neeed it….i don’t mean now and then like a couple times a day i mean like once a week….i look at it go…sure….take a puff (and only a puff) and it tastes like im licking what an ashtray smells like…..no thanks put it away and that is that
Hope you all are doing great…..
Kim Young
P.S…if at first you don’t succeed……TRY TRY AGAIN……so keep on trying people……
GOOD LUCK
CONGRATS
I guess some comments are censored here… Mine was removed, still don’t know why…
What about weight gain? I am rather worried because one of the positive side effects is the enhanced sense of smell and taste, so everything tastes much better. Consequently, I tend to eat more, especially in the evenings.
The funny sensations in the stomach are still there.. especially for some time after taking the pill.
Would like to be off the cigs till the end of my life, but I remember when I quit 12 years ago and gained like 20 kilos.. I would hate that..
Tomasz
I am on day one of the Champix. Female, 26, married mother of two from Canada. I have to say, I am absolutely terrified of the side effects listed in everyone’s posts. I want to give this a chance, I hate smoking and have tried to quit for many years. I didn’t get nausea or anything off the first day, maybe that’s a good sign, I don’t know. I hope I sleep well and that I am one of the “lucky” ones that doesn’t experience anything weird.
As a side note, there was one comment on here about the cost. I don’t know what it costs in the US or the UK, but in Canada it was $59 for two weeks. We pay close to $12 for a pack of cigarettes in Canada. That breaks down to $30 a week and smoking costs $84 per week at a pack a day. You do the math. If you can afford to smoke, you can afford the pills, plain and simple.
Good luck with all who are trying to quit…..(myself included
)
Alais
Hi all!
On day 15 of the stronger tablet have not smoked since day 8 great!!!!!
Feel sick everytime I take one but once I have a cup of tea I am ok.
Sex drive has actually increased!!!
Well thats it so far so good!
Mark
Galway
Ireland
I have been taking Champix for 2 weeks. I havent smoked as the cigarettes taste horrible. However I feel very nauseous when I take the tablets; I have really bad insomnia and such vivid dreams - its OK when the dreams are good but not very nice when they are bad. I do wonder what Champix is doing to me to have this affect on me. I was never a heavy smoker - just got into the habit of having a few with a coffee etc. Am wondering if I would be better stopping Champix and trying to use will power
My husband has started taking the pill & I find he is alot different, we went away for the weekend & he had a few beers, he was tottally a mess!!! He went to bed at 8 30 & work up at 2am with a major nose bleed. He really has a hard time sleeping, which we know is a side effect, but I find he has gotten really dumb….not to be mean but I feel like he has totally lost his mind! asks the same questions over & over doesn’t remember anything, & acts like he cant make it without me. He is only 34 so I dont believe it can just be his age…lol Anyone else have troubles with drinking or major nose bleeds??? oh & yes he has cut down to about 4 smokes a day which is great, but the side effects are nuts!
Hi, I been smoke free for 1 year 3 months and 17days =) I took Chantix and did get the sick feeling also, but I just kept going and now it been a year. I will not tell you I do not feel like I do not want to smoke. That comes and go’es. The best part is I can stay smoke free. I did not drink at all when I stop smoking. I think that just makes you want to smmoke. But anyway you have to change your life if you want to stay smoke free. So good luck to all.
Please everyone, do not drink while taking this medication. If you read the directions on the usage of this medication it clearly states that. I am 8 months smoke free thanks to determination and Chantix
Hang in there all. You can do this!
Well, I have been researching “Champix” for quite sometime now and I actually decided NOT to take the drug. More and more people are committing suicide due to the drug, and especailly if you have some kind of history of depression in the family and even if you don’t suffer from depression it can make you suicidal. Wow, I rather quit “cold turkey” than go thru what most people go thru. Everythime I have quit smoking in the past It has been cold turkey, what got me to smoke again was one the “one” drag, that’s it. Now I know for next time. Champix is different for everyone, but the one thing I suggest to you before you actually take the drug is to research it before you actually take it, knowledge is the key to success. Good luck and I know how difficult it can be. If you actually want to do something you will actually do it, even tho it is a tough thing to break. Good luck to everyone and always be aware of what you take.
I’m on my day one. The cirarettes do taste a bit awfull but i did cut down to 9 sticks (I am a pack a day). I’m hopeful that it works on me. Wish me luck
Hi All
I’ve enjoyed reading your comments, it’s Monday the 12th May 2008 3:00pm, at 5:10pm i see the smoking nursing to get my second batch of tablets. Last year I stopped with patches and loz’s for 3 months then a combination of the step down and my nan passing away i went striaght back from 0 to 25 aday. January the second this year I stopped again with the patches and loz for over 2 months and once again once i stepped down I found it hard I would smoke for a day then not smoke for around 3 days and before you know it I was back to square one. I went to the nurse in a state of depression I did n’t want to smoke but felt i could not stop. I tried Champix last year for about 8 days and lost intrest in it. But I’ve promised the nurse and myself to give it a better go this time so over the past 11 or so day’s whilist taking the tablets I’ve enjoyes smoking myself silly. But do I’d decied well I need to do it. I guess the realy problem is the habit for most people, my main problem is the not having any nic in me, I guess I need to deal with it in my own way, but I think I’ll carry on with the champix it can n’t do me any harm.
Thanks for Reading Wayne
P.S. who’s the the idiot trying to self advertise.
Hi all,
i have been taking champix for well this is my eigth day and i’m very nervious that i am not goingto be able to do it, the cravings are def less and i have cut down but i want this so bad that i think i may be making myself sick worring about it. i have had slight and i mean slight nausia nothing to worry about and wierd intense dreams but am sleeping better then i ever have i feel focused and able to acheive things i havn’t tried in ages. all in all i’m very happy witht he pills but still very worried whether i will have what it takes to kick it for good.
GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE I’M I WON’T GIVE UP ON GIVING UP
Hi, I’m on Day 5 of Champix and only have one cigarette left. It seems a chore to smoke that because nothing happens. It’s like I just have a tube of smoke in my hand. Also the smell of everything is really getting to me. Have not bought any more because it’s just an effort now as it tastes and smells horrible and I don’t get that ‘relief hit’ so what’s the use.
I feel like I should at least carry on until Day 8 so it really gets on my nerves before I stop but it’s getting on my nerves now!!
I’ve smoked since I was 14 and am now 36. 5-10 a day nowadays but can smoke 20 on a stressed day.
Has anyone else felt the need to give up before going on to the 1 mg in the morning and 1 mg in the evening? I’m supposed to start that in two days time but may start it tomorrow as, contrary to the majority, I love the feeling it gives me. Like being spaced out and really chilled. Have been kinda ratty at times because of the tiredness though. Am enjoying the dreams :-O
Good luck everyone. Oh and the hypnotherapist can sit on a spike. Cheers.
I tried patched = just ended up smoking with them and getting dizzy/sick
I tried Zyban = Got me off the fags for a few months but my mental state was..er…shall we say ‘fragie’ after using it.
Champix = Worked wonders. However, be aware that once you stop taking it, cigeretts become ‘enjoyable’ again, so you need to stay totally off the fags, otherwise you’ll be back on ‘em again. I relapsed and became a moody w****r for a few days afterwards (craving smokes but going cold turkey) and had to go back on the Champix (cravings went within 12 hours)
hi all ,,ive been a 20 to 30 a day roll up smoker for 24 yrs ,, i decided it was time to give it up so have been on the champix/chantix for 9 weeks ,, stopped smoking on the 11th day and to be honest i have found it very easy ,the side effects have not been bad had a couple of dreams but not as many as expected and the feeling sick is easy to cure just make sure you dont take on empty stomach,, anyway i have had cravings to smoke but they have past rather quick and most of the time i dont even think about smoking i do chew alot of sugarfree gum now which has or is becoming a habit of its own,,lol,,, well i thought i had this smoking habit truely sorted out so decided to stop taking the champix/chantix,( wot a mistake that was ) over a period of 5 days without them i became the most moody,angry,person ever, felt like smashing my head through the wall my wife and kids thought i had turned into a monster the slightest thing made me mad the last two days have been hell,, funny tho as i knew in my mind one smoke could sort me out but no way was i going to smoke again,,, was i craveing for a smoke or was i craving for champix/chantix anyway enough was enough and i took a pill at 5pm its now 1am and ive been feeling ok back to normal this giving up smoking is easy,, giving up the champix well thats another story but i will ween myself off of them next time,, well i will try
goodluck everyone
simbo
I have terrible heartburn. Am on fourth week of Champix and the heartburn set in during the 2nd week. Quit day 11. Apart from that I have had no serious cravings to deal with and would really recommend it. Am absolutely delighted not to be smoking after 20 years and tried everything else. Havent put on any weight (thank God) or changed my diet. Please tell me this acid feeling up my throat goes away…….
hi ,,just to add to above post i was on day 51 of not smoking when things started to go pear shaped after not taking the champix,, back on them now and feeling normal again day 53
regards
simbo
uk
I have been smoke free for 10 days now, I do still on the odd occassion feel like a smoke but it passes very quickly, like some people I am finding the HABIT of smoking harder to deal with, Like what to do when you usually smoke….I would say that I felt really sick in the first week, but as soon as i stopped smoking the sickness stopped, I dont have any other symptoms that people describe, I guess I am lucky.
I think its fantastic the best and easiest thing i have ever done to give up smoking.
My husband smokes and will not give up, this does make it harder, but when i see him cough and smell like he does it makes me more determind to stay off them.
Day 8 of the medication, stopped smoking today, intended to stop in a couple of days but cigarettes tasted so horrible, not worth the hassle. Felt very light headed and giddy when taking tablets at first and again when starting the 1mg. Can also feel my patience wears thin easily and have to be careful not to snap. Feel a little better 2nd day of the 1mg so hoping that this wears off. Does anyone know if it does? Felt slightly nauseous at first, however, pharmacist told me to take them 15-20 minutes after eating and that feeling has gone, although I agree with some of the other comments that your tummy feels odd. Determined not to smoke, if the light headedness doesn’t go away in a few days will drop down to the lower tablets, however, have to remember that if I went cold turkey chances are would have these symptoms anyway, only worse.
Hi all. I took my first CHAMPIX pill an hour ago. I was prescribed the course yesterday and I’ll be honest and say I’m a bit nervous having read the potential side effects and some of the experiences of people on here. But I’m going to stay positive as quite a few of you have experienced very minor side effects s fingers crossed! My stopping day is on 9th June..good luck to all on here.
i am in my third week of taking champix…the nausea was more then i could take so i went to the doctor and got anti nausea pills fir it..i would rather feel sick for a bit then have a smoke…i have the insomnia and vivid dreams…or weird dreams..one where a girl was going door to door to try to sell chocolate covered carrots..lol…the way i see it is the side effects are only going to be there for 3 months..my kids are ecstatic that i dont smoke anymore..i miss the habit but have replaced it with cleaning..which was surprising..not my most favorite thing..my husband and i quit together on champix and i was nervous that we would want to kill eachother but it wasnt even an issue..thank goodness..lol…good luck to everyone else that is on this journey..i know you can do it..
hi
took me 1st Champix pill 2day - felt sick about 20 mins after taking it and a flaming headache - can any1 let me no whether it would be better taken with something 2 eat - only on the packet it says with or without - also do u cut down day by day over the next week as i have smoked the same amount 2day as normal
Hi,
Started Champix 2nd July. I’ve tried hypnotherapy way back (lit up as soon as I got in the car without even thinking about it!) - tried nicorette way back - hate chewing gum anyway and didn’t work for me. So at 47, smoking 20ish a day for 30 years, I thought that Champix might be the way forward. Oh, I’ve also tried cold turkey a few times - that went well also, not.
I have to say that I have had none of the side-effects(yet) reported by others apart from very mild stomach twinges(negligible) and increased wind! I have to say though that I know that I am taking something although I cannot put my finger on why.
Right, to the smoking bit! I set yesterday (10th July as stop day) - er, ended up smoking a few but really felt like smoking many more! In fact, the 2 days before quit day I actually was finding myself wanting another ciggie 30mins after last one - that’s ridiculous as it’s usually an hour at least between cigs.
A colleague used Champix some months ago and said that on his pre quit day he smoked 30 then on quit day just didn’t want one at all - he relapsed after 4 weeks because his ’smoking’ nurse said ‘you are doing well, you may as well stop the champix’ - bang; straight back on the fags…
So, is it the case, as appears from the many postings here. that Champix works differently for all? I want to stick with this. In truth, I can’t say that I want to stop but I do want a future without cigarettes! That’s the smokers’ paradox - most want to get from A to C whilst by-passing B (the actually ’stopping’ bit)!
I will continue with Champix; I take encouragement from the posters where they have found that the desire to smoke only lessens and even disappears after a few weeks. Perhaps instead of placing myself under the pressure (I get enough of that during the day) of saying ‘Today I quit’ I should give the Champix a chance to do its stuff.
Good luck to all of us!
I know that my postings on this website had caused a great deal of controversy – mostly bad. I know it’s not always easy going against the grain but truth has to be told no matter how painful the consequences.
As there is so much confusion about addictions, I finally decided to put pen-to-paper and write a no-nonsense book on the subject. A subset of this book has been posted on my website. If anyone wants to know the truth about addictions and the various treatment options then this may be a good place to start. The document is 19 pages long but it’s easy to print out and read at your leisure.
http://www.lifeprinciples.com/downloads/AddictionsDemystified.pdf
Good luck with your stop smoking endeavours.
Shokat
hi everyone,its sunday the 13th july.im on my 2nd day of the tabs now, im 54 fed up of getting chesty coughs etc more often, so just had a chest xray and came back all clear,so rather than having to stop because the damage as been done, time to stop and not tempt fate,ive been reading the letters and yes seems a bit daunting but im going to try, a lot seem to have managed it so will give it my best go. ive also started going to a stop smoking clinic so an extra push may be all i need, good luck to you all, if you can do it so can i, jules from the uk.
I am on my 11th day now and stopped smoking on my 7th day, i have had no relapses yet. I have had a couple of times where i could of lit up but the craving went quickly.
The sickness is a bit of an issue but i can get over that because of seeing the smile on my little girls face because i’m not smoking…
It doesn’t really bother me being around people who are smoking, i just realise how bad i must of smelt when i was smoking, it’s not a nice smell at all.
Good luck to anyone who is quitting and congrats to those who have.
hi all and good luck to everybody on champix i an on my 12th day and am very nausated i started smoking when i was 16 and i am know 39 . i still crave ciggys and only smoking 2 t0 3 a day before champix i was smoking about 25 a day. the tablets make me feel like crap , my skin is revolting my neck hurts and i am always itchy. my teenage kids call me the wicked witch from the west and i get more angry at them for not supporting me but they say they are. i am dissappointed cause i heard that when you stop smoking you look good feel better and on top of the world i am just hoping that this will happen once i am of the champix but dont know if i will be able to last that long. anyways good luck all and i hope your all stronger then me. cheers
Just started taking the tablet. (day 4)… still feel like smoking at the moment, will this stop?? I’m would say the cravings have gone to almost nothing but i’m still smoking….
hi im now on my 3rd week with the tabs,i give myself a set date to stop but still have a cig, its like my security blanket,im down to only about 3 a day so well chuffed, i go to a clinic every weds and just in 2 wk my carbon monoxide was cut down by half,got quite bloated the first 2 wks but doesnt seem as bad now, ive found it so easy cutting down, im not snappy, not getting the i need a cig feeling,had some wcked dreams but i can cope with that,so all in all i can say im so glad i started takin it. its made giving up a lot more easier,jules xx
I just picked up my second pack of champix today. I took the doses as planned, and quit on day 11. I have had some strong cravings and physical withdrawls for nicotine.
I have smoked for about 13 years, having rougly 15-20 smokes per day. I have quit in the past using the patch and lasted about 3 months before giving in and having a smoke.
Some side effects I experienced on the patch were trouble sleeping, and odd dreams.
About 4 months ago I quit a second time for about a week and a half using nicorette mints, I got sores in my mouth and a sore throat using them. I stopped and eventually gave in.
I have had a really difficult time sleeping, and some odd dreams. I have had some strong cravings and can be a little irritable with my girlfriend. But the fact of the matter is I’m not smoking. I am not going to smoke. I plan on doing the entire cycle. I also plan on going for hypnotism after I stop taking champix. However that self promoting jerk had no impact on my decision, my parents have quit for years using that method and I think it will help me deal with my habit issues.
I also think that I would experience sleep withdrawl, be irritable and have weird dreams if I would have quit cold turkey. That is my bodies way of reacting to cutting off something it is addicted to. I will be irratible until I no longer crave the substance of nicotine.
I also will not drink with smokers for a lenghty period of time, I am weak when drunk and cigarettes are available. I cant buy a cigarello and think it is ok either. I need to commit and never have that first puff again. I know I am going to quit this time. And good luck to everyone else.
Champix for me = Stronger resolve, a commitment ot quitting
I’m on day 10. Quit completely on day 8 but I’d only smoked 2 cigs the 2 days previous. I’m doing great, no desire to smoke, occasional habit urges but they soon go. Terrible nausea on the 1mg tabs so I’m only having half a tab twice daily now and still fine. Libido increased (bonus) I felt really tired the first few days but that’s easing off now. My appetite has increased and constipation is a bit of a problem but I’d rather that than the poisons from cigs.
My husband’s is a different matter. We started champix together. We’ve both smoked for 20 years and are 20 a day smokers. He felt really tired, lousy and low/depressed as soon as he started taking them. Then he started getting rages. He couldn’t sleep, had weird dreams, was tired all the time. Today he didn’t take the champix and is going to go it alone. He’s happier already. He was like a different man on the champix and he scared me, I’m glad he’s off them.
Obviously this drug is going to affect different people in different ways. If you notice the bad effects are happening to you then I suggest you stop taking them before you or your loved ones come to any harm! Just be aware. We are an example of how they can work for some and not for others.
FAO - ThraxUK
I was especially interested in what you said as I am in the same boat at the moment!
I stopped Champix on Wednesday 13th August, I weaned off them. By Friday I went out that night and smoked! Was stressed out about something but wasn’t so sure it was that because when I was taking Champix, if I was stressed out I still wouldn’t want to smoke.
So I borrowed a weeks worth of Champix on the Saturday from a friend, by Sunday morning I was back to feeling like a non smoker. I am worried now… what happened when you come off the tablets a 2nd time?
I am going to doctors tomorrow to ask if I can extend the course of tablets, at the very least I hope she can prescribe me a couple of weeks so I can return my friends tablets!
Thanks
Sarah
Well its been over 10 months since I had a cigarette and although I get the occasional moment when I fancy one it passes within seconds, I am thrilled to be a non smoker now, It was hard work giving up so I will never go through that again.
I did find that I lost my temper quickly towards the end of the course of champix but luckily I didn’t stab anyone!! so it was well worth it
Good luck to anyone giving up smoking.
Tracy Brite
i am on day 10 i quit on day 6 and am finding it very hard i am irritable moody odd dreams tired absolutely gagging for a smoke and i have noticed i am feeling breathless now i dont know if this is down to the tabs or down to anxiety has any one else experienced breathlessness please reply
Champix works for me. I gotta say though, the nausea is sooo bad that sometimes I just dread taking the pill because I know I’m gonna be very ill for half an hour. I’m dealing with it though because death from lung cancer is, I’m pretty sure, a worse side effect than feeling sick for a matter of 20 or 30 minutes. Every smoker I’ve ever known (including me) smokes more when they’re drinking or starts up smoking again after quitting because they’ve had a few. I will say that I do like a few drinks now and then and can barely enjoy one without a ciggie. I was worried about this but I’ve found a really weird side effect from Champix that nobody else has mentioned: I have lost all interest in alcohol. I know you’re not “supposed” to drink while taking the pills but, let’s face it, people will ‘cheat’ now and then. It’s so weird. I see a glass of wine (my usual tipple) or even think about one and I actually feel a little bit of that nausea that I get when I first take the pill. I actually researched this on the internet and the part of the pleasure centres of our smokers’ brains that react to nicotene, are very similar to the ones that react to alcohol. I don’t have any explanation or anything, I’m sure no expert, but I think this particular side effect is a good one and is really helping me to stay “quit”. Take heart everyone. Don’t worry if you slip up. Just keep trying. If you want to eat an elephant, you have to do it in a lot of very small bites.
hi well ive decided to come off the champix,yes they do really stop you from wanting to smoke, but since taking them ive had really bad stomach upsets and bloated,i took myself off the champix just to see if it was them. and i felt a lot better, so decided to try them again, only been taking them 3 days and again ive got the bad stomach,and feeling really tired,so im stopping them again,and hopfully try find something else.
I am just so impressed with Champix! After 30+ years of smoking, I have not done so now for almost 2 months and almost effortlessly. Not exactly a walk in the park, but a little like a jog and having to jump over a log every now and then. The side effects I have encountered have been pretty bad flatulence (but could also be because of the herbal teas I have been drinking) and the oddest dreams. I dream that I’m smoking and they’re so real. Then I wake up and realise it was only a dream. Then the next dream I have I’m smoking again, but in the dream I’m saying to myself that this time I’m REALLY smoking. As soon as I wake up, I think I’ve smoked but I haven’t. And with each dream I’m even more sure that I’ve really been smoking, even though I haven’t - really weird but kind of funny.
I’ve also found that the times I want to smoke most are when I forget that I’m not smoking, look around for my cigarettes, then realise - almost in a panicked state - that I CAN”T HAVE ONE. It only takes a very little time to get over that feeling and then I count the reasons that I don’t want to smoke compared to the benefits I get from smoking. Really, when you think about it, it’s a no-brainer, and once you get to that stage in your mind, you’re really there, which is why a book to tap into your mind can really help.
Personally, I found that reading Allan Carr’s Stop Smoking Permanently in conjunction with the Champix worked well for me when nothing has done the job in the last 30 years - a combination of the mind and the body being ready for what I wanted to happen.
And the extra $$$$$ to spend on whatever I like has been the best bonus! I’m currently putting the money aside to have a holiday with a girlfriend next year - yayyyy!
Good luck to everyone wanting to quit!
Best,
Rita
I started taking champix 5 and a half weeks ago. I have been a smoker for 23 years and smoked around 15 - 20 a day in the last year. The tablets worked well, reducing my craving and pleasure of them, and I cut down to 3 a day. At the end of two weeks, I was still not ready to give up completely, so I kept smoking. During the next 3 weeks I would smoke anywhere between 3 - 8 a day. I found the longer I put off my quit date, the more I was again enjoying smoking. So finally at the end of 5 weeks, I had 3 cigarettes left, and decided that I would not smoke them. I have not had a smoke in 4 days and my craving for them is almost completely gone.
The first day without a smoke was bearable, but by the second day I was irritable and had constant cravings. The third & fourth day just seemed to get easier and easier. I still have the last 3 cigarettes in my packet, in case things got completely unbearable, and I needed one. Somehow, I don’t think I will be needing them, and still haven’t decided to either keep them or throw them away. They don’t bother me cause they are not a temptation anymore, and I guess just knowing that I can have one at anytime and not, gives me great satisfaction that maybe my willpower to resist them is finally kicking in after so many failed attempts before at quitting. Of course the tablets are a main contributor of easing the cravings and reducing the withdrawal symptoms, but you still need some willpower to give up.
The side effects of these tablets were fairly mild for me. I feel nauseous for at least half an hour to an hour after taking the tablets. For the first week, I was dreaming constantly, just normal dreams, not nightmares. I still have trouble sleeping the whole night through, but it’s only for 12 weeks and it will be worth it.
I really didn’t think that I would be able to give up, as everyone else I know had quit within days or at least two weeks of taking the tablets. Obviously it takes some people longer like myself to stop completely. I really started to doubt the tablets at the end of the two weeks since I was starting to enjoy smoking again. I’m glad I kept taking the tablets and can now call myself a non smoker even though it has only been four days.
I would like to congratulate everyone who has given up - well done. It’s a hard thing to do, and we’ve done it. Let’s hope we stay non smokers. All the best.
hey, i started taking champix three days ago on the second day of taking them i didnt feel like wanting to smoke im now on my fourth day and ive still not had a slight thought of smoking! ive had a few side affects, i cry over simple little things and feel a little depressed at night but soon goes away, any one wanting to quit smoking these truly work!!!!
i gave up in 4 days of starting my course of tablets its been 18 days so far not even wanting to smoke
Well, 14 months not smoking thanks to Champix and determination! Don’t give up folks. If I did it anyone can lol