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General health

Has anyone quit/tried to quit smoking with Champix? What was it like?

66 replies

BunFagFreddie · 21/12/2012 12:57

I would really like to hear from anyone who has used Champix. I am on day 1, but I've read so many awful things about it and have scared myself silly.

I felt depressed each time I've stopped smoking before, as in really, really rotten, angry, depressed and just wished I could die sometimes. Could people just be blaming their withdrawl symptoms on the Champix?

Has it helped anyone?

Thanks in advance.

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Snusmumriken · 21/12/2012 21:40

I do not have any experience with Campix, but I did not want your post to go unanswered.

Congratulations on quitting smoking, it gets better and it is well worth it.

Good luck!

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TapirAroundTheChristmasTree · 22/12/2012 15:58

My dh quit smoking with champix, and it appears to be one of the better ways to stop. He had a bit of nausea and some weird dreams, but these are known side effects.

Good luck, and congratulations!

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BunFagFreddie · 22/12/2012 17:40

Thanks for the moral support Snusmumriken and Tapir. It's going to be the umpteenth time I've stopped! Hopefully for good this time.

I'm so glad to hear your husband didn't suffer too many side effects, there are some real champix horror stories floating around the internet. I'm on day 2 and cigs are already tasting awful. I've had a little bit of nausea, but the main things I've noticed are a metallic taste in my mouth and a loss of appetite.

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maudpringle · 22/12/2012 18:03

Had nausea and the wierd and wonderful dreams but over 2 years on I haven't had one puff.
It's the best thing I ever did, good luck Freddie,

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Snusmumriken · 22/12/2012 19:56

I used to be a hard core chain smoker and quitting was one of the best things I have done.

Best of luck! It is hard but you can do it!

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AnyaKnowIt · 22/12/2012 20:05

I'm on day 4, have only smoked 1 cig today and I couldn't even finish it

Only side effect I'm getting is a bit of a headache

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TeenageWildlife · 22/12/2012 20:06

www.whyquit.com all you need to quit - I did it 5 years ago, thanks to hearing about it on Mumsnet - good luck!

Watch the videos - one for each day telling you exactly what is happening.

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AnyaKnowIt · 22/12/2012 20:10

See TeenageWildlife, that wouldn't have worked for me.

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ripsishere · 23/12/2012 04:56

I used Champix. I think they are wonder drugs. Unfortunately I thought I knew best and five months fag free was destroyed in a single fag.
My only side effects were, frankly bonkers dreams. I intend to use them again very soon.

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TeenageWildlife · 23/12/2012 15:00

What you will learn on whyquit - is NTAP - and this is the whole secret to quitting! Including for you Anya.

Good luck

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BunFagFreddie · 24/12/2012 09:06

The weird dreams, I seem to be having that side effect! I had one last night about keeping Derren Brown prisoner in my illegal poker den because he had "seen too much". I gagged him with gaffer tape and tied him to a chair. Bloody hell!

It's day 4 of the champix today. I'm still smoking, but not as much and there's no nicotine hit from the cigs. My quit date is on day 8, so I'm hoping I'll have lost the urge by then.

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ripsishere · 26/12/2012 00:56

Well done. It is a strange sensation not getting a bang off your fags. I stopped on about day 5 or 6 IIRC. It just didn't seem worth smoking.

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jessjessjess · 26/12/2012 01:06

I did and it was amazing - it was like someone had cut out the part of by brain that knew I smoked. Had some mood swings on it though.

Have relapsed (due to major stress this year) and am not sure i can get it again or I totally would

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chickensarmpit · 26/12/2012 01:15

Snap! I was about to start my very own thread. I'm on day 1 to.
Fingers crossed for the both of us x

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ViperInTheManger · 26/12/2012 01:36

I spoke to a medical rep about Champix recently and she was saying that many of the things attributed to side-effects of Champix are actually withdrawal effects from nicotine and, apparently, taking Champix makes those effects less than they would be without it.

Good luck giving up, it really is worth it.

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jessjessjess · 26/12/2012 13:25

Having given up before without champix I don't buy that - I'm pretty sure it caused the side effects I had.

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Mabelface · 26/12/2012 13:29

I love Champix. I smoked for 26 years and had tried everything to quit. Champix made it painless and I'm now coming up to 3 years of not smoking. Keep up the good work and good luck. :D

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CoteDAzur · 26/12/2012 13:37

DH tried to quit Champix and ended up quitting the whole thing because he was getting so depressed that he was thinking of suicide Shock

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LoopsInHoops · 26/12/2012 13:44

rip, any idea how to get a prescription for it here? Been planning to for a while, but not sure where to go (KL)

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poncyettia · 26/12/2012 14:01

Packed up 3 months ago using Champix - main problems were the insomnia, which made me seriously stroppy and nausea, which at least meant I didn't put any weight on!

Best of luck op Xmas Smile

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chickensarmpit · 26/12/2012 14:14

I'm now on day 2 of champix and i found it a struggle to get out of bed this morning. Anyone else found this? I'm normally up at 8am at the latest but today i got up at 2pm Xmas Hmm . I didn't drink yesterday at all and i feel like i've got a hangover.

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BunFagFreddie · 26/12/2012 14:27

Well done everyone. Xmas Smile

It's nice to read some positive things about champix.

I'm now on day 6, and I've just some to the conclusion that there's no point in smoking, because I'm getting nothing from it. It just makes me feel a bit sick.

I'm really happy for all of those who have managed to quit - a major achievement.

To all those in the process of quitting - come on, we can do it!

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AnyaKnowIt · 26/12/2012 19:23

I've spent the last 2 days smoke free.

I'm not even missing it, I'm on day 9

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ripsishere · 26/12/2012 23:44

Loops you can buy it over the counter. You may need to pre order it.
Mine was from either Guardian or Watsons.

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jessjessjess · 26/12/2012 23:59

You can get champix OTC? That I will have to look into!

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