To wonder if champix could be the beginning of the end....

[flowerandrandd]

Trying to give up smoking, several failed attempts...prescribed champix, read the booklet and I'm astonished, apart from suicidal feelings, there is a chance of heart attack skin blistering, etc etc, I suffer with anxiety and I am antidepressants so I think I'm playing with fire....

Anyone else had champix? Aibu just to bin them?

[notanyanymore]

i did, made me feel odd for a week, thought i was poorly but ended up stop taking the champix either way.
my brother successful used them a few months ago, but he had only been smoking a year or so (but smoking ALOT!) he suffers from a bit of depression, he also felt awful on them, couldn't sleep at all etc, however he didn't take the full course, weened himself of them after a couple of weeks and hasn't smoked since.
it does stop the urge to smoke, i thought you weren't supposed to take them if you were inclined to depression.

[Wossname]

Have you tried the e cigs? I know lots of smokers who have packed in using them.

[flowerandrandd]

This is what I thought, I don't have depression I have anxiety which makes me over sensitive and hyper at times, I have finally got to a good place and I'm worried I will undo all that by taking these tablets. The nurse was fully aware of my medical history and I asked her about the suicide stories and she rubbished them saying that there was no evidence to support it. I've posted in mental health too but I just wanted a bit of hand holding because I just don't know what to do as the nurse basically said suck up all te side effects as they are better than cancer :/

[flowerandrandd]

Wossname this the last resort, I've tried hypnotherapy, Allan Carr book, patches several ties, mouth spray, gum and the e cigs :( I'm a lost cause

[littlemisssarcastic]

I took Champix too, but had to stop because I was full of anger and rage after a couple of weeks. I have since heard that rage and anger are not uncommon on Champix.

I think if the Dr has prescribed them, I would give them a go. You'll know soon enough if they don't suit you. They work very well for a lot of people.

[flowerandrandd]

Littlemiss did you feel back to normal immediately after stopping? My medication for anxiety can have catosprophic results if I just stop them x

[Dilidali]

20+ years heavy sm

[valiumredhead]

My sil gave up with it after smoking heavily for 27 years, not smoked for nearly a year now.

[rainbowfeet]

I used Champix very successfully 3 & half years ago.. No side effects or after effects. Not smoked since

The pharmacist warned me that I could have problems as I'd had PND a couple of years before. Didn't think you were allowed to take them while
Taking anti-d's anyway.

[rainbowfeet]

P.s before giving up i smoked 20 a day (more if out with friends) & done so for 20 years

[Dilidali]

Sorry, silly phone!
So, 20+ years heavy smoker here. Tried various stuff (never zyban or champix though) and the conclusion was: I actually can't do it.
I tried the e cigs, the ones you get in supermarkets/petrol stations and thought they were awful!!!
Tried the e cigs with top up fluid and I can honestly say I haven't been tempted by normal cigs once. I absolutely prefer e cigs.
I am not a good person to talk about smoking, I'm properly addicted, but what I am saying is that e cigs vary tremendously, try one with top up fluid.

[magimedi]

I have had anxiety problems & personally wouldn't use Champix.

Have another go with e cigs - particularly the ones you can refill as you can choose a liquid you like.

See this thread for lots of info (& chat).

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/1865547-to-feel-positively-evangelical-about-electronic-cigarettes?msgid=42313072

[mrssmith79]

DH was a heavy smoker and used Champix to quit about a year ago. The vivid dreams (read: nightmares) were so bad at one point I ended up spending a week sleeping on the sofa - whilst he was thrashing about one night I got caught in the fray and ended up with a (pretty minor) black eye! He was horrified bless him.
Fast forward to today and we've both been smoke-free for a couple of months by stopping together using e-cigs. Marvellous invention.

[mouseymummy]

I was advised to take champix... After reading through the list of side effects (feelings of impending doom anyone??) And talking to friends/family who have tried quitting with them, I declined.

I'm going to try the e cigs once I'm no longer pg, I'm having baby tomorrow and I only smoke 2 maybe 3 a day atm so I'm hoping quitting will be easier!!

[flowerandrandd]

Thanks everyone, yes seems unwise to take them to be honest, I don't trust my gp much anyway after being told I had a pulled muscle last year which ended up with me being hospitalised the day later as it was infact pneumonia and sepsis! :/

[xCupidStuntx]

I asked on my Facebook a few years ago what people thought of Champix and to be honest the replies were overwhelmingly against! I gave up a year ago using e cigs, I invested in a decent one and loads of juice, I thought I'd be using it forever not that I minded but after two months I was finished with it!! Highly recommend them!!!

[ScarletLady02]

I had no clue what champix was or does, I just knew it was a "stop smoking" thing. It sounds AWFUL! When I first heard the name I thought it was some sort of dog biscuit or something.

Definitely try the E-cigs again, I know many people who have given up using them. When I gave up they weren't around but it honestly was one of the best things I've ever done. Good luck!

[CaffeineDeficit]

Well, my DH quit using champix after many failed attempts using NRT. He said champix stopped him having the mood swings he'd previously had when trying to quit. However, he wasn't on any kind of AD or anxiety meds at the time.

If you don't think champix is for you, have you considered trying two types of nicotine replacement at the same time? There's good research evidence that this is more effective than using any one type of NRT alone. You'd want the patch (gives you a steady background level of nicotine) and then something else for a "top up" when you have cravings. The inhalator seems to be more popular than the microtabs or gum as a type of top up NRT among the smokers I work with as it doesn't involve having something in your mouth for large parts of the day.

[PlainLardy]

Saw this and thought I'd offer a different opinion. Firstly, it's Zyban that shouldn't be taken with anti-depressants, not Champix.

I have been on Champix for the last 2 weeks and also take anti-depressants. I'm on day 4 of not smoking and it's been so easy!

For 2 days before my quit day, I felt nauseous for a while after taking the Champix pills and the taste of fags became really unpleasant. This made me smoke less than half as many as usual.

Quit day itself was a cinch! No cravings at all, just the occasional moment where I felt like I should be smoking, but no actual desire to.

I've had no trouble sleeping, or weird dreams or anything else.

I have previously tried to quit using NRT products (just about all of them!) and failed within a couple of days.

As I said, this is day 4 and I'm still having no cravings at all. I don't even miss smoking. I would highly recommend giving Champix a try if your Dr says it's ok for you.

[flowerandrandd]

Plainlardy congratulations! I have spoken to my doctor who as now prescribed me zyban! Worrying! I don't know what to do, can I ask what ad you are on, mine are sertiline x

[Wildmeanfairlyhipkid]

My dp took champix, history of mild depression. He'd tried to quit and been a nightmare maybe 5 times before.... He was legend on champix.
That was 3 years ago. Hasn't smoked since.

[RM0104]

champix made me moody, angry etc iv smoked for 22yrs and got an ecig-the liquid one in january and I haven't had a ciggy since nor will I ever. iv also been saving my ciggy money and used it for a family holiday abroad in august, and already hav enough saved to go book another one for easter

[BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack]

Flower - can I ask...do you want to give up because you really want to or you feel you should?

There is a massive difference between the two IMO.

[PatoBanton]

Do you actually want to stop? Because if you don't then nothing will work.

[PatoBanton]

Ooh x posts!