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Mental health

Champix feeling frightened

11 replies

flowerandrandd · 17/10/2013 07:44

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?

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bluebell234 · 17/10/2013 07:58

hello flowerandrandd,
your gp prescribed it for you so it should be safe.
give it a go, if you think it is unbearable stop taking it.
every medicine interact differently with different people.
maybe it will suit you. although I don´t know if you are taking other antidepressants, it can be dangerous.
I took zyban, it suit me better, but I wasn´t taking any other ads. but I have to say I couldn´t stop smoking completely. After 4 months I started smoking again during a stressful time.
champix didn´t suit me at all. I felt very bad on it.
good luck.

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flowerandrandd · 17/10/2013 08:07

Thanks bluebell I'm on ad at the moment, seraltine I think it's spelt I was on citolpram for 5 years before that. I get so anxious it's horrible, I'm on the verge on a panic attack this morning x

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Crawling · 17/10/2013 08:10

I found it helpful to read the possible side effects of paracetamol. There are loads and as I've had none it reminds me not everyone will experience the side effects listed.

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bluebell234 · 17/10/2013 08:16

I think your main problem is anxiety, I have the same.
I don´t know if your medicine suits you well.
Zyban was good for my anxiety, but in UK they only prescribe it for stopping smoking.
Just try to calm down, I know saying it is easy.
I would like to learn meditation for my anxiety.
all pills have side effects.

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bluebell234 · 17/10/2013 08:18

stopping champix wasn´t difficult. I returned to my old self easily.

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cranberryorange · 17/10/2013 08:22

Be very careful with Champix. Your G.P should not have prescribed it at all if you already have a history of depression and are on anti Ds. Its written all over the leaflet so i'm not sure how he missed it.

I had to stop taking them because of the physical issues (sick constantly) but the main problem was overwhelming anxiety and paranoia after 9 weeks of taking them.

I did give up the fags though so they really do work in that respect but if i hadnt stopped taking them when i did who knows how far my Mental health would have suffered.

I should add, i've never had any MH issues before so it really was an out of the blue reaction and i didnt recognise what was happening. I stopped getting dressed for days and couldnt be arsed to cook or clean

There are lots of threads on here about the side effects of champix but you really do need to go back to your G.P and discuss if you decide to continue.

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flowerandrandd · 17/10/2013 10:48

Cranberry that must have been scary I read one review which resulted in pharmaceutical company being sued basically a Woman like yourself with no mh history basically hung herself she woke up in hospital a week later had no recollection of it. Scared me. I am scared of getting back my anxiety my meds control it and I practise mindfulness I just don't want to go back there :/

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cranberryorange · 17/10/2013 10:58

The drug is called Chantix in the US but there are lots of personal accounts about the effects on Google.

Have a read of this article which is quite measured for the DM!

www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1391774/Suicide-horror-smoking-drug-Chantix-fatality-reports-left-safety-review.html

Dh found this report whilst i was screaming in his face that he was having an affair He was desperate to prove it was all in my mind.

I had no idea what was real emotion and feelings and what was as a result of the drug but i do know that within a couple of months of stopping taking it, i felt like me again.

Its such a shame because the drug really does stop you wanting a cig.

Have you seen the E Cig thread on MN, it might be an alternative and safer option for you.

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flowerandrandd · 17/10/2013 11:38

Thanks cranberry, have spoken to doc who has now prescribed my zyban... Which worryingly has effect on my current ads so feel slightly bewildered... Reading the Alan Carr book for today and will leave the prescription waiting at the doctors for now x

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bluebell234 · 17/10/2013 20:56

you lucky you got zyban :(, it was the best for me, I tried many medicines for other physical problems as well, zyban was the only one that hasn´t had any bad side effects on me , especially first few weeks which is unusual generally.
gps sometimes give some contradicting medicines when they have to, but they are in smaller mgs as far as I noticed.