To think I should have been warned about this - champix related.

[Busybusybust]

I was going to put this on the Mental Health Board - but I think the more people who know the better.

So........

a littte background. I am (was) and longterm, ashamed smoker - desperate to stop. So I ws prescribed Champix in the middle of last November. I stopped smoking at the beginning of December. When I had the first lot of Champix, I read the leaflet - or thought I did - and didn't find anything about depression. I have a history of 2 doses of PND.

I didn't actually take the full dose for long as the morning one made me vomit, and I stopped taking them at all about 3 weeks ago.

Since I started them (certainly since the beginning of December) I have become increasingly depressed and 'odd'. I have felt that I would be better off dead, have been very aggressive with my best friend, sis, bro, both daughters. (it's amazing they are still speaking to me!) Life has been really horrible generally. I spent the weekend before last seeing no one and crying - for the whole weekend.

However and the last 2 days, I have suddenly started to feel much, much better!!!! I feel upbeat and good about myself! So I thought 'why, suddenly do you feel better' and Googled side effects of Champix.

Apparently, these side effects are now recognised. Why, oh why, wasn't I told???????????

I have spent the past months thinking I was insane! Well I probably was!

So beware if you are thinking of taking them.

The really strange thing is that I DID read the leaflet - why did't take in the 'depression' bit? And why did I not realise that my depression and associated loopyness was down the the bloody drug. FGS, it should have been obvious!

When I had Champix the nurse went on about the depression thing for about 10 minutes and checked my medical history before she would let me have Champix

The problem is that stopping smoking in itself can cause all sorts of mood swings, so it's hard to know what's the tablets and what's the quitting.

Seriously, whoever prescribed (or sold if you're out of the UK) the stuff to you without checking your history needs to be told about your experience. I'm sure you wouldn't want anyone else to go through what you did - it's why you started this thread isn't it?

dawndonna - what kind of e-cig did you use? My bf is wanting to quit and is interested in trying an ecig but there seem to be sooooo many around!

I'm so glad I read this as I'd been considering trying them myself.

I've had several depressive periods, 2 x hypermania and anxiety, so thought it may be best to avoid this but my GP said I'd be fine on champix as long as I started on a low dose? I think I'll stick to the fags...

I also went completely mental on Zyban - is it the same thing?

no, not the same thing as Zyban - which was developed for another reason - can't remember what, possibly AD, possibly heart medication?

I really don't think I should have been prescribed Champix - given my history of depressive episodes. I shall take my (lovely) GP to task about it next time I see her.

In the meantime, i am so glad to feel my normal, happy self.

Depression isn't a contraindication for taking Champix. However it's something that the HCP should be aware of and patients should be advised to be alert to a lowering of mood.

Having said that, quitting itself can cause significant lowering of mood, as your brain adjusts to new lower levels of dopamine.

I always warn anyone with a history of depression to let me know if Champix affects their mood (I'm a GP). However put this in context: 50% of smokers will die from smoking-related illnesses and smokers on average die 10 years early. The risks of Champix are miniscule compared to the risks of continuing to smoke (not to mention the risk to your family - smoking affects them even if you only smoke outside). Don't be put off using Champix, but do tell your GP if it affects your mood.

I felt all ragey and stabby when I gave up - but I didn't use ANY nicotine replacement products or tablets, mostly because I didn't get on with them. Allergic to the adhesive on the patches, found the chewing gum tasted bad enough that I wanted to vomit (artificial mint makes me vomit, I even have to use children's toothpaste), the inhalators hurt my throat, and I couldn't take Champix because I have epilepsy.

The ragey, stabby feeling passed after about 12 weeks. But in the meantime, I kept thinking about just stading in the middle of the road until a car hit me, or running away and never coming back, and I was alternately sobbing and shouting at everyone.

In my case, it was PURELY down to the lack of fags, and it DID pass in the end. I DID test the theory out when I slipped one day, and I was normal again after just one fag, for a short time... Are you SURE it's the Champix, and not just the lack of fags?

I wasn't allowed Champix due to my history of depression. They gave me Zyban instead which did initially work. I quit for a week.

I then started getting exactly what you described - I was stressed ALL the time, I was shouting at people, I couldn't cope with what I could before. I mentioned this to the nurse who was alarmed and took me off it straight away. I went to see the GP instead and got diagnosed with depression (again) so got anti-ds. I do feel better now.

though unfortunately I did take the fags back up again

It's all there in the literature: "If you are taking Champix and develop agitation, depressed mood, changes in behaviour or suicidal thoughts you should stop your treatment and contact your doctor immediately".

Just marking this to reply to in the morning

AlistairSim
(I love Alistair Sim)!
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They send you lots of info, delivery was fast and they often send discount codes etc.
Good luck!

I'd never heard of Champix until a friend started taking them. She had a history of depression but the GP didn't mention anything about changes to her mood, or to go back if anything changed. It's obviously all there in the leaflet, but clearly she didn't read it

She was actually fine when she was on the drug (for 2-3 months), but came off it very quickly and it was then that she started feeling incredibly depressed. She was very very bad, bordering on suicidal, for a month after stopping taking the drugs. At the time I kept suggesting she go back to the GP as it was obviously the drugs that had caused this extreme change in mood (as she'd completely quit the fags 2 months earlier), but she refused to believe that it was the drugs.

If it's similar to anti-depressants why on earth isn't it recommended that patients reduce the slowly over a longer time instead of just stopping?

stopping smoking must have a Neurological affect anyway as its your brain that sends the I need a fag messages round your body so stopping can make you feel really out of sorts anyway , op Its great you are feeling back to your usual self , fags really are evil .

Thank you, Dawndonna

I had stopped smoking before - for 2 years, then started again (idiot) - so I know it wasn't just the effects of not smoking. Plus the suddenly feeling better - on Tuesday well that's not normal recovery from 'normal' depression!

No, I am certain in my own mind that this whole horrible thing is down to Champix.

This evening I have had a lovely telephone call with my best friend, who I have upset terribly over the past few months (you know that think about 'you only hurt the one you love' - well it's true!) - and, having read her some stuff from Champix side effets websites, she has is feeling as terrible as me .

I will take it up with my GP - but I wouldn't want anybody to have to do this stuff - it has been horrible - particularly the nightly panic attacks. [shudder].

I'm sorry you have had this bad experience but PLEASE don't try to put other people off using Champix if that is what it takes to stop them smoking.

If you think Champix side-effects are unpleasant, you should see someone die of mouth cancer (tongue cut out, struggling to breathe through a tracheostomy) or COPD (slow, terrifying suffocation) thanks to smoking.

All drugs have side-effects and you have been unlucky but Champix saves lives.

Anyone - people need to make informed decisions. Hiding the potential side effects of Champix from people is dangerous. If you are aware of the dangers, you can react if you think they are affecting you. Clearly giving up smoking is a good idea but Champix is not the only method and is a dangerous idea for some people. Better a smoker than a suicide.

Zyban is the one that was developed as an anti-depressant and then re-purposed. I'm currently taking Champix, I had requested Zyban (not having heard of Champix) and the doctor said no due to my history of depression.

I was warned that champix can lead to low mood (as can quitting smoking itself, I remember bursting into tears regularly last time I quit and that was going cold turkey), and attend the smoking cessation clinic weekly so that they can keep an eye on things.

The only problems I've had since I've been taking it is a weird metallic taste in my mouth when I went up to the full strength ones twice a day and some very vivid dreams, neither of which are a major problem. Oh, and wind. A few people I've spoken to about it have said the same, it makes you farty.

My husband tried them for a few days (he ended up stopping them as they were making him physically ill and then just quit smoking) he was warned about these side effects by his smoking advisor, then gp, then I was warned by the pharmacist when i went to pick his prescription up! so i do think they should have told you, hope you feel better now