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Original poster

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

67 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.

OP posts:
Tigerbomb · 27/12/2012 00:16

I have quit three times using Champix. Unfortunately I started again once the course stopped.

The nausea and depression were very hard to get through and because I have been through some counselling for a recent bereavement my doctor wont let me have them again due to the depression

ViperInTheManger · 27/12/2012 00:18

I thought it was prescription only? I know you can buy it on the internet but don't know if that is genuine, etc

jessjessjess · 27/12/2012 00:19

Seems it is not OTC judging by google. Balls. Don't want to tell my GP I started again and not sure i can get champix a second time.

LoopsInHoops · 27/12/2012 00:23

Excellent, thanks rip. Viper, Rip and I aren't in the UK.

Original poster
BunFagFreddie · 27/12/2012 00:28

Has anyone else completely lost their libido on Champix? I just can't get in the mood at all. It's not going to be great for my relationship if the course lasts for 12 weeks.

I'm also worried about the weight gain. Is it possible to quit and not gain weight, or can you even quit and lose weight? Has anyone managed this?

OP posts:
Tigerbomb · 27/12/2012 14:10

You can get Champix otc via Boots online. It's part of their quit smoking clinic.

TapirAroundTheChristmasTree · 27/12/2012 14:40

You can get it, but you still need a prescription for it.

jessjessjess · 27/12/2012 17:49

The Boots website seems to have an online consultation you can use to see if you can get Champix - it's £89.95 for a month so it's obviously cheaper on prescription but I might try it so I don't have to tell my GP I started smoking again. Not tried it yet though as it's not working on my phone

Brightspark1 · 28/12/2012 19:28

I have filled a prescription for Champix from my GP, but I haven't plucked up courage to try it yet. I think I'm scared I will fail. Is there a support thread for us fag ash Lils on MN? Good luck bunfag. I shall be lurking to see how you get on.

AnyaKnowIt · 28/12/2012 21:33

Brightspark1 - I don't think there is, but why don't you start one?

You won't fail I promise you, it makes the cigs taste awful. I found myself lighting one and unable to finish because of the taste. I can't even stand the smell of smoke now, two weeks ago I was smoking 20 a day and had been for years.

ripsishere · 28/12/2012 22:45

I didn't find that the ciggies tasted awful, just that there was no bang or reward. It all seemed pretty pointless.
give them a go bright spark, you've nothing to lose except your dependence.

jessjessjess · 28/12/2012 22:48

I actually didn't stop enjoying cigarettes so thought it wouldn't work.

Then my quit date came and I just quit and didn't have cravings.

Brightspark1 · 29/12/2012 20:10

anyaknowit good idea. It might make me give it a good go, it's good to read all these success stories. I think I'm emotionally dependent as well as physically dependent so I need to find another way of coping with stress.

Original poster
BunFagFreddie · 30/12/2012 12:32

The effects of the champix really kicked in yesterday. Smile

I kept thinking about having a ciggie and just couldn't be bothered. I ended up smoking 3 yesterday down from between 20 and 40 a day. The smoking nurse told me to quit on day 8, but to be honest the leaflet just said to pick a date during the second week, so I picked day 12. Day 8 just felt too soon, too much pressure!

I have now quit on day 10, so very pleased! The champix has really taken the cravings away. I have been sick a few times, but it's not incapacitating. 12 weeks of having the odd bit of sickness is a small price to pay for healthy lungs imo.

Brightspark Have you started the fag ash Lils give up smoking support thread? If so, can you post the link?

OP posts:
AnyaKnowIt · 01/01/2013 22:47

Woohoo BunfagFreddie (Will you be name changing?) Grin

I'm off the cigs and off the Champix now Grin

Original poster
BunFagFreddie · 01/01/2013 23:50

Anya, I probably won't be name changing for the forseeable future. Grin

That's awesome news, the champix really helps, doesn't it. Are you getting strange dreams?

I'm still not smoking and no more sickness either. I'm not sure about how the weight gain will go. I've been doing OK, despite it being Crimbo and all, but I got lashed up last night. Today I've had the hangover from hell and have just come on my period, so I have eaten loads. Blush

OP posts:
beingginger · 02/01/2013 00:07

I loved champix. I quit 13 months ago and it was a wonder drug. I looked great until I stopped taking it because my appetite came back and I put on 2 stone. But I am smoke free and I can always loose the weight, I can't get my lungs if I develop cancer.
And I've saved over two GRAND!

Original poster
BunFagFreddie · 02/01/2013 12:33

That's amazing ginger! I smoke rolling tobacco, so won't save as much as you, but I reckon I'll still save £800 per year.

I'm still having cravinngs, but if I had just gone cold turkey I would probably be in tears by now! The champix makes it much more managable.

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AnyaKnowIt · 02/01/2013 12:40

The champix has been bloody great, have tried all the patches, gum e-cigs. Still couldn't quit.

I did have the one strange dream involving the Kate Middleton and Robbie Williams Confused

Weight gain?

Original poster
BunFagFreddie · 02/01/2013 12:58

Anya, when I quit with gum and patches I became addicted to the gum and it took about 8 months to break my gum addiction. It wasn't even much cheaper than smoking.

I really wanted a smoke this morning, but I think I've finanlly succumbed to the flu that everyone else has had over Christmas and New Year. I woke up this morning sneezing and I ache like buggery. Hopefully it won't go down to my chest. The last couple of colds I've had turned into bronchitis. That was really what made me decide to try champix. My grandad had bronchitis loads before he was diagnosed with lung cancer.

OP posts:
AnyaKnowIt · 02/01/2013 13:27

When I tried the gum, I still went for a cig afterwards Blush

Hope you are feeling better soon.

BadgersRetreat · 02/01/2013 20:24

i quit using Champix three years ago - and i was only on it for 6 weeks. Tried everything else and it certainly seems to do the trick

it DID make me depressed though - it was like very chronic PMT and the day i stopped taking it i had sobbed all day at work, on the bus home and then for 2 hours when i got home Blush

i found as long as i took it on a full stomach it didn't make me feel sick.

Original poster
BunFagFreddie · 02/01/2013 20:27

I can't believe I have stopped for a few days. It's a major achievement for any smoker! The Champix really is helping. I do feel a bit irritable, but you still get slight cravings.

OP posts:
BadgersRetreat · 02/01/2013 20:29

yes it doesn't quit for you - just sort of props you up

well done bunfag - you're doing really well

Original poster
BunFagFreddie · 02/01/2013 23:19

It was weird with champix, because I was still smoking and I was wondering when it would start to work. All of a sudden I was in bed one night and realised that I'd only smoked 3 fags that day.

It definitely makes quitting easier, although you still have to be really motivated.

Did you find that you had chest pains, were short of breath coughing up phlegm when you quit Badger? Sorry if that's tmi, but I don't remember it being this bad last time I stopped.

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