Chantix Testimonials
Tuesday October 24, 2006
When evaluating a particular quit smoking therapy, it's helpful to hear how other people have felt when using it. Review the pros and cons shared by folks who have used varenicline tartrate (Chantix™) to help them quit smoking.
Comments
I’m very happy with my results, I have tried everything. This product is great, I’m starting my third week and doing great, no gravings, little nausa from time to time,but if I can quit it is worth it.I wish it had came out long before now, I’m diagnosed with Emphsema, at age 53. I highly recommend this product, if your ready to quit smoking.
I am on my third week of chantix, it isn’t a magic pill, you’ll crave here and there, but is is the BEST product I’ve ever tried, and I’ve tried the patch, I’ve done wellbutrin a few times, but chantix by far is the best. You may have a little nausea at first and a little gas, but it went away. I have not had a single cigarette not even a drag, have gone out drinking and have not changed a single thing about my lifestyle, and I have never had a crave that I couldn’t overcome. I know that thanks to Chantix, I am going to make it this time and finally live a smoke free life.
I have been on Chantix for a little over a week now. I dont know if i can do it any longer. I have been so nauses every time I take one of the pills. Is this going to go away, and was it this bad for everyone. Is there anything I can do to help decrease the side effects. I am already eating and drinking plenty of water when I take them. I really dont know what else to do.
I’m on week 3 of using Chantix and my cravings are diminishing daily & they are very managable. I too have a little stomach discomfort & gas but that too seems to be getting better. I don’t know how much of my success to credit to Chantix or my determination to quit but really, “who cares?” I think I’m gonna do it this time!
This medicine is amazing! It really makes the nicotine cravings non existent! The only craving I get is from the habit part of being a smoker, but then without the nicotine craving, I’m able to rationalize it and not even want to have one. I smoked at least a pack a day, so now on my 5th day of not smoking, it’s awesome to know that I would have smoked at least 100 cigarettes and have not wanted one! I was nauseous for the first 3 days, but not enough to stop taking the medicine, and the nausea passed shortly. I smoked for the first 7 days of the starter pack, but even then my cravings were much less than usual, then on the 8th day I had no desire for a cigarette. Good luck to everyone and huge thanks to Pfizer! It’s such a great feeling to not be a slave to smoking!
I am on day 8. I have been so weak and tired. Today seems to be better. I smoke about a pack a day. If I can get my energy level back this medicine will be great! Make sure to drink plenty of water and take food with the medicine. I learned this the hard way. It will realy make the side effects go away.
I am approaching four (4) weeks without one cigarette using Chantix although I had 2 stressful events the very first week including the death of a friend. I was able to dismiss the cravings quickly which is something I could never do before with other treatments.
Nausea and fatigue DO go away. Thank you, Pfizer-it’s about time!!!
I just wanted to say I’m only on day 4 and the cravings are so much less. In the past two days I have had only 9 cigarettes I am a pack a day smoker. I haven’t noticed any side effects besides the vivid dreams but that’s no big deal as long as their good ones. I really don’t see this being a problem at all. I have three more days until my quit date. Maybe I’ll stop before then.
I have been on Chantix for 2 days and already have less desire for ciggerettes. I have smoked 2 packs a day for 24 years. I hope this works. My friend took chantix and quit smoking completely after 3 days. Wonderful.
I am quit 82 days. I could have not made it without chantix. You still can have urges, but they pass quickly.
With the help of Chantix I haven’t put any nicotine in my body for 11 months, 4weeks, 5hrs and 55 minutes! This is totally a miracle. I smoked 2 packs a day for 40 years and couldn’t remember what life was like not to smoke. I had tried to quit smoking using every method on the market with no sucess. I was a nicotine addict and I couldn’t kick it untill I started taking Chantix. What I couldn’t cope with when quitting smoking was the INSANE cravings. So insane that once I was licking the walls for nicotine! With the Chantix I never got those insane urges. I had side effects from the drug but nothing that made me quit taking it.
I agree. I was skeptical at first being a pack and a half a day smoker, but Chantix really, really works. I actually got nervous on the 10th day because I had still smoked a couple of cigarrettes, but on day 11, I quit completely without even thinking about it. I havent smoked in 21 days and I gave up the program with three days worth of pills remaining. I too got the nauseous stomach but eating something helps alot. I haven’t even had to verbally recommend this stuff, my friends saw me quit and now two of my friends are doing it and having success. I know I sound like an advertisement but im not kidding. This stuff seriously works. Good luck quitting.
Today is day 6 on Chantix for me. I haven’t had hardly any side effects a little nausea, but I get that any way. I have tried the patches, welbutrin, cold turkey, but never could get past the first couple of days. Thanks for this “easy” way to quit…
I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE QUITTING TAKING CHANTIX. IF SOMEONE SMOKES AROUND YOU, DOES THAT MAKE IT HARDER. MY HUSBAND SMOKES AND I WORRY THAT WILL HINDER MY DESIRE TO STOP, OR DOES CHANTIX HELP WITH THIS?
I didn’t even want to quit my 25-year-old habit, but I was tired of my family’s nagging. My doctor kept telling me about Chantix and its high success rate, but said there’s no magic bullet. Well, she was wrong…
I started taking Chantix, not believing in it whatsoever. The nausea was pretty bad & lasted a while, even though I always took the pill with a meal. I just loved the vivid dreams, because I normally don’t remember mine at all. After about 3 weeks, I noticed that I would “forget” to smoke for up to 4 hour periods. I was down to only a few cigs a day (I’m glad I didn’t read the web site about HAVING to quit on the 8th day until later, I think it’s a mistake & should be left up to an individual). One day I lit up and it tasted gross, I took another drag and GAGGED on it. This reaction warranted a challenge. After about an hour I lit another cigarette. I could not believe it! I kept gagging on it as it grossed me out again! See, there’s a difference between wanting to smoke, but not being able to for various reasons; and, being able to smoke, but not wanting to. It was so easy to quit because it no longer brought me any pleasure. No one had to tell me it was bad for me anymore, I just lost the craving. I continued to take a pill, just in case, for 8 weeks. I’ve been smoke free for 3 months and don’t miss it a bit! This is a magic drug!
My days no longer revolve around cigarettes. My life is changed forever.
Helen – 07/07/08
You are all amazing and give me hope.
I agree-always eat and drink before!!
I’ve had the vivid dreams but at least I’m sleeping well enough to dream.
I’m on day 8 of Chantix-haven’t quit smoking yet.
I don’t get the obsession to smoke as bad as before I started it, but still desire the ‘taste” of the cigarette. I hope I’m no a hopeless case, and I’m going to keep trying.
I’ve smoked for 40 years and I’m sick of it!
This has to work!!
I took Chantix for 4 months and it worked for me. I have been smoke free now for over 8 months thanks to Chantix! The only side effect I had was the vivid strange dreams. I am on alot of other prescription meds and it did not interact with any of them. I highly recomend Chantix to anyone wanting to quit smoking! ( I was heavey smoker 2 packs a day for over 30 years! If I can do it, so can you all!)
Chantix is not for everyone. I did my research and knew plenty of people that it worked for. I was ok for the first 4 days, the usual naseau, vivid dreams and strange sleep experiences. Out of no where I started to feel extremely sensitive and overly irritable. People around me were to the point they were asking if I was ok. I have never suffered from depression which were some of the warning signs. I waited three more days…the emotional strength was no better than. I promised my boyfriend I would contact the doctor to discuss some of the side effects. She immediately demanded I stop the medicine. The second day without the pills I literally felt like I had been asleep for a week. I was finally alert again, able to focus, less sensitive and back to normal. I have always been emotionally stable and this was a really scary experience for me. I highly recommend considering that when you begin taking these pills there is no way to tell whether you will suffer the side-effects or not until you take them. The realization that there is no quick fix for anything hit me. Needless to say…I have not smoked on my own in three days (more than i can say for the medicine). It was a good experience but also a reminder that anything worth doing to extend your life and increase your health may be hard work. There is no magic pill that can fix your life. It is willpower and committment. That’s a decision we must all make. So you may quit smoking while on chantix but I highly advocate seeing a therapist during the process and not making any big decisions.! Good luck. PLEASE READ WARNINGS ON CHANTIX WEBSITE…THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW. Even when you think these things could never happen to you…a mind altering substance could very well change that!
I was on the Chantix program for the full 12 weeks. I was a smoker for 33 years and smoked around 1 1/2 packs daily. I didn’t really want to quit but my workplace was going smoke-free, so I figured I would try to make it easy on myself! I was very fortunate because I didn’t have any side effects. Also, included in my daily prayers was asking for the strength to actually quit. After the 12 weeks, everytime I would have a craving, I would ask the Lord to help me and guess what? I have been a quitter now for almost a year and maybe have one strong craving a week!!! I couldn’t be more proud of myself and more grateful to my God for his help! Trust me, if I can quit smoking, anybody can!
I started smoking at age 16. 1 1/2 packs a day until I turned 62. We have an 8 year old son who begged me to quite. I went to the Dr. and got a prescription for Chantix. I took it for 7 days and stopped. AND STOPPED SMOKING at the end of 7 days. It is now 13 months and I cannot stand being around cigarette smoke. IT WORKS
I am 44 years old and had been a smoker since I was 14. I have tried many other products but just never could quit. I am so happy that I am a non-smoker now. I just got tired of the control needing to smoke had on me. The guilt I was feeling every day due to the fact that I would keep doing something every hour of every day, even though I knew it was killing me was getting to be too much. It had to stop.
Thank you Chantix!!
I was not even sure this would work since all else had not, but now was my time I guess and before starting this you need to make sure you really want to stop or you and your reasons not for others. If you don’t quit for you and if you are not determined that this will work, I am not sure it will. I did a lot of thinking, decided I wanted to live and got the pills. I took the first week of pills ( you can smoke until the eve of day 7 ) and on the 7th day before bed I gathered up anything that had to do with smoking and put it in the trash, woke up on day 8 with the mind set that I am now a non-smoker . That was September 9th, 2008 and today is Nov 11th, 2008. To be very honest I had 3 puffs of a cig in week 3 and it made me feel sick. I am not even sure why I did because I have not had any overpowering cravings. Today I am, smelling everything, lol. tasting way more flavor in my food, not coughing my head off when I take a deep breath, not hunting for a ciggy butt when I am broke, not being a cig bummer from others that had to pay good money for their habit just as I was. I am also saving so much money it feels great.
There are a few side effects and you need to be ready for them, I had dreams that the science fiction channel would love to get a hold of, the nausea feeling was there as well but not enough to make me run to the bathroom and only for about a hour after each pill. But look at it this way as I did, I did this to myself, I have to get myself out of it. Is keeping my life not worth a few wild dreams and upset stomachs? I decided as I hope any smokers will, I am worth it. I am not saying anyone can use Chantix, talk to your doctor as I did, if he gives you the ok I just want you to know that after smoking for 44 years, using pills and patches to quit with no success, I am now a non-smoker. I only took Chantix for 7 of the 12 weeks and the doctors told me I could stop it, that was 2 weeks ago and I still have no intention to ever smoke again.
Well I hope you have the same success I have.
Good Luck
Karen (Morning_Mist_06)
Im on the 2nd week and I still haven’t quit. The only side effect I’m experiencing is fatique. Though I must say cravings were WAY down today since they double the dosage. I don’t think I’ll attempt to quit until the begining of the third week, the Eagles are in the NFC Championship game and I get way too anxious to not smoke when there’s a big game.
Let me tell you I am 34 years old male and I sell cars so lots of dead time. I have treid to quit many times and this pill was A miracle for me. I took it on Sunday morning and had absoloutley no desire to smoke from then on honest to god. I did not take the pill that night and then I took one pill on Monday and that was the last pill I took. This is the greatest thing I have ever took. Only thing I had an issue was first pill did not eat before I took it and felt A little upset stomach. Had A bowl of cereal and felt fine no problems from then on.. Ty Chantix you have given me the freedom of getting off of the cancer sticks and A new outlook on life.. Shannon
Do it! And stick with it! You will have nausea or cramping if you don’t take it on a full stomach. BUT it’s well worth it. The nicotine cravings are gone. If you do have the urge, it’s gone within minutes. It’s actually quite incredible. I smoked for 24 years and have tried everything. I’m now 5 weeks smoke free. I’m so confident that I’ll never smoke again I’m going to stop taking it because half the time I forget to anyway. I’ve had a guy in my car who smoked and it didn’t bother me at all. I do realize now how badly I’ve smelled since the age of 15. Chantix is by far the best solution to quitting. The dreaming can be a bit much at times but other than that no harsh side effects. The first 2 weeks or so getting used to the medicine was probably the worst part after you learn to eat before taking it and drink plenty of water you’re off and running.
Stick it out for at least 3 weeks and you’ll be a non-smoker for life!!
I am quite proud of myself but I couldn’t have done it without Chantix.
Wonderful Drug. It helped me quit after 32 years, but to say that a side effect was a little gas is an understatement. In the long run it was well worth it though.
I just started my second week pack today. In the past three days ive had less than 6 drags from a smoke. You are supposed to take the pills for one week and then quit smoking, yet after only 2 days on the pills my cravings were almost completely gone, as well as ciggarettes tasted HORRIBLE to the point were i couldnt smoke them. I stopped puchasing packs on my 4th day of the first week and havent wanted to buy any since. The fact alone that i quit before i told myself i was going to tells me that this medicine works as intended. Obviously no medications work the same for everyone so talk with your doctor about any concerns. The side effects can be very mild to fairly severe. In the first week i did get sick quite a few times even to the point of vommiting on once occasion even after eating a full meal when taking the pill. This is not the same for everyone though as the girl in the cubicle next to me at work is also taking chantix and she has said the worst she has experienced so far is very mild nauseau and she has been on them for a few weeks longer than i. The dreams have been the most noticable side effect by far. I have awoken many a night due to a truly vivid dream. Nothing to really complain about though. I have very high hopes for Chantix and i reccomend that anyone who is tired of being a slave to tobbacco consider giving it a try.
i smoked for almost 50 years. I have tried everyway to quit. Chantix finally worked. i cannot say enough about it. It is as if every time I had a craving, i was able to step back and say, do you really want to do this? I think it is a wonder drug. The five minutes of mild nausea was nothing compared to the result. Smoke free for 6 months.
I seem to be in the minority here. My experience with Chantix (along with Wellbutrin) was horrific! I became seriously, I mean extremely, depressed to the point that I didn’t care if I lived. This is a side effect for some, and is blamed for some suicides, so be aware. I took the whole regimen and even when I was done, the after effect of depression and brain fog continued for many more weeks. Have someone monitor your psychological changes as an extra precaution!
12 weeks of taking Chantix in two days. Smoke free since day 8. Had to be very disciplined not to smoke. Smoked pack a day 37 yrs. Minor side effects. Week 3 to 5 had fatigue and a general bad attitude. Thoughts of is it worth it…..I want my best friend back were common. Chantix does work if you really want to attempt a quit and you will need some kind of support.
I have tried everything available,to have no success, in the past.When I started chantix I began smoking 50% less in the first week. On my quit day and there after, chantix carried me through that grinding 3 weeks. Then I never looked back. You couldn’t pay me to smoke!(quit on 4-17-09) Thank you chantix!
I have just started on my 10th day of taking Chantix, this is truly a miracle pill! I almost decided not to take it after reading all of the horrifying side effects-I hate taking new medications! I tried 2 days before starting the Chantix to quit cold turkey, I just couldn’t do it, so I took the pill. I smoked for 24 years a pack and a quarter a day, and was sick and tired of being nagged by my family to quit, so I decided to give it a try. Let me tell you, I loved to smoke, it was always there when I needed comfort. I smoked for the first 5 days on Chantix and quit on my 40th bday. I do not have any physical cravings whatsoever, but the habitual side of it is what I fight, but each day that gets easier. I am now on my 5th day smoke free and still plugging along! All I know is I owe it all to Chantix, no way could I have made it this far without it. I know I will finally break free of the prison I have put myself in for 24 years. AS FAR AS THE SIDE EFFECTS- I personally believe a lot of it is hyped up. I started taking this pill with food and water and no nausea, then I went to only a sip of water and no food and still no nausea. The dreams are strange, but fun. I have had very little gas, and I am a little tired, which is a side effect of nicotine withdrawl anyway, so I doubt that is caused by Chantix. I just think I almost didn’t take Chantix because of all the bad stuff I had read, when in reality thank God I did, because hopefully now I will have a chance at a healthier, longer life. For all of you that are on the fence about taking this drug, just do it, it may save your life!! As a foot note- I have always sufferred from mild depression and anxiety disorder and my moods have been totally normal on Chantix.
I once took Chantix and the side effects took me over. Went to see my doctor who told me to stop taking Chantix I do ask if they have made them with a little less side affects and nothing has changed. I got all the side affects but I did see a change in by smoking
But I had to sleep and I would get nausea like morning sickness and it would last all day. I am still hoping that they inprove on this drug so I am able to take it. Even when I got so sick I did see me smoking less and that is what I wanted to do. But as time went by I was getting ALL the side affects. Please inprove this so I may try it again
I have been quit smoking for 14 months. I am almost 66 years old and have smoked off and on for 50 years. I have smoked heavily for the past 20 years and did not think anything about my health and smoking until a friend of mine who was 60 years old and carrying a tank of oxygen around (and still smoking) with a bad heart and emphysema died last January, 2008. I started to think that I did not want to end up in my 70’s coughing my head off, carrying an oxygen tank everywhere I went, and continuing to smoke, so I thought about it and then a friend of mine told me about Chantix. I talked with my doctor in March, 2008, and she gave me a prescription for Chantix. I chose my start date as May 1, 2008. By May 3, 2008, I could not stand to even smell a cigarette, I had to walk away from my friends who still smoked. I will say, for me, it was a miracle that I would never have thought could happen to me, and especially that fast!! I quit completely, haven’t wanted a cigarette, cannot look at a cigarette, turn my head when someone on TV is smoking, and am so thankful for Chantix. I had only one side effect, the livid dreams.
It was worth it to take the Chantix and whatever it did to the receptors in my brain to turn me against nicotine so fast and keep me that way for 14 months, I don’t know, but I am thankful that it did work. My son, seeing that his mother could quit, also got a prescription and in 30 days, he was completely quit and still is and it has been over a year for him.
I praise Chantix and hope the FDA doesn’t take it off of the market because it works!!
This is my second week on Chantix. While I do have some gas today was hard because I had the cravings. I even dug my pack of Marlborro’s out of the trash but did not smoke. Smoking relaxed me and I have noticed my appetite has increased. I don’t want the weight gain. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day.
I’m on day three and I have to say that I am amazed. I’ve been smoking, on average, about 1-1/2 packs a day for the last 30+ years and since I’ve started taking Chantix I’ve had no cravings. As someone else mentioned, there are the habitual situations like having that cup of coffee with a cigarette but, I try to have my coffee in a different place as opposed to out on the patio where I use to smoke away and sip my coffee.
Although the concerns of serious side effects could be detrimental to the program, the benefits of trying Chantix outweigh a reason for not giving it a try at all. I’ve had slight nausea only because I did not eat with that first pill. I’ve had no insomnia, no vivid dreams (I almost wish I had that one), I’ve had a calming effect and most important no cravings for a cigarette.
I encourage all who are sick of being a slave to cigarettes and the tobacco industry to get your life back and buy yourself something with the money you save. If you have children, kiss them, and remind yourself besides yourself, you’re doing it for them.
Good Luck
I am 49 yrs old and started smoking when I was 16 yrs old, I had tried to quit before but never did make it. I asked my Doctor for Chantix and as of today I am 18 months smoke free!!! I never experienced any side effects from Chantix..I even had my younger sister try it and she has been smoke free also for 17 months. I know I would have never quit without taking Chantix.
I smoked for 30 years and I can tell you this is the ONLY way I quit smoking, I work at a Dr. office and I have literally been the poster child for this medicine! I am now almost 3 years smoke free and I love this product, it saved my life. I watched my mother die of emphysema and I am so grateful that I did not suffer the same fate! You are crazy if you don’t try it. And I mean try it for 5 months atleast! I am forever in the debt of Pfizer!!
I used Chantix and quuit 4 years ago after smoking for 47 years. I had tried virtually every method over the years without success. It is important for users to remember there are two parts to overcome: the first is the addiction and the second is the habit. Chantix handles the most difficult part – the addiction. The habit remains for quite a while, but that’s just a reflexive action associated with smoking. I still have a desire to smoke at certain times, but it’s just a habit thing. The addiction was that overpowering urge that came out of nowhere. I recognized it from my previous attempts at quitting. I found it useful to keep a journal of my experiences back then and would write down my feelings each day. I did this for a few weeks. There were some side effects, but Chantix definitely works. For long term smokers who have tried everything else, I highly recommend it.
I am totally satisfied with Chantix. I smoked for over 30 years. I quit smoking nearly 2 years ago. I can be around smokers or in a smokey place and it doesn’t bother me at all. I have no desire to go back. I had tried so many quit smoking products before Chantix, none worked. I had NO side effects at all with Chantix. I rate it a A+++++++
I quit a year and a half ago and my wife quit a little over a year ago. Chantix worked for us–no relapses
Chantix really works…I have been smoke free for almost a week and I really dont think about smoking. What I like about Chantix is the ability to slowly quit…there are minimal withdrawl symptoms, because you already went through the physical withdrawl while still smoking! The web site is really helpful, full of tips and encouragement.