Chantix success story here! I was a 20+year smoker, up to over two packs a day for the last five or so years. I started Chantix on May 7, quit smoking on May 22 and quit the med on 6/22.
It's a real shame the side effects aren't being reported to pharmacists, because everyone I know both personally and online (in the way of smoking cessation support groups) have had effects with Chantix. Some minor; some not.
I had the nausea and vivid dreams. The nausea was pretty severe, enough to where I would not have been able to continue if something didn't give. I cut my pills in half and took the halves twice as often as I would have taken the whole pills. The dreams were wonderful. About the only thing I miss from the med. But if you're prone to nightmares, boy, I can see where Chantix would make you afraid to fall asleep. What I wasn't expecting was the joint pain. It started the day after I started the med and I still have it. I have no history of joint/muscle pain, but it's been months now that I stopped the med, and I feel like I've been run over by a truck. Better than lung cancer, tho!
My mother quit with me. She did not have the nausea, but she did have the dreams -- always good ones. She also now has some sort of gastritis thing going on with her stomach. This also started when she began the med and was hopeful it would stop when she stopped the med, but it didn't. Her doctor put her on Aciphex for a month to see if that helps. So far, we're waiting to see. Better than emphysema, tho!
My hubby had the aggression issue that's been talked about in the news recently. He took the med long before the Eddie Brickell band guy did. He's never so much as hurt a fly, but within days of starting the med, he fell into a dark place where he wanted to hurt himself and others. He's never suffered from depression in the past, and he's not a drinker. He takes no other medication. This also started long before he actually quit smoking, so we can't blame it on nicotine withdrawals. He was only able to take Chantix for a little under three weeks before stopping it. The anger/aggression just became too much, and he just knew in his heart of hearts, it was the med. Luckily, he did take Chantix long enough to get him through what us quitters call "hell week." Once he was off the med, his depression/anger started to subside.
Please, please go into this with your eyes open. This drug was fast-tracked by the FDA for quick approval. It will help you to quit smoking, but go to Pfizer's website and download the "prescribing information," not the "patient information." Look at the side effects -- all of them -- so you know what to be aware of. All of the side effects aren't listed in what's given to patients. A lot of people are having some pretty adverse effects and complaining they weren't made aware. You can go directly to Pfizer's website and see the prescribing information to be aware. Aggression is actually listed in the prescribing information as a side effect, as is joint pain and gastritis.
Lastly, I'd strongly urge you to wean off the med. So many people are suffering severe anxiety and depression just stopping the med cold turkey. You slowly work up to a full dosage of Chantix, so why Pfizer recommends just stopping the med cold turkey is beyond me.
Best of luck in your quit! Even with the joint pain and nausea, I would absolutely do it again. So would my mother. My hubby would not. Please don't get me wrong. Chantix is the first real tool that has ever been able to really help me to quit. I've tried everything. But I do think we're going to be learning about this med for a long time.
Here are some links for support and/or more info:
http://www.topix.net/forum/law/healthcare/TVFDIU3OTSER7EGIV
http://www.topix.net/forum/law/healthcare/TF00VKGB9DTLRJQ43
http://www.topix.net/forum/law/healthcare/T6HUDHNB3012690O7
