Chantix on the FDA "black-box" list - have you experienced any negative side effects?

So far, my DH is undecided and hasn't yet conferred with his brother, a pharmacist. Meanwhile, he's trying to quit by slowly cutting back. I keep reminding him that we're expecting a grandbaby next Feb!

When I spoke with college students about their interest in quitting smoking, many of them were taking Chantix or Wellbutrin. Those on Chantix were doing amazingly well, and would have recommended it to their family and friends. They did not experience any of the severe side effects for the short time they were using this medication (and, on their way to become smoke free!)

Alysia,
I would personally recommend that your husband either asked for an alternative medication (read up on Wellbutrin, many people have mentioned using it to quit smoking) or perhaps another method to quit smoking.

About 2 years ago, my husband wanted to quit smoking and his PCP gave him Chantix. The medication is expensive (not covered by his ins.) and to say the least, I ended up moving out of the house for a couple of months. We constantly fought while he was on this and it was as though he was a completely different person. I thought that it was because he wasn't getting his nicotine fix so at first I tried to understand, but it just kept getting worse to the point where I couldn't stand being around him anymore. I never want him to take this med again.

I think you and your husband have an important decision to make. If he decides to go through with it, just make sure that he reports his symptoms to his doctor or he stops taking the medication. I honestly don't feel like quitting smoking should break up your marriage or worse--end your life.

Good Luck!

P.S. To Anon, so sorry about your boyfriend. It's so sad that these new meds go out on the market without nearly enough research than they should have.

My ex-boyfriend committed suicide while taking this drug. He kept telling me it was making him feel crazy but wanted to quit smoking so badly that he wouldn't stop taking the drug. I would not recommend this drug to anyone. Smoke yourself to death, you will live a lot longer than if you take Chantix.

Hi Alysiak,

I don't have personal experience with Chantix but I have done some reading on it and what I recall seeing over and over again is reports that it can cause people to have really weird and wacky dreams. I wonder if that ties into the psychiatric symptoms? Personally, the side effects you list would be enough to make me pause, and anything that makes my already tenuous sleep less than restful would also bother me. But I do applaud your husband for wanting to kick the smoking habit. Good for him! Please post again to let us know what he decides to do. Big hugs to you, Michelle