Regarding warning from FDA:

http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/chantix020508.html

thanx for this info. i'm bipolar and have been on chantix for 4 months. nothing major has happened just low depression and real hard to get up and do anything. maybe this will clear up after my last 3 weeks on chantix

Chantix affects many people in very different ways. Some people experience nausea and flatulence. Others complain of mild depression. Most have no symptoms at all. There is only a very small percentage of people who have drastic reactions to Chantix. It is important that you doctor monitor how you experience Chantix but don't you think that if most Chantix users experienced dangerous psychological traumas that this drug would be yanked off of the market in a heartbeat? You can bet the tobacco industry would walk the extra mile to do everything in its power to eliminate Chantix as a quitting aid.

Yep my guess is the tabacco industry would love to see Chantix go away. Meds affect everyone differently.

I am a therapist at a mental health clinic, I am also on Chantix, have also had history of depression, I have seen no ill effects, we have been prescribing it for our clients and they seem to do well, however, I think it would be a good idea to be observed by a doctor, therapist, or other professional familiar with symptoms of depression, it is unclear at this point whether the medication causes these side effects or people have a pre-disposition to depression, etc. and the stress of quitting smoking triggers symptoms, etc., just would suggest people who take it be monitored

I was just told yesterday from a very close friend of mine who happens to be a surgeon that there are major lawsuits happening over chantix because I was considering taking it myself.I trust this woman with my life.I will use the patch and as with using anything do not stop taking something cold.Do it under the supervision of your doctor.

I used chantix for 103 days, and although never to my knowledge had ever suffered depression of any kind I did for about 4 days, I just cried and I felt very lonely well after putting in a post about how I felt which is not easy for a man the answer came back I was in no mans land and once I understood what was happening, I became stronger and through my tears I challenged the nicodemon to do its worse but I would not smoke, and hear I am 5 months later and a non-smoker. So for me chantix and the group were my saviours, I had tried everything else know to man, but I couldn't stop smoking and although chantix is not a magic pill its the nearest to it, thank you who ever invented chantix. Viv

I tried Chantix last year and had very negative reaction to it. It made me sick to my stomach and weak and I too felt very depressed. So I stopped using it. Now I'm using the patch. So far I'm ok. But for me the Chantx did not work. It just goes to show- everyone is different.

So far the only thing Chantix is doing for me is making so nauseated I just want to puke, I have horrible nightmares and a slight headache. Its doing nothing for me to quit this dam smoking, I still crave as many, I still have all my tastes and I am not depressed, but I do want to eat all the time..I just might quit taking it and try cold turkey..I have tried every single quit smoking item on the market today. Zyban helped me quit for 2 1/2 years without much problems at all, except it gave me thrush and since I couldn't taste at all, I quit, it was simple. Commit Lozenges works ok for the cravings, but gives me terrible hicupps...I am doomed, I guess I will have to quit cold turkey and deal with it!

My psych said it has no efect on existing depression. Too bad, I could use a lift. Seriously, the #1 health issue in my life is smoking, second only to suicide. So for me, it can not do any harm. Talk to your doctor & be honest about history of depression. Don't combine depression or chantix with alcohol.
Thank you for topic.

Finally, someone is reading and doing research.
My doctor was way ahead of the curve. I tried
Chantix twice and became severely suicidal twice.
The reports are showing that some with Major Depression can not take Chantix. As for the FDA
pulling it off the market----are you guys nuts??
Do you have any idea how much money these drug
companies make in profits; and what they do with
those profits? A lot of those profits go into
medical research. And, since when do we put our
government to act in our best interest? The government only tells us what it thinks we are
ready to handle, etc. They are not going to cut
their own throats by losing money on a very profitable drug. Like all those folks that died
from the diet drug; phenfen. And all those folks
that died from the arthritis pain meds? Um??????
The government might finally step in after there
are countless deaths. I am NOT bashing Chantix.
It is a wonderful drug for some or most people.
It has helped countless people quit smoking and
saved countless lives. Now, how do you keep the
blinders on and ignore that SOME, a FEW people can
not take it. Get real. Do some reading. Do some
research. Open your minds up; please. Just because
you took Chantix and it worked great for you-----does not equal that it will work for everyone.
Aspirin helps countless people. It KILLs a few
people that are allergic to it. Penicillin helps
countless people. It caused me to go into shock
and quit breathing. Things are not BLACK or WHITE
in our world; they are GRAY. Hope I did not make
anyone mad, but facts are facts.

Chatix was instrumental in my successful quit. I'm happy I had no serious side effects with it. I'm five months plus smoke free.

I have been on Chantix for almost one month. I have been smoke free since July 25th. I have had no major problems with the treatment and am monitored closely because I am part of a study. The only side effect for me (besides lessening the cravings to smoke which is awesome) is a lessened appetite. I can't eat as much because I get a full feeling very quickly, kind of like I just ate a huge Thanksgiving dinner! Other than that, no problems. I tend to believe the tobacco industry has something to do with these warnings that come out frequently. They want to keep people addicted and I am not playing their game!

Hi Jen,
It is so great to hear from you.You had to go and open up a can of worms, didn't you???LOL
As with ANY medication, a doctor should moniter you. Chantix (and my DS family) were what has kept me off cigarettes for 6 months(tomorrow) I could never have gone cold turkey and I broke out in a rash from the patch.
Different strokes for different folks...
Missed you..
Love you,Deb

I bet the tobacco companies are rubbing their hands with glee the only medication that is truly effective has a fault.