Champix

General health and lifestyle
1

:D Hi i have been taking champix for 4 days now and the results are great so far. I had set my quit day for Monday 30.04.2007 but today 25.04.2007 i have not had one and don't want one, so i'm going to see how i go.

If i do this i will be so happy for my self and my family. so if any of you are thinking i cant do it go and see your doctor as their is light at the end of the tunnel.

I was smoking 20-25 a day and have tried every thing to stop in the pass

and this is really helping me i now feel i could be a none smoker.

regards lisa

2

Well done Lisa :D It is good to hear of your success.

I would agree that anyone who has maybe tried several times in the past to stop smoking and hasn't yet made it, to keep trying, and maybe visit their doctor for some help.

Tessa

3

I have just started my 9th week on Champix. I stopped smoking about a week and a half into the treatment and I haven't had a cigarette since. I would say that the first three weeks are the hardest, but I wouldn't say that they were particularly hard. The cravings don't last very long at all. It was the 'Habit' side of things that made me want or think about having a cigarette... Getting into the car, after my dinner, lunch break at work etc. I can definately say that not once have I thought ' I have to have a cigarette!' I have thought on a few occassions that I would like a cigarette. But I didn't have one, I decided that it really wasn't worth it. :o

If there is anyone else out there that Is taking Champix, I would really appreciate it if you got in touch. Has anyone finished the 12 week course?.

ps. I had a bit of difficulty getting this from the doctor, has anyone else? :lol:

4

hi i ve been on them now 3 weeks i stop 3 days ago and its so hard i was smoking about 45 a day which is bad.................how u doing so far hun?I WILL DO IT.......................the only side effort i had was the sick feeling other than that i ve been ok.............................

5

Hi, may offer my congratulations on you quitting. Just reading your experiences. I am about to start Champix on Monday, it sounds good and hope it does the same for me. Will let you no how i get on.

6

Hi All

I too have been prescribed Champix. I've trawled the net looking for Champix U/K dedicated forums and have been lucky enough to end up here.

Champix aka Chantix in the States/Canada has a full support site sponsored by Pfizer the drug's manufacturers. However, it is for that region only, requiring a ZIP code…, our post codes don’t work.

I've smoked for some 40 years - the last 20 of which have consisted of failed quits. NRT, Zyban… I smoke on average 20/day and hate smoking – I feel it’s the addiction and not the habit that forces me – enslaves me.

I'm on day 9 of Champix and day 14 is the quit date I've set. However, my quit date may be earlier. This medication is different; I’ve noticed I’ve already cut down without the conscious effort I’ve been saving up for day 14.

Kind regards

Mike

7

Hi Everyone

I have just finished the 12 week course of Champix and would love to say that it's all behind me now but i think in some ways it's just the beginning. I didn't smoke at all during the 12 weeks on Champix and felt \"out of it\" most of the time. I came off gradually, reducing my tablets down over a week but be prepared that the cravings may still not have completely gone . In fact i felt so down and just not myself that i phoned the smoking clinic and unfortunately i seem to be one of the people that the addiction still lingers for. I do feel that alot of this is of my own making, that i am making it harder for myself than it needs to be, perhaps i'm looking for an excuse to start again? but i'm not going to give in yet. I used cigarettes as an emotional crutch and would smoke one when i was happy, sad, bored, excited you name it and i would need a cigarette so i suppose i have to get used to myself without them. I'm only 34 and was by the time i stopped smoking 30 a day so really i can't smoke anymore because i would now be playing Russian roulette. Anyway good luck everyone, i do believe on the whole that Champix is worth a try as i have tried NRT before and never felt close to succeeding before, my only bit of advice as corny as it sounds is to take one day at a time, don't think about tomorrow. :?

8

[quote:8998b61b1d=\"zoss\"] hi i ve been on them now 3 weeks i stop 3 days ago and its so hard i was smoking about 45 a day which is bad.................how u doing so far hun?I WILL DO IT.......................the only side effort i had was the sick feeling other than that i ve been ok.............................

Hiya, I Have ben on Champix for 2 weeks now , my stop date was 4 days ago. i have had a few weak moments where i have had a drag on some ones cigarette and thought...YUK what did i even try that for!!!. From what i thought of as a complete lie that a tablet would take away all the cravings is actualy completely genius and does work, takes away the cravings and i havent even bought a packet of cigarettes or worried when i run out or not having any..Th hardest part of it is the migraines(once i started on the 1mg) i had a migraine every time i took the first one in the morning... and the standing outside with the smokers and not smoking, the habit part..

The biggest downside to me at the moment is the fact that i cant stop eating !!! And being concious of my weight i think is going to be a problem. I generally dont normally like cakes and biscuits and have now got an aquired taste to anything dripping with fat or loaded with sugar OOPS!!

All i can say to anyone thinking of going on this is give it a try, i find the side effects worth the quitting. I understand it might not be for everyone but my heart wasnt even in it when i got them but now they seem to have turned my thoughts around

9

:D started using Champix on 25th june stopped smoking 2nd July, tablets did make me feel nauseous tried taking them at meal times, this helped a bit, the smell of cigarettes now makes me heave, sense of smell and taste have changed dramatically, have also discovered I had been overseasoning food when I smoked, unfortunately I am eating more, at 4ft 11ins and already 9st I cannot afford to put on more weight, but as I feel better in my breathing, (I was a chronic Asthmatic) so have vowed to start some exercise, have started to make small journeys on my bike.

Would love to think I will never touch another cigarette in my life, but I do find myself thinking about it every so often, scared that the cravings will return when the 12 week course is over. I did smoke 20 a day for more than 40 yrs so I suppose I should be happy with my progress to date.

I have also put the money away that I would have spent for a special treat after the 12 weeks, perhaps a Spa break weekend will full pampering treatments.

Good luck to you all out there, lets hope we all succeed.

10

Hi everyone,

I am on day 15 of CHampix now. My mother has now been on it for 7 weeks and she gave up during her second week. My sister has also given up on Champix on day 14. I was a 20 a day smoker and am now down to about 10/12 a day so I am making progress. I only feel sick after having my first ciggy of the day. Had alot of headaches, daily, during the first week, and started craving sweets last weekend. I dont usually have a sweet tooth. However, I usually drink tea likes its going out of fashion. I am now finding that that doesn't taste so good and am having to drink decaff. I was feeling it wasn't working but I actually think it s doing something now, so I carry on. I have tried NRT before, and found I became very depressed. I totally cracked up at one point and ended up on anti-depressants for a year and a half. Hope that doesn't happen this time.

One thing I have noticed is that I now seem to have a sore throat. Don't know if its anything to do with the CHampix.

Kay

11

Hi everyone, I have been a smoker for 45years at 20aday,I have tried everything, hypnosis,gum,patches none of these worked. I started taking champix on no smoking day, and I have not had a cigarette for 4months now, I did use to feel sick but never was , only got insomnia once because I took it late at night, no other side effects. The only worry I have is that I can only take it for 24weeks and not be weaned off it for another 12weeks, does anyone know whether this is right, hope to hear from someone soon. bye and good luck

12

Having smoked tax free cigarettes at sea for longer than I can remember I certainly was addicted.

I have tried nicotine replacement therapy but it does not work for me, some of the well known side effects - skin rashes, digestive problems and still the craving!!! The worms in the stomach as I call it.

Champix was recommended by my GP sister in law who said there had been encouraging results but there may be side effects.

Stopped smoking on day 8, I had cut down without knowing and have completed the first 14 days - smoke free.

I have had little or no side effects and what has amazed me for the first week is that the craving is not there at all. I hope the results remain like this. I am impressed.

I know its not working for everyone but all I can say is give it a try, it is working for me.

13

my hubby tried to give up smoking by taking the new tabletts champix.

he had severe nightmares and couldnt sleep most nights.

he was on a low most times. as he took the higher dosage in the 2. week, he started to have severe kidney pains. in the end he had to give the tabletts up. it took him a while but now hes back to normal. be carefull with them. it was very frightening. i rather have him smoking but still alive. i was very scared. watch out !!!!!!

14

According to my smoking adviser - who I questioned about stopping dead at the end of the course - after 12 weeks the Champix has done its job and the receptors will have become dormant having been deprived of nicotine for enough time for them to give up and 'go to sleep'. They should remain dormant forever (as they were before you started smoking) unless you smoke another cigarette which will re-activate them!

Good luck and don't make the mistake of being frightened of stopping the Champix, you just need the confidence in yourself to realise that you don't need something else now that you aren't dependent on cigarettes anymore.

Imagine yourself as though you had never been a smoker!

15

I have been on Champix for 3 weeks now and not had - or even wanted a cigarette - for 2 weeks. I am 60 and have smoked since I was 15, stopped smoking many times with all the other remedies, nicotine replacement, hypnosis, cold turkey, all worked for a while but nothing lasted. Even got addicted to nicotine gum for over a year and started smoking again to get off the gum.

Patches gave me horrible nightmares, gum gave me a sore throat, both gave me bouts of deep melancholy and giving in to cigarettes was the only cure.

I have had the nausea with Champix, taken before eating the nausea is really bad, after eating quite mild, taken halfway through a meal I don't get any nausea. I prefer to take it after a meal, slight nausea I find reminds that the Champix is working!

Luckily I have not had any other side effects. I stopped smoking on day 6 of the course, I had not planned on the 6th day, I just didn't fancy a cigarette when I got up so didn't have one. I have had mild cravings over the time but have kept busy, had as much exercise as I can and take deep breaths when it becomes irritating - and irritating is the best description for the 'cravings'. It is not a desire to smoke just a feeling of discomfort which I want to go away and deep breathing certainly helps.

I have not smoked a single puff since day 6 of the course, maybe that is why I haven't had much in the way of side effects. I found that I didn't seem to sleep so well for the first week or two, seeming to wake up a lot but did not feel tired during the day so must have had enough sleep. At least I didn't get the depressing nightmares that I got with patches which made me frightened to go to sleep. I have also found that I have no desire to eat any more than usual as I am not compensating for the lack of nicotine as I don't feel the need for nicotine anymore.

I feel so much better, going for long walks with my dog and swimming again. My home is spick and span and smells lovely. My washing and ironing is all up to date and I can smell the flowers in the garden!

Best of all - when I wake up in the morning I don't want a cigarette and that was the one that I got out of bed for in the mornings, that was followed by another 2 as I read the paper and waited until I had enough nicotine in my blood stream to be able to face breakfast!

I think that the best thing about Champix for me is that I don't really think about cigarettes for most of the time, on other remedies I constantly thought about cigarettes and used to imagine smoking one, even dreaming that I was smoking sometimes, second had smoke smelled wonderful to me so it was easy to give in. Yesterday I went shopping and as I passed people in the street I was so aware of the ones who had recently had a cigarette as they smelled of cigarette smoke - and now having not had nicotine for 2 weeks cigarette smoke smells different - now I smell it the same as a non-smoker does and it smells dreadful - once you have not smoked for a while you will appreciate the reason for banning smoking in enclosed public places as the smell for a non smoker is nothing like the smell for a smoker - and even if smoking is restricted to another room with the connecting door shut the smell will travel through the cracks in the door.

I do hope this helps.......

16

[quote:79427f6ce1=\"SuzanneJ\"]I have been on Champix for 3 weeks now and not had - or even wanted a cigarette - for 2 weeks. I am 60 and have smoked since I was 15, stopped smoking many times with all the other remedies, nicotine replacement, hypnosis, cold turkey, all worked for a while but nothing lasted. Even got addicted to nicotine gum for over a year and started smoking again to get off the gum.

Patches gave me horrible nightmares, gum gave me a sore throat, both gave me bouts of deep melancholy and giving in to cigarettes was the only cure.

I have had the nausea with Champix, taken before eating the nausea is really bad, after eating quite mild, taken halfway through a meal I don't get any nausea. I prefer to take it after a meal, slight nausea I find reminds that the Champix is working!

Luckily I have not had any other side effects. I stopped smoking on day 6 of the course, I had not planned on the 6th day, I just didn't fancy a cigarette when I got up so didn't have one. I have had mild cravings over the time but have kept busy, had as much exercise as I can and take deep breaths when it becomes irritating - and irritating is the best description for the 'cravings'. It is not a desire to smoke just a feeling of discomfort which I want to go away and deep breathing certainly helps.

I have not smoked a single puff since day 6 of the course, maybe that is why I haven't had much in the way of side effects. I found that I didn't seem to sleep so well for the first week or two, seeming to wake up a lot but did not feel tired during the day so must have had enough sleep. At least I didn't get the depressing nightmares that I got with patches which made me frightened to go to sleep. I have also found that I have no desire to eat any more than usual as I am not compensating for the lack of nicotine as I don't feel the need for nicotine anymore.

I feel so much better, going for long walks with my dog and swimming again. My home is spick and span and smells lovely. My washing and ironing is all up to date and I can smell the flowers in the garden!

Best of all - when I wake up in the morning I don't want a cigarette and that was the one that I got out of bed for in the mornings, that was followed by another 2 as I read the paper and waited until I had enough nicotine in my blood stream to be able to face breakfast!

I think that the best thing about Champix for me is that I don't really think about cigarettes for most of the time, on other remedies I constantly thought about cigarettes and used to imagine smoking one, even dreaming that I was smoking sometimes, second had smoke smelled wonderful to me so it was easy to give in. Yesterday I went shopping and as I passed people in the street I was so aware of the ones who had recently had a cigarette as they smelled of cigarette smoke - and now having not had nicotine for 2 weeks cigarette smoke smells different - now I smell it the same as a non-smoker does and it smells dreadful - once you have not smoked for a while you will appreciate the reason for banning smoking in enclosed public places as the smell for a non smoker is nothing like the smell for a smoker - and even if smoking is restricted to another room with the connecting door shut the smell will travel through the cracks in the door.

I do hope this helps.......

17

THIS IS A REPLY TO SUZANNE J LETTER I WAS REALLY INTERESTED IN YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH CHAMPIX I TOO HAVE JUST STARTED 2ND DAY SO STILL QUITE A NOVICE BUT BEFORE I ASKED FOR CHAMPIX I READ UP ON IT ON THIS SITE AND SAW YOURS AS WELL AS OTHER PEOPLES EXPERIENCE ITS GOOD TO KNOW BEFOREHAND WHAT TO EXPECT AS YOU KNOW IT DOES NOT SUIT EVERYONE BUT KEEPING FINGERS CROSSED

18

this is to carole taylor hi i to have just started champix this is my second day still finding it a strain any tips? marian

19

This is for marion on day 12 of my 1mg tablet took severe migraine went back to doctor and she put me 0.5mg saying that whensome people go on the larger dosage they are prone to get side effects however on week on still got migraine so telephoned doctor to stop them but you have to come of gradually so that is what i am doing just now i could not put up with the headaches any longer hope this does not put you off because they are alright for most people

20

I have been reading about Champix, and it sounds amazing. Do you still have to go to a stop smoking clinic like with NRT? Or can you just get it on prescription from the doc? I have smoked for about 30 years on and off - the longest \"off\" was when I was sponsored to stop for charity (so, no pressure, then!) when I managed 7 months with no smoking, but I was helped by 3 sessions of NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming, a bit like hypnosis). I didn't have ANY cravings, and really didn't fancy a cig at all, so that worked well. The only other times I have stopped completely was when I was pregnant with my 3 children (and, no, it's not something I'm doing again...!)

I actually hate smoking now, I don't like the smell, or the ashtrays, or the antisocial element, or the cost...there are so many reasons to stop.

I was in hospital recently for 4 days and didn't even fancy one at all, or for the first day at home, but then I stupidly sort of forced myself to have one, even though I really didn't want it! Not sure why, just think I felt something was missing, or I was bored, oh..I don't know. Very silly, though, as I'm back up to 10/12 a day, but one good thing, I am making myself stand outside to smoke, which quite honestly is a pain in the ass when it's freezing and raining!

If anyone can offer any help and suggestions...? Thanks! :D