Champix?????

Originally Posted by Crazyforinfo

That's how I felt! I started going to bed earlier so I didn't crave the pm smokes. I took the pill around 8/9pm when DH was getting ready for bed. I also figured if I had side effects I would sleep through them.

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Did it intefer with your sleep at all?

I'm thinking taking it at about 8 or 9 (I take the morning one in between 8-9am)

Originally Posted by Snake_Lady

Did it intefer with your sleep at all?

I'm thinking taking it at about 8 or 9 (I take the morning one in between 8-9am)

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I didn't have issues going to sleep. I did have very vivid dreams. Some days I woke up feeling I didn't sleep at all. Overall I preferred taking it closer to bedtime.

my husband took it for 2 weeks but had to stop. It was making him very anxious, he didnt sleep well but when he did he had crazy dreams, but what made him stop taking it was that he started dribble urine all the time. unfortunately we still both smoke.
Good luck to you!!

Thanks for all the replies

It is so much more informative when it comes from someone you "know" rather than just reading joe blows experience online.

I'm having a pretty good day....I definately learned not to take it on an empty stomach

I haven't had any weird dreams that I know of...in fact I seem to be sleeping better...as in not waking up at night, and sleeping from 11 till 7:30 or so, and waking up feeling pretty good instead of groggy.

Although the start was rough, I'm feeling better about it for now...

I double checked for any possible interactions since you take other meds. I only seen common OTC acid reducers tagamet and zantac (hOCT2 inhibitors - they'll raise blood levels of varenicline by making your liver not clear it as well), but if you've probably been told to avoid those two long before now as they inhibit a lot of drugs and could possibly lead to overdoses.
It also seems varenicline can cause odd results on liver function tests and can be a problem if one has high blood pressure.

Otherwise I'm going to guess part of your problem is withdrawal symptoms not making this any easier.

Originally Posted by strange_wings

I double checked for any possible interactions since you take other meds. I only seen common OTC acid reducers tagamet and zantac (hOCT2 inhibitors - they'll raise blood levels of varenicline by making your liver not clear it as well), but if you've probably been told to avoid those two long before now as they inhibit a lot of drugs and could possibly lead to overdoses.
It also seems varenicline can cause odd results on liver function tests and can be a problem if one has high blood pressure.

Otherwise I'm going to guess part of your problem is withdrawal symptoms not making this any easier.

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Thanks but I do know what interacts with my current med regiment, tho I appreciate the concern. I learned a long time ago due to an adverse drug interaction to research my meds well and talk with my pharmacist.

I'm fairly confident in saying that the increase in anxiety isn't due to withdrawl considering I am not smoking substantially less..... if I were, then yes I could see it, although Champix is also supposed to help block the receptors that trigger nicotine withdrawl symptoms

Originally Posted by Snake_Lady

I'm fairly confident in saying that the increase in anxiety isn't due to withdrawl considering I am not smoking substantially less..... if I were, then yes I could see it, although Champix is also supposed to help block the receptors that trigger nicotine withdrawl symptoms

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It blocks how much nicotine the acetylcholine receptors will take in - reducing it to prevent nicotine overdose and to help ween the person off it. So even if you're still smoking, you are not getting as much nicotine. It also does not prevent nicotine withdrawal, some people still get it.

Just want to post my support for you. I took Zyban and found out I was highly allergic to it. My mood was absolutely great for about 10 days and I could care less if I ever smoked again. Them I had the reaction and almost wound up in the hospital. If you've ever had a bad case of hives, imagine those hives being in every single nook and cranny of your body, both inside and out. That's what it did to me. I have Wellbutrin on my never take again list.

Originally Posted by strange_wings

It blocks how much nicotine the acetylcholine receptors will take in - reducing it to prevent nicotine overdose and to help ween the person off it. So even if you're still smoking, you are not getting as much nicotine. It also does not prevent nicotine withdrawal, some people still get it.

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thanks, but I will leave the pharmaceutical advice to a trained professional who knows exactly what meds I'm on and has been well schooled in the pharmatology(sp) of the meds I take.

Originally Posted by Momofmany

Just want to post my support for you. I took Zyban and found out I was highly allergic to it. My mood was absolutely great for about 10 days and I could care less if I ever smoked again. Them I had the reaction and almost wound up in the hospital. If you've ever had a bad case of hives, imagine those hives being in every single nook and cranny of your body, both inside and out. That's what it did to me. I have Wellbutrin on my never take again list.

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Thank you I too cannot take wellbutrin/zyban....not for allergic reaction, but horrendous side effects. I'm sorry you had to go through that....

Shows to go ya that most meds work different for everyone. I have taken Wellbutrin and it worked great. I quit smoking for 9 months but I had to quit taking the meds because I found it hard to work with figures. The drugs made me a happy camper but to the point I didn't care and forget things. I was almost starting to frolic in the yard catching unseen butterflies without a net I don't like feeling like that and decided not to take anything to help quit. I don't know much about Champix, I wait for Chris to post daily comments about it so I learn more
Rooting for ya!!

Originally Posted by lil maggie

Shows to go ya that most meds work different for everyone. I have taken Wellbutrin and it worked great. I quit smoking for 9 months but I had to quit taking the meds because I found it hard to work with figures. The drugs made me a happy camper but to the point I didn't care and forget things. I was almost starting to frolic in the yard catching unseen butterflies without a net

I don't like feeling like that and decided not to take anything to help quit. I don't know much about Champix, I wait for Chris to post daily comments about it so I learn more

Rooting for ya!!

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Thanks for my laugh of the day! Frolicking in the yard!

If you think drugs affect your memory, wait until menopause. I have a larger than average vocabulary but I get totally stumped over the most simple words. I end up looking like a deer in the headlights of a PeterBilt while I try desperately to remember what the word is I'm trying to remember.

Originally Posted by Yosemite

If you think drugs affect your memory, wait until menopause. I have a larger than average vocabulary but I get totally stumped over the most simple words. I end up looking like a deer in the headlights of a PeterBilt while I try desperately to remember what the word is I'm trying to remember.

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And thank you for giving me something to look forward to My anxiety meds already give me short term memory issues LOL.

Anyways...
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Day 4: (for the record, this is mainly for me, and so I can submit the info to the drug company, my pharmacy and my dr. as there's been no studies done on people with existing psychiatric issues)

I ended up taking the 2nd pill at 6:45 ( 11hr after the first one). That was a mistake.
By 7:50 I was in a full blown panic attack. It eased in a normal amount of time. I was going to head to bed, but ended up playing with kitties and went to bed feeling fine at 11...took my pain meds, and sleeping aids.

Here's the part I really don't like:

I woke up at 4:45am or so, because..(WARNING: Too much info for some) I felt like I had lost control of my bladder. While I did not lose complete control, I lost enough to have to change my underwear I felt completely fine aside from that issue.

I ended up staying up till 6, took my morning pills then and went back to bed till 9. Am up now, feel fine, and I took my morning pill at 6.... I have a bit of a headache, but not something I would blame on the meds.

So aside from the issues after I took the 2nd pill, yesterday was a good day.

Now, the incontinence issue has me concerned....but we'll see if it happens again. Truth be told, I have had two children, one of which was 11lbs (normal delivery with forceps)....I'm now in my early 30's and my bladder control is not great to begin with...(ex. the heavy coughing issue....you know what I mean). I did have one accident in my mid-late 20's at nighttime, but I believe it was due to the amount of meds I was on, the types, and they caused me to sleep thru the urge.

I also note that one other person said their husband had issues like this as well. It is definately needing to be reported to the drug company, which I will be filling out the form later today (for myself obviously).

Another concern, and maybe the folks that have been on it can say....Today is my day 5. Day 1-3 I felt less urge to smoke.... Yesterday and even now, I'm feeling stronger urges to smoke. Did that happen to anyone else?

I'm ordering the book by Alen Carr today, so hopefully it will be here by Monday and will help along with the meds.

Originally Posted by Yosemite

Thanks for my laugh of the day! Frolicking in the yard!

If you think drugs affect your memory, wait until menopause. I have a larger than average vocabulary but I get totally stumped over the most simple words. I end up looking like a deer in the headlights of a PeterBilt while I try desperately to remember what the word is I'm trying to remember.

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Too late! My menopause days are well behind me. That's why I didn't opt for drugs to stop smoking this time because I'm always having a brain fart and don't need help

Sorry just a bit off topic

Chris I don't understand being on the drug for 5 days and the smoking urges are stronger. I wonder if your body is starting to tolerate it. When do you start taking a bigger dose?

Originally Posted by lil maggie

Chris I don't understand being on the drug for 5 days and the smoking urges are stronger. I wonder if your body is starting to tolerate it. When do you start taking a bigger dose?

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I don't know.... I wouldn't say they are stronger, just not like the first 1-3 days....BUT, that could be due to other factors...The one day I was nauseous all day, so of course didn't want to smoke.....

Day 4 was my increase, and I have another increase on Sunday.

Day 5:

2 pills today....

no probs during the day, aside from the incident I mentioned previously. I took my second pill later today, at about 9...an hour later I did have some increase in anxiety but not dramatically and not a panic attack.

The nausea is gone
I have not had weird dreams that I know of.
Still a dry mouth, and I do drink alot of water.
Increased appetite/cravings for different foods. (my weight loss has not gone well these past few days)
Sleep issues: I woke up at 3:30am this morning but then I have sleep issues anyways.

Tis my conclusion so far that, with each increase I will possibly have a panic attack. I had 2 the day I started, and 1 with the first increase.....I have one more increase, then that is the dose I will be on for the rest of the 12wks.

Originally Posted by Snake_Lady

I don't know.... I wouldn't say they are stronger, just not like the first 1-3 days....BUT, that could be due to other factors...The one day I was nauseous all day, so of course didn't want to smoke.....

Day 4 was my increase, and I have another increase on Sunday.

Day 5:

2 pills today....

no probs during the day, aside from the incident I mentioned previously. I took my second pill later today, at about 9...an hour later I did have some increase in anxiety but not dramatically and not a panic attack.

The nausea is gone

I have not had weird dreams that I know of.
Still a dry mouth, and I do drink alot of water.
Increased appetite/cravings for different foods. (my weight loss has not gone well these past few days)
Sleep issues: I woke up at 3:30am this morning but then I have sleep issues anyways.

Tis my conclusion so far that, with each increase I will possibly have a panic attack. I had 2 the day I started, and 1 with the first increase.....I have one more increase, then that is the dose I will be on for the rest of the 12wks.

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I asked mom about the issues you had and she didn't have them. Now she did have major back surgery when she was taking it so she couldn't tell what caused the bladder control issues.

Day 6:

no issues at all

I am on day 7 today, and do the final increase tomorrow.

I have NOT had any more incontinence issues, or panic attacks since the increase days.... So I'm trying not to think about it but I'm prepared for tomorrow to be a little yucky because I'm increasing both the am. and pm. doses.

My quit date is one week from today....(I messed up, I thought I said June 10th, dunno why).

Ok, ugggggggg.

Last increase today.... The morning 0.5mg pill changed to a 1mg pill... and the same thing happens with the evening pill.

I can't really describe how I feel... I took the pill 2.5hrs ago, and feel ugggg.

But then there's compounding factors....like weather oriented pain, and I woke up groggy this morning...

I wouldn't say I'm nauseous, but my tummy does not feel 100%. (I did eat with the pill, if I don't, then I do feel nauseous).... my head feels kinda blah, the beginnings of a headache.

Only thing I can say, is definate dry mouth....

Good thing is, I don't feel the need for a smoke. I've had my morning coffee, and taken my pain pills (both activities normally make me need a smoke).

The pyschological part, I want to have a smoke to see if it tastes like crap or does anything for me.... but I certainly do not need a smoke.

So who knows.... I might quit today. I'm going to see how the day goes, no pressure, and just wait and see if there comes a point where I actually need a smoke.

and on that note, i'm grabbing some toast then going to lay down for a bit.

Just sending you a supportive hug my dear!!!!!

21 days from my last cigarette today . I NEED to make this the LAST time I quit... I have quit soooo many times!

Day 8: yesterday

No side effects at all with the first pill increase
Some nausea with the second pill because I didn't eat with it... i took it about a couple hours after eating dinner and figured that would be fine... it wasn't...

I had a total of 3 cigarettes yesterday

The champix really helps

The test will be today (and the rest of the week).... I'm under a bit more stress once the weekend is over because hubby leaves and won't be home till Friday.

Originally Posted by Snake_Lady

Day 8: yesterday

No side effects at all with the first pill increase

Some nausea with the second pill because I didn't eat with it... i took it about a couple hours after eating dinner and figured that would be fine... it wasn't...

I had a total of 3 cigarettes yesterday

The champix really helps

The test will be today (and the rest of the week).... I'm under a bit more stress once the weekend is over because hubby leaves and won't be home till Friday.

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You definitely have to find things to keep you busy even if it is just sleep.
Wait until things start to taste and smell better. No more sore throat, stinky breath or junk in the lungs.