CHAMPIX - AFTER 50 DAYS - WARNING

I'm a 50year old male and basically smoked full time from the age of 13. I was allowed to smoke, so I did!

I started Champix around Jan 12th and have been smoke free for 60 days now.

The first month of the Champix was completed with the common side effects of nausea, vivid dreams and empty headiness.

An added bonus (I guess) WAS the fact I didn't feel like drinking either.

Half way through the second month I really started to feel lousy so I went to see the Dr.

She recommended I drop to one tablet per day to see if things got better.

The reasons being:

My head was NOT in a good place. I felt spaced out and my work was suffering.

I became house bound and did not want to do anything except lay down and vegetate. This went on for a couple of weeks before I saw the Dr. (on the insistence of my sister)

I also experienced BAD muscle pain and was diagnosed with tennis elbow (RSI) in my right arm at the Dr visit.

I also have blurred vision. This comes and goes.

The consequences of the aches and pains and lack of enthusiasm for ANYTHING resulted in:

A total lack of interest in Exercise

Weight gain (from being a couch potato)

Not wanting to socialise. (I am usually a very sociable person and as I work from home, I loved getting out of the house)

My home went from almost always clean and tidy to one that became something a pig might even baulk at entering.

I took the morning dose of the tablet for the next 2 weeks and noticed the change in my mental attitude. I was getting back to normal!

However, the physical side effects such as the muscle aches & pains are still persisting. I'm hoping these will get better REAL SOON.

The Friday just gone, I stopped taking the Champix altogether. I feel I can be in control of the occasional urge to smoke (if it happens).

The bottom line is that the Champix may well be a good start to assist with non smoking but I seriously question the side effects and how subtle the mental effects can be.

If not for the insistence of my sister to visit the Dr, I'm not sure how I'd be at present.

Please take care with the Champix and for goodness sake, if anyone close to you notices changes in your personality or demeanor, please listen to them and see your doctor.