Champix - the good and the ugly

So you will see from my story history going back to 2013 that I had a temporarily successful quit experience via Champix. It was a drug that certainly worked to get me out of the smoking treadmill (in fact, it was like a miracle pill) and really I believe it was my own stupidity that got me back into smoking (remember to be on your guard for YEARS after quitting - no puff is OK).

Anyway - the reason I am posting is to discuss a side affect of Champix that is known, but not well understood: aggression and suicidal thoughts. I am a Friday night drinker and often drink pretty hard after work on Fridays. Champix apparently has no serious interactions with alcohol and so I wasn't quick to change my Friday routine. That was a mistake. When I was reading other people's experiences with Champix-linked suicide attempts (either their own or loved ones) it usual occurred when alcohol was around, "dad was having a few wines and the next thing you know we went into his shed and..." etc. My suicide attempt came pretty late in the deal. What I was finding was that I was a MONSTER when I drank - very aggressive and nasty. For example I was a nightmare on Facebook, posting hideous attacks that I would find the next morning and have no recollection of writing. I had no idea who the person was who typed those things. I certainly didn't feel that way in reality. It chipped away at my self esteem. I didn't link it to Champix at the time. I just thought I was becoming a horrible person - maybe I was always horrible. Then I started to slow down the Champix after six months and things got worse. I'd have weird flashbacks that I had kicked in a shop window while drunk, then immediately go to the shop to apologise and pay to find there was no damage and the shop keeper just saying that I was verbally aggressive. I didn't know what was real or not. I was acting like a lunatic. How did I get to this!? I took a bunch of pills and... Anyway, that was a couple of years ago and it was only recently that I was discussing that awful year again and it dawned on me that it was my Champix year and I hadn't behaved like that drunk or sober since. I actually hadn't connected the Champix/ alcohol combo with my aggressive, unrecognisable behavioural shift. But a LOT of people had posted almost identical scenarios - the aggression on alcohol and the suicidal freak outs.

My message is simple: no matter what the drug companies and even your own doctors say about Champix - be DAMN careful around alcohol. In fact, stay away from it while you're on Champix. The drug does certainly work to help you stop smoking, but it's no toy. It is a heavy duty mind bender that is effective on its own but does not play well with other drugs/ drunkenness.

This is not a warning off Champix. Just a reminder to stay aware of your behaviour at all times. Tell your friends about the interaction with alcohol and ask them to speak up if you start to act strange on booze or you are becoming aggressive in any way that's out of the ordinary. And keep off the smokes!