champix = depression
Been on them for one month quit for 2 weeks,slipped up today had 2 puffs on a butt i found in my pocket due to stress. Works well for quitting but the depression that comes with it is deadly, no dopamine? i can't enjoy anything(life in general,family & social stuff etc) i feel like the walking dead so emotionless(just negative ones), i sometimes get confused,forgetful,angry so easily and these feelings dont go away easy(tryed exercise to combat but made worse). I just want to warn anyone going to use these try explain to family n friends to be mindful & aware , the side effects have almost broken my family. Also people might say its nicotine withdrawl but only partially as ive given up without champix once before and the cravings didn't cause depression only short mood swings from cravings which i could do something to make me happier but it seems there is no happy ending on champix. Ive been through depression bouts my entire life but nothing as horrid as what its been like on champix im not sure if im the only one whos had these problems. JUST BEWARE PLEASE im in a horrible place right now but im stubborn and will probably continue to take them to quit as its my 3rd time attempting with champix and i wont let anything stop me quitting this time as its torture! but i may lose my partner as a result but she hasn't exactly helped with quitting not once has she ever said "its just withdrawl you'll be ok" etc anything supportive which you really do need sometimes!...
Hi Nev
Sorry to hear you're having such a tough time on the Champix. I have been taking them for 5 weeks now and have been quit for 4. I did a bit of research on these tablets before taking them as I had tried Zyban before and they messed with my head. From what I read, anyone with depressive bouts should use these tablets with caution if at all. I have found they work well for me apart from sleep disturbance EVERY night. My partner has never smoked and don't give me much support either, I guess they don't understand how we feel about smoking and also not smoking and the emotions that come with the habit. I feel quite alone with my endeavours to quit!! Even the people I work with say nothing, like I said people don't understand. I ask you, is it really worth taking Champix if they make you feel that bad and are disrupting your relationship. Good luck
Nev, it seems like you are determined enough not to bother with the Champix, which is just anothet crutch. Giving up is easy, it's getting over the fear of escaping (we're not giving anything up) that is the hard part.
Knowledge is power. There's a great site whyquit.com which has alot of useful information, especially under the heading nicotine addiction 101. All the best with your quit
Hi Nev. Sorry to hear of your experience with Champix. You described me on a previous attempt. I stopped the Champix after speaking with my doctor. I also started to smoke again. After a fortnight I bought nicotine lozenges and started again. I'm now 272 days smoke free. Do speak with your GP as it is really worth it. Another technique may work for you as it did for me. This site is amazing. It really does help you through the bad times as we all know exactly how you feel.
Hi Nev, I thought I should add my experience as a partner to someone who has taken champix for 4-5 months to Quit smoking.. My experience watching my partner getting more and more depressed and feeling exactly the same as yourself on Champix. I would recommend NO ONE take Champix after reading an article in the Couirer Mail from this week linking a Son's suicide to Champix and the other possible 58 related suicides in Australia from 2008 -2014 with links to Champix (Article "Inquest to probe Smoking drug Link"p13 courier mail Monday 3rd Oct 2016).
My partner is one of the most passive loving people I know and he has become the very opposite to that, in the past few months. it's been very disturbing to watch the transformation..
He now has stopped taking Champix early last week although the first signs of his improvement have been slow, I am starting to see little signs of the old him.
I was lucky to have a friend who's husband had the same experience on Champix and they nearly got divorced after 20 years of marriage but she did advise that it took him another 3 months off Champix to fully recover from the negative and suicidal thoughts. So hang in there to anyone taking that drug and allow for 3 months to recover. apparently her husband was only on it for 3 months.
After now speaking to a few others with exactly the same experience as Nev and my partner, It really scare me to think that doctors keep prescribing this drug without follow up as to how their patients might be going..
I hope this post can help others as it was the first site that came up under Champix and depression....