I've been a smoker for 16 year and near the end of my smoking life I was a very heavy smoker (40 per day). My chest was very bad and I've now stopped, 4 weeks ago. I've been using champix to help me stop. They have been great but the side effects have been hard going. Ive been reading a few postes on here about champix and just wondering what I should do. I've been feeling so down and not really waiting to do anything. My mind seems like it will not stop over thinking EVERYTHING! It's driving me mad. I feel so worried about everything as well. Just wondering if it's worth me staying on the champix for the full 12 weeks? And dose this all get better? Any info would be great.
Written by
Paulj83
9 Months Smoke Free
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Hi Paulj83, I used Chantix to help me quit, and the first few weeks I just had no energy to do anything. Its hard to say if your side effects are from the meds or just from quitting smoking. In a previous quit of mine I used patches, and went through a depression. If it keeps up maybe a trip to your gp would be the way to go. Everyone can not tolerate the meds, but there are other things you can try. Congratulations on the best decision you have made to quit smoking!!!
Huge welcome to our community Paulj83 , congratulations on 4 weeks smoke free (can you confirm you stop date for your milestone badges, 22 April?? )
I too stopped due to a very bad chest and on the borderline of COPD, done it cold turkey and heading towards 3 years in September. The nicotine withdrawal is the same no matter what way we stop and anxiety is a very common withdrawal. Going by several members here who successfully stopped using champix, depression can be a common side effect (see pinned post below worth a read if not already read) especially if previous experience with depression - to which champix should NOT be prescribed by your doctor - so if this is the case, an urgent trip to them is necessary as soon as possible. It is recommended to take the full course of 12 weeks if it can be tolerated.
Below is another pinned post of common withdrawals - these will pass and you will get stronger and stronger, lots of water, avoid caffeine (most common cause of anxiety when we stop), plenty of fruit and vegetables and bit of exercise daily to clear the head.
Paulj welcome...Congratulations on the decision to quit and use any means to do that...Yes there is horror stories on Champix but all that symptoms you describe is normal quitting symptoms ...That Total "Blah" feeling is your brain trying to rewire itself back to your control after 16 years of nicotine controlling it and made you believe to smoke makes you cope..and we just smoke more and more to cope with the same curveballs life is throwing at us...
Roisin mentioned Herbal supplements..excellent advice ...look for something to help your brain to release Dopamine (The happy chemical) and you will find it easier to cope..
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