Pro Quitter - First time on Champix with some side effects...

[cassie87]

Hello!

I've quit and started multiple times. I find its best for me to go CT. My last stint was 6 months, which ended up with me falling off the wagon. I feel like I needed more help this time so got a prescription of Champix and am on my 8th day!

I have been now nicotine free for 24 hours, and honestly what a miracle drug. I do not feel like smoking at all! BUT my energy levels are so so low. I also feel sad, not depressed or suicidal (the worst case side effects) but just not really feeling much at all and unable to feel joy. I didn't feel like this in my other quits and was feeling this way before I had my last cigarette yesterday.

Has anyone had similar experiences? Does it go away with time? Would love to hear about your experiences.

Oh and happy Friday folks!

[anaamaral 9 Months Smoke Free]

Hello, Cassie87. First of all, congratulations for not giving up! You'll do it this time

I had Champix when I tried to quit smoking some 4 years ago, and it was absolutely horrible!!! I didn't feel like smoking, BUT I had lucid dreams, terrible, I was feeling extremely sad, I even started to become a bit paranoid and aggressive with people (please don't take me wrong, I wasn't violent, or anything, but it was as if I were someone else, in a way). Sadness evolved into a deep depression, and I stopped with the Champix.

One day I found in The Guardian an article about a very similar experience, attributing it to the fact that the medication acts at the level of the central nervous system...

I never wrote about my experience with Champix here, as so many of us in this blog are using it, but I decided to do it, in reply to your post. Maybe it has these effects on some people only.

I don't smoke for 7 weeks and 4 days and I am using Nicorette chewing gum (4 mg in the first 2 weeks, 2 after that), some 6 or so a day. The cravings are much better now.

This blog HAS HELPED ME IMMENSELY. Do come here, talk to us. I hope all goes well with you!

[cassie87 1 Year Smoke Free in reply to anaamaral]

Thanks Anaamaral - really hope I can make it to 7 weeks too! Glad the NRT is working better for you

[Hidden]

Hi Cassie, Well done on 9 days smoke free. I have stopped several times in the past going CT, gum, patches Vapes but this time I'm using Champix. I started 18 day ago on Champix & have been smoke free for 6 days now. Like you the really strong urge to light up is not there, also like you I do feel low most of the time again not suicidal or depressed, but to a certain extent uninspired with no fun in life. I play music a lot & when I'm playing I'm happy again. I love just playing. So I guess I would try to have a passion in your life. I play everyday so as to distract myself from even thinking about smoking. My long term thoughts are > Temporary lowness whilst taking Champix & stopping smoking, then to stop Champix continue to stop smoking then to get back to my happy go lucky self again without Champix or smoking. I'm pleased I read your post because your feelings seem to match mine. I hope this makes sense to you Cassie. Good luck for the future.

[cassie87 1 Year Smoke Free in reply to Hidden]

Hey Harmonicaman, so happy to find someone later on in their quit (awesome job on the 9 days!) with similar symptoms (in the nicest way). Music is a great way to get lost in the moment. How is your quit going? When do you plan on stopping Champix?

Managed to go for a 5k run yesterday, first time I've had the energy to do exercise in the last week. I think I will try to do 30min of exercise and join a yoga class as a distraction. Tonight will be the end of of my 3rd day. Hopefully the worst will be over with the nicotine withdrawal and I can start tapering off the Champix soonish. Maybe take half a pill instead of a full pill.

[Hidden in reply to cassie87]

Hey Cassie, the quitting thing is going well i think, however, i get times when it really is hard still. I would like to run & exersise but I also have artery desease in my right leg so I get claudication pain with exercise. So that's why I play & perform music rather than exersise. I feel it's good for you though. Well done on 5 k run. Good work. I planned to do 3 months on champix. But now you say that. Maybe I may try cutting back as you say. (Good idea). If the urge to smoke again then probably up the dose again. Good thinking Cassie. I will keep you informed of my progress & see how we get on. At this moment I feel I still need them though. Good luck . Bye for now. 😎

[RoisinO1 Administrator 3 Years Smoke Free in reply to Hidden]

Welcome to our community Hidden , huge congratulations on 1 week smoke free today, well done! Music has also been a huge impact in my quit journey and got me through many a low in my journey - will be 3 years for me cold turkey in September.

Keep up that great positive mindset you have and the music playing, do you just play the harmonica?

[Hidden in reply to RoisinO1]

Hi Roisin, Thank you for the welcome. In only 1 week of my quitting I must admit the support I have got from this community from Moderator to Admin & Winners has truly aided my stopping so far. Tell me Roisin in the 3 years September your fight is finally over ??? lol. Congrats on CT & your 3 yrs smoke free. You are defo a winner. . I intend to strongly keep going with my fight against Nico. I will also use my music & various instruments to distract me from smoking. In answer to your question. No harmonicas are not my only instrument I play. however, I have about 34 or so, different Keys, they are my first instrument. The "blues Harp" (harmonica) is a beautiful tool to use, & I love blues music. I play & am still learning all the time, Guitar, Cohon, bodhran (Irish Drum), Sing & play with various other percussion instruments & people to enable a song to roll along. Particularity singing & harmonies with my Guitar playing at this moment in time. Life I find is always a learning process. 1 week in to quitting & sleepness is a particular problem for me so 4 am in the morning picking a Guitar, working out some tunes & melodies really distracts from that darn Nico. ha ha. Anyway I ramble. Thank you for your encouragement & support Roisin. NOPE....

[RoisinO1 Administrator 3 Years Smoke Free in reply to Hidden]

Hey Hidden - 1 month now, hope you are continuing to get on well?

In answer to your question (apologies for the late reply), the fight at almost 3 years is definitely over, yes, I do get an odd feeling/urge that I would love a smoke but can easily shrug them off as I have the mindset now that I can NEVER have just 'the one'. Another thing that keeps me smoke free is the how I really detest the smell of smoke, it makes me feel sick

Music is also such a huge part of my smoke free journey, I don't play anything but love listening to music to lift my mood, into all sorts of genre but grunge and metal would be my favorites

[RoisinO1 Administrator 3 Years Smoke Free]

Welcome to our community cassie87 - congratulations on almost 3 days smoke free, by the end of today the nicotine will be out of your system - the sense of sadness, lack of energy and feeling low is perfectly normal withdrawal symptoms but also side effects from the champix (I stopped cold turkey almost 3 years ago now, but know from several members here, the depression is a common side effect - if it does get worse or not ease off, go back to your doctor for a chat as champix should not be prescribed especially if there is a history of depression).

Below is some pinned posts on common nicotine withdrawal and champix side effects worth a read if not already done so:

healthunlocked.com/nosmokin.....

healthunlocked.com/nosmokin...