Does Chantix (Varenicline) the stop smoking drug really work?

Absolutely. I smoked a pack a day for 23 years. I tried cold turkey, the patch, and Chantix. It has worked for me. I'm on it right now. You pick a date and you can smoke for one week.

It blocks the nicotine receptors rather than putting nicotine in your system. In fact, I found the patch made me have nightmares because you don't smoke when you're sleeping! I

recommend that you try it out. Make sure you eat food first. I tried it and thought I was ok after three months but I failed because I stopped it too early. This time, I've decided to stay on it for a year even if I've quit. I do find that it helps cravings and you only have to work on the actual "habit" of triggers (i.e. coffee, drinking alcohol which I quit prior to stopping smoking. The helps with your success. Even if you feel like you don't need it after a few months, continue because you can get drawn back in too easy.

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As for the costs, I live in Manhattan where cigarettes are $11-12, so the cost of Chantix out weighs the cost of ciggies Insurance doesn't cover it for now so it's going to hit your wallet. Commit to it though and bite the bullet.

The only side effect for me is that you can be iratetated (sic) but you're going to be that way if you try to quit smoking via any method. Read side effects online or wherever.

Sorry for the long post but I have experience with it and I'm very pleased with the results. I've quit! That's the most important thing :)

ps - I'm into 6 months and no longer even want to smoke. Only when I drink coffee but I can skip that for now and have green tea with caffeine.

GOOD LUCK!

I am definitely not the best person to answer your question from a medical standpoint. I remember how extremely worried I was about the side-effects of taking Chantix. I was recently diagnosed with asthma and the onset of COPD (both of which I am sure smoking has been the major contributor). Today is my 4th week on Chantix and although prior to Thursday, I continued to smoke. I was smoking approximately 5-6 cigarettes the first and second week, and went down to 2-3, then 1 but have not had a cigarette since Wednesday (Oct. 20). Chantix took the cravings away pretty quickly because even thought I was smoking, I really wasn't wanting a cigarette - the smoking was due to habit. I read where a lot of people suffered with the side effects but I was really blessed because the side effects I suffered were pretty mild. The first and probably half of the second week, I felt a little light-headed and could not focus as I normally do.

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But this is the same side effect I went throught the times I tried to quit cold-turkey. Also, a little gas and I began to eat a little more. I remedied the gas problem with an over-the-counter medication and I joined a gym for the weight issue, which I've needed to do anyway (and can afford now). But those are the side effects I encountered - everybody is different). I believe it is worth a try. I tried to quit smoking many, many times over the years with many different products. This is the first medication that has made it easier without the insanity of trying to quit I experienced with other products or trying to quit cold-turkey. I believe I am out of the woods now with the smoking although I cannot deny that I still think about it - I am just not acting on it. I hope this was of some help to you. I am not a medical profession by any means but I know quitting smoking can't hurt and probably would be beneficial with your heart problems. Best of luck to you.

I am on chantix for 25 days now, the fist 8 days I continued smoking regularly but started to feel that I am smoking it just because anyway I am going to quit soon, not because I really wanted it. Day 9 was for me to stop completely, what helped me though is that my husband and I went on a vacation for 10 days, which helped me change the routines associated with smoking. However, the first 3 days were hell to me, I kept craving every 2 or 3 minutes. I felt down, I would cry for whatever I might not like, I couldn't tolerate my husband, especially that he was the one who would stand in my way to have even one puff. The 4th day started to getting less irriated, the 5th even better, the 7th much better... but God.. I do miss it. The 8th I sneaked and smoked one cigarette, which to my surprise didn't taste the same.. but wasn't bad anyway! the 9th and 10th went fine and started to forget about it and enjoy my time. Now time to go back home, I thought I am stronger now.

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The minute I got home, the cravings got back to me very strongly since everything here is associated with a cigarette. The torture continued 3 days after which I started cooling down. Today is Saturday, 15 days now, I still think of it, but cravings faded drastically since monday.

I have never ever thought I would be ever able to quit cold turkey. I quit before for 6 months on Nicotine Patchs, I wasn't tortured as much because Nicotine was still getting into my system, but couldn't completely stop before 3 months. I was still having 1-2/day, than gradually to 2-3/week, than to 1 every once in a while until I was completely out of it.

why I got back to smoking? because I thought if I could do it once, I can do it anytime, it took me 7 years to be able to stop again, although I tried many times with patchs again, but no longer worked with me, until I got chantix. Yes with Chantix sometimes I am being tortured, but I am being able to do my part too, which is resisting cravings. And I know now at least that quitting is not an easy job, and I know now that am not going to live that again..

Long story, but it might help those who would think that quitting smoking is impossible.