Chantix and Headaches: What Users Say (Page 2)

• got...
• September 18, 2016

For Smoking Cessation "I'm on day 20. And every day has been a struggle. I have noticed a decrease in smoking. From a pack to half a pack. But I'm so over being sick all the time. Even with food, I feel headaches and nausea. No weird dreams, but I am sleepy all the time. I would like to stay on it because the urge is going away, but I also want my life back. With my physically demanding job, I can't be sick all the time. I don't know what to do :("

• H92...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 29, 2013

For Smoking Cessation "I'm on Day 8 of Chantix. I have smoked for twenty years and tried several other methods without success. My best friend is also taking it at the same time. The dreams are vivid. I'm very tired. I've also had headaches, which are not typical for me. I'm light sensitive and so dizzy that I feel unsafe driving or working at times. However, I've continued to take one pill a day instead of the two. I'm now on 1 mg. I have noticed less cravings. I'm so miserable that I'm gonna stop smoking just so I can quit this medication. Oh, and I forget, depressed. Wish you all luck!"

• Rig...
• April 16, 2016

For Smoking Cessation "So the good, bad, and ugly! The ugly: it gave me a horrible headache the first day. The bad: it gave me nausea one day to the point I couldn't get out of bed. The good: after the 8th day, I stopped smoking. I told myself I would quit April 15th, which I thought was just a dream."

• Sin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 14, 2015

For Smoking Cessation "Quit in a month. Side effects include strange dreams every night and a massive headache. Cut down to 1 pill a day due to a massive headache after 3 weeks. Stop taking the pill and stop smoking on the same day."

• cat...
• September 28, 2007

For Smoking Cessation "I started taking Chantix after smoking for 15 years. I am halfway into week two. I have quit smoking completely, however, the side effects are awful. Headaches, tiredness, irritability, crazy dreams that seem real, sensations throughout my whole body, dry mouth, dizziness, constant feeling of hunger."

• Anonymous
• April 29, 2009

For Smoking Cessation "I took Chantix for 5 weeks about a year ago. I loved it at first; it helped so much with the cravings. I had to stop taking it due to the debilitating headaches it caused. The real problem is the headaches didn't stop when I stopped the Chantix. I'm still seeing a neurologist for daily headaches that present with both migraine and tension symptoms. I'm sure I'm in the minority, but it was most definitely not worth it."

• Lmc...
• November 10, 2014

For Smoking Cessation "Chantix was terrible for me. Made me so nauseous I could not get out of bed. For me, it gave me headaches and made me feel 'hungover' all day long. Also, I could not sleep more than 2 hours a night. Now, it did make me not want to smoke, but I can't be under those conditions all day, every day. So, after 9 days, I'm stopping."

• fib...
• September 28, 2007

For Smoking Cessation "I have been on Chantix for a while now. I only do 1 full pill per day (instead of the 2 per day), but back in July I started getting headaches-continuous, plus absent-minded. I didn't think anything of it until I started investigating here. I've seen several doctors and am now on several medications. Dreams, nausea, urinating in the middle of the night- all okay, constant headache for 2 months-not okay. Desire to smoke is gone. Chantix worked for what I needed."

• Anonymous
• August 1, 2011

For Smoking Cessation "I have been on Chantix now for 2 weeks. I smoked a pack a day for 40 years without ever quitting. I stopped smoking July 26 and have been smoke-free now for 7 days. I'm thrilled that I'm able to stop. It's difficult, but the side effects are worth going through for a while; having an oxygen tank and cancer would be worse. I'm having nausea, weird dreams, depression, little energy, dry mouth, and headaches. Go with the flow; the symptoms will pass eventually. What's good, my hair and clothes don't smell, I have more time on my hands to live life more fully without a monkey on my back that is a killer."

• Sum...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 30, 2019

For Smoking Cessation "Chantix states in its TV advertising that it reduces the urge to smoke. Not the case for me. It certainly reduced the reward of smoking by causing cigarettes to taste foul, with mild to moderate nausea and a mild headache. But it did not reduce the urge. I feel this is false advertising. I was not looking for the smoking version of Antabuse."

• Anonymous
• April 18, 2009

For Smoking Cessation "Chantix. Wow, what can I say but wonderful. This is my 25th day, and I have been smoke-free for 21 days. Before Chantix, I would never have thought I could quit. The only side effects I have experienced: dry mouth, constipation, slight headaches, and nausea. But the nausea is easily taken care of if you take the medication as directed. As soon as I started drinking the full 8 oz. of water, the nausea was just mild for 20 minutes. I've heard many say they stopped taking Chantix because it made them sick. A few weeks of mild side effects is nothing compared to a bad habit we all want to break! I have read much about trying to get Chantix off the market, I feel that would be a BIG mistake. This drug works, and it works quickly."

• Fat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 30, 2012

For Smoking Cessation "I've been smoking a pack a day for 15 years and been trying to quit since my first child was born 10 years ago, but it never happened. I started taking Chantix on August 16, 2012, through a smoke cessation class and continued to smoke until my 9th day, which is August 25, 2012. Ever since, I'm smoke-free for almost over a month now. Chantix gave me a second life. My experience while on Chantix includes headaches in the first week, difficulty concentrating, a little bit of emotional irritability, having vivid dreams, and peeing in the middle of the night, but after the first week, you should be able to cope with the side effects. I highly recommend it, though. I stopped taking it after 50 days; I felt that I no longer needed it. I've been smoke-free ever since."

• Mad...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 1, 2015

For Smoking Cessation "My 11 y/o son requested me to stop smoking. Cold turkey and other alternatives are so hard to do until I asked my PCP for some help. She prescribed me Chantix since my husband's insurance covers it 100%. I took it for a month and finally was able to stop because cravings/urges are gone. The only side effect I've experienced is a severe headache, so my PCP advised me to take 1/2 dosage since I am small and petite, and it works. Smoke-free for 10 months already. Thanks, Chantix!"

• Nic...
• September 21, 2007

For Smoking Cessation "Started taking Chantix after smoking for 22 years... 38 now, and I have been on it for approximately 1 month. Drastically cut down on smoking during the first 7 days and have not had a cigarette or even a drag for the last 2+ weeks. The side effects that I have had are headaches over the left eye (almost like the onset of a migraine), a slight bit of nausea, which was cured from eating a decent meal before I ate, a little tired, extreme irritability, and weird dreams. No more smoking though."

• amb...
• November 6, 2007

For Smoking Cessation "I am on my third week, and I have cut down to approx. 3 to 4 cigs a day. I noticed that I feel tired a lot and feel nausea only when I smoke and a slight headache, but it doesn't last long at all. I've had one nightmare and have had loss of appetite and weight loss. Also, I notice that it intensifies the effects of alcohol."

• Anonymous
• February 29, 2012

For Smoking Cessation "Best thing I've ever done. I'm 47 yrs. old and smoked for 32 yrs. This medicine did exactly what I thought it would. 1st week smoked as usual. 2nd week I started noticing a decrease in the amount of cigarettes I was smoking, and I wasn't even trying. At the end of the 2nd week, I didn't even want one, so I stopped completely on the 14th day, and it's been 1 month exactly without a single cigarette. Some side effects were great dreams, slight headache once in a while, and waking up 2-3 times during the night. Started taking Benadryl at night and slept great. Would I recommend this medicine? YES!"

• Anonymous
• February 25, 2012

For Smoking Cessation "39, been smoking since 13. Day 3 of Chantix, not really watching my cigarette intake, but have noticed I've been smoking the same pack for 3 days. No nausea, have had a headache that comes and goes, and sleeping a lot, like can't hardly stay awake. Dreamed last night I chased a high school teacher that accused me of something I didn't do all over the country, throwing water balloons at her, and woke up laughing my head off."

• col...
• December 20, 2011

For Smoking Cessation "I took this medicine for 3 weeks and I became a completely different person. I got really depressed, very moody, bad headache, vivid dreams, body was achy, nausea, and throwing up. I stopped taking it after my 3rd day of not getting out of bed because I was so depressed and nauseated. I have quit smoking before and the depression and moodiness I felt from this medicine is NOT normal nicotine withdrawal, it is definitely side effects from the medicine. On the medicine, it took me all I had just to do one load of laundry. I am quitting cold turkey now."

• Anonymous
• April 10, 2011

For Smoking Cessation "I am on my third day of taking Chantix. Surprisingly, I already have extreme lack of cravings, however, the side effects of this medicine are bad. I have night terrors which are very graphic and violent. I wake up sweating and at times cried after waking because of the dreams. This has happened every single night so far since taking Chantix. I have nausea, heart palpitations, and headaches. I have also experienced bloating and constipation. I took the medicine today, but I have decided to stop taking it."

• Anonymous
• December 2, 2011

For Smoking Cessation "Chantix is an amazing medicine for smoking cessation. It completely robs you of any pleasant sensations you got from smoking. That said, I have experienced a lot of the side effects, including severe nausea, headaches, extremely vivid but good dreams (when have you ever been able to feel the texture of something in a dream?). I have been using Chantix for 6 weeks, smoke-free for 4. Never going back to cigarettes."

• exc...
• October 21, 2011

For Smoking Cessation "I have been smoking for 20 years now, and a few years ago, I quit cold turkey, but a couple of years ago, I was under a lot of stress and started smoking again. I was only smoking 1 pack a day, and my kids wanted me to quit again, so I asked my doctor, and she put me on Chantix, and I am on Day 5 morning pill. The past few days, I have had real bad headaches and insomnia to the point I can't fall asleep until 4 or 5 in the morning. And I also have noticed that I have been getting agitated with my husband and kids more than I used to."

• Ste...
• February 10, 2015

For Smoking Cessation "Chantix really works! I am 24 years old and have been smoking since I was 14, so 10 years. I tried gum, patch, and cold turkey, nothing worked. Went to my doctor because I knew I needed Chantix. The first week was okay, had a couple of weird and vivid dreams, but nothing I couldn't handle. After the fifth day or so, I was down to like a couple of cigarettes a day (I used to smoke almost a pack a day). I am now in my second week and am officially not smoking at all. I am having some side effects, though. I have bad headaches all throughout the day, my stomach is upset, and I got constipated. It's kind of like the feeling of being hungover. But it is all worth it in the end, I believe. I would rather have a couple of headaches than continue to be a smoker."

• n56...
• November 15, 2011

For Smoking Cessation "Day 8 - sore throat and minor headache. Had quit day planned for day 8 but had some craving and smoked 3 cigarettes. Still very proud of myself and have pushed quit day back a couple of days... still hopeful."

• Pai...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 15, 2012

For Smoking Cessation "I am on day 8. The only side effect I have had as of now is a headache, I have had it for about 5 days now. I smoked about a pack a day before, and I have not had a cigarette today as of yet. I did smoke twice yesterday, though. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!"

• rat...
• August 14, 2011

"I am smoke-free for 14 days. I have headaches, lethargy, nausea, mania, moodiness I cannot wash off! My poor co-workers are paying the price but are proud and understanding. I have smoked for 24 yrs. I am in my 3rd week, and it's worked for me. I have had a few weird dreams and only one terrifying end-of-the-world nightmare, where I woke up crying. Nothing since though. I have actually been sleeping better and a lot more. It's still worth it to me. I recommend it to anyone trying to quit. I also save $110.00 a month. It takes 6 minutes to smoke a cigarette 6x15 to 20 cigarettes a day = 1 1/2 to 2 hours a day of extra time. Get urges, carry coffee stirrers to chew on, that way, the 'hand to mouth' thing is satiated. Sounds silly, but it works!"