Chantix and Irritability: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Kri...
• July 3, 2015

For Smoking Cessation "I took Chantix for 2 weeks. The first couple of days were okay, though I felt a little edgy and short-tempered. By the 6th day, I had a bad case of 'no filter.' I said whatever I was thinking, no matter how rude it happened to be (I work at a Hospice House). It just came out. By the 8th day, I didn't feel like I was ready to quit, but I did feel really grumpy and argumentative. It just didn't work for me."

• Kri...
• July 3, 2015

For Smoking Cessation "I took Chantix for 2 weeks. The first couple of days were okay, though I felt a little edgy and short-tempered. By the 6th day, I had a bad case of 'no filter.' I said whatever I was thinking, no matter how rude it happened to be (I work at a Hospice House). It just came out. By the 8th day, I didn't feel like I was ready to quit, but I did feel really grumpy and argumentative. It just didn't work for me."

• Jes...
• November 19, 2015

For Smoking Cessation "I started my Chantix on Tuesday, which would lead me to only being on this medication for about 3 days. I am usually smoking about a pack/day. Since I started Chantix, I smoke about five cigarettes a day, and I'm only on day 3! My doctor told me that I would most likely continue to smoke for about two weeks while taking this medication. I'm already feeling the difference. The only side effects I've been dealing with are tiredness, nausea from taking it on an empty stomach, and some agitation."

• psp...
• April 22, 2008

For Smoking Cessation "I have been on Chantix for about two weeks now. I tried to quit on patches and did for three months last year. I have smoked for 10 years, 1 pack a day. I go through bad withdrawals. My face gets numb, and I feel lightheaded, and everything gets on my nerves. I have noticed since I have been on Chantix, when I smoke, the withdrawals don't go away. I think I can tell the nicotine is being blocked, and I am still withdrawing. The cigarettes taste bad now, and I am losing my desire to smoke."

• jko...
• September 21, 2007

For Smoking Cessation "I have been on Chantix for 3 weeks now. My first week, everything was fine. Then, on my second week, with the full dosage, I had nausea and loss of appetite. I am on my third week, and I still smoke about 5 cigarettes a day. I know I could just stop now, but I think it is more out of habit than anything else. The nausea has pretty much gone away, but now I am experiencing irritability, depression, lower back pain, and having to get up in the middle of the night to urinate."

• Anonymous
• October 27, 2009

For Smoking Cessation "I am a military member. I smoked when I woke, ate, and slept, and every moment in between. I married a woman who smoked, and our life was scheduled around smoking. We recently decided to attempt pregnancy. Our first step was to quit smoking. The base where I am stationed offered a smoking cessation program with Chantix. They provided every side effect up front and released the medication the first day. We smoked for the first week, the first pack of Chantix. By day four, cigarettes were tasting stale, and cravings were minimal. We were able to quit on day seven. Irritability, increased dreaming, and nausea are our primary side effects. All are worth quitting smoking."

• Anonymous
• February 24, 2010

For Smoking Cessation "Four weeks on Chantix worked. I stopped taking the drug a week ago and still don't have the desire to smoke. I definitely experienced nausea and have had the worst sleep of my life over the last month. I had a hard time falling asleep and an even harder time staying asleep. Another side effect has been weight gain. Over the course of the last 18 years, I've gained 25 pounds, and 15 of that 25 has been in the last 4 weeks! Lastly, I (and those around me) have noticed that I'm extremely irritable and aggressive. In my first couple of days off the meds, I felt depression like I never have and was even more irritable. The weight gain still continues."

• Try...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 13, 2012

For Smoking Cessation "I'm just entering my 3rd week of using Chantix. It has definitely decreased the craving for cigarettes. However, I find myself having to continue to smoke. I don't smoke as much or even smoke much of the cigarette. I do experience great vivid dreams, not nightmares, the nausea, which I have found that wintergreen Life Savers seem to help settle my stomach, and I'm tired a lot, but until reading these other experiences, didn't know it was connected. I am currently taking antidepressant medicines, and my doctor watches my behavior every day, since I work in the clinic, and I'm very aware of my moods. I get irritable at times, but so far no real depression, so hopefully the Celexa I'm on is helping that. I would recommend it to anyone!"

• 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."

• Anonymous
• February 21, 2010

For Smoking Cessation "Although I have tried nearly every quit-smoking method out there, Chantix was the only thing that has actually worked for me. I took it for one month and then decided there was no need to renew the prescription. The biggest negatives for me were increased urination, difficulty falling asleep, waking up during the night, anxiety, irritability, and weight gain of about 6 pounds. The weight gain was very sudden at the start of taking the prescription and was very odd because I am a distance runner and am very conscious of calories in vs. calories out. Now that I've stopped taking the drug, I'm still struggling to get off these last few pounds, but I'm much less irritable, am sleeping better, and still have no desire to smoke. :)"

• Anonymous
• July 7, 2011

For Smoking Cessation "I tried Chantix for a period of 2 months. My cravings for a cigarette eased until I cut down to about 3 per day. The nausea lasted for about 20 minutes after each dose and got better over time. The vivid dreams, constipation, and gas got worse. I understand this medication is not going to work the same for everyone. I believe there is a short window of opportunity when you either quit or you don't. When I was down to 3 per day, I probably should have quit. This medicine began to make me agitated, anxious, and very hard to get along with, to say the least. I still smoke, unfortunately."

• Anonymous
• October 16, 2009

For Smoking Cessation "I am currently on my last week of the first-month starter pack. During the first week, I had dropped from a pack a day to two or three cigarettes a day. I have currently been smoke-free for over a week and a half. I have no desire, and the smell is terrible. The strange dreams cause me to lose a lot of sleep, and the nausea has been very bad, causing me to cut my pills down to half a 1 mg twice a day. My boyfriend is also taking the pills, and after day three, he became very irritable for a while and has now leveled back out. Other than that, he is doing well and has had no other side effects."

• bea...
• March 20, 2011

For Smoking Cessation "I am on day 5 of taking Chantix. On days 2-4, I noticed that I didn't smoke as often or even think about smoking, and when I did, it tasted weird and was not as pleasurable as usual. I have noticed I am feeling irritable and occasional nausea, but those are the only side effects so far. I am following the GET QUIT support online and plan to continue the medication."

• xok...
• July 16, 2011

For Smoking Cessation "I have only taken one pill so far. The first night I experienced insomnia, dry mouth, and all day I couldn't eat. I guess it's acting as an appetite suppressant for me. I also have been extremely irritable. I am 22 years old and have been smoking for 5 years. I am a 1 1/2 pack smoker a day, and just after 1 pill, my smoking cravings are cut in half. Will continue to take."

• 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."

• The...
• June 29, 2011

For Smoking Cessation "I'm a 21-year-old male. I have been smoking since I was 14 and decided to quit smoking several times with no long-term success. I smoked over a pack a day. I'm on day 7 of Chantix and have cut down to probably 2 cigarettes. Although they taste terrible, it's still a habit that I'm trying to break. Let's talk side effects. The nausea is bad if I don't eat. I have some sexual erectile dysfunction, but it seems to be frustrating for me and my girlfriend. My coworkers have noticed an increase in my irritability, as well as theirs. I hope to completely stop smoking within the next couple of days and think that the few side effects I seem to be having are well worth the side effects of a pack/day."

• Biz...
• December 29, 2010

For Smoking Cessation "Chantix was the best thing to happen to me. I smoked for 15 years, a pack a day, and I'm happy to say I quit in my 3rd week and have now been a non-smoker for about 5 months. The only side effects I had were more vivid dreams, which didn't bother me one bit. I also experienced agitation, but nothing severe. The only bad part about taking this medicine is I gained about 25 lbs since I've quit. But I'd rather be overweight than get lung cancer."

• Anonymous
• February 25, 2011

For Smoking Cessation "I have been taking Chantix for nearly 3 weeks. I have almost all of the symptoms mentioned by other users and was really surprised to hear people talk about lower back pain, which I have as well and did not realize it could be from the medicine. While the nausea is subsiding, I too am angry and agitated most of the time. I also am experiencing episodes of severe depression. I suffered a major heart attack last October and was a two-pack-a-day smoker. I was having success using an E-cigarette, but when I had problems with them, I returned to smoking. I am still smoking after with the Chantix but hope I will be able to stop soon."

• lis...
• August 1, 2007

For Smoking Cessation "Been on Chantix one week and am down to 2 cigs a day. Anxiety, irritable."