Varenicline and Tiredness: What Users Say

• Moj...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 31, 2019

For Smoking Cessation "I began taking Champix a couple of months ago. The side effects are pretty grim. I felt nauseous most days, struggled to concentrate at work, exhausted by 7 pm, then experienced some very vivid & bizarre nightmares. I persevered with it though because I was determined to stop this time and knew people who'd successfully stopped using it. I stopped smoking on day 10 (after vomiting with my last cigarette) and haven't smoked since. I honestly can't believe how effective it's been. I spoke to my doctor about stopping it early because I was sure I no longer needed them, he said it was entirely up to myself and everyone was different. I took my last tablet on day 35. I have now been smoke-free for around 8 weeks and feel great for it. I just wish I'd done this years ago instead of wasting time and money on patches/vaping/hypnotherapy(!)/inhalators etc. I have been a heavy smoker of tobacco and weed for 20 years and if I can stop, honestly, anyone can!!"

• Spr...
• August 15, 2019

For Smoking Cessation "I was advised that Champix is a 3-month course to stop smoking, but I could only stand 3 weeks. I felt weak, tired, and nauseous the whole time. I can honestly say that I have never felt close to as bad as Champix made me feel. Before Champix, I was also drinking a bottle of 5% wine most evenings. My tolerance is low, and I was tired of feeling groggy in the morning and the compulsion to drink. Champix turned me off alcohol before cigarettes. Within 10 days, I wasn’t smoking or drinking, and it’s been 3 1/2 years now since I had a cigarette. I can count on one hand the number of times I have drunk alcohol, and it has been a very small amount in celebration of something like New Year. I have pre-existing high blood pressure, but since stopping smoking, my meds have halved. Post-Champix, I lost 3 stone in weight. I no longer worry about not seeing my kids moving through adulthood with all the milestones that brings. Champix saved my health, my bank balance, and most importantly, my future with my kids. I cannot recommend this medication highly enough."

• Dee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 11, 2014

For Smoking Cessation "I love Chantix! It's amazing. The only side effects I had were a little nausea and some gas, but only if I didn't eat something or drink water with it. Very mild tiredness, nothing that a coffee or coke couldn't resolve quickly. Also, I experienced very vivid and wild dreams, almost realistic, but to be honest, I really enjoyed them. I have no desire to smoke whatsoever. It's the strangest and coolest thing in the world."

• Wan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 20, 2018

For Smoking Cessation "I will be starting my 3rd month of Chantix in a few days. I’ve smoked a pack a day for 35 years. I’ve been diagnosed with stage 2 COPD. I’m down now to 5-6 cigarettes a day. I will smoke my very last cigarette tonight. However, the side effects as far as nausea have been very hard to tolerate. But I’ve learned from my doctor that I can take Zantac, and it works really well with the stomach upset. My dreams can be really vivid. I have some depression. I do find myself more tired and irritable, eating more and experiencing weight gain. The medication works, but you have to let it do its job, and you have to work with it. I’m stubborn, and I like smoking. I decided to try Chantix because I first read the reviews in here, and you all were my inspiration. I thank you for that, and I hope my quit date tomorrow, 12/20, is successful so that on Christmas, I may have the first few days of the rest of my life smoke-free to report to my kids. Thanks for listening, and thanks for your help."

• Yay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 1, 2019

For Smoking Cessation "I have been a serial quitter for years. I have tried with NRT, praying, rehab, you name it. I’m on week 3 of Champix, yesterday was my quit day. The first 2 weeks, I had experienced hot sweats after each smoke, which made me put the smoke down. I naturally cut back to a few of only half a smoke straight away, and quit day was real easy. Today, I didn’t think about it at all. A little tired and lazy during the day, but “so what,” I’m just letting my body heal. Sleeping well, dreaming a lot, but I love that side effect! I’m feeling like “I’ve won the battle!” The only reason I never tried it earlier is because people were giving me bad input, like “you’ll get mental health problems, etc.” but it’s done the opposite. I can’t thank you enough. This has saved my life and my financial troubles in one swoop. No side effects at all today. Loving it!"

• Geo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 16, 2019

For Smoking Cessation "Absolutely brilliant. I’m now on week 12 without a cigarette. I stopped taking Champix after week 3. Dreams a bit weird, felt a little bit sick in the first 2 weeks, so tired, but all worth it. Will never smoke again. I highly recommend Champix, it works."

• Kee...
• April 22, 2014

For Smoking Cessation "I smoked for 28 years and I have a very addictive personality. I thought I'd never be able to quit smoking. It took me longer than what is suggested in the info pack for Champix, but now I am smoke-free! It is truly a miracle. I have suffered with many of the side effects ranging from vivid dreams, nausea, increased frequency of migraine headaches, acne, eczema, dry skin, tiredness, increased anxiety, and significant weight gain. However, everything that I've had to go through as far as side effects have been worth it to say I'm smoke-free and I know it will improve as I go back off of the medication. Good luck to anyone reading this who is still trying to quit. You can do it!!"

• Fun...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 26, 2019

For Smoking Cessation "Chantix really works for sure. After using this for about 3 weeks - going on a month now, I have no cravings at all. I have been around smokers since I started Chantix, but the urge to smoke is no longer there. I tried to smoke in my second week on Chantix, and every time I put a cigarette in my mouth, I would gag and feel like throwing up. The only thing I hate about Chantix is it makes you really, really tired and always sleepy, so I have finished my 1st pack, and I am not taking Chantix anymore. I haven't had the urge to smoke at all. I just can't continue taking it anymore, mostly because of being tired and the dreams that I experienced while on Chantix. Otherwise, I'm glad I quit, and I feel so good physically and emotionally."

• Chu...
• September 7, 2019

For Smoking Cessation "I started Champix just over 8 weeks ago (been on them before but ended up back smoking as I stopped taking them too early!) I smoked 20 a day for 10+ years. By day 8, I had no craving at all and haven’t smoked since. These tablets really do work, but obviously do come with certain side effects?! I have found it’s an absolute definite to take them just after eating (at least 2 pieces of toast or so for AM and a proper meal for PM.) The nausea is horrific if you take them on an empty stomach, as I found on my first attempt with Champix. I have also been suffering with really bizarre nightmares/dreams? Quite cranky and easily irritated - suppose it’s expected though? This time around, I have struggled getting out of bed in the morning, but I don't struggle going to sleep - if anything, I could sleep longer (normally have a good 8-9 hours a night??) Feel a bit flat some days and no motivation or energy. Definitely think they are worth a go though - Good luck!!!!"

• Reg...
• August 26, 2019

For Smoking Cessation "Guys, I was on this forum a few days back when I was desperate for answers. I loved reading everyone's varied stories about Champix and their experiences. I will try to make this as short as possible. I quit smoking 30 cigs a day 5/6 years ago but felt comfortable staying on the nicotine gum 2mg as a substitute. The thing is, I was going through 500+ a month. Ok, so I'm now taking Champix to get off the nicotine gum. Trust me, the first few days I felt anxious as anything and was chewing on the nicotine gum like a cow chewing the cud. I went through them even more quickly in a week than usual. Vivid dreams and nausea on and off. By day 7, my stomach was bloated like a balloon. Day 8, I was now on 1mg in the morning and 1mg in the evening, feeling ok. Day 9, sweet Lord, the tiredness. I felt so flat. I went to the doctor for a review, he said it would pass, and it did. I've now finished day 13 and feeling almost back to myself. Every now and then, I chew regular sugar-free gum because that in itself was another habit."

• Sun...
• July 12, 2019

For Smoking Cessation "It works, it really works... but I have felt absolutely horrific, but probably not as horrific as I would if I continued smoking... As a scientist, I knew the side effects could be bad, given that the medicine involves chemical neurotransmitters which some people, like myself-admittedly a sensitive soul-don't like very much. But it is worth it to me. It works; I woke up one morning and just didn't want to smoke anymore, the joy was removed. I felt great and empowered until the medicine built up in my system, then I began to feel dizzy, nauseous, would vomit if I took it on an empty stomach, and completely exhausted. But then the side effects of nicotine withdrawal in itself left me feeling a bit down in the dumps. I had another health issue simultaneously which made me feel a bit downer in the dumps, and Champix on top of that-I was a bit of a zombie. I don't advise buying from an online doctor, as this medicine really needs close monitoring; it is very strong."

• DFi...
• September 8, 2015

For Smoking Cessation "I started smoking at the age of 14. I'm now 28. I'm tired of feeling tired all the time and needing so much caffeine my chest hurts a lot. I started Chantix five days ago, and besides vivid dreams and feeling a little tired, it's been going really well. My quit date is Monday, September 14, 2015. My urge to smoke is becoming less and less, and I can't wait to get rid of this stupid, pointless habit! Good luck to everyone trying to quit! Remember why you're doing it!"

• Kjh...
• November 17, 2019

For Smoking Cessation "I am currently on Cymbalta and was told it would not affect Champix. Day 1-3, I was very nauseous with a headache. Day 4, I was angry. Day 5 and 6, I was 'lost,' tired, and emotionally absent. Day 7 to 12, I went from emotionally absent to holding back tears daily. SEVERE sadness. Day 14, I was trying to fall asleep and heard someone say, 'Jesus. She is asleep. ZAP!' I live alone. Later that night, I had a complete mental breakdown. What I needed to do with my animals and if I should pack everything so no one would have to, all while crying hysterically. I was told by numerous people that I do not need to take this medication due to prior mental health issues. I told them, 'A few weeks of crazy is worth me not smoking.' After all, I have had issues for the past 30 years. I just KNEW I had been through and felt it all. I was wrong! If you have prior mental health issues, DO NOT TAKE IT!!!!! It elevates every issue by 100%."

• Ker...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 11, 2015

For Smoking Cessation "I started Champix on 27th March 2015 by my GP's stop smoking clinic and was advised to keep smoking, with a stop date of 13th April 2015. I wasn't really given any advice about the medicine, other than it may cause bad/vivid dreams. I came home and did some research myself. Days 1, 2, 3 were just fine - no changes at all. Day 4 I started to not enjoy my smokes so much. Days 7-10 I felt exhausted, headachey, tearful, moody, having horrendously black dreams involving murder and my husband cheating - this led to paranoia that he really was cheating. I stopped them two days ago and still feel very low in mood, withdrawn, tearful, and so tired. Please be very aware of the side effects and ask close ones to monitor your moods."

• Bum...
• July 4, 2014

For Smoking Cessation "Smoked 25 a day for 28 years and lost count of the number of times I've tried to quit and failed. Now I've been smoke-free for 9 months (feel GREAT)! Life on Champix was VERY tough. Started off with the usual half tablet and things were fine, but within a couple of days of being on the full dose, the suffering began. Bloated, constipated, angry, vivid, nasty dreams, no sleep, lethargic, and so, so emotional I burst into tears over nothing. In the end, I cut back to half the usual full dose and eventually stopped taking Champix altogether after 6 weeks. Took some time after this for the symptoms listed above to disappear completely, but eventually they did."

• che...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 29, 2019

For Smoking Cessation "I have been on Champix before and found that it was easy to quit while taking them, but found that 2 weeks or so after ceasing them, I started smoking again. I consulted my doctor about this, and he recommends that I take a second course, which is 6 months instead of the 3-month standard course, so here I am on DAY 8. I experienced nausea each time I had one smoke. DAY 9, I tried having a smoke in the morning and nausea again, so much that I haven't tried having another one yet today, and it's after 10 pm. I haven't struggled with that really, but have to say that I am feeling somewhat depressed. Also, I seem to get tired, but hopeful that I can stick to it and give up for good this time. P.S., I found it a must to take the tablet with a meal or a large snack, otherwise, the nausea was overwhelming."

• rep...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 27, 2014

For Smoking Cessation "This is my 3rd time taking Chantix. The 1st time I took it for 3 months and quit smoking for 3.5 years. I experienced the dreams but no other side effects. The 2nd time I took it for 1 month and quit smoking for 6 months. I still had the dreams but had nausea also. This time I've been on it for 4 weeks, smoke-free for 3 weeks. I'm having the dreams and had nausea for only the 2nd and 3rd week, but in the 2nd week, I started experiencing more side effects. I started feeling tired, lazy, bummed, and in a bit of a depressive state. In the 3rd week, I became paranoid and obsessive with racing thoughts. It's hard to focus, and now in the 4th week, I question if I'm hallucinating or dreaming. No thoughts of suicide. I quit taking it today and hope to stay smoke-free."

• Kiw...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 30, 2019

For Smoking Cessation "Resorted to Champix on day 15. Still smoking but not enjoying, and just had my last cigarette and decided not to carry on taking this medication. Pluses and minuses to these tablets. On the positive side, no cravings and smoking a lot less. Downside effects for me have been very short-tempered, tired, and drowsy all the time, plus times where I've felt sick. I'm not a person who takes a lot of medication. So my overall thoughts on Champix and the reason I've given it stars is that it's a good start for me, and now starting from tomorrow, I am mentally prepared to stop. I was smoking around 12 a day, today down to 3, so I'm now ready to do this cold turkey as I can't deal with side effects, especially at work. Good luck, everyone. Feeling very positive."

• Haz...
• February 20, 2019

For Smoking Cessation "Day 12 on Champix, side effects: stomach cramps and bloating (a few hours after a meal). You can deal with this by having a snack. Tiredness (less than 1 hour a day). To avoid this, drink plenty of water. No more side effects than the two mentioned above, you can deal with them in different ways as you will adjust to the situation with time. On the other hand, after 10 years of smoking, I have been smoke-free for 5 days and have 0 cravings and 0 withdrawal symptoms. Good sleep, highly energized and happy. I highly recommend the drug, it is worth it. Feels like I've never been a smoker in my life."

• Ple...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 23, 2016

For Smoking Cessation "I'm 39 and have been a smoker for 20 years. I'll be 40 in March, and that was always a hard stop for me. I mean, if I didn't quit by 40, when would I ever? Quitting was tough for me. I would be very cranky, lethargic, pissed off, and would nic fit. I always wanted to stop, but in my heart of hearts, never 100%. This time I wanted to quit 100% and be done forever, and man, did Chantix come through. I smoked for 12 days while taking Chantix, and it's not that it made me stop. I noticed the gross cig smell more on my hands and shirts, but that was about it. The HUGE difference for me was that when I did stop, my mood was basically the same. What a miracle! No nic fitting, no more tired, just me feeling great and empowered."

• Gyp...
• May 3, 2014

For Smoking Cessation "I felt like I lost 2 months of my life on Champix. Was lucky to get four hours of sleep (after wacko dreams) a night; depressed, lethargic, bloated, and constipation like you would not believe. NOTHING WORKED - for two months I tried everything, even bio-prep (like you have before bowel surgery) or enemas. I was walking around in an absolute fog. But I have to say, Champix worked, and I have tried everything over my 28 years smoking. I stopped taking the tablets 3 or 4 weeks ago and am fine, no desire to have a cigarette at all. Best of all, it does kill the nicotine monster - I found I was starting to get addicted to the little lozenges (my Happy Pills) when I was on those. Good luck if you are considering taking Champix."

• Har...
• September 21, 2018

For Smoking Cessation "Effective at stopping smoking, went from being a heavy smoker to stopping on day 11 and not felt the urge to smoke. Here comes the but: suffered tiredness and nausea the first couple of weeks, which my GP warned me about in advance. Didn’t really cover the mental health risks, either causing or aggravating existing issues. Within five weeks of taking this drug, I had spiraled out of control with depression and hit a really dark place. Fortunately, my wife noticed all this despite me trying to hide it, and took action. Within 24 hours of stopping, it was like coming up for air when drowning. The drug is very effective at stopping smoking, be very aware of the side effects. Wouldn’t advise taking this tablet if you live on your own or have existing mental health conditions unless you are fully aware of the side effects and have some kind of support mechanism in place. I genuinely think I would have taken my own life if my wife hadn’t forced me to get medical attention."

• lig...
• October 26, 2007

For Smoking Cessation "I am a 20-year, one-pack-a-day smoker. I am on my 3rd day of 0.5 mg of Chantix. I'm concerned about bumping up to the 1.0 mg dose I'm supposed to take tomorrow because I'm already feeling tired, way angry, depressed, disconnected, accompanied by strange thoughts. I am normally a very happy person. I'm 103 lbs. I think this drug should be dosed out according to weight. I can't believe I need the same dose that a 300 lb man would need. I think this is too much for me. I'm nervous about side effects."

• Lou...
• March 7, 2019

For Smoking Cessation "Currently at the end of day 9 and 22.5 hours since the last cigarette. At the end of day 3, got a severe headache that lasted approximately 36 hours. Dreamt a bit more than normal, but nothing much. Dry mouth all the time. On day 1, cigarette had a metallic taste. By day 5, had gone from an average of 15 a day to 4-5. This morning, on the 2nd day of full dosage, woke up with a nauseous/full feeling. No appetite loss, but kind of strange. Also noticed today, my eyes felt extremely tired but not actually tired. Not wanted a cigarette today, but does feel strange not having one. More the habit than need. Very surreal experience. Was dubious as to whether it would actually work, but so far, so good. If you want to quit, you have to give it a go!!!"

• jen...
• October 28, 2014

For Smoking Cessation "I was a little nervous about taking this medication. However, after speaking to 2 of my doctors in 2 different fields, and understanding that there was a 50% chance of getting some of the serious side effects, I decided to try it anyway. My biggest concern was the depression, etc. because I was diagnosed as bipolar quite some years ago, but am very diligent with the taking of my medications for that. When I first started Champix, dizziness, tiredness, and nausea were apparent but wore off after a few days. More tiredness when I got to the higher dosage (1.0 + 1.0), the first 1.0 in the AM. This seemed to last for 4 - 5 days. Day 25 - I am amazed at the lack of withdrawal symptoms!!!!"