Stop Smoking Help Blog

Werner Michael answers:

I took Chantix for about 3 months (October 06-December 06). It worked great for me. Main side effects I had included upset stomach (during week 1 when I took the medicine and when I smoked and only for about 30 minutes after taking the medicine in all the other weeks), problems sleeping (week 1) and really weird, vivid dreams (entire time). Other than that, it worked great. I had no withdrawal symptoms from taking the medicine.

I highly recommend it. If you decide to take it find out if your insurance will cover it. If not, call around to various pharmacies and price shop. My insurance covered it so I just got it at the local Walgreens but one person I know said it was cheaper at Costco (no membership required to use their pharmacy).

I haven’t smoked since October. Good luck quitting!

Werner Michael answers:

I quit 5 weeks ago on chantix. Go to www.chantix.com for the official website. Yes, you continue to smoke while taking this med. You set a quit date, but I quit early. It is a miracle drug, as far as I am concerned. I’ve tried all other stop smoking aids and this is 100 times easier and better.

Most people only experience nausea as a side effect. That’s all I got, and all the people I know either experienced nothing or nausea. It was mild and totally worth it!

Good Luck!

It costs about $100-120 per month if paying cash, but most insurances cover it. Cheaper than cigs! You WILL quit. It blocks the reuptake of nicotine to your brain and fools it into believing it is satisfied. So, even if you smoke, you derive no pleasure from it. It also gives me vivid dreams, but I don’t consider that a side effect because they are awesome.

Here’s the link:

Werner Michael answers:

When I don’t smoke for a long time I start to get indigestion. Nicotine is a bit strange in that it causes temporary paralazyis of the tissues around which absorbtion occurs. Some people see a sudden increase in apetite upon stopping oral nicotine sources, and some, such as myself, get severe indegestion. The best cure for my indigestion was continuously eating things, thereby keeping the stomache from fully contracting (having something to contract on to and mix). Understanding that many people either can’t stand to eat that much, or don’t have a lifestyle to support it either due to time consideration or weight control, low calorie snacks can be good such as celery (also high in fiber), rice cakes, popcorn (non buttered), etc can help considerably. Over time, the stomache pain will go away ad his body gets used to not having nicotine. Prilosec should be nonreactive with Chantix, however to be sure I would ask a doctor or pharmisist.

Werner Michael answers:

So far, the patients I have prescribed Chantix for have reported some good results, with only a select few reporting uncomfortable side effects. (For those people, however, they are currently experiencing other pre-existing conditions for which smoking is their way of dealing with them)

Although the clinical trials showed some pretty hard evidence, the proof for me is in my own patient’s lives. If they can manage to successfully combine behavioural changes along with Chantix, then I’d say it’s a success. The only other thing I’m looking for is when they stop taking Chantix…whether they continue not to smoke. Time will tell, but so far, it’s looking good.

Werner Michael answers:

It didn’t work for my friend. The urge to smoke never went away for him and although he was able to cut way back for a few months, he never completely stopped and now almost a year later he’s back up to his 2 pack a day habit.

Werner Michael answers:

I work as a pharmacy technician/coordinator and right now, chantix is the popular stop smoking pill and as far as I have seen/heard from patient’s, it works wonderfully and is very effective.

Werner Michael answers:

They reduce cravings for and decrease the pleasurable effects of cigarettes and other tobacco products. They block the receptors in your body that are targeted by nicotine to result in pleasurable effects. So essentially you smoke and there is no physical pleasurable benefit.