1. I live in CT and my insurance Anthem paid for my Chantix - I did have to pay the highest tier copay $30. I have had no noticable side-effects (and i'm usually always the one to get them). I always eat something when I take the pills and i've been fine. Tomorrow will be day 6 taking the pills. I am still smoking however, I do think that they are starting to work. I feel as though I am not getting that relaxed feeling when I usually smoke - almost like I'm smoking a fake cigg. I have been putting my cigg out after just a few puffs but been smoking more often to try and get the same sensation. Hopefully as the dose gets higher I will not want to smoke at all. I will update if I notice any changes.

Posted at 11:04PM on Aug 29th 2006 by LISA MESSIER

2. yes i'am very interested in your program. but i cannot afford it. my insurance will not pay for it and i have alot of medicine i take now. i high high blood pressure, 35% blockage and spasam in my right cornary artery that they are watching, asthna, and now blood sugar problems. medicine i take is hydrochorothiazide-toprol-altace-xanax-advair-albuterol-nitroquick-allegra-vit.e-81mg asprin-fish oil-potassium. i'm divorce and i live with my daughter because i cannot afford an apartment on my own. i bring home $300.00 wk from work but i have alot of bills from my divorce. if you could send a discount coupon or free sample i would love to try your new product. thank you very much for your time.

Posted at 11:24AM on Aug 17th 2006 by anna m. morber

3. After many years of smoking,trying to quit,with some little or no sucess,my lungs are tired.I saw my doctor and asked about chantix,he gave me a free sample at his office which was the first months supply,than gave me a 3 month prescription,which I know I can't afford being on a limited income.
Anyway,The first 5 days on the pill,I smoked like there was no tomorrow,on day 6 I told myself that I would not smoke and didn't.It seemed to take the edge off my craving....I did find I was a little bit sick to my stomach.
I am now on my 2nd week,still not smoking,I feel good,but blue pills affect my stomach even more,regardless it is so worth it to me,as the cigarettes were killing me.I would strongly recommend any one to try this new drug,
Good luck to all and thanks for listening to me. Terry

Posted at 11:18PM on Aug 17th 2006 by Terry Griewahn

4. OK here it is ... my mom died of smoking, my step mom died of smoking and my grandma did and my sister who's only 45 is soon to be dead and i cant stop coughing up phlem please pick me i cant afford to not get help so i am begging for my life

Posted at 3:09PM on Aug 18th 2006 by Irene Marra

5. I statrted taking Chantix on July 23 and was told by a surgeon I needed to stop smoking on July 24th so I could have surgery on my lung on July 31st. I took the Chantix through July 30th , but have not taken any since my surgery. The spot on my lung was not cancer and think that was enough of a scare to stop me from smoking, although I still get the urge at times. Since I took the first eight days of Chantix, I am not sure whether to start with the ninth day of Chantix, or if I should start at a lower dosage and work my way up to the two pills a day or just resume where I left off on July 30th

Posted at 3:24PM on Aug 18th 2006 by Carol Shepard

6. I've written a rather critical review of Pfizer's five varenicline / Chantix studies that examines the intensity and support of study protocols, participant exclusions (including those with "a history of cancer"), what should have been rather obvious blinding concerns, and reviewed honesty in marketing. The article is public domain and available at http://whyquit.com/pr/082506.html

A hopeful positive over nicotine replacement therapy is that we have not yet seen any evidence that varenicline negatively impacts the effectiveness of chemotherapy or accelerates tumor growth rates, as recent studies have shown with nicotine.

John R. Polito
Nicotine Cessation Educator
john@whyquit.com

Posted at 5:50PM on Aug 29th 2006 by John R. Polito

7. Chantix absolutely works! I never thought that I could quit smoking but I did it! After taking the pill for 7 days, it did not allow my body to enjoy smoking anymore. After that, it is all in your head... Once you have beat the physical addiction of the nicotine, you have to overcome the habbit. I found keeping a plastic straw in my mouth for a few days did the trick. Good Luck & Don't Give Up!

Posted at 7:51PM on Aug 30th 2006 by LISA

8. Chantix absolutely works! I never thought that I could quit smoking but I did it! After taking the pill for 7 days, it did not allow my body to enjoy smoking anymore. After that, it is all in your head... Once you have beat the physical addiction of the nicotine, you have to overcome the habbit. I found keeping a plastic straw in my mouth for a few days did the trick. Good Luck & Don't Give Up!

Posted at 7:52PM on Aug 30th 2006 by lisa

9. I just found out that I have COPD with lungs of a 68 year old man. I am 37 years old and function on only 32% lung capacity. I have two girls with Epilepsy and I take care of my dying mother who is only 60 years old. I am to young to die. I just put my perscription in at my local Winn Dixie and I was told my insurance does not cover it. Now what do I do. I can't afford $103.00. If I don't stop smoking, then I will be on oxygen.

Posted at 7:41PM on Sep 6th 2006 by April Ellis

10. I have been trying to get a prescription for Chantix and so far none of the pharmacies carry it, how are all of you getting it. I live in Minnesota and you would think they would be a first for carrying it. Any info would be appreciated.

Posted at 9:31PM on Sep 10th 2006 by LeNA SWANSON

11. I too have thought about asking my Dr. about Chantix. I know that Chantix is a new drug, but I am very bothered by the fact that everyone is talking about the high cost. Just what is the cost of this product? Are any special offers available? Why is it not covered by all Insurance Plans? Are there places that offer cheaper prices?

Posted at 11:20PM on Sep 10th 2006 by Helen Hassebroek

12. After 30 years of smoking I am now into my "8th week" on chantix, I've smoked a total of 1 pack since starting the prescription, the urges are still there to smoke so you must have will power as they are habit urges and will pass within about 5 minutes. The medication will make you sick to your stomach if not taken with food and plenty of water.

I think a person REALLY wants to quit for this to work because it does take a lot from the person taking it to resist the urge to smoke. Not sure if depression is a side effect or not but as I continue to take this medication each week (for the past 3 weeks)I find myself becoming more and more depressed, I have never had depression as part of my past and this is becoming concerning enough to make an apt with Dr to find out what he thinks. I'm wondering if chantix is grabbing the wrong part of my brain..... LOL

Anyway the medication runs between $100-110.00 for a 4 week supply, most insurances don't cover it, if your pharmacy doesn't carry it they can order it just ask, I had to get mine to order for me.

Personally I feel it is not something you can take for just one month and have real success I think it will definately be a 12 week (3month) program if not longer, as here I am 8 weeks into it and still struggling daily with the urges.

Good Luck

Posted at 10:53AM on Sep 14th 2006 by Judy

13. I am distressed that there are no coupons for this. My husband filled his presciption and we shared that, to the tune of $124.00 and now have to fill mine. It dies take the fun out of the cigarette. It takes away the "high." We both have emphesema and must quit. Wish us luck.

Posted at 9:20AM on Sep 17th 2006 by Karen Murray

14. Well, for those of you who say you can't afford the medication, how do you afford to smoke cigarettes? A pack of cigarettes run anywhere between $2.25 - $3.90 a pack according to where you live. Wow, now how much is a 3 month supply of Chantix? Anyone who knows how to do math can figure up that cigarettes cost much more. In 1 month I spend $100.00 + (4 cartons of cigarettes smoking 1 - 1/2 packs a day), 1 month of Chantix is right at $100.00. So how does folks complain of the high cost to quit, when the cost to smoke is just as high or higher? If you want to quit and you need help then pay the price and quit or keep smoking and die! I have been struggling to quit smoking for 3 days and just picked them back up and started again, but now am going to throw away the ones I have left and quit for good Cold Turkey because I am sick of feeling sick of the patches, gum, and now after reading about the side effects of Chantix! If you all want to quit just like myself... Then just quit! My dad smoked Pall Malls for over 45 years at a rate of 2 - 3 packs a day. He quit cold turkey and if he can do it I know that I can! Good Luck to all of you!

Posted at 10:18AM on Sep 18th 2006 by feathan

15. Regarding Post #14

I aplaud your dad for quitting cold turkey after 45 years, and I really wish you success as you try. Your comment of " Then just quit" is so much easier to say than do. I don't know how long you have smoked some have an easier time quitting than others, My doctor says she has had patients who have quit crack easier than quitting smoking.

As for the cost... it is high, not everyone smokes name brands at $2.+ per pack and not everyone smokes 1.5 packs a day, my cigarette habbit was costing me $18.00 per week or $72.00 per month, so the $110.00 it cost me for the chantix cost me an additional $35.00, not to count the first week you can continue smoking so add another $18.00 to that, then the thoughts everyone has.... is this going to work or am I wasting $100+, to some that is alot of money to spend, especially if a few days into it they can't cope and continue smoking. I came to terms that the additional cost was worth the chance that this would be the one thing for me that would work!!

After 8 weeks I breath 100% better, I feel like I could run a marathon, I walk to the garden without being out of breath, I climb in bed at night and not have a heavy chest from a day full of inhaling toxic fumes. And I can shop longer in wal-mart as my husband can no longer find me by hearing me cough!! :))

Yes there are side affects like I said previously, but I will tolerate 10 minutes of an upset stomach, and yes Dr says depression can be a side effect, and has cut me back to .5mg 2xdaily and ya know the urges at this dose don't seem to me near as bad. So now that I know this is all TEMPORARY I will continue to fight to be a NON SMOKER and continue with Chantix. 8 weeks down..... less than 4 to go!!

Posted at 8:14PM on Sep 18th 2006 by Judy

16. For those of you who cannot afford Chantix I encourage you to click on my name, look in the middle of the page, download Spitzer's free quitting book and read it. Chantix is not a magic cure as only 1 in 5 study participants were able to quit while using it and they each went through 19 individual counseling sessions and received telephone support calls. Very few "real world" Chantix users will enjoy the benefit of 26 provider contacts - probably almost none. In fact it's likely that the vast majority of Chantix's success in clinical studies is attributable to counseling and not the drug.

John

Posted at 5:56PM on Sep 22nd 2006 by John R. Polito

17. I just started on Chantix and I am so excited. This is day 2 and I can hardly wait to see how it is by Monday. First of all folks, YOU HAVE TO WANT TO QUIT FOR IT TO WORK! I am sick of cigarettes ruling my life, am embarrassed all the time, and totally tired of smelling like smoke all the time. My mouth tastes like crap and I really don't even like them anymore. Sooooo, wish me luck and I wish you luck...let's do it!!!

Posted at 7:27AM on Sep 23rd 2006 by LInda

18. As far as John R. Polito goes, why would you try to discourage people for crying out loud. Obviously, you don't smoke, so you don't even know how it is for someone to want to quit and has a very hard time. If this helps then why do that?

Posted at 7:26AM on Sep 23rd 2006 by LInda

19. I totally agree with Linda about Mr. John!! Go to his site and learn what...... cold turkey.... What a miserable, miserable time that is, been there done that it DOES NOT WORK!

Linda I wish you GREAT success, be tough, like you and I have both said in these posts "YOU Have to WANT to QUIT", Chantix is not a cake walk, however, the side effects are short lived, find the power to wait thru them, it does get easier. Working on week #10 now that's how I know! It has been WORTH any bit of discomfort I've gone thru! What a difference in this short period of time.... Amazing, wait till you get there, you'll see what I mean!! GOOD LUCK!!

Posted at 3:29PM on Sep 23rd 2006 by judy

20. "Since a substantial number of patients presenting with lung cancer either smoked in the recent past or continue to do so, it is important to make sure that the patient stops smoking as soon as possible to improve their treatment outcome," says Dr. Carolyn M. Dresler, Head, Tobacco and Cancer Group of the International Agency for Research on Cancer. She added, "the emphasis should be on improvement of treatment outcome and future health improvement."

There are guidelines regarding smoking cessation techniques that have resulted from reviews of the world's literature and are very well accepted throughout the medical and psychological fields. However, "the biggest problem remains in having healthcare providers implement them routinely," Dr. Dresler says, "Most have emphasized the role of the primary healthcare provider in providing smoking cessaton advice to patients, whereas the specialists, such as medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, thoracic surgeons or pulmonary care specialists should be dealing with the health problems resulting from the smoking as the patient faces imminent interventions such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy or surgery."

She makes the point that since ongoing smoking may significantly affect the outcome of subsequent surgery or therapy and negatively impact long-term survival, it is now the specialists' turn to provide the urgent smoking cessation treatment. With the advent of medicare changes under the new Medicare Modernization Act (MMA), the specialists will be reimbursed for providing evaluation and management services, making referrels for diagnostic testing, radiation therapy, surgery and other procedures as necessary, and offer any other support needed to reduce patient morbidity and extend patient survival, I certainly hope they add smoking cessation guidance and support.

www.treatobacco.net

is an evidence-based site containing information in 11 languages on tobacco dependence treatment relative to efficacy, safety, demographics and health effects, health economics, and policy.

www.cdc.gov/tobacco/

is a site to let you know everything you wanted to know about tobacco at the CDC.

www.guideline.gov/summary/summary.aspx?doc_id=2958&nbr=2184

is the National Guideline Clearinghouse web site for smoking cessaton.

Posted at 2:39AM on Sep 24th 2006 by Gregory D. Pawelski