41. Well, I put out $95.78 for my first month of Chantix. I started with .05 per day, last night I began another .05 to make my total 1 mg per day. I slept well, but am having some wild vivid dreams. I am still smoking, although this is only beginning my 4th day on this medication. Dont' listen to John, I talked to a RN who has smoked for 40 years and she is now smoke free from Chantix's help. Yes, there are some side effects. I have experienced some mild nausea, lightheaded, sleepy, and tired, but feel these will go away with time. When I smoke a cigarette now I get a little nauseated. I don't know if I will go up to the full 2mg, but will see how I do on the 1mg. Please those of you who say you can't afford Chantix, think about it even if it cost an extra $35.00 per month. This is short termed expenses to keep you alive and healthy. I am still trying to quit so all of you pray for me and I will do the same for you too. Good Luck on an Adventure to becoming Smoke FREE! I think we can all counsel each other what do you think?

Posted at 11:48AM on Oct 18th 2006 by feathan

42. My wife and I have both recently quit smoking after 25yrs each. My question is that is why are we angry more. We have started the Chantix program on the 15th of October. The attitude change in the both of us is considerably noticeable. Not the norm of quitting an addiction. we are courious if it is the norm? We love the product it works.

Posted at 1:22AM on Oct 22nd 2006 by Steve

43. 14 WEEKS since starting Chantix, my first attempt @ wk#11 of getting off Chantix was a train wreck..... I did so almost cold turkey as NO WHERE do you find how to get off Chantix. I felt like I had just quit really bad cravings and extremely irritable.

Anyway to come off chantix Dr says for 2 WEEKS cut the full dose that you are taking 2x daily in half, or .5mg 2 times daily. Do this for 2 weeks then cut to .5mg 1 time daily for 2 more weeks. I am on my last week of .5mg once daily, the only time I still have cravings is after meals..... and this has been with me all 14 weeks, I just have to continue working thru the craving that lasts about 10 minutes and then I forget about it or continue eating Jelly Beans after every meal.

OMG... I've found 15lbs of Jelly Belly since starting Chantix!!! LOL

Posted at 10:33PM on Oct 22nd 2006 by Judy

44. 1 month plus without a cigarette. 41 yrs and 2 pks/d. Chantix "God's miracle gift to Carol Jean" pill. I take the cover off the weekly package and carry it around and give it to a smoker that I know. Here at BCBS of Texas, and along with BCBS of OK, NM and IL are all going smoke-free on Nov, 16, 'Great American smoke-out day' (how appropriate). They gave us 6 months warning. You can imagine all the thoughts expressed by the smokers in the smoke room. "Retire", "Get another Job", "move", "patch it during the day and smoke at night". Being a health org. it all made great sense, but pick on the younger or new employees, leave us alone. Well, I must say, being a nurse and understanding how Chantix would work, I was willing, knowing all the "smoking cessation programs" don't work, the patch can be taken off, or smoke with it on (did that for 6 wks). Hypnosis, totally against God. Now smoke free for 30 plus days, on Chantix wk 7. Even found a pack, unopened (stale I am sure)last wk, and didn't even want to go buy a fresh pk. This is truly a miracle. The nausea is getting to me, so will speak with MD about cutting back. The dreams are cracking me up, they are too funny. But forget the insomnia, I am sleeping more then I ever have in the past. And by the way, it does take a cigarette to start your car every morning. I know, because after not smoking for 3 wks, I had to get a new battery.............lol Be bless and buy stock in Chantix.

Posted at 5:04PM on Oct 23rd 2006 by Carol Jean

45. Steve, my husband said this is the first time that I haven't been awful to be around while quiting. I have not had any cravings. I have been smoke free for 8 weeks today. I feel like this is the first time that I will be able to stay a non-smoker. Did not have any problems when I quit taking Chantix after about 4 weeks. It sounds like everyone has a different reaction to Chantix. Hope you and your wife can stick with it. Good luck.

Posted at 9:10AM on Oct 23rd 2006 by kelly

46. LOL @ CAROL JEAN... You are tooo much! Way to go and keep it up, Yes I slept FANTASTIC on Chantix and now that I am almost off of it..... back to tossing and turning all night Good bye 10 hrs of restful sleep. And the dreams, they can be so comical. I especially loved the part about your car, my daughter thought I was nuts when I told her my car won't start without a cigarette. Only advise I have on the nausea is Water....water....water....!

GOOD LUCK.... You can do it!

STEVE- you are probably now on your full dose you should see an improvement, I only had a few days of mild irritability and that was right before I thru the smokes away... day 6-7, after that I have felt pretty darn good. Good Luck

KELLY - ?? You only took Chantix for 4 weeks?? How much and how long had you smoked. Glad to hear it's working after only 4 weeks on the pill!

Posted at 8:22PM on Oct 23rd 2006 by Judy

47. I have been on Chantix since August 7. I am almost through with my 12 week course. I have not had a cigarette since August 14. I really feels good to say that I no longer smoke. The only side effects I have had to this drug had been nausea. When I talked to my doctor about this he told me to cut the blue pills in half and take it 4 times a day instead of 2 times daily. It cut the nausea in half and didn't last but an hour or so after taking the pill. It was never bad enough to stop taking the Chantix. I smoked at least a pack a day for 40 years. I could never go even one day without a cigarette. When I started the Chantix I honestly had no intentions to quit smoking. I just tried it to satisfy my doctor and my husband. I could say "See. That didn't work either!" But I was fooled. The Chantix worked for me. It is just so amazing to me.
My insurance did not pay for this. But I figured it was just a little more than I was spending on cigarettes. And think of the money I'll be saving now that I will no longer be buying cigarettes. So it is well worth it.

Posted at 3:12AM on Oct 24th 2006 by Vicki

48. Judy, I started smoking when I was 15, smoked a pack more or less per day, quit cold turkey when I turned 25 no cigs for 11 years. Started smoking again 7 years ago when I got a divorce was smoking at least a pack and a half a day. I had tried everything, I was addicted to the patch. I would smoke in the morning put it on and take it off on my way home from work and start smoking again. Chantix really worked for me. I also was able to sleep really good on it (and I loved the dreams also, I had wicked dreams on the patch) and now am back to waking up a couple of times a night. Keep up the good work everyone. It is so worth it!!!!

Posted at 8:57AM on Oct 24th 2006 by kelly

49. I am glad to have found this site..I am sure I will come back several times to follow the ups and downs of all of you and soon to be me. I have my prescription sittong on my table, I want to quit, but have failed so many other times that I am afraid to start. Does that make sense? This drug sounds so promising, it is almost too good to be true. I need to be able to breathe, I am really feeling the effects of all these years. I wish us all luck......

Posted at 8:50PM on Oct 25th 2006 by patricia wade

50. Patricia,
That prescription is not gonna do you any good sitting on the table. Go get it filled, girl! What have you got to lose by trying this drug? I failed at every thing I tried too. The patch. The gum. Zyban. Cold turkey. None of them worked for me. The Chantix did. I haven't had a cigarette in 10 weeks 2 days. I haven't wanted a cigarette in that time either. What are you scared of? Failing again? Don't give it another thought. We've all failed at trying to quit. In fact, I thought I would fail when I started taking the Chantix. I didn't think anything would help me. I had a very negative attitude about stopping smoking. But I gave this an honest try. This is the one that worked for me. Maybe it will be for you too.

Posted at 1:46AM on Oct 27th 2006 by Vicki

51. Patricia, listen to Vicki and get started. Ya know the worst thing I found with chantix was the fear of failure, Oh how I wanted it to work and it has!!! not without side effects but it has been worth every little bit of discomfort.

Do it.... we did.... it does work!! YOU CAN DO IT!! Come on Join US!!

Way to GO VICKI GREAT JOB!!! & Good Luck to Everyone!

Posted at 12:04PM on Oct 27th 2006 by Judy

52. Judy,
I am on my last week's supply of Chantix. I like the idea of tapering off. My doctor told me when I got to this point to take a half pill twice daily, which I am doing. I'm doing good on this. But, I think on my last 4 or 5 pills, I'll take just a half pill once daily. I have a really hard time getting off medication. I'm just so excited that I haven't even been tempted to smoke. I would have never believed I could do this. How are you doing on the reduced dosage? I just wished I had found this site earlier. I've been to other sites, but I like this one!!

Posted at 1:33AM on Oct 28th 2006 by Vicki

53. I just started wk 3 today...and today is my 1st day without a cigarette. Its been a tough day but I bought tons of suckers and gum to help me thru this. I have tried to quit soooo many times but gave into the urge; chantix has certainly eased the cravings. I also found myself embarrassed every time I lit a cig and found that out of my friends and family I was the only one left smoking.
This time I am doing it for me and it will work!

Posted at 7:18PM on Oct 30th 2006 by Nik

54. I am working on putting the money together to try Chantix. Although I have good healthcare insurance, it does not cover this drug or any other smoking cessation drugs.

What really irks me about all of this, especially when I hear about people who can't afford the drug, is that I think we should be able to get the drug either cheap or free. Where have all of the dollars in cigarette taxes gone? If one of the purposes of increasing taxes on cigarettes is supposedly to try to encourage/force people to quit, why isn't some of that tax money going into HELPING those who pay the taxes with quitting. Thousands and thousands of my dollars are in that mass of taxes, but none for me to help me quit.

Very aggravating to think they are using that tax money to build roads instead of helping people quit.

I guess that just proves what they say - it's a great cash cow for the government, so they really don't want ANYONE to quit!

When I get going on my Chantix, I will let all of you know how it's going. I have tried several other methods...patches, Wellbutrin, etc., all to no avail. I am more determined this time than ever, and maybe this drug will be the thing that finally helps me stay quit.

Chris

Posted at 8:35PM on Nov 24th 2007 by Chris Suwalski