The FDA advises people who are taking Chantix to contact their doctors immediately if they experience any of the following symptoms: Shortness of breath or trouble breathing. New or worsening chest pain.
Does Chantix cause chest pain?
(CBS/AP) A popular smoking-cessation drug may raise the risk of heart trouble, the FDA says. The agency is warning doctors and patients that Chantix (varenicline) has been linked to heart-related chest pain (angina) and heart attack.
What are the most common side effects of Chantix?
COMMON side effects
- constipation.
- difficulty sleeping.
- headache.
- nausea.
- vomiting.
- gas.
- abnormal dreams.
Does Chantix affect your heart?
In addition to its potentially fatal neuropsychiatric symptoms, Chantix has been linked to an increased risk for heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular events. Researchers believe that patients using Chantix are up to 72% more likely to have heart attacks.
Does Chantix cause shortness of breath?
Patients taking Chantix should contact their health care professional if they experience new or worsening symptoms of cardiovascular disease, such as chest pain, shortness of breath, calf pain when walking, or sudden onset of weakness, numbness, or difficulty speaking.
What happens if you continue to smoke while on Chantix?
Chantix mimics a low dose of nicotine, which eases the symptoms that are common when going through withdrawal. It also blocks nicotine from binding to receptors, essentially rendering it ineffective. If a person smokes while taking Chantix, they do not get the normal nicotine boost and smoking actually becomes bland.
Can you stop Chantix abruptly?
In some cases, a short tapering off of the dose over a week or so may be helpful. This is because at the end of treatment, if the medicine is stopped abruptly, in about 3 in 100 people there is an increase in irritability, an urge to smoke, depression and/or sleeping difficulty for a short time.
Does Chantix make you gain weight?
Does Chantix Cause Weight Gain? Unfortunately, many people who quit smoking do gain weight, regardless of the method they use to quit smoking. Weight gain rates are similar for people who quit cold turkey, use Chantix, or use nicotine replacement therapy. The average weight gain is about 10 pounds.
Does Chantix affect your mood?
CHANTIX: Some people have had changes in behavior, hostility, agitation, depressed mood, suicidal thoughts or actions while using CHANTIX to help them quit smoking. Some people had these symptoms when they began taking CHANTIX, and others developed them after several weeks of treatment or after stopping CHANTIX.
What medications should not be taken with Chantix?
Medications known to interact with Chantix (varenicline)
- cimetidine.
- dalfampridine.
- dolutegravir.
- ethanol.
- lamotrigine.
- nicotine.
- ranolazine.
- vandetanib.
What are the long term side effects of Chantix?
There have been reports of depression, mania, psychosis, hallucinations, paranoia, delusions, homicidal ideation, aggression, hostility, anxiety, and panic, as well as suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, and completed suicide in patients attempting to quit smoking while taking CHANTIX [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
What are the side effects of stopping Chantix?
Withdrawal symptoms include: increased appetite, weight gain, trouble sleeping, slower heart rate, feeling anxious or restless, and having the urge to smoke. Smoking cessation may also cause new or worsening mental health problems, such as depression.
Can Chantix cause brain damage?
More dangerous side effects have been reported each year the drug has been available for use. Chantix is associated with and is believed to cause neuropsychiatric injuries characterized by dramatic behavioral changes.
Does Chantix make you not want to drink?
Feb. 15, 2012 — A drug that helps people stop smoking may also cut alcohol cravings, a new study shows. The drug Chantix works by blocking nicotine receptors in the brain. Many people who have taken the drug to quit smoking have reported to their doctors that they were drinking less, too.
Does Chantix make you crazy?
Since then, a small percentage of people who take Chantix have reported neurological side effects, and serious ones: depression, psychosis, erratic behavior, even “feeling like a zombie.” The drug has been linked to more than 500 suicides, 1,800 attempted suicides, and the bizarre death of an American musician.
Has anyone lost weight on Chantix?
For Smoking Cessation: “Took this for 6 months I’m on my 8 month smoke free . I did not have any side effects like so many others claim ,I didn’t use alcohol or any other substance while on Chantix I also lost 50 pounds and this also helped with anxiety.