Quit Smoking Pill... Chantix(Varenicline) or Zyban(bupropion) ?

[Iconx]

Anyone have any experience with taking Chantix(Varenicline) or Zyban(bupropion) to quit smoking?
From what I've read it seems Zyban works better and Chantix is a fairly new drug for it. Varenicline is a partial antagonist of the niACH receptor and Bupropion is an antidepressant that acts as a dopamine reuptake inhibitor, and nicotinic antagonist. Sounds similar in that they dumb/prevent the pleasure of smoking. Seems to me thought that the Bupr. sounds like it would work better since Varen. is only a partial nicotinic antagonist plus Bupr. being an antidepressent helps with the depressive moods associated with quitting.

So the Question: Anyone had experience with both or either or knew someone that has stories about it? Whats prescribed commonly? What side effects and or pros and cons for each did you experience?
Isnt a full nicotinic antagonist better than a partial? And why did they leave out the dopamine reuptake inhibitor?

Thanks
John

[Savas]

Huh, I'm quitting right now...I decided the actual "process" of smoking would bother me worse than the nicotine withdrawal (missing it). I also smoked like 3 packs of cigarettes a day.

I decided to switch first to a pipe, which I've been using for a week now. My tobacco intake is less than a10th of what it was...and since you don't/can't inhale, that means I'm getting even less. Plus, I can't "light up" when the mood strikes me (pipes take work and timing).

Sooo...doesn't answer your question. Lets see...I was told chantix makes cig's "taste bad"...and that sounded like it would drive me insane. I don't know the other drug...

I did get the patch for when I finally stop...in case the nicotine withdrawal was to much but I'm getting the irritability and the headaches, have been for a few days... so maybe I won't need it...

I'm NOT saying try this, but it seems to be working for me.

[bettie1976]

y 77 yr old grandpa whose smoked since he was 15 just quit with chantix. i got an rx for it just no money yet.

[ThursdayNext]

My mom took the Chavantix and had good luck.  I haven't seen her smoke since she started taking it.  When she quit she quit taking the meds.  I noticed she had a new script for it the other day so I don't know if you need to continue to take it or if she got it cause we are going to mexico and everyone smokes there and she needed a safety net

[road2recovery]

i am on chanti right now..Very very expensive..i ahve tried zyban a couple yrs ago with no luck..i am on my 2 nd week with it...i have been having it but aftet the first week i stopped taking it, because i don't think i was ready..now on end of second week, i am smoking 1/2 of what i was...It is for 12 weeks, and they say you usually smoke some up to the 8th weeks then that is when it starts tasting terrible and you just don't want it..i know many people that quit on chantix,, also they say it helps with the same receptors as opiates..Don't know bt i read that some where...
good luck
r2r

[troubleinohio]

Please be careful. They just had a sgement today on GMA about Chantix. A very talanted musician and singer recently died while taking it. They say you can have hallucinations and bad dreams amongst many other possible side effects. He went crazy after having just a couple drinks with his girlfriend and died that night. His girlfriend is going public now trying to raise awareness that this drug has potential fatal side effects especially if mixed with even a small amount of alcohol. there were other reported cases of this happening as well too with this drug. So be careful please!

[bettie1976]

i think most of us are non drinkers....am i wrong? I quit that also. Sober means sober. to me.
My gpa also quit taking it after 2 weeks cuz it made him dizzy and tired a lot but he's an old guy, still hasnt had a smoke. been almost a month. i think its a friggin miracle cuz i never thot the old man would stop.

[LCB259]

Just started chantix...Also take 800 mg Tegretol for seizures...so far I'd call the feeling "speedy"... Anybody heard of interactions b/w chabtix and anti-convulsive drugs specifically?  Am searching and can find no hits on these two meds...