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

[qitter32]

I have taken both bupriopion and chantix at seperate times, and together. The bupriopion works, but chantix is considerably stronger. They work in different ways, so now I am taking them both. I DEFINITELY RECOMMEND TAKING BOTH CHANTIX AND BUPRIOPION AT ONCE. The combination is very effective. I have occasional mild cravings after three weeks of not smoking, but it is very manegable. I experience crazy dreams and sleeplessness, neither bother me though. When I wake up early, I just clean my house. I have a lot of energy. Both medications have pronounced side efects, but I was aware of that and anticipated them when I began taking the medications. Just take both of them, be aware of side effects, and stop smoking. You will smell better.

[qitter32]

I have taken both bupriopion and chantix at seperate times, and together. The bupriopion works, but chantix is considerably stronger. They work in different ways, so now I am taking them both. I DEFINITELY RECOMMEND TAKING BOTH CHANTIX AND BUPRIOPION AT ONCE. The combination is very effective. I have occasional mild cravings after three weeks of not smoking, but it is very manegable. I experience crazy dreams and sleeplessness, neither bother me though. When I wake up early, I just clean my house. I have a lot of energy. Both medications have pronounced side efects, but I was aware of that and anticipated them when I began taking the medications. Just take both of them, be aware of side effects, and stop smoking. You will smell better.

[my_mayberry]

i've read horror stories about chantix, too. i quit 2 years ago cold turkey...waited till the urges were at a total maximum, then chewed nicotine gum. i went through 2 boxes, then went it on my own. i've made it 2 years. i honestly think if you do not suffer through the urges, that your chances of staying off them are very slim. all of my family pretty much tried to quit with me, but they decided to use chantix instead because of the idea it was easier. they all ended up doing exactly the same thing....smoking AND taking chantix and saying how much they don't like smoking while on chantix......but they never actually quit! so, that on top of the horrible things it has done to SOME people, i think every effort should be exercised to avoid using it and it should be last resort. just my opinion, though. some people obviously have used it to great success....so everyone's path is different.

a smoke-free world is a very nice one, though! there's nothing better than the smells and tastes that you didn't realize you were missing out on....plus being able to actually breathe.  whatever gets you there, as long as it isn't doing harm, is worth it.

[laurel453]

some days ago i read an article in the british papers about a man who had killed his family after feeling very depressed while taking chantix.... i don't know , it doesn't have to be related.....but a friend of mine started taking it some months ago and had fainted twice since then,again, it is not known the causes but i would be careful with chantix

[cleaninitup]

I had tried chantix for about 2 weeks made me sick to my stomache and very very very vivid bizzare dreams.It was a weird experience.Yup Im still smoking-working on one vice at a time.Best of luck to you in what you decide to do.

[tune862]

Tried many methods to stop smoking and always went back. Have been smoke free for 4 months now with the help of Chantix. this is by far the easiest method I have ever tried. It completly removed any cravings and anxiety from withdrawal.The only side effects I had seemed to be the reverse of the stated ones, except for the dreams. Some pleasant some not so pleasant but all vivid.
As I said I have tried just about everything in the past, quit hundreds of times. That`s the easy part. Have found that the hard part is staying smoke free and no therapy/drug can do that for you . You must have the desire. I firmly believe I have found that now and with the begining help of Chantix have no desire to ever smoke again. Even smokers I encounter have no affect on me.

[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...

[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.

[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!

[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

[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

[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.

[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.