Hello! I was also concerned about the depression and the Chantix affecting me, but my doctor said that the likelyhood of feeling suicidal or more depressed is quite remote, so I decided to give it a try and would quit if I felt awful. I know of a few people who used it and actually claimed to have become "homicidal" and felt extremely angry and violent. Both of these individuals were very, very heavy drinkers, and I am certain that is why Chantix affected them that way. I did start taking it as prescribed, smoked the first week, stopped when my dose went up to 2 pills per day, and have had zero cigs in two months! The withdrawal was completely psychological and the urges to smoke only lasted about 5 minutes. The side effects I experienced were bad nausea if I didn't eat enough before taking it, and swollen, tender breasts. I already have vivid dreams, so didn't notice any difference there. I've been lucky with it. My advice to you, if you haven't already tried it, would be to try it, and if you start to feel more depressed, or suicidal, stop taking it. You have more to gain than to lose, but might consider another alternative to Chantix if you consume more than 3 alcoholic beverages per day. I would hate for anyone to go through what these others did. It didn't sound pleasant! Best wishes for success!
My hubby used that stuff to quit when he found out that he was going to die soon due to COPD.
It worked for him...but he quit taking it before he was supposed to...he started up again.
Now he has to start all over again.
The only side effects he had were the typical ones when trying to quit...insomnia, restlessness.
He said that the first few days he felt nothing...then a few days after that he just didn't have the desire to smoke. He kept smoking because that's what it says to do in the package...it says to set a date ( when you reach the higher dosage stage ) and quit on that day...so that's what he did.
He said that the worst part was trying to find something else to do when he was taking a "smoke break"...so he used mints.
I need to find a way to quit before he starts up on the Chantix again.
I can't take them because I was depressed once upon a time...and they say that you shouldn't take them if you have ever been depressed.