Chantix and seizures

[Vaticohm]

My fiance' is trying to quit smoking.  She is also a recovering alcoholic and has relapsed since trying to quit.  She tried the nicotine lozenges.  She also tried wellbutrin but had severe seizures.  She takes 10 milligrams of lexapro, .05 mg and levothyroxine in the morning,  12.5 mg of benicar, and alprazolam 0.5 milligrams 3 times a day, and mirtazpine 30 mg along with 500 mg magnesium and 3 mg melatonin to sleep.  She doesn't take the mirtazpine every day.  Otherwise she takes naproxine, extra strength tylenol, occasional cemetidine, and generic allergy pills, which make her shaky so only when she's desperate.
About 2 to 3 cups of coffee a day also.  She smokes a pack a day right now.  I was thinking chantix
which is how I quit.  I did read about possible seizures, any reccomdations?  Thanks

[julie83983]

It's 2015. I started chantix 1 month ago. The only drug interaction would've been I'd she would've tried me.on wellbutrin  vs chantix. I am on Lexapro, verapamil, zyrtec, and for migraines I take zomig. Zomig is the one pill that had bad effects.if mixed with wellbutrin but safe with the chantix.
So far, I'm doing fine on chantix. Last smoke was October 7th, and today is October 29th. Hey, have smoked since I was 16 and I'm 54 now, this is a Plus.

[disabledchantixuser]

I am currently disabled because of an adverse effect from Chantix (stop smoking aid).  I have never had a seizure in my life until I took this product 2 years ago.  My seizures have progressed from 1-2 a day to 10 times in one day and I was recently hospitalized in ICU at John Peter Smith Hospital.  I have lost my job because of seizures at work, I have been ordered by physicians not to drive and my husband can't leave my by myself.  I need to find other people to join me in a class action suit because many people now are having seizure from this.  We have medical records and documents if you are interested in joining a class action suit please contact me.

[j34]

For me I found Chantix had a serious affect on my mood and i went in to depression and relapsed on crack and booze after yr clean I believe it was a direct result of the pill ,go with the patches and now they have ones that you can use patch and gum if the craving gets to bad good luck to your wife, j34

[jmjd93]

Considering Chantix.  I take Trileptal 600mg 2x per day.  I have not had epilepsy all my life just started one day about 7-10yrs ago (in my30's).

Downfall to Trileptal is on occassion makes me very dizzy.  It gets to the point I get very nauseaed  'cause the room is spinning so fast.  I can't walk or close my eyes for it gets worst.  However,  that is only on occassion.  

My husband and myself considering to quit smoking using Chantix.  We would do it together.   I want to know if anyone has used it and found it works without effecting their epilepsy or their epilepsy medication(s).

[kathyjo]

I googled "Chantix and epilepsy" and found plenty who have something to say. Try it...I have been on this board for 3 years and I don't think I recall any questions. The post you responded to seems to have people who have had seizures after taking chantix so if you are prone to it, I wouldn't take it!
Try looking at the whyquit.com website. They support a cold turkey quit and may be a much healthier approach for you.
Good luck!

[pearlgirl1982]

anyone know if taking chantix is safe while living with epilepsy.i have spoke with a couple of doctors. one says ok and one says not. i feel if i can quit smoking and have to deal with having a couple seizures that it would be worth the risk in the long road.  what do you all think. should i go for it

[jsalrot]

i have been on chantix for a very long time now and i have taken it in spite of all its dangers because my ceasing to smoke is the most important thing in the world.  i do not doubt that some people have had seizures, i know that i haven't been prone to them at all.  if i am setting myself up for seizures in the future, i should know that too.  despite the long duration i've been on it, no seizures at all.  i highly recommend nicotine replacement therapy -- patches.  you will feel awful, 21mg is the strongest dose, it'll be rough, but you'll get through it.  it was very hard for me lower to the 14mg dose, but i am sticking with this, and am willing to endure feeling awful for the sake of someday having a brighter day.  i believe you should do that too.  it will eventually kill you if you can't let go.  

[Chingador]

I have never had a seizure a day in my life, I took the first chantix pill and 8 hours later, bam, 4-6 min seizure...at work...i face planted in to an ash tray on the way down. Now I have to have 2 root canals and bone in my head I can not spell, say or even point it out in a line up is broke. my Doc said stop taking the Chantix. My thought was no kidding. I guess thats why its a   "Practice". Other than that I have been out of work for 3 weeks and no one sems to care. (except my family)

[kathyjo]

I took Chantix last year, late August until early October, six weeks of it, and had no symptoms other then a little stomach upset.
For me, it was that miracle drug and on the 8th of October I will celebrate my 1 year anniversary.
I had smoked for 38 years and when I heard about Chantix I asked my doctor.
I was mentally preparing, spending some time reading the articles at whyquit.com, so between the two, I successfully quit.
I still read the articles at whyquit, to protect my quit, and there are days that I struggle more then others, but I feel so much better and love the fact that I have control over my life now, not the other way around : )

I don't know why some have side effects while others don't, but the bottom line is that smoking will kill you, and anything that works to help you quit, do it, for yourself, for your family and friends. Your quality of life will be so much better.
If you find that nothing works for you, then try cold turkey.....3 days of physical withdrawals but then its over.
Can't stress this enough.....support is key so get all your loved ones behind you and visit the whyquit website and read the articles in Joel's Library.
Take a walk every time to have a weak moment or do something to keep you busy and the urges lessen and it gets easier.

Good luck : )
Kathy Jo

[Andrea333]

Anyone having long-term health issues caused by Chantix, if you haven't already, make sure you get a brain MRI.   Serious damage showed in mine after 1 1/2 years of suffering the adverse reaction of Chantix.

[Rose703]

I have several good friends who have used Chantix successfully without any complications however it's my belief that any and all medications can and almost always do have some type of S/E's.
I'm a long time smoker and have been considering using Chantix as I've tried many other options but none of them worked.
Anyway great post and I hope we can get some more feedback as I would love to hear success versus non success stories.

[dern]

My 17 yo daughter took Chantix for about 5 weeks, She did stop smoking but had a seizure about 6 weeks after stopping the medicine. She has never had a seizure or head trauma. I am now thinking that the Chantix altered her brain receptors and caused the seizure. Has anyone else experienced this?

[Abby8394]

I'm new..but I read the post on Chantix and seizures....I've recently been diagnosed with a seizure disorder and epilepsy...it's basically been from a head trauma from about 8 years ago...but the seizures remarkably started around the same time a began taking the drug Chantix to help me stop smoking. At first my primary doc told me to stop taking the drug...I did and within 5 days I was in the ER have Complex Partial Seizures one right on top of the other accompanied by Tonic Clonic seizures...they have now bubbled down to Complex Partial. The docs say it's due to the head trauma NOT the Chantix...but my neuro thinks that it could very possibly be the thing that caused them to come out NOW after all these years...but won't say for sure...I was diagnosed and all this happen just this past Febuarary...I just had a perfect physical in December...I work in Nursing...have for 15 years...can't remember being sick a day in my life...my head injury was a result of domestic battery... now I'm in PT myself...and trying to rebuild myself physically...I still smoke!

[Gypsygirl66]

This heading should read:
Here are some signs "of" drug interactions for the above drugs

Under the heading "Mirtazapinne & Lexapro" it should read:
As a rule of thumb, "COMBINING" serotonergic agents should be avoided if possible

[Gypsygirl66]

Hi I just wanted to give you a little info on the meds that your room mate is taking. You or she may already know some or all of this, but it you don't you should find it useful.

Lexapro is anti-depressant in a group of drugs called selective seretonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). It affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause depression or anxiety. It is used to treat anxiety and major depressive disorder.

Levothyroxine (Synthroid) is prescribed to treat hypothyroidism. It is a replacement for a hormone that is normally produced by your thyroid gland to regulate the body

[GA Guy]

Friend...I don't think anyone here would try and suggest anything to someone with that long list of meds. This is something you should be discussing with her doctor. Are all of the meds being prescribed from the SAME doctor? I'd get a second opinion if they were. A lot of her symptoms could be coming from drug interactions. The smoking can be by-product of the medications. I know this happens. I was a one pack a week smoker until I found Zoloft...then 3 packs a day immediately. Please, find a great doc and tell him everything. You'd be surprised how much a knowledgeable and compassionate doctor can help. Good luck to you...