Chantix and thyroid problems

[kitty5095]

Chantix is a drug to quit smoking and works on the neurotransmitters in the brain.  After I took this drug for two months my thyroid problems kicked in.  I did have a nodule pre-Chantix, but it was being watched and there was no growth.  Now I'm having big-time thyroid problems.  Went to a x-mas party and two other women had thyroid problems, fibromyalgia type symptoms also.  Any others out there with similar scenarios???

[utahmomma]

I have been on Chantix for a few months and the only problem I have really found is it completely screws up my liver enzymes.  I mean so badly that they thought I was going into liver failure.   I noticed more fibromyalgia pain when I went off it (to correct the liver problem) and haven't noticed any thyroid problems but, who knows, it is a new drug.

Have you attempted to check on line and see what the side effects are??

[kitty5095]

yes, I did.  After hearing from the two girls at the x-mas party, they told me to just type in Chantix problems, and, bingo, there it was.  Appears to chat more about fibromyalgia problems, but several mentioned thyroid issues.  The two girls I spoke to face-to-face had no thyroid issues until taking Chantix.  My GP told me to not take it after chatting with another doctor.  Got some blood results this a.m. and doctor again stated to not start the Chantix.  I took Chantix back in January/February last year and problems began in April.  There is a tort (legal) site also.  If you want them, I'll have to go look them up.  I'm a court reporter (basically doing deps on personal injury and medical malpractice).  So, I WILL NOT take the Chantix again.  I truly feel this was the instigating factor for me.  Makes sense, anything dealing with the neurotransmitters could have a derrogatory effect on the human body.  Can't seem to find a site to see how long the tested it and results.  Let me know what you think.  Next up for me, neurologist.

[Lo6]

I took Chantix beginning Nov. 06.  Took it 2 weeks, quit smoking, took it 3 more weeks and dropped the Chantix.  From the beginning, I began gaining weight, at the rate of 20 lbs a month.  I felt bad off and on for months.  In June I went to my Dr. for my annual physical. My thyroid was off the chart, but it was hyper.  It was determined that I had thyroiditis, but by Oct. my levels had gone the other way and I was extremely hypo.  I had no idea the Chantix could be the cause until someone suggested it a couple of weeks ago.  I will be very anxious to see the long term results.

[DLA]

I took Chantix for about 6 weeks last year, but I already didn't have a thyroid.  Didn't mess up my numbers any, though.  Did wreak havoc on my liver enzymes.

Could the connection be that quitting smoking is traumatic and any trauma can bring the latent antibodies into attack mode?  Finally quitting smoking was a relief, but also changed my life drastically.  My Graves came from the stress I went thru with my pregnancy.  Those antibodies were just lying in wait for an opportunity to rear their ugly heads.  Just a thought.

[kipland]

I haven't taken Chantix, but was going to try it eventually.  Now I'm not so sure!!

Wanted to chime in and say that my thyroid problems were detected about 2 months after I tried to quit smoking through hypnosis.  I started gaining weight rapidly, on top of the 25 pounds I'd put on in the previous 8 months for no reason.  Doc put me on Wellbutrin - for both the depression and the smoking.  I went back for a follow-up, and by that time I told her the depression was so bad that I could barely put one foot in front of the other when I got out of bed in the morning.  She ran blood tests, and bang!  Hashimotos.  

I'm with Dac as far as mine goes.  I think the stress from quitting threw those antibodies in high gear!!  But again, I'm not a doctor.  Don't even play one on TV.

I'll be anxious to see what comes out of this deal with Chantix.  I know a lot of people that have quit with it, and said it was a piece of cake.  Guess I have to weigh the health risks of the drug vs. the health risk of smoking.  I don't have a thyroid anymore, so it can't mess with that!

Lori

Lori

[cealtr]

I took Chantix to stop smoking in Nov/Dec 2006. In January 07 my hands started shaking so bad that everyone thought I had Parkinsons. I was 4 .. I had heart palps/muscle aches/lost 10 lbs (in bathroom minutes after eating). thought it was flu & did nothing until March. After a scan, full bloodwork the endocrinologist Diagnosis: Graves Disease/Hyperthyroid. Never had it before. No family history. Really feel Chantix caused it. Didn't stop smoking either. Don't take Chantix. It's not worth the risks. Unless of course you want to spend the next year or more seeing endo &  eye specialists (graves opthamology also started ) ,having monthly blood work,taking various doses of meds to balance your T3, T4 and TSH levels.I I am seriously considering a lawyer at this point. My thyIroid levels are now 'normal' for last 3 months and I have to stay on meds 3 more until considered in remission. Then it can come back and they will surgically remove it. They can't radiate because of the eye issue. Graves Opthamology is treated  separately and occurs even if your thyroid levels are normal. It is triggered/starts because of the gland though.I am having intermittent double vision and the tissue and muscles around my eyes are puffy.Will have to have surgery someday to correct it.
They can't do it right now because I am still in the middle of the whole process.
PS. If you want to quit smoking.. just stop. Don't use any props. I tried them all. None work. The only way to quit is to do it the old fashioned way. There is no magic pill.Best of Luck to you too!

[cealtr]

My age got cut off. 48 when this started. 49 now and about to turn 50 in march.

[stella5349]

I am glad I clicked this am I have had the Rx in my car for Chantix for about two weeks For some reason I just didn't fill it. Gosh, I wish these docs would check these things out. Well anyone have a success story on how to drop the habit without Chantix?

[angelheart70]

I typed thyroid problems related to chantix on a search bar and found this. After taking Chantix for 2 months I quit smoking, but found myself so tired and gaining weight. I know after quitting smoking weight gain is normal but... after further investigation i'd become hypothyroid . I'm now on thyroid medicine but still no weight loss and ive been exercising my brain off... no weight loss. Now.... I would never recommend Chantix to anyone.

[Nosonew]

WOW, I wondered if my hyperthyroid issues were related to Chantix. I took it Aug/Sept of last year.. started having symptoms (hot all the time) right around then, finally talked my doc into checking thyroid in Feb... hyper. Finally Dx. graves last month. Just started PTU.

I would be interested in the legal link please. Thank you.

[mommy2two2008]

OMG!!! I got a script for Chantix the moment I found the goiter, scared I guess.  I did well the first two weeks then started having the anxiety feelings and tingles in the chin and numbness too.  I had started taking Levothyroxine about the same time as Levo too to subside my goiter, but stopped the Chantix and the Levo at the same time.  Are you telling me that it could be related to the numbness, excess symptoms of thyroid??!!! OMG!

[mommy2two2008]

I meant to say I started taking the Levothyroxine and Chantix about the same time....  

[Nosonew]

Just bumping. I find this very interesting and am glad I didn't miss it.

[sandyja]

hi I took chantix for the 3months and about about 1 month later I found out my thyroid was working. My brother-in-law had the same exact thing. I dont know what to do.

[ontheedge050]

Holy ****.....I used Chantix too. I started using it in March and and stopped in June. I'm smoke free....(yea?) but at what price? I started noticed weird things in May....my skin was rough and my hair got real course and brittle. Weight gain even though I was working my *** off at the time, trouble sleeping. I see my Doc tomorrow, I'll see what he says. This could get interesting....Very Interesting.

[ontheedge050]

http://www.importantlawsuits.com/lawsuits/chantix-and-side-effects-lawsuit/

I found this site with a bunch of posts from people that had BAD side effects from Chantix. A lot of them are about suicide. I was warned about that when I decided to take it. But when you read thur them there are ALOT that speak of being tired, body aches, foggy head.....All kinds of bad stuff. ****, I wish I would have investigated it a little more before I took it. I wonder if it's all connected???

[ontheedge050]

I would like that legal info very much..Thank you.

[ontheedge050]

Oops. Sorry utahmomma, I meant for that last post to go kitty5095.

[utahmomma]

Actually that was Kitty5095.  You might want to send her a PM

[TriciaS]

I took the chantix, quit smoking, came off the chantix, started smoking, went on the chantix, quit smoking, went off, started smoking (see the pattern? )  I never put the thyroid thing and the chantix together though.  I had nodules, and they kept growing.  FNA showed cancer.  Was never hypo/hyper.  Now with no thyroid I've started smoking again and thinking about going back on chantix.  It really helps me quit!  The chantix makes me nauseous though, so I always stop taking it.  That was the only side effect that I'm aware of. . .

Tricia

[ontheedge050]

You are without a thyroid.... I still have mine. That "might" be a reason you haven't had more of a problem with it. Also, I have years of my TSH readings, most all of them all of them are with in normal range until right after Chantix. In 5 months I went from normal range to high. Then if you read some of the statements that people are making on some of these other sites. It's kind of weird. You gotta question the timing of a lot of this and not just me or the people in this forum but what looks like 100's of reports from so many other people.
I'm not recommending it to anyone!

[pen887]

I took Chantix and I too was diagnosed with Hyperthyroid. My heart races and now I take a medication for that and my doctor increased my B/P medication, can not sleep at night, and I gained at least 20lbs. I now take medication to treat my hyperthyroid disease. This week I will have a stress test to see if there is any other reason my heart is racing. My neck becomes very stiff and it hurts, and my doctor told me to take Ibuprofen for the pain. I did stop smoking for two months, but once I started feeling like s---. I stop the Chantix.  My brother took Chantix for two weeks and quit, without any side effects, and he smoked for 40 yrs. I will never take this medication again, and I would not recommend this medication to anyone.

[Katatak]

The first time I took Chantix was in March 2007...and I had no idea that it could cause such neck stiffness/pain IF you did not drink enough fluids while on the medication!  On Mother's Day I was in the ER being given a muscle relaxer by injection because my neck was so locked up I couldn't move it at all.  

So, I waited quite a while and gave it another go early January 2008...by January 14th I was drinking tons of fluid and marked my 1st full day without smoking.  At about 2 weeks in the nightmares stopped...and about 6 weeks in I quit taking the Chantix completely...It was causing me to be horribly sick to my stomach in the evenings...the daytime dosage didn't bother me though...thinking I needed a full stomach to tolerate the med.

I've been smoke free since and been thankful for it at least giving me the boost I needed to make it through the rough patches.

I do not have a thyroid anymore...so I wonder if maybe that is why it didn't effect me.

Kat

[Cynnieb4]

thanks for the posts, ill just be doing it cold turkey LOL:)