Champix Side Effects Poll and Discussion
July 28, 2008 · Filed Under Health Polls
Have you experienced Champix side effects?
| Yes, Severe |  51% |
| Yes, Mild | 28% |
| Yes, Minor | 15% |
| No | 6% |
Use this link to participate in Champix Side Effects Poll or use this link to Submit a more detailed side effect report.
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13 Responses to “Champix Side Effects Poll and Discussion”
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on day 9 of champix and had minor effects first few days - mild nausea and weird dreams. Yesterday, day 8, developed severe pain in top of right arm (shoulder) and today day 9 its almost unusable - agony on any movement. have also had some mild cramps in calf muscles and restless legs (juggling when sitting)
Leg cramps at night on day 2. Noticeable increase in dreams. Morning of Day 8, slight back pain (similar to period pain) when sitting. By midday of day 8 pain was severe, unable to sit. Pain continuous and getting worse- chronic on any movement. Only respite is to lay on side, completely still. 4 hourly treatments of 500mgs Paracetamol of no effect, following 4 treatments dosage increased to 1000mg 4 hourly. No noticable reduction in pain.
Ceased taking Champix on morning of day 9 when pain had not lessened. Continuous dreams and difficulty sleeping due to pain. Continuous 1000mg paracetamol treatment to no avail. Urine and bowl movements appear normal. Attending doctor on day 10.
I’m only on day 3, but on night number 2 I had some very vivid dreams. Only one of them could be classed as a ‘nightmare’, but wasn’t too scary. None of them woke me up.
I’d also like to add that I believe the poll results shown on this page should be taken in context. It’s far more likely that people with severe side-effects will search for and find this page. People with no side-effects probably won’t bother looking for pages like this, let alone taking part in a survey. So the results are bound to be skewed against the drug.
My advice as a UK taker of the drug, is don’t take it without some sort of support network to advise you if/when you do get side-effects. I started taking it as part of a group with the current following results:
Me: 1st week. Only vivid dreams as a side-effect so far.
Person 1: 3rd week. had to reduce doseage by doctor due to severe vivid dreams causing lack of sleep, but otherwise fine (still smoking).
Person 2: 3rd week. Mild nausia.
Person 3: 3rd week. No side effects at all.
Person 4: 2nd week. No side effects at all.
Person 5: 2nd week. Severe nausia during first week. 2nd week seems to improve due to ensuring they ate properly before taking pills.
Person 6: 2nd week. (I don’t know of their side-effects)
I agree with Jonathan’s comment that “It’s far more likely that people with severe side-effects will search for and find this page. People with no side-effects probably won’t bother looking for pages like this, let alone taking part in a survey. So the results are bound to be skewed against the drug.” In Survey Methods this is called a “self-selected sample” as opposed to a valid random or stratified random sample.
Though the manufacturer’s monograph does not find any particular contradindications for elderly people (aside from those with decreased renal [kidney] function), other clinical monographs do indicate that all classes of common adverse drug effects of Champix are more likely in the elderly. Therefore, this survey would be more effective if respondents were asked to indicate their age.
I for example am 65; from the beginning of taking Champix I experienced moderate dizziness; upon doubling the dosage as per the titration protocol, I immediately began experiencing nocturnal Restless Legs Syndrome of sufficient severity (unable to sleep for hours) that I had to discontinue the drug. I suppose I could have cut back the dose, but the dizziness had been progressing even under the lowest (0.5) dose.
for the past 2 days i am scared of myself. Today is day 15 and i am not taking it ever again. I have had severe depression, when i lay down i cant sleep and my legs ache. My moods are the worst one minute im fine and the next wow i turn into a angry monster. For the record i am a very happy go lucky person usually and i told my husband i feel so sad and i feel like im going crazy. For the past 2 days all i have done is flip out over nothing and cry like a baby. I cried that much i just wanted to sleep and never awake. I have suicidale thoughts and after reading up on this drug tonight im a bit relieved to know im not going crazy. I have stopped smoking and im hoping i will keep it going. I would not recommend this drug to anyone.
sorry my age is 28.
I’m a 28 year old woman, on day 14, and have never felt so depressed in my life. Crying for no reason, being nasty to my husband for saying hardly anything. And not taking any pleasure in anything. I have never been a depressive person or had any history of depression. Im just not my happy jokey old self. Only after putting 2+2 together I googled Champix and depression and bam…I am not going mad after all. I only have 1 smoke a day, if any, but would suggest to anyone that has a history of depression to research this and be aware of possible side effects.
I have had the usual systems nausia, tired etc for the first few weeks, I am now on day 16 of not smoking and day 30 of Champix and felt absolutely terrible all weekend, pains all over, dirrahea nightmares and constantly thinking about NOT smoking.
On day 5 started having horrible back spasms that brought me to the hospital. Not mentioned as a possible side effect with literature in my kit, thought I’d somehow injured my back. Back spasms continued for 10 days. Left shoulder in pain, can barely move neck, foot hurts and I just generally ache all over. Stopped taking at 3 weeks and no change in most of my body. Have had a couple physio sessions for my back and it’s getting better. Drug had me very constipated but at least that ended when I stopped taking it. 4-5 weeks ago I was a relatively healthy guy, now I can barely move. Normally I’d be golfing on a day like this; however thanks to Champix I can’t imagine being able to play again for months, if at all. On the bright side, I haven’t been smoking. No suicidal thoughts at all, wife says my mood has been good actually (though I have been a little cranky when the pain gets to me). Be very cautious taking this stuff.
I took champix for 7 days on the 7th day the abdominal pain had got so bad I could hardly stand up straight. I had prior digestive and joint problems that had largely subsided and was feeling a lot better. I had no idea that champix would cause constipation, fatigue and joint pain. I stopped taking them on day 7 that was over a week ago and my digestion is still not normal. My energy levels are still not back to normal and neither is the pain or stiffness in joints. I did have very vivid dreams from the outset but was happy to endure those.
Anyone with a history of joint stiffness or digestive sensitivities I suggest you avoid.
Aged early 40s and usually energetic and positive
day 16- i am 28yrs old. incredible pains/aches from the shoulder all the way to my fingers. Dr told me joint pain wasn’t a side effect of champix so he is sending me for a neck x-ray.i have stopped taking it since using google and learning joint pain is very much a side effect.other than the arm pain no other side effect and no craving cigarettes.sad i can’t keep taking it.
Day8 and onwards up to day 16,cutting tablet in half now,take half in the am and in the pm…. feeling sick and hot-sweaty in the am,I burp a lot at night so have to watch what I eat the last thing at night,take gaviscon for night relief.I completely understand about taking paracetamol, back and shoulder pain can be quite unbearable.At night, I take 2 phernergan tablets to help with sleep,I drink a lot of water throught out the day,but that doesn’t seem to help with back pain. Also been having neck spasms - more in the front,restless in bed of a night time due to pain,tossing and turning,but eventually sleep does come.I find that a pillow under the knees helps if you are laying on your back.
Quit day was 22nd April/09. Only very mild side-effets - sporadic itchy skin, dehydrate quickly, and joint stiffness (no pain). Champix is great -still crave a smoke everyday, but the cravings are very fleeting and not obsessive which was always the reason I didn’t quit before.