Coping with Potential Chantix Side Effects

As a health care provider I am often asked about the medication Chantix. Most people don't even recall the name they just say the "new pill to help people quit smoking." But at the same time I hear much more talk about the side effects of Chantix. And from patients and friends that have used Chantix the most common side effect that I have heard all complain about is nausea. Some do have changes in dreaming which may include vivid type dreams and nightmares, but still this does not seem to be as bothersome as the effect of nausea.

Nausea is one of the side effects listed in the patient information leaflet of Chantix along with other side effects which include changes in dreaming, constipation, gas, and vomiting. But these side effects usually subside after a week of using the medication and quite honestly I have many success stories of individuals that have used Chantix. And I will say that the majority of them did report side effects initially, but the ones that were determined to quit stuck it out and "dealt" with the side effects initially and had a great outcome in the end. It should be noted that most people that I have encountered on Chantix were not bothered enough to stop taking Chantix.

I have found that most who have failed therapy on Chantix were due to the side effects and as I stated earlier mostly due to the feeling of nausea. However, these same individuals had only tried the medication for two to three days so I also question there true desire to quit smoking.

When prescribing Chantix I explain to all that this is only an aid to help with smoking cessation and as with any medication there is the potential of side effects, and sometimes these side effects will subside. However, if there is any reservation in a real desire to quit smoking than this as with any other tobacco cessation product the failure rate is going to be higher. Most of these products have to have a "mind over matter" thinking process. This is not a miracle drug and sometimes good will have to come with some bad and trying to cope with the potential side effects initially will have to be the bad to get the good out of it.

However, as with any drug or medication if these side effects are too bothersome and do not go away then this is something that should be discussed with a health care provider immediately.