I feel the same way you do. I have tried Wellbutrin as well and I became a mess while I was on it. Constantly stressed out and angry and I couldn't sleep as well. The chantix, like I said before, gave me terrible nightmares and that was enough for me.
Lisa

Are you using any over the counter stuff to help you quit? or going too? I have tried the gum in the past and those inhalers that are suppose to mimic smoking but for some strange reason they make me gag...though there is no smoke. I can't figure that out. Plus its like the nitiotine is too strong. Which I also can't figure that out. I need to look that up and see if I am doing something wrong there. Anyway yes, the goal is to quit safely without hurting yourself in the process. That kind of defeats the purpose if you end up in worse condition then you started out as.

HI my name is Pam and I so so agree with you. I had a very similar reaction to ativan, they put my on because my heart was getting out of rhythm, when I got sick on the medication, my dr told me I was having anxiety attacks, which I never had in my life and to keep taking more. When I figured out for myself that the ativan was my problem he told me to stop taking it cold turkey. The amount that I was on I should have tapered off of for a year. I have been sick now from this for 18 months and I am still not recovered. I have lost my job and I am pretty much housebound from this.

So please believe us when we tell you that some of these medication are not suited for some people. And if you are having side effects you may not want to cont. to take it.

That being said I wanted to let everyone here know I started a support group for people who want to quit without medication. It is under breath free Columbiana, Ohio 44408 Anyone who would like to join is more than welcome.

Pam

All this is so true. People have GOT to pay attention to side effects, especially when using an anti-depressant such as Wellbutrin. My neighbor (served in Iraq) started using meds (anti-depressants and sleeping pills) prescribed for Post Tramatic Stress Disorder. Within two days of using these meds he completely snapped, we had to evacuate and the swat team was called in. PLEASE pay attention to side effects of any and all medications, everyone reacts differently. Start out with smaller doses and really watch for warning signs if you are feeling out of the ordinary.

I'm so glad to see this post. I belong to a great support group (quitnet) and I have heard so many HORROR stories about Chantix. it is a very dangerous drug and it also really upsets me to see people telling other people to use it. I quit cold turkey and I want my hubby to use the patch..... Chantix should be taken off the market.

Moonglow....great post. It can't be said enough.

Re Wellbutrin/Zyban...

Always willing to try anything to quit smoking, I asked my doc for this back in 2000. I took the first dose and then shot straight up out of bed in the middle of the night (I'm always a sound sleeper and to wake up was unusual in itself) with my heart racing so hard it felt like it was going to beat out of my chest. I wasn't even 40 years old and thought I was having a massive coronary! I calmed down and made it through that night but the next day my doc gave me an EKG just to make sure {{{{holy cow that was scary}}}.

Every doctor I've talked to has told me that Wellbutrin and anxiety do not mix. In my case, my anxious nature went out of control. Wellbutrin has some success with depression because it is energizing but it exascerbates anxiety. I suspect Chantix may have a similar effect on anxiety.

All I can say is this, if anyone even suspects that they may have a tendency to become depressed easily or are by nature anxious or have panic attacks, please, please, please, talk long and hard with your doctor about how any stop smoking medication may bother you.

I am really sorry you went through this...:( ALL medication, even over the counter medications have side effects. A medication CAN cause what its suppose to help reduce...which sounds really weird but its true. My son has ADHD and anxiety but cannot take the normal medication for ADHD as nearly all of them can make anxiety worse! They will say if he is being treated for his anxiety, which he is, it won't do that...don't bet on it. He did react anyway and badly..his anxiety sky rocketed. He takes clonidne which is actually for high blood pressure but they discovered also helps with ADHD....but too much of it and it causes him problems...so he has to be monitored closely on this and any medication he takes.

Just recently I figured out he was having a reaction to Clantin, which is over the counter now. I was shocked when I went and looked up the side effects on it! I took him off of it. It was also making his allergies worse...really clogging up his nose, weight gain, memory problems, etc, etc...scarey stuff for an allergy med!! So my point again is...no matter what medication is it...always, always check the side effects. Even vitamines can have side effects especially for those more sensitive to them or that take too much.

I sure hope you get the medical help you need for your heart..but glad you are starting this support group..that is great!

Very true! My son cannot have grapefruits or grapefruit juice while he is taking buspar as it can cause a serious problem. I doubt he would like grapefruit anyway but I put a note in his school information folder because you never know what foods they might have at a party or other events at school.

That is terrible! I hope he got the help he needed! Poor guy. Yes they can have very serious side effects...

What I was thinking is for those that want to try one of these meds but are afraid of the side effects is see if the dr can just give you some samples before you get the RX filled. Try them for a fews day BEFORE you stop smoking...my concern is if someone is going through withdrawals from smoking they might not realize the problems they are having are really from the medication and think its just the withdrawals causing the problems and continue taking the medication. Find out how you feel first on the medication...then stop smoking when you are ready too...then you will be able to tell if you feel different if its just the withdrawals and not you having a bad reaction to the meds. But still keep an eye on the side effects as many don't happen right away...as with most medication it can take weeks to feel the full effect, even up to six weeks and while you might start out feeling ok...later you might start having problems.

What a pain. I guess for me doing the meds isn't an opition..especially given my serious reaction to Wellburtin. So that will be something I won't have to worry about..side effects.

Yes, Wellbutrin in 1999 caused me to suffer from severe urinary retention. I was not able to empty my bladder. It was a very scarey thing! I ended up in the hospital. They were questioning my kidneys, etc. It was a side effect of Wellbutrin/Zyban. Please be aware of these problems. Read the insert and pay attention to your body.

Boy that would be scarey...there is such a LONG list of possible side effects for both these medications...people really need to closely read up on all of them before trying these medication. Glad you are ok but sorry you went through that.

Yes, I hope my neighbor gets the help he needs also, nicest guy that went and fought for us and now he will lose his ranking in the military BECAUSE prescribed meds made him flip out. That's another story though. I too have been in an abusive relationship and my son is Bipolar, which is really hard to deal with when I am trying to quit smoking. I do believe that my biggest trigger is the sibling arguements. My son has been on many...many medications and has had some serious side effects to those meds. He was originally diagnosed ADHD. We all really MUST be our own advocates when it comes to what we put in to our bodies, regardless of what the doctors say. Education is knowledge and it is in everyone's best interest to do a liitle research before they start on any of these "quit smoking" meds. I am glad you posted your concern so that everyone can make a well informed decision.

Moonglow, you did an AWESOME post! Plenty of information there! I am very grateful, as I considered Wellbutin for awhile. Someone said the magic thing for me...I have had, and am now going thru anxiety, (preparing for living smoke free again as well as dealing with a drug addicted son ) and I definitetly do not want to increase those feelings! You never forget a panic attack that's for sure, and I have had many of them in the past. I want to keep them there in the PAST.

I agree with everyone else who said, what good is it to be smoke free and mentally ill. Although, I suppose if I am a raving lunatic I won't care about my health! FORGET IT! No way. Why is it we don't hear more about these experiences? I went to realage.com and for all the meds. we are all talking about...it listed all the side effects in a very mild form. I remember the first time I noticed on the box of sudiphed cold tabs. may cause schizophrenia in some people, I was floored. I never used them again. I was floored that it was over the counter. We can use other tools out there. I am keeping positive about all of this. There is something out there that will help me. Thanks guys so much for your sharing it helps to know others have done it with and without medicine. I am still in prep stage of this thing. Hoping my hubby will get on board but, even so I have made up my mind. I quit for 5 yrs. without him. I can do it again. Part of my plan is NO smoking in my house or around me. The people who love me will be fine with that, and those who don't...well maybe it's time to pull some weeds from my garden, as mom would say.

This is all so true. I thought maybe it was just me but they were real side effects and serious. You feel like you're loosing your mind. I got so suicidal and depressed and angry. It was awful and extreme. I hated to be in such misery. I don't remember the dreams but I do remember my mood swings. I didn't even feel like me I felt out of control. Like the one person said how is that any better than smoking. The cure is worse than the disease sometimes. Medication isn't always the answer. And then what happens when you get off that medication? You have to find ways to stay quit without being on the medication. Good Luck to all and whatever works for you stick to it Take care!!!