What are the Side Effects of Chantix?

With almost all medications there are side effects. Some are not so noticeable, and others are dangerous enough to be mitigated with other medications. It’s important to know about the side effects of any medication before you start taking it, and to contact your doctor immediately if they occur, or if any other unexpected reactions occur.

CHANTIX, the 12-week prescription medication designed to help smokers quit, also has side effects. Some are as mentioned above--simply an annoyance--and others could become problematic. Here are some of the side effects noted in studies of the drug.

Sometimes smokers will use one or more of theses side effects as a reason to quit the program, but most of these symptoms are reduced over time. The smoker who really wants to quit and turns to CHANTIX will find a good deal of help, especially due to the GETQUIT™ Support Plan, an one0year program designed to help CHANTIX patients stay off cigarettes.

Nausea

This is the most common reported side effect of taking CHANTIX. Studies found the incidence of nausea higher than for subjects taking placebos (30% for subjects taking CHANTIX and 10% for those taking a placebo) with 1 mg BID following the one-week titration period. This side effect is mostly mild and passes with time, but others experienced it during the entire treatment.

Sleep Disturbance

Some participants reported experiencing insomnia while taking CHANTIX, with some of those claiming abnormal dreams. Insomnia can be problematic for most people within a very short time, so if you experience this side effect while taking CHANTIX, make sure you tell your prescribing physician.

Constipation

Constipation was also reported in the study group, and the incidents increased as the dosage increased. Other similar complains included abdominal pain, flatulence, and dyspepsia, but these events were reported with less frequency that the reports of nausea and sleep disturbance. There were also a few reports of vomiting.

Nicotine Withdrawal Symptoms

As with any cessation program, withdrawal symptoms will occur. People who get used to nicotine and then stop will experience these symptoms to a degree whether they are being treated with medication or not.

Withdrawal symptoms from nicotine can include anxiety and irritability. These are some of the more prominent symptoms associated with cessation of smoking, as well as restlessness. Craving for nicotine sometimes causes the irritability. Sometimes people who are quitting will experience shortened attention span. These effects are normal and will pass with time. Just remember that nicotine is a powerful agent and has effects on your mental well-being. Your tastes may also change as your taste buds become more responsive--it’s a time to be careful about your weight because of this.

However, make sure you are familiar with CHANTIX side effects before taking the drug, and if you experience them tell your prescribing doctor. Side effects from nicotine withdrawal are often handled best with patience and time rather than medications.