Another New Year – Another Resolution

If you’re a smoker like me, on more than one occasion you’ve seriously considered quitting smoking. And, on just as many occasions you’ve actually tried to quit. Almost all of us understand the health risks of smoking, and actually care about what smoking does to our bodies and those around us. In terms of finances, we get how much we spend on our habit and if we were to look at  a pie chart showing how much we spend on tobacco products compared to food or clothing, we would hang our heads in shame.

Because my work is done in front of a computer all day, and I’m in my own home, I go through just about a pack of cigarettes a day. Maybe about 5 of them actually get smoked. It’s a physical and psychological habit that I don’t know if I can break. I have no trouble going to a movie and sitting for a few hours without a smoke. I can sit in an office and survive without a smoke until a break or lunch. But at home, at my computer, I have no control over myself.

With that said: I was in my bedroom this afternoon, a room in which I don’t smoke, and turned on the tv. There was a commercial for Chantix on and they were singing their own praises that 44% of their users quit smoking within 9 to 12 weeks. Sounds pretty good. Makes it sound like it’s not all cold-turkey and total dt’s, right? So the commercial then goes into the risks and side effects of using Chantix. Um, I think I’d rather keep smoking…    

I think I would expect that one of the side effects might be nausea, and maybe even difficulty with sleeping. Nausea being attributed to the chemical withdrawal of the nicotine and such, and difficulty with sleeping being attributed to the physical withdrawals and psychological withdrawals from the activity of smoking. And let’s not forget irritability. Ok, I think I could live with that.

There were many other side effects they listed in the commercial that totally disturbed me. These are highlighted below from the Chantix website:

Important Safety Information

Some people have had changes in behavior, hostility, agitation, depressed mood, suicidal thoughts or actions while using CHANTIX to help them quit smoking. Some people had these symptoms when they began taking CHANTIX, and others developed them after several weeks of treatment or after stopping CHANTIX. If you, your family, or caregiver notice agitation, hostility, depression, or changes in behavior, thinking, or mood that are not typical for you, or you develop suicidal thoughts or actions, anxiety, panic, aggression, anger, mania, abnormal sensations, hallucinations, paranoia, or confusion, stop taking CHANTIX and call your doctor right away. Also tell your doctor about any history of depression or other mental health problems before taking CHANTIX, as these symptoms may worsen while taking CHANTIX.

Some people can have serious skin reactions while taking CHANTIX, some of which can become life-threatening. These can include rash, swelling, redness, and peeling of the skin. Some people can have allergic reactions to CHANTIX, some of which can be life-threatening and include: swelling of the face, mouth, and throat that can cause trouble breathing. If you have these symptoms or have a rash with peeling skin or blisters in your mouth, stop taking CHANTIX and get medical attention right away.

The most common side effects include nausea (30%), sleep problems, constipation, gas, and/or vomiting. If you have side effects that bother you or don’t go away, tell your doctor.

You may have trouble sleeping, vivid, unusual, or strange dreams while taking CHANTIX. Use caution driving or operating machinery until you know how CHANTIX may affect you.

CHANTIX should not be taken with other quit-smoking products. You may need a lower dose of CHANTIX if you have kidney problems or get dialysis.

Before starting CHANTIX, tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or if you take insulin, asthma medicines, or blood thinners. Medicines like these may work differently when you quit smoking.

CHANTIX is a prescription medicine to help adults 18 and over stop smoking. You may benefit from quit-smoking support programs and/or counseling during your quit attempt. It’s possible that you might slip-up and smoke while taking CHANTIX. If you do, you can stay on CHANTIX and keep trying to quit.

I would never try to generalize that all quit-smoking programs and drugs would cause these types of side effects. I’ve never even researched quit-smoking drugs. However, I would suggest that no matter how it is that you want to try to quit, please talk to your doctor. Even quitting cold-turkey has side effects that you might need help coping with, like irritability. Your doctor may still prescribe some sort of medicinal aid to help you to either quit cold-turkey or step down, like some of the patch products.

If it sounds like I’m bashing this product, please don’t take it that way. It just never dawned on me just how dangerous some of these products can be if they are not administered and monitored properly. Of course the same can be said about any type of drug that a person takes.

To those who are ready to quit, I applaud you. If you’re considering using Chantix or Nicoderm or Nicorette Gum or any other cessation product, please seek out professional advice from a doctor or a quit-smoking specialist. Seek out and understand all risks involved with any product you want to try. Visit sites like TobaccoFreeFlorida.org and learn about free counseling that may be available. You’ve already decided to quit. Get all the help and support you need to follow through without putting your health at any further risk.