Has anyone tried chantix for alchohol?

[nofunwithoutbeer]

Has anyone tried chantix for alchohol?

Chantix & alcohol

I just joined this. I am thinking of trying the chantix and mainly was just totally shocked to read some of these posts! I am especially excited to read about the experience "Boozehag" a.k.a. "Mother Theresa" has had. I am pretty much where you were when you first started the drug. Binge drinking & smoking, pretty much evry afternoon-as soon as I get home from work & especially if I am out by the pool with my drinking buddies. I am a mess. My husband is ready to kill me, if not leave me or kick me out, my kids are thinking I am crazy and probably being emotionally damaged from just being around me and I am feeling desparate. I am also just so addicted to the habit of drinking that I cannot imagine life without it. I started at 18 when I realized that it made me relax and let go of my usually inhibited boring, almost aloof, personality tendencies and become , basically, alot more fun. It has continued until now, as I stand on the brink of turning 50 next February. I picked up the smoking habit a few years ago while hanging around a bunch of other women who smoked when they drank. That habit has become much worse lately, as ahs the binge drinking. I am scared to take the chantix though, for the main reason that the side effects sound scary and I am afraid I might have some type of psychotic episode! I have had problems with depression in the past and I don't want chantix to cause me to plummet back down. I have not been on any anti-depressants for a few months now, but was taking 20 mg of Celexa for about 8 years. It just made me numb & I got tired of not dealing with my feelings. Unfortunately, the alcohol basically nubs me too of course so still not dealing with issues I suppose. I'm wondering if I should take the celexa again along with the chantix-anyone know of bad drug interactions with them? What about klonopin (tranquilizer that I have taken at tnight to help me sleep.
Thanks to any & all for any input!!

:new:

[boozehag]

Has anyone tried chantix for alchohol?

My god I love those tablets - they basically saved my life. If I could kiss those little men or women (oops nearly slipped up there) in white coats who invented that drug I would - mind you they might not appreaciate that and now that I am Mother Superior I am not sure if it is actually allowed although even nuns must get a day off. I know 3 people who are on them at the moment or were recently on them with no bad side effects and all have given up smoking and reported reduced drinking but none of them are on anti-depressants as far as I know. I suggest you check with your Dr first before you take them.
BH (no more)

[nofunwithoutbeer]

Has anyone tried chantix for alchohol?

got the chantix

Hi-thanks for responding! I appreciate support & am so impressed you have been AF since April. I bought the chantix yesterday-I've had the prescription from my Dr. for over a month for stopping smoking. I have been reluctant to try it mainly due to other side effects I have heard of but when I read yours and several of the other people's stories on this forum yesterday about the help with alcohol cravings, that definitely made me want to go ahead & try it. I am going to also make an appt. with a counselor to help with other issues at the same time so I hope the combination will be a success. Ok, so here's the bad thing, I also bought beer yesterday while waiting for my prescription to be filled. Didn't drink any last night, but today all my rowdy friends will probably be here & I probably will want to. Gotta change my way of life too I guess, huh? I plan to try to take my first pill today after lunch like you sugested-think that is when my cravings start-in the late afternoon, so maybe it might help-not expecting miracles but hopefully within a week or so? I think maybe I should steal your old name-I'm the boozehag!!

Thanks again

[AKA GIRL]

Has anyone tried chantix for alchohol?

CHANTIX WORKING FOR ME

Hi all -- I just started Chantix for drinking and so far it's great. seems like a miracle. I just don't want to drink. I'm gonna stick with it as long as it works. Oh, also, I quit smoking with Cantix several months ago. Haven't wanted a cigarette since. AKA GIRL

[boozehag]

Has anyone tried chantix for alchohol?

Hi AKA girl
Wow we have AK girl and AK Mom so far - are you from Alaska too? Anyhow seems like I am the self appointed chantix expert! In fact I was thinking of changing my name to champx on someone's suggestion. I basically used the champix as my substitute topa as I couldnt get that here in NZ. RJ talks about it in her blog and thats what got me onto it. I did the other aspects of the program too - reading the book, taking the supplements, kudzu and L-Glut and planning for and changing my habits around trigger times. I agree the chantix is great for some but to give yourself the best shot at beating your drink problem you should probably give the whole program a go.
BH

[rubywillow]

Has anyone tried chantix for alchohol?

Taking Chantix for a week to stop smoking. Also take 50mg topamax (dr. prescribed too.) Have some nausea, but no interest in cigs, AL OR food, all good! Need to stop the addictions and lose 20 pounds, so it's win/win. I can put up with nausea for a while. No worse than hangovers!!!

[gagirl]

Has anyone tried chantix for alchohol?

Hi everyone..I am so excited to find this site. I too am a binge smoker / drinker...I can go days without either but once I start, its a couple bottles of wine and a pack of cigs...I have done many searches on Chantix or any medicine that may help with this but often wondered what , if all, it will do for binge or social smoking and drinking... I am encouraged from reading all your posts. If it helps the craving go away, I think that is half the battle. I am tired of being tired, the brutal hangovers and the guilt. However, it sure is fun! Usually once I get over feeling bad, I am ready to go do it all over again. Does the Chantix help take away that feeling?? Thanks and I 'll keep you posted on progress..

[cyclefan]

Has anyone tried chantix for alchohol?

Some side effects to Chantix that you should be aware of, muscular aches and pains, as well as vivid dreaming some people can't take either one. Be sure to make it very clear to your Dr. what you are using the prescription for and follow the dosing guides very carefully. I used chantix successfully to kick a 34 year smoking habit, it worked when nothing else ever had. Never tried it with booze but wasn't looking to stop drinking when I quit smoking so can't say how it works with that.

[boozehag]

Has anyone tried chantix for alchohol?

Hi gagirl
Usually once I get over feeling bad, I am ready to go do it all over again. Does the Chantix help take away that feeling??

It is good but its not that good that it will stop you from doing it all over again! The key is to use the champix to help with the cravings in order to give you time to change your habits. For smoking it takes about 3 weeks apparently and to break your binge drinking habits may take longer but you just need to put a plan in place to avoid your triggers. Figure out what they are and then avoid them like the plague for long enough to change your habits -90 days seems to be a good time to change habits. Yes as cyclefan says watch out for the side effects. I personally did not have any other than a headache the first week and weird dreams but they say that could be partly from withdrawal from AL and Nicotine as well.
An article in the Sydney Morning Herald yesterday said that "australian drug regulators are issuing a new warning about the quit smoking pill champix which is linked to depression, aggression and suicidal thoughts and behaviour in some users". They are recommending that Doctors take care in prescribing it and that family and carers are vigilant for any changes in behaviour of persons taking it". So make sure you let someone in your family know you are taking it just in case.
BH

[gagirl]

Has anyone tried chantix for alchohol?

Thanks! Got my prescription today and took the first one this afternoon.. am going out tonight. I wonder if I will be able to tell anything..I'm excited..

[boozehag]

Has anyone tried chantix for alchohol?

Hi gagirl
I didnt drink while I was taking it as I used it to help me get my first 30days AF. I dont think it would be a good idea to drink whilst taking it if that is possible or to not drink very much at least. It takes the cravings away so the general idea is that it helps you achieve your goal of not drinking/smoking. I know with smoking you can keep smoking for the first week or so but I dont think the same thing applies to drinking - it certainly hasnt been tested to be so. It has not been specifically trialled for AL addicition and when I researched it initially it seemed that some of those that had the really bad adverse effects (homicide & suicide) were drinking at the time. As a result there was no way I would have drank while taking it which was another benefit for me from taking them. So do be careful.
BH

[gagirl]

Has anyone tried chantix for alchohol?

Day 4, Have not smoked...I am noticing strange dreams but not nightmares or anything.. I have noticed that I am very tired..I have not read that that is a side effect. Has anyone else felt very tired??

[kimkennedy]

Has anyone tried chantix for alchohol?

Chantix and Alcohol

dellagracie;323398 wrote: hi everyone - i started chantix 4 weeks ago, and it's been like a miracle drug for me. i, like many of you, only smoked when i drank......the 2 went hand-in-hand. but, i did BOTH every night and could easily smoke 10 cigs and a bottle or two of wine. everyday after work, i could hardly WAIT to get home and open a bottle and light up a cig..........my mouth would almost be watering the whole way home, and a voice in my head had almost been screaming for both since around 3 pm in the afternoon.

since starting chantix, it's like that voice has just been silenced. i don't know any other way to describe it. the desire for both has DRAMATICALLY decreased. for me, it did take three weeks for me to completely feel the full effects. last week i did have 3 cigs total all week, although they didn't taste good. and i had several glasses of wine......each time on different occasions, tho......not in one sitting. this week, i've had none of either.

the only side effect i've had is nausea. i do take it with food, but continue to feel nauseated for about 15 mins after i take it. this week i tried taking a few peptmo-bismal tabs with it, and that has helped a lot.

i would recommend chantix to anyone. i am very pleased so far !:new:

I have also been on Chantix for about 4 weeks. I have been a chronic alcoholic for many years, in rehab 6 times. I was a 24hr drinker (literally, my first shot was at 6:30am and I would drink all day). I was hopeless and suicidal.

My doctor put me on Chantix for my smoking which was also out of control and I had chronic bronchitis. Imagine my suprise when, on the 10th day of taking Chantix, I didn't want to drink anymore. The desire, cravings and obsession was GONE and has not come back. I will never get off this stuff, it has saved my life, my family. I am happy and sober. Who would have thought the two went together?

I am grateful for Chantix. Quitting smoking was big, but quitting drinking was impossible before Chantix.:new:

[FloridaBoy]

Has anyone tried chantix for alchohol?

I have had great results with Chantix. No real side effects, except for a few cool dreams and it worked for me. As BH said, let someone know you are taking it. Like most drugs it can do different things to different people.

[jodice]

Has anyone tried chantix for alchohol?

Chantix is one of those FDA approved drugs which can be used to get over smoking habit. It works on body by giving you the same feel good effect like smoking and hence reduces the craving for nicotine. This medicine should only be used in accordance with the instructions of a physician as there are various side effects which may vary from person to person and it includes change of taste, sleeplessness and many more. I have smoked for more than 10 yrs, but now I am spending a smoke free life from last 2 months. Thanks to chantix. Along with having this medicine, you should also have will power and feeling that you want to get over this habit.